What are the Requirements for Bachelor's Degree Studies? 

 

General Eligibility for Bachelor's Degree Studies

To fulfill the general eligibility requirements for Bachelor's degree studies at a University of Applied Sciences, you  have completed at least one of the following:

  • the studies required for graduating from a Finnish upper secondary school or a Matriculation Examination;
  • an International Baccalaureate (IB) degree;
  • a European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma;
  • a Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA) degree;
  • a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification covering 120 credits or 180 competence points, or a corresponding earlier Finnish vocational degree covering at least 80 credits;
  • a Finnish post-secondary or higher vocational level diploma;
  • a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification or a further or specialist vocational qualification as a competence-based qualification, or a comparable previous qualification;
  • a foreign qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies in the country in question;
  • a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.
Bachelor's Degree Programmes with specific eligibility requirements

The following Bachelor's degree programmes diverge from the requirements on general eligibility and have more specific requirements:

  • Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology: The basic educational requirement is at least two years of higher education degree studies with a scope of 120 credits (ECTS), in addition to general eligibility. The prior studies should be in the field of Engineering or Technology.
  • Bachelor of Natural Resources, Sustainable Coastal Management: The basic educational requirement is at least two years of higher education degree studies with a scope of 120 credits (ECTS), in addition to general eligibility. The prior studies may be in Natural Resources or the Environment, Business and Economics, Technology or Biology.
  • Bachelor of Engineering, Maritime Technology, blended studies: Eligibility to apply is conferred by a Watchkeeping Engine Officer degree or another comparable STCW approved Watchkeeping Engine Officer degree (i.e. Navy, Coast Guard).
  • Bachelor of Maritime Management, Maritime Management, Captain, blended studies: Eligibility to apply is conferred by a Watchkeeping Deck Officer degree or another comparable STCW approved Watchkeeping Deck Officer degree (i.e. Navy, Coast Guard). 

 

Language Requirements

You need to have good English language skills. In order to be successful in your studies, your English language skills should be at least at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). 

Note! For Bachelor's degree programmes that use the International UAS Exam as selection method a document of the English language skills must be submitted in the application form. Information about the language requirements for the International UAS Exam will be updated during the autumn 2023 at UASinfo.fi.   

Bachelor's degree programmes in the Separate Application 17-24 April 2024:

For eligibility to Bachelor's degree programmes with daytime studies, and in order to be selected based on entrance exam selection method, the applicants have to prove their English language skills either by an internationally recognized language test or previous studies.

The separate application uses the same eligibility criteria regarding language requirements as for the International UAS Exam.

English language skills can be proved by the following documents:

1. English language test results:

  • IELTS Academic*: a minimum total score of 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
  • TOEFL Academic (iBT)*: a minimum total score of 60 (Test sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing)
  • PTE Academic*: a minimum total score of 55 (Test sections: Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening)
  • Cambridge English Scale Score: a minimum total score of 169 (Test sections: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking)

IELTS Academic UKVI, IELTS Online, PTE Academic Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition are also accepted.

2. National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) English: Grade 4 or higher on all the subtests (speaking, listening comprehension, writing, and reading comprehension)

3. Higher education degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States

4. Upper secondary degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States

5. One of the following grades in the Finnish Matriculation Examination, European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate or Reifeprüfung/DIA:

  • Finnish Matriculation Examination: English advanced syllabus with a minimum grade M
  • The whole International Baccalaureate degree completed in English
  • International Baccalaureate final examination: higher level English with a minimum grade 4
  • European Baccalaureate: at least grade 6.00 in L2-level English
  • Reifeprüfung/DIA completed diploma: at least grade 7 in advanced English

6. Applicants graduating in spring 2024:

If an applicant graduates in spring 2024 and it is not possible to obtain a required proof of English language skills during the application period, they can still be invited to the International UAS exam. The final required proof of English language skills must be submitted by 11 July at 15.00 Finnish time. The possible student selection is conditional until the certificates are verified. If the language requirement is not met, the selection will be revoked.
The exception applies to those completing the following degrees:Finnish matriculation examination
International Baccalaureate
European Baccalaureate
Reifeprüfung/DIA
Finnish vocational basic qualification conducted in English

 

Only the tests or documentations listed above will be accepted. No exceptions will be made.

 

Other Requirements

An identification document must be submitted with your application. The documents accepted as proof of identity are: passport, Finnish identity card with a photo issued by police, Finnish driver’s licence, EU/EEA country identity card with a photo.

Note! For Bachelor's degree programmes that use the International UAS Exam as selection method there are specific requirements regarding the identification document. Please check the approved documents at UASinfo.fi The UASinfo.fi -website will be updated during the autumn 2023 for the 2024 application.

Health and Safety: Some degree programmes have specific requirements concerning health and safety, see details under specific programmes.

Admission as a Refugee

If an applicant is a refugee, asylum-seeker, or is in a refugee-like situation and is unable to upload documentary evidence of their qualification(s), a University of Applied Sciences may invite the applicant to sit an entrance examination. The applicant must have an official decision attesting to their refugee status (a decision on asylum or a residence permit granted on the basis of a need for protection). The applicant must upload a copy of such decision in the online application form by the deadline for uploading application attachments. 


Discretionary admission

Discretionary selection is used in the International UAS Exam selection.

 

Go to

Admissions Office

Admissions Services
PO BOX 6
FI-65201 Vaasa, Finland
Tel + 358 (0)6 328 5055

E-mail: admissions@novia.fi

Securemail service: securemail.novia.fi

Did you find us after the application period?

Our Open UAS is open to everyone. You can study courses from our Bachelor degree curricula as an open student (non-degree studies). You can complete courses while waiting for the next application for degree studies.