Eligibility to higher education

This page offers information on the previous education providing eligibility to apply to the Bachelor’s Programme in Science and to the International Master's Programmes. Please find information for the joint application system on the Finnish and Swedish language versions of this page.
What gives eligibility to higher education?

If you have completed or will complete one of the below-mentioned degrees providing eligibility for higher education by 2 September 2024, you can submit an application to the Bachelor’s Programme in Science at the University of Helsinki in winter/spring 2023/2024.

The Bachelor's Programme in Science has two separate admission processes with different application periods. The correct application period is determined by your previous education. Read more about admission groups on the page Apply to Bachelor's Programme in Science.

 

You can apply to a Bachelor's Programme if you have one of the following:

  • The Finnish matriculation examination
  • The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP)
  • The European Baccalaureate diploma from a European School (EB)
  • The Reifeprüfung examination (RP)
  • The Deutsches Internationales Abitur examination (DIA)
  • As referred to in the Vocational Education and Training Act, a vocational upper secondary qualification, a further vocational qualification or a specialist vocational qualification (at the University of Helsinki, these include previous degrees of a more limited scope than are considered equivalent to current degrees)
  • A degree completed at a university, university of applied sciences or the Finnish National Defence University
  • Education completed outside Finland that provides eligibility for equivalent higher education in the relevant country
  • The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate (AICE)
  • Eligibility for higher education based on other prior learning
  • An exemption decision previously granted by a dean or the chancellor of the University of Helsinki

Please note that a Finnish general upper secondary education certificate without a matriculation examination does not provide eligibility for academic education.

If you currently hold the right to complete a degree at the University of Helsinki, you cannot be granted a new right to complete a degree in the same degree programme. Please read all the regulations relating to a new right granted to former or current University of Helsinki students to complete a degree.
What gives eligibility to apply for master’s programmes

If you have completed or will complete by 2 September 2024 one of the below-mentioned degrees providing eligibility, you can submit an application in winter/spring 2023/2024. 

You can apply to the master’s programmes at the University of Helsinki to complete the master’s degree if you have one of the following:

  • A degree completed at a university
  • A degree completed at a university of applied sciences
  • A degree completed at the Finnish National Defence University
  • Education completed outside Finland that provides eligibility for equivalent higher education in the relevant country

If you currently hold the right to complete a degree at the University of Helsinki, you cannot be granted a new right to complete a degree in the same degree programme. Please read all the regulations relating to a new right granted to former or current University of Helsinki students to complete a degree.
Proving your language skills

To be eligible, you also need to prove your language skills. Read about accepted methods for proving your language skills for International Master's Programmes or Proving your English language skills - Bachelor's Programme in Science.