Majority of international applicants non-EU/EEA citizens
There were about 9000 starting places to apply to in 440 study programmes on this joint application round, most of these being fully English-taught programmes.
The total number of applicants was around 23700, of which almost 15000 were non-Finnish citizens applying to fully English-taught programmes. Approximately 13000 of these foreign applications came from outside the EU/EEA.
Compared to the joint application of January 2025, the number of international applicants decreased. The implementation of a 100€ application fee in 2025 for non-EU/EEA citizens may be seen as one factor for the smaller applicant numbers. Additionally, not exactly the same higher education institutions participated in the joint application in 2025 and 2026.
The largest non-Finnish nationality groups this year for the English-taught programmes were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and India.
The most popular choices were for study programmes in the fields of business, administration and law, and information and communication technologies (ICT).
The January joint application round also included the programmes offered by the University of the Arts, and the Theatre Arts programme at Tampere University. These attracted around 4500 applicants.
Final applicant numbers to be published later
The overall total number of applicants for autumn 2026 study start will be known later, once all the separate applications are also completed. In addition to those who applied in the January joint application, about 17000 international applicants have so far applied to studies starting in autumn 2026 via separate and rolling admissions.
Admission process – what happens next
The higher education institutions are currently reviewing applications and preparing for their student selection. They will publish the final results each according to their own schedule, starting from the end of January and the beginning of February but no later than May 27.
You can check the detailed timetable with the university or UAS you have applied to. See also the Admissions results advice on the Studyinfo.fi site!
Accepted applicants will automatically receive information about the selection via email.
Good luck in the student selection process to all those who applied!
Are there programmes still open for admission?
A number of English-taught degree programmes have separate applications or rolling admissions, whereby individual universities can accept applications outside the January joint application.
In case you missed the January joint application period, check the Studyinfo.fi database for degree study programmes where application may still be ongoing.
(Statistics source: EDUFI / Vipunen - Education Statistics Finland)
See also: January 2026 joint application news on the EDUFI home page