FAQ on applying

Can I apply to CIMO for a study placement in Finland?

No, you can not. CIMO is neither an admissions office, nor an institution of higher education. In other words, CIMO does not offer any degrees of its own, and we do not handle any study applications. We can only offer you general advice on how to get started if you wish to study in Finland. Study applications should be made to the institutions themselves. Please refer to the main section ‘How to apply’ > 'Admissions system'

How can I apply for Bachelor’s/Master’s level studies in Finland?

This depends on which institution or programme you are planning to apply to. The main admission sites are www.admissions.fi (for Bachelor’s level studies at polytechnics) and University Admissions Finland (UAF) www.universityadmissions.fi (for Master’s level studies at universities). Some programmes however have a different application route, for example, you may need to apply directly to the institutions. Please see the section ‘How to apply’ > 'Admissions system' for advice.

How do I apply for post-Master’s level studies (PhD for example)?

If you already have a Master’s degree, and wish to apply to a Finnish university, then you should contact the university of your choice. You can either contact the International Office, or the faculty/department of your interest directly. Please see section 'Doctoral admissions' for information.

When are the application deadlines?

There are two annual application periods for the polytechnics’ Bachelor’s level programmes, one in January/February and the other in September. Please check the exact dates, requirements and other details on the www.admissions.fi website.

The application times for the universities’ programmes may vary depending on the institution/programme you are applying to. Please consult the www.universityadmissions.fi website, or contact the university of your choice directly. Some universities have a separate admissions route from UAF. You can find those universities' admissions pages listed at the section 'Admissions system'

Can I apply to as many programmes as I want?

While it is usually possible to apply to more than one study programme, there may be a limit to how many alternatives you can choose. Please check the details on the admission sites.

Generally speaking it is usually a good idea to concentrate on applying to a few programmes that you are really interested in, rather than sending in as many applications as possible just for the sake of getting “any study placement whatsoever”.

Can I send in my application by email/fax?

No, you can not. Please do not send any applications by email or fax, or scanned diploma certificates etc. to the admissions offices unless you are specifically asked to do so. Applications arriving via email are not accepted, and the same is generally true of scanned certificate copies. Please follow the instructions on the admissions pages (see above).

I have an earlier diploma certificate/degree from a non-Finnish university. Does that make me eligible to apply for higher education in Finland?

The Finnish university/polytechnic you are applying to will decide on your eligibility by assessing your earlier education and certificates, so unfortunately CIMO can not give you definite answers to any eligibility questions.

However, generally speaking, in order to be eligible to apply for higher education in Finland you should have successfully completed secondary education in your home country, ie. you should be eligible for higher education in your home country. If you are applying for a Master’s programme in Finland, then you should naturally have completed a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Please note that there are no equivalent degrees in Finnish higher education for pre-Bachelor’s level higher education qualifications such as certificate, two-year diploma, etc. You usually need to hold a full 3-year Bachelor’s level degree (or equivalent) to be eligible to apply for Master’s level degree programmes in Finland.

Do I need to take an English language test?

This depends on the programme you are applying to, but most degree programmes require that you prove your English language proficiency by means of an internationally accepted test (TOEFL/IELTS etc). Please check this and other detailed requirements in the admissions instructions of the institution you are applying to. If your native language is English, or if you can prove that your previous education has been completed in English, you may be exempt from the language test requirement.

I missed the application deadline. Can I still apply?

Usually, the answer is no. You need to apply within the set application periods – late applications are not normally processed.

Any additional student intakes outside the normal application periods are announced on the institutions' own web sites. The admissions offices of the polytechnics and universities can assist you, should you have additional questions concerning the application procedure, admission requirements, application deadlines, etc.

Can I apply to a Finnish university Master’s programme with a Bachelor’s from a Finnish polytechnic/UAS?

Due to the distinction of academic vs. vocational higher education, Bachelor’s degrees from Finnish polytechnics/UAS are often less theoretically oriented than Bachelor’s degrees provided by Finnish universities. Therefore, it may not be possible to continue directly to a university Master’s programme, if you have completed your Bachelor’s at a Finnish UAS. You may, for example, be required to complete some bridging studies first, or the university can have other specific entry requirements for applicants with a UAS degree. You should ask the university for detailed information on whether you can apply, and what the exact requirements are.