The next joint application period for degree programmes conducted in English will be arranged between 8 January and 22 January 2025. For applicants who will be accepted in this application round, the studies are set to begin in August 2025.
In 2025, Centria UAS will be a part of the Joint application of Higher Education, Spring 2025. The application process takes place at Studyinfo.fi.
Applicants can be admitted if they:
- submit a valid application
- attach required eligibility documents (high school diploma or other from the list of accepted diplomas)
- attach a valid passport or ID card
- attach required language certificate
- pay the application fee (only concerns tuition fee paying students)
- pass the entrance exam
Please bear in mind that the instructions below are not complete yet, make sure that you check all important application instructions later on, before applying in January 2025.
Eligibility criteria
For this specific application round, the following education will give applicants eligibility to apply for Bachelor´s programmes:
- the studies required for graduating from the Finnish upper secondary school or a Matriculation Examination;
- an International Baccalaureate (IB) degree;
- a European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma;
- a Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA) degree;
- a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification covering 120 credits or 180 competence points 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 a further or specialist vocational qualification as a competence-based qualification, or a comparable previous qualification;
- a foreign qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies in the country in question;
- Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree.
Centria University of Applied Sciences uses discretionary admission, which means that the applicant could be considered eligible even if he/she did not meet the general admission criteria. Discretion may come into question in the following situation:
- The applicant’s (who are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country) final certificate will not be available by the end of the application period, and therefore a photocopy of it cannot be sent by a set date. The applicant can further proceed in the application process if he or she can provide an official temporary certificate or statement of results which is given by the organization awarding degrees (for example in Nigeria or Ghana an official statement of results sent to Centria directly from WAEC or NECO or in Kenya statement of results sent directly from the KNEC).
- If the applicant is a refugee or in a refugee-like situation and formerly obtained qualifications cannot be proven through documentary evidence, Centria can excuse the applicant and he or she can proceed in the application process. In this case, an applicant must prove the refugee status by a decision made by a competent authority and send a copy of the decision (a decision on asylum or a residence permit granted by a need for protection) to the Admissions office by 29 January 2025 at 3 pm Finnish time (UTC +2).
Please notice, that eligibilities are going to be checked during and after the entrance examination and therefore it is possible for an applicant to take part in the online entrance exam even if she/he is not eligible to apply for higher education at Centria UAS. However, only eligible applicants can be accepted as new students.
Filling the application
Applicants start the application process by filling in an online application form during the application period at Studyinfo.fi. The application is publicly accessible to everyone via the internet, and the admission process follows predefined admissions criteria. Therefore, no stakeholders outside the institution can have influence over the selection process itself. When filling the application form, applicants are advised to double-check if the given postal address is up to date and the given email address is functional.
A functional email address is particularly important in order to be able to be contacted later on with decisions and further guidelines. The email address provided in the application form will be taken as the official channel of communication and will not be changed later in the process. Once the application has successfully been registered, including required attachments, applicants receive an application number. If an application number is received, applicants do not have to contact Centria´s Admissions office to confirm that the application has arrived.
The deadline for filling in the application and submitting it is 22 January 2025 at 3 pm Finnish time (UTC +2). When you are submitting your application, you need to attach the required documents:
- eligibility documents (high school diploma or other from the list of diplomas mentioned in the eligibility section above)
- passport or ID card
- language certificate (one from the list of accepted English language certificates mentioned below)
- pay the application fee (only concerns tuition fee paying students, more in the application fee section)
After submitting the application, applicants are still able to make changes in the application or attach additional documents to it. The deadline for making changes and submitting attachments is 29 January 2025 at 3 pm Finnish time.
Identification documents
A valid identification document needs to be attached to the application submitted at Studyinfo.fi. The following documents are accepted as proof of identity:
- Passport (preferred option)
- The passport can be either biometric or non-biometric
- If you have a passport, use it, as valid passports are always accepted as proof of identity
- Passports from all countries are accepted as proof of identity
- Biometric EU/EEA identity card
- If you do not have a passport but you have a biometric identity card from an EU/EEA country, it is accepted as proof of identity
- The EU/EEA identity card must have a biometric symbol, as shown below
No other forms of identification documents are accepted. For example, residence permit cards or non-biometric EU/EEA identity cards will not be accepted.
You must be identifiable from the photo on your passport or identity card. Note this especially if it has been a long time since the passport or identity card was issued.
The passport/identity card has to be valid until 20 March 2025.
