06 - Finland - Admission requirements

University Education

The Finnish matriculation examination provides general eligibility for university education. The same eligibility is also provided by the International Baccalaureate (IB), European Baccalaureate (EB) and Reifeprüfung examinations. In addition, those with a Finnish polytechnic degree, post-secondary level vocational qualification or at least a three-year vocational qualification also have general eligibility for university education. Universities may also admit applicants, who are otherwise considered by the university to have the necessary knowledge and skills to complete the studies. Most new students have completed the matriculation examination.

People who received their schooling in another country may be admitted if their qualification gives eligibility for corresponding university studies in that country. Finland has ratified the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education of the European Council and UNESCOCEPES (so called Lisbon Convention) and signed the Nordic Convention on Admission to Universities.

By virtue of the Universities Act (645/1997), an applicant may only accept one study place leading to a higher education degree in each academic year. A study place leading to a higher education degree means a study place in a programme leading to a lower or higher academic degree at universities or a study place on a programme leading to a polytechnic degree.

Universities select their students independently and they decide on the field-specific student intake according to the agreed target number of degrees. The numbers are determined in performance negotiations between the Ministry of Education and the universities. There is restricted entry, "numerus clausus’, to all fields of study. As there are many more applicants than there are places available, universities use different kinds of student admission criteria.

Student admission may be based on: the grades attained in the matriculation certificate (and in the general upper secondary school (Finnish: lukio, Swedish: gymnasium) leaving certificate) together with the results of an entrance test, which is the most common procedure; the results of an entrance test only; or the grades attained in the matriculation certificate and in the upper secondary school leaving certificate only.

In addition, some fields may place additional emphasis on work experience, studies, practical training, etc. Entrance tests are designed by the university, faculty or department in question to assess the applicants’ motivation, suitability and aptitude in the field concerned. The tests are often based on required reading. There may also be interviews or material-based examinations, and students may be required to demonstrate their skills (for example, at art academies), etc. Students without the certificate of matriculation are usually selected on the basis of the entrance test.

Universities co-operate in organising the student admission to varying degrees. The field of engineering and architecture applies a joint selection system, i.e. a joint entrance examination, to three universities of technology and two faculties of technology in multidisciplinary universities. Each of these universities uses the same selection criteria and the same application form. There is also cooperation between universities in, among others, biology, languages, class teacher and kindergarten teacher education, medicine and economics. Once people have been admitted to university, they must confirm their acceptance of the place and register with the university within a certain period of time. If this is not done, their right to study there may be cancelled. The standard duration for the completion of degrees has been defined in the decrees governing the degrees.

The undergraduate section (Cadet School) of the National Defence College may admit applicants who: have taken their matriculation examination or received corresponding education abroad, as separately laid down in legislation, or have completed a post-secondary level qualification; have acceptably completed reserve officer training, received the corresponding military training approved by the Defence Staff or completed the warrant officer’s degree; are suitable officers in terms of their mental and physical condition and health as well as their lifestyle;
● are no more than 24 years of age (applicants aged over 24 years are only allowed in exceptional cases); have passed the aptitude tests and other examinations as defined by the Defence Staff to an acceptable standard.

The present legislation allows for flexible pathways leading to university education. Thus a student is eligible for university studies if the university acknowledges that he/she has sufficient knowledge and competences irrespective of his/her previous education. The legislation also allows for flexibility in recognising and validating prior learning. Students can, on the decision of the university, be accredited for studies at a higher or other education institution in Finland or abroad. This also applies to learning acquired outside the formal education system. The initiative for the recognition of prior learning must come form the student and he/she also has the responsibility of providing evidence to support the request. Individual study plans are used increasingly. The accreditation of prior learning in conjunction with these is based on the discussions between teacher and student. According to a survey learning acquired outside formal education is not recognised and accredited very much. Most commonly practical training is compensated by work experience.

Virtual studies can be taken at all universities. Universities cooperate and offer joint studies. This has been supported by the Finnish Virtual University, which is a partnership of all 21 Finnish universities. It supports and develops collaboration among universities in the utilisation of information and communication technologies in teaching and studying. As a Consortium it develops information network -based training and educational services for the shared use of its member universities.

Professionally Oriented Higher Education

The general requirement for admission to polytechnics is general or vocational upper secondary education and training. In other words, applicants eligible for polytechnic studies include those who have completed the matriculation examination, general upper secondary school (Finnish: lukio, Swedish: gymnasium) or an upper secondary vocational qualification, or those with a corresponding international or foreign qualification. Students apply to polytechnics through the joint national application system. The polytechnics determine the principles of student admission independently. Student admission is based on previous study record and work experience and, in many cases, entrance examinations are also arranged. Starting from the student admission for the academic year 1999–2000, applicants may only accept one study place leading to a higher education degree in each academic year. A study place leading to a higher education degree means a place in a programme leading to a lower or higher academic degree (Bachelor’s (Finnish: kandidaatin tutkinto, Swedish: kandidatexamen) or Master’s degree (Finnish: maisterin tutkinto, Swedish: magisterexamen) at a university or to a polytechnic degree. According to the legislation polytechnics can accept students who they consider having sufficient knowledge and skills for polytechnic studies. The eligibility must be assessed before the selection procedure.

The requirement for Master's programmes in polytechnics is a Polytechnic degree or other Bachelors' level degree and at least three years of work experience. All polytechnics offer virtual studies. On-line coursework is part of nearly all studies. Also the number of credits earned on totally on-line courses is increasing. Similarly to the Finnish Virtual University the polytechnics offer online courses and services jointly through the Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences.

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Date: 2009
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