Applying to TAMK Bachelor's degrees

Provisions on eligibility for studies in universities of applied sciences are laid down in the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014).
To be eligible for degree studies in a university of applied sciences, the applicant must have completed:

• the studies required for graduating from the Finnish upper secondary school or a Matriculation Examination
• an International Baccalaureate (IB) degree;
• a European Baccalaureate (EB) degree;
• a Reifeprüfung (RP) Diploma or Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA) Diploma;
• a Finnish basic vocational degree covering 120 credits or a skills score of 180 or a corresponding earlier Finnish vocational degree covering at least 80 credits 
• a Finnish post-secondary or higher vocational level diploma;
• a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification or further or specialist vocational qualification as a competence-based qualification, or comparable previous qualification;
• foreign qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies in the country in question; or
• a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree. 

Please refer to our frequently asked questions related to eligibility requirements by country.

Admitted students’ eligibility for application will be verified. As an exception to this, to be acknowledged in certificate-based selection, the student must hold a degree applicable to the selection method in question.

Proving eligibility 

Applicants with a Finnish qualification certificate 

Applicants have to submit the copies of the final diploma on the application by the deadline or submit it to the admissions office of the university of applied sciences marked as the first choice on their application form.

A degree completed outside of Finland

Applicants have to submit the copies of the qualification certificate / final diploma and on the application by the deadline or submit it to the admissions office of the university of applied sciences marked as the first choice on their application form.

Graduates of the ongoing academic year 

If the applicant is graduating during the spring term, but after the application period, a stamped and signed document from educational institution stating that the applicant will graduate by the end of the academic year is accepted. This document must be submitted to the application by the application period deadline.

International matriculation examination (IB, EB, RP/DIA)

Those applying with an IB, EB or RP Diploma have to submit certificate copies by the deadline. 

Translations 

If your original documents are in a language other than Finnish, Swedish or English, you also must send a copy of their certified (authorized) translation. The translation has to be in Finnish, Swedish or English and it has to include the translator’s signature and stamp. The translations must be submitted to TAMK Admissions by the application period deadline.

Original certificates

The copies of certificates / diplomas are checked from those who are accepted as students and the final certificate copies (Transcript of Grades for those completing IB diploma) have to be sent by the deadline. If the applicant graduates during the ongoing spring term but does not receive the final diploma in time to submit it to TAMK Admissions by deadline, applicant can be given another deadline by request. However, graduates have to submit a document from the educational institution in question stating that the applicant has graduated. Student selection is conditional until TAMK has checked the admitted students’ original final school certificates. TAMK may withdraw the admission if the applicant does not provide the certificates by the deadline or if the applicant has given false information.

Asylum seekers and refugees

A person with refugee status *) or an asylum seeker may apply and be accepted to study in the programmes just as any other eligible citizen of Finland or any other country.

If the applicant is a refugee, in a position comparable to a refugee **) or an asylum seeker and they do not have documents in proof of their prior qualification, the higher education institution may invite the applicant to participate in an entrance examination or, if necessary, submit the application to academic evaluation. Based on information requested from the applicant, the higher education institution offering the programme in question will decide if the information on the prior qualification is sufficient.

The applicant must have an official decision attesting to his or her refugee status (a decision to grant asylum or a residence permit issued on the basis of need for protection). The applicant must submit a copy of this decision to the admissions office of each higher education institution to which he or she is applying by the deadline specified in advance (see Submitting application documents). While the customer service team of higher education institutions’ joint application system recommends that also alien’s passports marked ‘identity not verified’ be accepted, the UAS in question makes its own decision about accepting this document. 

In order to clarify their status, an asylum seeker to whom a decision has not yet been issued may present a photo ID issued by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), for example at an entrance examination, and should the higher education institution so require, also a certificate issued by the Finnish Immigration Service for a fee (EUR 20) stating that the applicant is legally resident in Finland while their case is being processed, or until a legally valid decision has been made.

*) with refugee status, i.e. has been granted asylum = The person is living outside their home country or permanent country of residence because they have substantial grounds for fearing persecution. The reason for the persecution must be origin, religion, nationality, belonging to a certain social group or political opinion. An additional requirement is that, because of their fears, the person is unwilling to rely on the protection of the country in question. 

**) a person whose status is comparable to a refugee is a person provided with subsidiary protection = the person faces a risk of being subjected to the death penalty, execution, torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in their home country or country of former habitual residence. A permit may also be issued if the person is unable to return to their home country or country of former habitual residence without being exposed to serious and individual threat as a result of an armed conflict in the country concerned.

Forgery or misuse of a document may lead to criminal liability and will be reported to the police.

Media and Arts

English language certificate is not required. English language skills will be tested in the admissions process in the pre-task assignment and online interview. Excellent skills in English are required for success in all our degree programmes provided in English. Thesis at the end of the studies must be written in English. 
 

Entrepreneurship and Team Leadership

Applicants who have completed their previous background education outside of Finland must provide an English language proficiency certificate (see exceptions below).

