Application times

On this page you will find a general overview on when to submit your application. Please also have a look at the section 'Admissions system' for info on the official admission routes.

The academic year in Finland

First of all, remember that the academic year in Finland is divided into two terms:

• autumn term (from August/September to December)

• spring term (from January to the end of May)

Most degree programmes only take in new degree students at the beginning of the academic year. So, usually your application will concern studies that start in the autumn term. In some cases, however, it may be possible to apply for studies that start in the spring term.

During the so-called summer term (June-August) it may be possible for already registered students to complete some individual course modules, but generally speaking that is "holiday time" and there is no separate summer term intake for degree studies.

Applying to polytechnics/universities of applied science (UAS)

Joint admission to the Bachelor’s level programmes at polytechnics (UAS):

• January-February: the main application period; for studies starting in the autumn term. Application period for 2013 autumn admission: 7 Jan - 12 Feb 2013
  
• August-September: the application period for studies starting in the spring term (it should be noted however that on this round there is a significantly smaller selection of programmes on offer, since not all polytechnics offer the spring term admission option)
  Application period for 2014 spring admission: 2 - 13 Sept 2013
  
• the application dates can also be found on the www.admissions.fi site - on the front page, or in the section "Application practicalities > Timetable for joint application" - some time before the applications open.
  

In some cases, UAS's may have additional extra applications for autumn entry starting in late May/early June, if there are study placements left once the Jan/Feb applicants' student selection is complete. But this is only a possibility, not the standard procedure. You cannot submit an additional application outside the regular application periods (see above) unless the UAS announces an additional application round opened. Information on this possible option is not available beforehand. If such extra applications are arranged, they will be directly to the UAS's (not via www.admissions.fi). So please check the individual UAS web pages in late May/early June (and remember to "like" their Facebook pages so you'll get notifications of possible additional applications).

Update: the UAS Bachelor's additional applications list for autumn 2013 intake can now be found in our frontpage News section.

Since the applications to the Master’s programmes provided by the polytechnics/UAS's are sent directly to the institutions, their application deadlines may vary. If applying to a polytechnic/UAS Master’s programme, please check the application times directly with the institution in question. Remember that in order to be an eligible applicant to the UAS Master's programmes, you need to hold a Bachelor's followed by at least three years of relevant work experience.

Applying to universities

• the exact application times and deadlines depend on the institution and the programme
• however, in most cases the annual application period to the university degree programmes begins between mid-November and January.
• for Bachelor's level admission at universities, please contact the university directly about info on how and when to apply (note that as opposed to polytechnics/UAS's, the universities offer only a very limited amount of Bachelor's level programmes in English - please consult the database for a listing of these Bachelor's level university options)
• for Master's level admission, and information on the exact application times (remember these may vary from one institution/programme to another) please consult the universities' own admissions pages. You can find them all listed at the section 'Universities' of this site.
  
• if you are applying to the universities that have their admissions via University Admissions Finland, please also see the UAF 'Application periods' page.
• If in any doubt about how and when to apply, please contact the Admissions Office of the university you're interested in.
  

Those interested in post-Master's level studies (doctoral studies, research) should contact the universities of their choice directly for information on how and when to apply. Some universities may accept doctoral study applications at all times, while others may have specific application periods. See section 'Doctoral admissions'.