Eligibility and required documents
To verify your eligibility, you must submit educational documents to the University of Eastern Finland in electronic format as attachments to your application. Follow the instructions provided on Studyinfo, and ensure all documents are uploaded by the specified deadline. Make sure each document is uploaded to the correct section of the application form. Paper copies are not required during the application period. On this page you can read more on how to prove your eligibility.
You are required to submit:
- Certification of completed secondary education degree
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Any other program-specific attachments
In most cases, you are eligible to apply for bachelor's level studies in Finland if you are qualified to apply for higher education in your home country. An upper secondary education certificate is required. University of Eastern Finland evaluates the authenticity of your educational certificates. Any malpractice (e.g. counterfeit documents or fraudulent information) will be reported to the authorities.
Certification of completed secondary education degree
An eligible applicant for bachelor’s degree programme has completed at least one of the following:
- Finnish matriculation examination*
- International Baccalaureate degree (IB)
- European Baccalaureate degree (EB)
- Deutsches Internationales Abitur degree (DIA) or Reifeprüfung degree (RP) in Finland
- A Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification, further vocational qualification or specialist vocational qualification as set in the Vocational Education Act (531/2017)*
- any other comparable upper secondary educational qualification which provides eligibility for university-level bachelor’s studies in the country in question.
- Cambridge Assessment International Education A-level or Advanced International Certificate of Education degree (AICE), or
- has the right to study towards a university degree in Finland, or
- holds a degree conferred by a Finnish higher education institution or
- holds at least a bachelor level degree conferred by a foreign institution.
*Applicants who have completed their Finnish matriculation examination in or after 1990 or a vocational qualification in Finland in or after 2017 do not need to upload degree certificate as these are electronically available through Studyinfo.
If these documents are issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, official translations into one of these languages are required. All translations must be completed by either the degree-awarding institution or an authorized translator. Each page of the translation must bear the translator’s stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be exact copies of the original documents. Self-translated documents will not be accepted.
Students graduating after the application period
Applicants who are in the final semester of their upper secondary education are also eligible to apply. The programmes will also conditionally accept applicants who have not graduated by the end of the application period. Conditionally accepted applicants are required to:
1) indicate their expected graduation date in their application
2) submit the latest official transcript of records by the end of the application period
3) provide the final officially certified degree certificate to the University of Eastern Finland within the set deadlines.
Submission timelines for students who have not yet graduated
Applicants graduating in 2025 must meet the following deadlines:
- For comparable upper secondary educational qualifications awarded by foreign institution that provide eligibility for university-level bachelor’s studies in your home country: Submit the most recent grades with translations by 29 January 2025 at 3 PM (EET). Final grades with translations must be submitted by 10 July 2025 at 3 PM (EET).
- For bachelor’s degrees awarded by a foreign institution: Submit the most recent transcript with translations by 29 January 2025 at 3 PM (EET). The final certificate with translations must be submitted by 30 May 2025 at 3 PM (EET).
- For International Baccalaureate (IB) and European Baccalaureate (EB) diplomas: Predicted grades must be submitted by 3 April 2025 at 3 PM (EET). Final grades are due by 10 July 2025 at 3 PM (EET).*
- For the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) diploma: Final grades must be submitted by 30 April 2025 at 3 PM (EET).
- For Finnish matriculation examination: Grades from your organization will be submitted electronically directly to UEF.
*Applicants receiving an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma in spring 2025 must apply for a Transcript of Grades from the IB organization to be submitted electronically directly to UEF by 10 July 2025 at 3 PM (EET). The IB organization will submit the final grades electronically.
If educational documents are issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, official translations into one of these languages are required.
Verification of educational documents for accepted students
Applicants will be conditionally accepted if their degree has been completed outside Finland. Accepted students are required to send the verified certificates/ diplomas of completed education degree to the university by the set deadlines. We will assess the eligibility and authenticity of educational certificates for all applicants. More information about the verification of official documents.
Certification of English language skills
It is crucial for the admissions process that applicants verify their language skills as required by the University of Eastern Finland. Only the methods listed in the admission requirements will be accepted for proving language proficiency. No waivers to the language proficiency requirement exist.
Applicants must submit one of the following documents during the admission period:
- A scanned copy of the English language test result OR
- A degree certificate which proves your language skills. A language test is not required if you have completed your secondary education or university degree in English language OR
- A certificate of Matriculation examination.
If you verify your language skills with your education degree, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents. At the application state we require scanned copies attached (uploaded) to the application form. Paper copies are not required during the application period.
Read more on language requirements.
Programme-specific documents
Programs may also require additional documents, such as reference letters, academic recommendations, motivation letters, or CVs. Please refer to the program's website and follow the instructions provided on Studyinfo.