Applicants who do not have to provide the English language proficiency certificate:

• Applicants who have completed higher education degree in Australia, Canada, the European Union or EEA, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States
• Applicants who have completed upper secondary degree in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States

Only the tests listed below are accepted with no exceptions:

• IELTS Academic: a minimum total score of 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
• TOEFL Academic (iBT): a minimum total score of 60 (Test sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing)
• Pearson PTE Academic: a minimum total score of 55 (Test sections: Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening)
• Cambridge English Scale Score: a minimum total score of 169 (Test sections: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking)

Test results are valid for two years. The test result must be valid at least until 28 February 2025. If possible, the applicant should choose TAMK University of Applied Sciences as the recipient of the results. The applicant must also attach a scanned/electric copy of the test result to the application for verification purposes and notify their unique identifier.

Environmental Engineering and Green Transition *)
International Business
Nursing
Software Engineering *)
Textile and Material Engineering *)

Applicants seeking admission through the International UAS Exam must prove their English language skills by the documents listed on the UAS Exam info website: https://www.uasinfo.fi/international-uas-exam/ 

*) Admission possible through SAT test scores as well. Applicants must submit the SAT score by 31 March 2025. The SAT score must arrive to TAMK Admissions directly from the College Board. Fill in the institution code 6960 when registering for SAT test.

Individual arrangements are practical arrangements (i.e., providing additional time) to facilitate the entrance examination in case of special needs. Individual arrangements are in place to provide equity of treatment among applicants.

Read more about individual arrangements

Confirm the offered study place in time

Admitted applicants must confirm their study place by 10 July 2025 at (3:00 pm Finnish time EEST) by logging into Studyinfo.fi portal. If the confirmation has not been done by the deadline, the applicant will lose the offered study place.

Non-EU/EEA students: To qualify for the Early Bird -scholarship waiver you must accept the offered study place within 14 days from the date of your Conditional Offer!

Confirmation of the study place is binding and cannot be altered or cancelled.

If you are admitted later from the waiting list, you have 7 days to confirm your study place. Early Bird scholarship waivers are not available for waiting list accepted students. Please read your email regularly in order to receive the possible admittance e-mail in time. The final day of admittance of new students is 5 August 2025.

One study place

You can only accept one study place among Bachelor's/Master's degrees in Finland starting during the same academic semester (1 Aug-31 Dec/1 Jan-31 Jul). Even if you register as absent or quit your studies, you cannot accept another study place during the same academic semester.

Enroll for studies

When accepting the study place, you also have to register as present or absent for your first academic year of studies at TAMK on the Studyinfo portal.

First-year students can only register as absent on statutory grounds (source: Universities of Applied Sciences Act 325/2015 § 29-30):

1. to complete Finnish national service in accordance with the Conscription Act (1438/2007), Non-Military Service Act (1446/2007), or Act on Voluntary Military Service for Women (194/1995); Supporting document to be sent to admissions.tamk [at] tuni.fi (admissions[dot]tamk[at]tuni[dot]fi) : The Finnish assignment to service to demonstrate that the service will be completed during the academic year.
2. if on maternity, paternity or parental leave; Supporting document to be sent to admissions.tamk [at] tuni.fi (admissions[dot]tamk[at]tuni[dot]fi) : Kela’s certificate of maternity, paternity or parental allowance period or, if one is not yet available, a medical certificate of the pregnancy. Paternity leave can only be demonstrated with Kela’s certificate. Equivalent certificates of statutory parental leaves given by foreign authorities are also accepted.
3. if unable to begin the studies due to an illness or disability. Supporting document to be sent to admissions.tamk [at] tuni.fi (admissions[dot]tamk[at]tuni[dot]fi) : The Finnish sickness allowance decision or, if not available, a medical certificate. The illness or disability as well as the fact that it prevents beginning the studies on 1 August 2025 has to be stated on the medical certificate. Sufficient documentation of obstacles caused by practical arrangements related to the illness or disability, for example a student housing foundation’s certificate of queuing for a special needs flat. The student’s personal notification is not enough. It also has to be demonstrated how the issue will be handled. Disability is a permanent state and thus it is not enough to refer to the disability. There has to be temporary disability-related grounds for absence.

If you register as absent in your first academic year, but fail to deliver sufficient clarification regarding the grounds for your absence within the deadline, you will lose your right to study.

If you believe that there has been a mistake in the student selection or the set admission criteria have not been applied correctly, you can submit a written request for rectification of the student selection decision addressed to TAMK Board of Examiners within 14 days after the student selection results have been published. Always check the admission criteria of the degree first and contact TAMK Admissions before writing the request. If the issue cannot be solved by the admissions officials, you are advised to submit a written request for rectification.

If you have any questions about the evaluation of your pre-task or entrance exam, you can find current feedback times and contact persons here.

Form and content of request for an administrative review

The document requesting an administrative review shall indicate the particular decision for which the review is requested, the amendment that is being sought in the review requested and the grounds for requesting the review. (Administrative Procedure Act, Section 49d)

The admissions services of TAMK are here to help you through the admission process. Do not hesitate to reach out to us!