Eligibility

You can submit an application for a Bachelor’s programme, if you have completed one of the following qualifications:

• a foreign qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies in the awarding country
• an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma completed in Finland
• an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma completed outside of Finland
• a Finnish matriculation examination (ylioppilastutkinto)
• as referred to in the Vocational Education and Training Act, a vocational upper secondary qualification, a further vocational qualification or a specialist vocational qualification
• a European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma completed outside of Finland
• a Reifeprüfung (RP) or a Deutsches Internationales Abitur diploma (DIA) completed outside of Finland
• a Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) completed outside of Finland
• a Finnish or foreign higher education degree (Bachelor's, Master's, Licenciate, PhD)

A successful applicant has obtained their first academic degree, normally a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, from an institution of higher education. As a rule, the Bachelor’s degree is the lower academic degree. This degree should be equivalent of at least three years of full-time studies (180 ECTS). Your previous degree must give you eligibility for Master's studies in your country of education.

Students who are on their last term/semester are eligible to apply.

In the case that the applicant is accepted for Bachelor`s programme for studies beginning in the Autumn 2025, the applicant has to submit officially certified copies of their upper secondary education degree certificate by July 10, 2025, 15:00/3pm (GMT+3).

In the case that the applicant is accepted for Master`s programme for studies beginning in the Autumn 2025, the applicant has to submit officially certified copies of their Bachelor’s degree certificate and the final transcript of records by July 31, 2025, 15:00/3pm (GMT+3).

Applicants are required to upload a copy of their latest transcript of records during the application period on their electronic application. If you receive the degree certificate and the final transcript of records during the application period, it is recommended that you submit them as well. You should point out the anticipated graduation date on the application and submit the documents you have at the time of applying. Do not wait to receive your final diploma or degree certificate if it is not available during the application period.

All applicants are required to prove a high level of proficiency in English language. All programmes ask the applicant to submit documented evidence of their level of English. To find out the different approved documentation of English language proficiency, please visit the Language requirements page. Please note that there are no exceptions to these rules.

It should be noted that most unsuccessful applicants in recent years failed to prove their level of English sufficiently.

If you already have a study right or a completed degree with an equivalent content from the University of Oulu, you will not be granted a new study right.

Evaluation of the equivalence of the content will be done by the faculties as part of the admissions process.

The following considerations also apply to the examination of the faculties. Please note that

• You can check your potential study rights at the University of Oulu from e.g. the My Studyinfo service. Please also familiarise yourself with the University of Oulu's application possibilities for non-degree study rights and the grounds for granting extension of study right.
• If you have missed the registration period for the academic year at the University of Oulu, you must apply for re-registration instead of participating in student admissions.
• If your study right at the University of Oulu is expiring, you must apply for an extension of study right. If you have not been granted an extension of study right, but you wish to finish your studies at the University of Oulu, you must apply for a new study place through student admissions.
• If your study right at the University of Oulu has been deactivated, instead of participating in student admissions, you must apply for reactivation of study right.

Example 1

Student has graduated from the University of Oulu with a degree in Computer Science and Engineering and is applying to the same programme again. A new study right will not be granted because they have already graduated with a degree with equivalent content.

Example 2

Student has graduated from the University of Oulu with a degree in Product and Project Management, and is now applying to a master’s in Environmental Engineering. The student may be granted a new study right because the content of the degree is not similar, even though the degree title (Master of Science, Technology) is the same.

Example 3

The student has a study right in the Chemistry of Sustainable Processes and Materials programme, and their study right is expiring. They will not be granted a new study right but must instead apply for an extension of study right to complete their studies.

If you have graduated from a degree programme with equivalent content, you can contact the University of Oulu Academic Affairs Service Teams or the Open University for other study opportunities in the field.

If the applicant is a refugee or in a position equivalent to a refugee or evaluated by the higher education institution to be an asylum seeker, and they cannot prove their degree with documents, the higher education institution may invite the applicant to the entrance exam. The applicant must have an official decision stating their refugee status (asylum decision or residence permit based on protection). The applicant must submit a copy of the official decision to the admissions services of all universities of application destinations within the previously announced deadline.

Applicants with refugee status must prove their language skills as required by the university.

Please visit the website Documents for the detailed list of required enclosures for application. Also note that all documents are listed as obligatory for application and no exceptions are made in requirements.

The application will be processed in the Selection Committee only if:

1. The applicant submits an application in the requested manner
2. The applicant submits the application documents in the requested manner
3. The applicant’s previous education gives eligibility for a Master’s or Bachelor's studies
4. The applicant’s language proficiency satisfies the language requirements

Please remember to ALWAYS

• Upload copies of your educational documents in the electronic application system, OR to

• Share your educational information via a link on your application in Studyinfo.

An applicant who has completed their secondary education in a Finnish educational institute does NOT have to submit verified secondary education certificate, if

• The applicant has completed a Finnish matriculation examination (ylioppilastutkinto) in 1990 or after, or if the matriculation examination will be completed in 2025. You also do not need to submit certificates of retakes or new added matriculation exams if they are completed in 1990 or after, or if they will be completed in 2025.
• The applicant has completed a Finnish vocational upper secondary education (ammatillinen perustutkinto) in 2017 or after, or if the education will be completed in 2025.
• The applicant has completed a Finnish further vocational qualification (ammattitutkinto) or a specialist vocational qualification (erityisammattitutkinto) in 2018 or after, or if the qualification will be completed in 2025.

University of Oulu will verify your educational information automatically in the national database.

Please ALWAYS remember to either

• Upload copies of your educational documents in the electronic application system, OR
• Share your educational information via a link on your application in Studyinfo

An applicant who has completed or is completing their Bachelor's degree at one of the Finnish universities or universities of applied sciences do NOT need to submit verified educational documents by mail, as University of Oulu has electronic access to the required information if

• The applicant's degree was completed at the earliest on 1 January 2003, and they have a Finnish personal identification code.

University of Oulu will verify your educational information automatically in the national database.

If your degree was completed before 1 January 2003, or you do not have a Finnish personal identification code, you must submit your educational documents following the general verification requirements.

Please note that all educational documents awarded by the following universities must be submitted following the general verification requirements:

• National Defence University (Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu),
• Novia University of Applied Sciences (Yrkeshögskolan Novia)
• Åland University of Applied Sciences (Högskolan på Åland)