Please, check the complete guidelines concerning the acceptable ID documents here – INTERNATIONAL UAS EXAM – ID DOCUMENTS.
Language requirements
The applicants have to prove their English language skills either by an internationally recognized language test or previous studies. A valid language certificate needs to be attached to the application submitted at Studyinfo.fi.
English language skills can be proved by the following documents:
- English language test results:
- 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)
- 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)
- TELC (The European Language Certificate) English B2-C1 university qualification, completed on or after 1 October 2021: minimum of B2 level (Test sections: Listening/Reading/Language Elements, Writing and Speaking)
- Oxford ELLT (English Language Level Test), completed on or after 1 July 2023: a minimum total score of 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
- National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) English: Grade 4 or higher on all the subtests (speaking, listening comprehension, writing, and reading comprehension)
- Higher education degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States, or a doctoral thesis completed in English in any country. Please note that your degree must be taught and assessed entirely in English**.
- Upper secondary degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States. Please note that your degree must be taught and assessed entirely in English**.
- One of the following grades in the Finnish Matriculation Examination, European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, or Reifeprüfung/DIA completed in Finland:
- Finnish Matriculation Examination: English advanced syllabus with a minimum grade C
- The whole International Baccalaureate diploma completed in English
- DP Course Results or IB certificate completed in English (at least six subject groups)
- International Baccalaureate final examination: English A HL/SL or English B HL/SL with a minimum grade 4
- European Baccalaureate: at least grade 6.00 in L2-level English
- Reifeprüfung/DIA diploma completed in Finland: at least grade 7 in advanced English
- Applicants graduating in spring 2025:
- If an applicant graduates in spring 2025 and it is not possible to obtain a required proof of English language skills (mentioned in point five or Finnish vocational basic qualification conducted in English) during the application period, they can still be invited to the International UAS exam. The final required proof of English language skills must be submitted by 10 July at 15.00 Finnish time. The possible student selection is conditional until the certificates are verified. If the language requirement is not met, the selection will be revoked. The exception applies to those completing the following degrees and graduating in spring 2025:
- Finnish matriculation examination
- International Baccalaureate
- European Baccalaureate
- Reifeprüfung/DIA completed in Finland
- Finnish vocational basic qualification conducted in English
- If an applicant graduates in spring 2025 and it is not possible to obtain a required proof of English language skills (mentioned in point five or Finnish vocational basic qualification conducted in English) during the application period, they can still be invited to the International UAS exam. The final required proof of English language skills must be submitted by 10 July at 15.00 Finnish time. The possible student selection is conditional until the certificates are verified. If the language requirement is not met, the selection will be revoked. The exception applies to those completing the following degrees and graduating in spring 2025:
* IELTS Academic UKVI, IELTS Online, PTE Academic Online, PTE Academic UKVI and TOEFL iBT Home Edition are also accepted.
**The language of instruction must be clearly stated on official documents. You can also document this by submitting a certificate/letter from your university in addition to your official study documentation.
More details and updated list can be found here – INTERNATIONAL UAS EXAM – LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Application fees
Changes in the legislation considering application fees for applicants to degree programmes in higher education enters into force 1 December 2024.
In the amendments to the Universities of Applied Sciences Act and Universities Act, it is ordered that an application fee is collected for applicants from countries outside EU/EEA seeking education leading to a degree in higher education, excluding licenciate or doctoral degrees and Erasmus Mundus programmes.
The application fee would not be charged for Finnish or EU citizens. Those who have a residence card for a family member of an EU citizen in Finland, a European Union Blue Card, a continuous residence permit granted on grounds other than studies, a permanent Finnish residence permit or a long-term resident’s EU residence permit are also exempted from the fee. The same applies to those under temporary protection, who do not have to pay the application fee. If a person’s residence permit type has changed from a continuous residence permit granted on the basis of studies to a continuous residence permit granted on another basis, the person is still required to pay the application fee.
The Finnish National Agency of Education would collect the application fee in connection with filling in the Studyinfo application form. The application fees are introduced for applications starting 1 January 2025 and onwards, when applying for degree programmes beginning on or after 1 August 2025. This means that the first application fees would be collected with the Suomi.fi payment service for joint applications and separate applications in the spring 2025. The amount of the application fee is issued by a separate decree.
More information and details concerning the application fee will be updated to this page during DECEMBER 2024.
Selection criteria
Applicants are selected based on their performance in the International UAS Exam.
