Study in FinlandGeneral requirements
First cycle studies (bachelor's)
If you have successfully completed upper secondary studies in one of the signatory countries of the Lisbon Convention, are in possession of a valid school leaving certificate and qualify for higher education studies in your home country, you may also qualify for higher education studies in Finland. However, you are requested to prove your level of English. In some cases, you are also requested to take additional qualifying courses.
Second cycle studies (master's)
If you are applying for a master's program at university in Finland, you are required to be in possession of a relevant bachelor's or equivalent degree diploma.
Third cycle studies (PhD)
In the event you are applying for doctoral studies at university in Finland, you are required to be in possession of a relevant diploma or master's degree program.
English language requirements
EU students
If you are an EU student, you may be exempted from the English language test at the majority of polytechnics and universities in Finland as long as you provide a certificate of your language skills.
Non-EU students
If English was not the language of instruction of your previous studies and you are not a student from another state of the European Union or EEA, you will need to prove your English language skills with one of the following:
- IELTS: a minimum score of 5,5
- TOEFL: score 550 paper-based test/ 213 computer-based/ 79-80 Internet-based test
The Finnish Matriculation Examination
Upon completion of upper secondary studies, Finnish students take the Matriculation Examination. The purpose of this exam is to check the level of maturity and knowledge of students. When passing the Matriculation Examination, students are able to apply for higher education studies.
If you have not taken or passed the university entrance exams in your home country and would like to apply for undergraduate studies in Finland, you may need to take the Finnish Matriculation Examination.
[Click here to learn more about the Finnish Matriculation Examination]
Are you uncertain whether you have to take the Finnish Matriculation Examination?
If you are not sure whether you should be taking the Finnish Matriculation Examination in order to qualify for higher education studies in Finland, we recommend you contact the university or polytechnic you are interested in and ask about your specific situation.
View a list of higher education institutions in Finland
Do you have any questions regarding the Finnish Matriculation Examination?
You may contact the Finnish Matriculation Examination Board through the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Alternatively, click here to learn more about how to contact the Finnish Matriculation Examination Board.
Minimum grade point requirement to access higher education studies in Finland
When applying for a study place at a university or polytechnic in Finland as an undergraduate student, your grade point average from previous studies or the results you obtain in entrance examinations will determine whether you will be admitted or not. Therefore, always check with the university or polytechnic of your choice about the minimum passing grade you need to meet.
You can use the European grades comparison chart to learn how you would score in Europe.
