Eligibility

Applicants’ eligibility for higher education studies is assessed on the basis of completed upper secondary education.
Foreign applicants must have completed a qualification that allows them to enter higher education studies in the country where the qualification is awarded.
A good command of written and spoken English is required from applicants. International language tests are required from non-EU/EEA applicants applying for International business

Applicants with a Finnish Qualification

Applicants who have successfully completed the following qualifications have eligibility for studies at a university of applied sciences:

Finnish upper secondary examination or matriculation examination
an International or European Baccalaureate or a Reifeprüfung examination
a vocational qualification of three years or more in duration
further vocational qualification
specialist vocational qualification

A vocational qualification of less than three years in duration gives eligibility for a corresponding field of study. Eligibility for university of applied sciences studies in a corresponding field of study may be broadened into general eligibility for university of applied sciences studies.

Applicants must have completed the required school credential by the end of the application period. However, Finnish as well as international applicants who will complete the Finnish upper secondary education (matriculation examination and IB candidates as well as vocational school graduates) by August 2011 can apply for the international degree programmes. The certificate proving the qualification must have been issued by the date of the acceptance of the study place. The date will be announced to the admitted student in the letter of admission.

Those applicants who are applying with competence based vocational qualification or competence based further vocational qualification must have completed their studies by the end of the application period.

The selection is not final until the original certificates have been checked. The candidates have to bring their original certificates of completed education and qualifications to the university of applied sciences before the beginning of studies. If an applicant has given false information about his/her qualifications, it will make him/her ineligible for admission to the university of applied sciences or subject to dismissal.

Applicants with a Non-Finnish Qualification

Applicants must have completed upper secondary education in an educational establishment that is officially recognised in their country of origin. Eligibility to enrol in an institution of higher education of corresponding level in the country of origin is required. For international applicants there is a list of admission requirements according to the country of the applicants which is available at the Internet: www.oamk.fi/guide/list. Please check your eligibility before completing the online application. If an applicant has a qualification that is not mentioned on the list, it does not necessarily mean, that the applicant is ineligible. The list does not necessarily cover all qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Office (admissions#oamk.fi (korvaa # -> @)) for further information.

Applicants must have completed the required school credential by the end of the application period.

NOTE! EU/EEA Applicants

If an applicant who is applying with a non-Finnish qualification is a citizen of an EU/EEA-country, he/she can apply if the qualification is completed during the spring of applying. The certificate proving the qualification must have been issued by the date of the acceptance of the study place. The date will be announced to the admitted student in the letter of admission. The admission of such an EU/EEA –applicant completing his/her education in the spring of applying is conditional until the university of applied sciences has checked the applicant’s final certificates.

NOTE! If an applicant has completed upper secondary education both in Finland and abroad and is eligible for higher education studies in both cases, the applicant can choose which educational achievement he/she will use when applying to the Oulu University of Applied Sciences.

Discretionary Admission

If a university of applied sciences uses discretionary admission, other applicants may also be admitted, if the university of applied sciences considers their skills and knowledge sufficient. However, discretionary admission is not applied at Oulu University of Applied Sciences when assessing the eligibility of the applicant. General eligibility or eligibility in a corresponding field is required in all programmes of Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Discretionary admission is, however, applied in the Degree Programmes in Business Information Technology and Information Technology when assessing the language skills of the applicant. Applicants of these two programmes do not have to send language skills certificates with their application. The language skills of the applicants will be evaluated in the entrance examination. However, if an applicant of Business Information Technology or Information Technology wishes to be taken into consideration in the discretionary admission, he/she must send his/her certificates of completed upper secondary education and their official translations proving eligibility to the Admissions Office of Oulu University of Applied Sciences by the end of the application period, if Oulu UAS is the applicant’s 2., 3. or 4. choice. First choice applicants must always send their certificates showing eligibility to the UAS of their first choice.

More information about eligibility can be found in the chapter on admissions criteria.