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BBA students Savva Titov and Umar Shahzad

Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Management, Enterprise Resource Planning

Interested in business but also curious about how technology keeps companies running smoothly? Centria’s Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (ERP/SAP) combines business management studies with expertise in enterprise resource planning (ERP), especially SAP software solutions used by leading companies worldwide. With ERP skills in high demand across industries, this degree gives you a unique professional edge and excellent career opportunities after graduation.

Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration

Study type: Daytime studies

Duration: 3,5 years, 210 credits

Campus: Talonpojankatu 2, Kokkola

Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens: 9500 €

Places: 1.joint application 28

Application period opens: 07.01.2026 at 08:00

Application period closes: 21.01.2026 at 15:00

Studies start in autumn 2026

Teaching language: English

Programme description

Our BBA programme is hands-on, international, and designed to prepare you for the real business world. You do not need any previous background in business or work experience, we will start from the basics and help you build solid skills step by step.

Your studies will focus on ERP, and specifically SAP systems: learning how companies plan, manage, and analyse their operations through technology. You will explore topics such as:

Alongside your ERP studies, you will gain a broad understanding of business management through courses in economics, accounting, HR, and strategic management. You will also learn about IT fundamentals, including computing, the basics of programming, and databases (SQL), all valuable skills in today’s data-driven business world.

As part of your degree, you’ll develop key professional skills such as teamwork, communication, self-management, and creativity. You will also work on real-life projects, where you can apply what you’ve learned in collaboration with companies and organizations.

Centria has strong connections with major Finnish employers in the SAP field. Our SAP Next-Gen Lab offers a modern learning environment, and our SAP-certified lecturers guide you through your studies. You can even prepare for an official SAP certification (TS410) during your studies. As a member of the SAP University Alliance, Centria gives you access to the same SAP Business Suite tools used by global companies.

The programme is taught entirely in English at our Talonpojankatu campus in Kokkola, with a mix of classroom learning, online courses, and independent study. You will also gain international experience: our students come from over 40 different countries, creating a multicultural and inspiring learning environment.

Additional information

The teaching is organized on weekdays on our Talonpojankatu campus in Kokkola. 

The studies consist of core studies and profiling studies, practical training and a thesis project. The scope of the degree programme is 210 ECTS, and it will take around 3,5 years to finish your studies. 

Core competence 70 ECTS 

  • Orientation to studies 
  • Working life skills  
  • Job seeking and employment  
  • Language Skills  
  • Business Principles 
  • Business Management 
  • Business Processes 
  • Research & Development 
  • Practical training 

Profiling competence 140 ECTS 

  • Multilingual and multicultural environments 
  • Marketing and Supply Management  
  • Information Technology for Business 
  • ERP/SAP Certification Path 
  • ERP/SAP Advanced 
  • Practical training 
  • Bachelor’s thesis 

You can find the curriculum here.

Your BBA studies are focusing on ERP/SAP. Centria has an SAP Next-Gen Lab environment that serves as a learning environment for our BBA SAP students. Our partner companies offer our students different study cases, which you can work on in our Next-Gen Lab with your fellow students. The projects are usually done together with project teams from companies. These projects and cases can be related to, for example, management reporting, utilisation of data in business decision-making and the development of new digital solutions. In your studies, you can focus on a specific ERP area of your own choice. 

Centria is working in close collaboration with some of the biggest employers in the field of SAP in Finland. The companies also offer work placements to our students. This hands-on experience will allow you to gain an insight into the SAP operational environment and see and learn how the companies use SAP ERP software in a real work environment. 

Centria is a member of the SAP University Alliance, and therefore we can offer our students access to the SAP Business Suite family of software solutions. This enables you to take the classroom theory into practice, through demonstrations, exercises, case studies, and research. 

The Bachelor’s thesis is a down-to-earth planning project, development project or research project. The thesis project aims to prove that you command the theories and processes related to the field of the business and can adapt them in practice. The thesis project will deepen your professional know-how and give you versatile readiness to operate in the different tasks of management, marketing or financial management. The thesis project is often done as an assignment for some company, either as independent or pair work.  

The scope of the thesis is 15 ECTS.  

In the online library Theseus www.theseus.fi all the previously completed bachelor’s theses are available for everyone. 

Centria has about 130 partner universities around the world, and you can spend a semester or a whole academic year in one of our partner universities. Centria offers three business-related bachelor’s programmes in English, and you are free to choose courses from all of the programmes according to your motivation. You can also do work placements abroad or at an international company in Finland. 

You can integrate your studies at Centria with a business degree in our specific university partners in France and China by spending one year in one of those universities. You will receive two international degrees through one programme, which is a real opportunity for you. This possibility is worth taking – especially if you want to strengthen your language skills and get international experience. 

The different internationalisation possibilities offered by our UAS are worth benefitting from, because many companies appreciate good language and communication skills and international experience. 

The Bachelors of Business Administration have versatile employment opportunities. The graduates can work in many different positions in sales and marketing, development, financial management and general administration. Some of the Bachelors of Business Administration work as entrepreneurs. 

