How to apply
Application Process
You apply to a Finnish university online, and each university sets its own requirements. University Admissions Finland (UAF) was a centralised service that a group of Finnish universities once used to check documents for their Master’s programmes. It stopped processing applications after the 2018 admissions round, and today each university handles its own applications and document checks. This site is an independent guide and is not connected to UAF, Studyinfo or any university.
The steps below describe how the process usually works. Always confirm the current instructions on Studyinfo.fi and on the website of the university you are applying to, because requirements differ between programmes and can change from year to year.
1. Search & Apply
Degree programmes in Finland are listed on the national Studyinfo portal (www.studyinfo.fi, called Opintopolku.fi in Finnish), which is maintained by the Finnish National Agency for Education. This is also where you fill in and send your application. The application form is only open during the application period. Many English-taught programmes take part in a joint application, which in recent years has been held in January, while others have their own application periods. Once you have found a programme you wish to apply to, read its admission requirements carefully.
Applicants from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland usually have to pay an application fee through Studyinfo, a rule that has applied since 2025, and many of them will also pay tuition fees for English-taught programmes. Check the current rules and any exemptions on Studyinfo and the university’s website.
2. Collect the documents
The university and the programme decide which documents you need. You will find the list on Studyinfo, in the application form and on the university’s admissions pages. In most cases you need your degree certificate, a transcript of records, proof of your English skills and any programme-specific documents, such as a CV or a motivation letter. Documents that are not in English, Finnish or Swedish usually need an official translation.
Start early. Getting certified copies, translations or official transcripts from your previous institution can take several weeks.
3. Submit your documents as instructed
Many Finnish universities ask you to upload copies of your documents to the online application by a set deadline. Officially certified copies or electronic verification are then often needed only if you are offered a place, and the admission stays conditional until the documents have been checked. The method and the deadlines are set by each university, so follow its instructions rather than general advice.
For general tips, see How to submit documents.
Do not send documents to University Admissions Finland. It no longer processes applications, and this site cannot receive documents either.
4. Document checks by the university
The university you apply to checks your documents. The checks usually cover two things:
- your language skills, and whether they meet the programme’s requirements
- your required educational documents, to confirm that your degree makes you eligible and that the documents are genuine.
If something is missing, the university may ask you to supplement your application by a given date, so keep an eye on your email.
5. Academic assessment and results
Each university assesses the applications and selects its students according to its own criteria and timetable. The results are announced by the university, which also tells you how to accept a study place.
Please visit the university’s website for more information on their admissions requirements.