International University of Applied Sciences (UAS) Exam
International UAS Exam is a joint digital entrance exam of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), used for selecting students to English-conducted study programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree. The entrance examination assesses the applicants’ abilities to study at UAS. The entrance examination does not contain any pre-reading materials or pre-tasks. Regardless of how many study programs you’re applying for, you only need to participate in the International UAS Exam once.
The International UAS Exam is organized on 1 April 2025 from 12 am onwards (Finnish time, UTC/GMT+3).
Every applicant must submit a document of the English language skills and a valid identification document on the Studyinfo’s application form in order to be invited for the pre-identification and the UAS exam itself. Please check the approved required documents at INTERNATIONAL UAS EXAM page.
Please note, the UASinfo.fi-website is being heavily updated during December 2024.
Pre-identification
Before the exam, you have to perform the pre-identification in the Candour ID mobile application by 20 March 2025 at 15:00 Finnish time (UTC/GMT+2). You will receive an invitation to the pre-identification to the email address provided on your Studyinfo application form on 18 March 2025. The email will be sent only once so please make sure that you have space in your inbox. If necessary, also check your spam and other folders.
Only those applicants who have submitted an acceptable proof of English language skills, an approved identification document via the Studyinfo application form, and paid the application fee (if required) by the deadline will be invited to the pre-identification.
The pre-identification has to be performed on 20 March 2025 at 15:00 Finnish time (UTC/GMT+2) at the latest. If you do not perform the pre-identification within the given timetable, you cannot be invited to the International UAS exam, and you cannot proceed in the exam selection process.
Before starting the pre-identification, download the Candour ID application to your mobile phone. If you already have the application installed, make sure it is updated to the latest version. During the pre-identification process, follow the instructions provided by the Candour ID application. Please note that the pre-identification process varies slightly depending on your phone type and the identification document you are using.
Step-by-step guide concerning the pre-identification process in the Candour ID application can be found here – INTERNATIONAL UAS EXAM – PRE-IDENTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS.
Admission results
The results of the International UAS Exam for the January 2025 applicants will be published on 16 April 2025 at the latest. All accepted applicants will be informed about their admission by e-mail. It is essential to apply with a valid email address so the results will reach the applicants. After being admitted, in order to be able to start their studies, applicants still have to accept the study place by logging into Studyinfo.fi and accepting the offered study place. The deadline for accepting the offered study place is 10 July 2025, 3 pm Finnish time. If applicants have problems using the Internet and accessing the Studyinfo.fi, a pdf form can be provided by the Admissions office. By accepting the study place (and paying the tuition fee if required), applicants also register themselves as a present for the first academic year. If applicants wish to register as absent, they have to check the Enrolment section of Centria’s website to see if they are eligible to apply for such status and consult it further with the Admissions office.
In case an applicant believes a mistake has been made in student selection, they may file a claim for adjustment after the publication of the student selection results.
Claims for adjustment have to be filed within 14 days after the publication of results. Appeal based on personal circumstances will not be considered as valid reason for appeal. Student admission decision can be changed only in those cases where it is clearly shown that the UAS has not followed the student admission criteria. Therefore, the claim of adjustment must be well-grounded and it should contain accurate information on where the UAS has not followed the criteria.
Claim for adjustment can be delivered via email to admissions@centria.fi or by post
Admissions Office
Centria University of Applied Sciences
Talonpojankatu 2
67100 Kokkola
FINLAND
Tuition fee payment
Tuition fee concerns only citizens of non-EU/EEA countries. Applicants can find information about the tuition fee payment sum, payment details, and payment deadlines in the conditional offer letter.
More information about WHO is REQUIRED to pay the tuition fees can be found here – AM I REQUIRED TO PAY THE TUITION FEES?
Newly accepted students have a right to get an early bird discount. Detailed instructions considering the early bird discount will be sent with the conditional offer letter.
More information about the tuition fees, scholarships, and other discounts can be found here.
Residence permit
Once a tuition fee is paid, we advise students to immediately start the residence permit process. The precondition for obtaining a residence permit is a letter of acceptance from the university, a tuition fee payment confirmation, a valid health insurance coverage with a reliable and solvent company or institution, as well as proof of sufficient funds in order to be able to self-support a student life in Finland. Further information can be found on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.
Admissions Services
If you have further questions do not hesitate to contact Centria’s Admissions office. If you are contacting the Admissions office and you already have an application number, please state it in your email to ease the recognition process.