A bachelor’s degree in business management with ERP/SAP specialisation allows you to work in various positions. The majority of our alumni work in private companies. There is a demand for business management professionals and SAP experts also in the public sector. In the future, you can work in sales or marketing, in development management or financial management, to mention a few possibilities. Some of our students have also set up a company, and they work as entrepreneurs. Lots of opportunities are waiting for business management professionals. 

In the future, your potential occupational title can be 

  • export or import manager, 
  • sales representative, 
  • marketing manager, 
  • key accountant, 
  • office manager, 
  • project manager, 
  • purchasing manager, 
  • CEO, 
  • financial manager, 
  • human resource manager and  
  • entrepreneur. 

After you have completed your bachelor’s degree and you have gained at least two years of work experience, you can apply to Centria’s master’s degree programmes. Centria offers several master’s programmes in business management in Finnish and English. You can also continue your studies at a university in Finland or abroad. 

Student selection and tuition fees

Selection method 1: First joint application 2026

Joint Application period is from 7 to 21 January 2026.

Centria University of Applied Sciences uses the following student selection methods during the first joint application 2026: 

International University of Applied Sciences (UAS) Exam: 100 % of study places

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.

Every applicant must submit a document of the English language skills and a valid identification document on the Studyinfo’s application form. Please check the approved documents at UASinfo.fi.

Language requirements during joint application 2026

In order to be invited to the International UAS Exam and to be selected based on the International UAS Exam selection method, the applicants have to prove their English language skills either by an internationally recognized language test or previous studies. Please, check the accepted documents here.

Identification documents during joint application 2026

The applicant needs a valid, acceptable identification document to be able to participate in the International UAS Exam. Please, check the accepted documents here. (Notice: only a passport is accepted from the applicants outside EU/EEA).

Please notice: the UASinfo.fi -website will be updated before the new year for the 2026 application.

More information about admission criteria on the UASinfo website.

NB. Changes may occur.

Selection method 2: Certificate-based selection 

Applicants who have a qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies from the EU/EEA-area, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Turkey, Nepal, India, Vietnam, Indonesia or the Philippines and have acceptable grades can apply in the certificate-based selection. We accept upper/ higher secondary level education and A-level education. The application round is organized between 1 December 2025 and 31 May 2026. Please read more here.  

Selection method 3: SAT application

Applicants who in their past have completed the SAT tests (new version taken after March 2016) can also apply in our SAT application round between 1 December 2025 and 31 May 2026. Please read more information and the admission criteria here.

Please notice that some applicants are obligated to pay tuition fees. If you are not an EU/EEA- citizen or if you do not have a document that exempts you from paying the tuition fees, you are obliged to pay them.

Please note that Centria UAS uses Flywire to accept payments from international students worldwide. This is the only accepted way to pay the tuition fee. Centria does not approach students with any other payment methods. Please only use the payment link provided in the conditional offer letter.

More information about the tuition fees and scholarships can be found here.

How to apply


Rolling admission

Centria’s Rolling Admission is a flexible application process that allows you to apply directly to a degree programme using SAT score-based selection or certificate-based selection. Centria’s Rolling Admission is organized 1.12.2025 – 31.5.2026.


Joint application 7.–21.1.2026

While the application is open you can apply to the degree programme in Studyinfo.


Applying with open UAS studies 1.-30.4 and 1.-31.10.

Students who have completed studies in the Open University of Applied Sciences (UAS) may use the open UAS pathway to apply for degree student status.


Applying with an incomplete degree 1.–30.4 and 1.–31.10.

If you have studied in Centria UAS or in another university in Finland but you have not yet finished your degree, you can re-apply for the same or related degree programme to finish your degree.


Check your eligibility

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 Ex-amination;
  • 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.

Contact us

Do you have questions about studying in the degree programme, studying in Finland or the practicalities of the application process? Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Centrians sitting on the amphi stairs

How to reach us

If you want to know more about studies in the programme, you can contact our Education Export team and they will get back to you.

If you have a question about the practical application process, you can contact our Admissions services.

Students sitting together in the amphi of Kokkola campus

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Student stories

  • – Ernest Hamun & Rafiu Khan, Students

    The teaching is very simple, teachers go straight to the point, and give us the most critical ideas that we need.

    The classrooms are fine, environment is very beautiful, and you can find a really big library. For international students Centria will be a great choice.

  • – Umar Shahzad & Savva Titov, Business Management students

    The overall environment at Centria is very supportive. There are many peaceful places if you want to focus, and a well-equipped library. Teachers are very supportive. Believe me, it feels like I am at my hometown.

  • – Don Duma, Student

    In the end of the day, whatever you study – whatever you are, there’s the company. How and why does it function? Why do things work that way? That’s the main reason I chose to study.


Digitalization is a wave with no return – everywhere and across industries. Our prestige digitalized business management degree program is one rare in the globe – partnering with SAP, which is one of the best ERP systems provider in the world.

Janne Peltoniemi, Principal lecturer

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