Round 6 has finished!
The 6th round of Vaasa International Talents Programme started in October 2025 and has ended in March 2026.
In Autumn 2026 a new round of the programme will start. More information to come soon!
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The image showcases our International Talents together with the Programme's stakeholders at the kick-off event this autumn 2024.
Vaasa International Talents
The programme admits international degree students from each of the higher education institutions in Vaasa, that is; University of Vaasa, VAMK University of Applied Sciences, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Åbo Akademi University and Hanken School of Economics.
As a participating degree student, you will be equipped with must-know facts about Finnish and local working life and its expectations on job applicants and employees.
The programme provides you with competence development knowledge and tools of different kinds. It further provides possibilities needed to develop Finnish working-life skills and to connect with companies and other actors within the region.
The aim is to help the students to integrate into the Finnish job market and establish themselves in the region after graduation.
Key Take-aways from Programme Participants
"Impactful programme, engaging speakers, and amazing fellow talents. All in all, a truly rewarding experience."
"I am thankful for the professional development that the programme provided me and for all the inspiring people I met during this period!"
"This is a great programme for international students to step into the Finnish working life. Many opportunities start here, and lovely people meet here."
"Thanks so much for this valuable program. I really enjoyed it, and appreciated all the efforts you put into it!"
"I am proud that I joined this program! It was the key for me to develop"
"The programme turned out to be wonderful and exceeded my expectations.”
"It is a great initiative in Vaasa! I wish it had started much earlier."
"Very beneficial programme for international students in Vaasa. Hoping for it to be long-term."
"Great programme for networking"
About the programme
The programme consists of three focus areas:
- Competence development
- Coaching
- Connections to working life
COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT - Skills for Finnish working life
This part of the programme consists of two modules. It equips the participants with must-know facts about Finnish and local working life and its expectations on job applicants and employees. This part kicks off end of October and runs until February. It will include:
- guest lectures on different topics
- personal journeys
- group discussions
- assigned tasks which will support your personal and professional development
COACHING
One-on-one and group coaching sessions tailored to your professional development. These include:
- Job interview simulation to help you prepare and build confidence
- Group discussions with company representatives to explore opportunities and gain industry insights
CONNECTIONS TO WORKING LIFE
The following activities will vary from participant to participant:
- job shadowing
- company visits
- other types of networking possibilities
We cannot guarantee that you will get any of these possibilities through the programme, since they will be dependent on the needs and availability of the working life actors. What we can guarantee, however, is that by actively participating in the programme, you will be able to find your own connections to working life actors.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply if:
- you hold a valid residence permit in Finland or have a Finnish citizenship
- you are an international Master or Bachelor student in one of the English speaking programmes listed below or you are an international Master or Bachelor student studying your programme in Finnish or Swedish
- you have completed at least your first year of studies in Bachelor level
- you have graduated from any of the following programmes since September 2025
University of Vaasa
- Master’s Degree Programme in Finance
- Master’s Programme in Industrial Management
- Master’s Degree Programme in International Business
- Master’s Programme in Industrial System Analytics
- Master’s Programme in Smart Energy
- Master’s Programme in Strategic Business Development
- Master’s Programme in Sustainable and Autonomous Systems
- Master’s Programme in Strategic Project Management
- Master's Programme in Computing Science
VAMK University of Applied Sciences
- International Business, Bachelor of Business Administration
- Information Technology, Bachelor of Engineering
- Project Management, Master of Engineering or Master of Business Administration
- International Business Management, Master of Business Administration
- Cloud-Based Software Engineering, Master of Engineering
- Energy Technology, Bachelor of Engineering
Novia University of Applied Sciences
- Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing
- Bachelor of Beauty and Cosmetics, Beauty Care
- Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology
- Bachelor of Engineering, Energy Technology
- Bachelor of Health Care, Biomedical Laboratory Science
- Master of Business Administration, Digital Business and Management
- Master of Engineering, Automation Technology
- Master of Engineering, Industrial Management and Engineering
- Master of Engineering, Intelligent Systems
- Master of Health Care/Master of Social Services, Health Care and Social Services
Åbo Akademi University
- Master’s Degree Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research
- Master’s Degree Programme in Teaching and Learning
- Master’s Degree Programme in Advanced Practice Nursing
- Master’s Degree Programme in Information Technology
Hanken School of Economics
- Master's Degree Programme in Marketing and Management
