How to apply to Master's programmes
Apply to our international Master's programmes
Every year, we welcome international master's students without entrance exams. Admission decisions are based on your application documents. Check the specific instructions and deadlines below.
We have two applications to Master's programmes for autumn 2025 intake:
- Rolling admission is open only to applicants who have completed their previous degree at a non-Finnish higher education institution. Applicants who meet the criteria will be accepted in the order that they apply until the intake is full.
- Joint admission is open to those with previous degrees from Finland or abroad. Results of the joint application round are announced in spring after all applications have been processed.
Even if you have not graduated yet, you can still apply!
Just submit an officially certified copy of your latest transcript of records. Submit the documents that you have at the time of application and if you receive your degree certificate and final transcript of records during the application period, send them too. You might be conditionally accepted pending graduation. Make sure to meet our admission criteria (e.g. CGPA) and present your degree certificate and final transcript of records to us by 10 July 2025.
Application deadlines and instructions
Applying for autumn 2025? Here's how!
Master's programmes
- Rolling admission: Apply from 21 October 2024 at 16:00 (UTC+3) to 31 March 2025 at 15:00 (UTC+3), Technology programmes open until 30 April 2025 at 15:00 (UTC+3)
- Apply here
- Joint application round: Apply from 8 January 2025 at 8:00 (UTC+2) to 22 January 2025 at 15:00 (UTC+2)
Please note: In the joint application to master's programmes applicants from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland are required to pay an application fee (100€) in order to apply to higher education studies. For more information, please visit Studyinfo.
Admissions criteria
As our admission decisions are based on the documents that you submit along with your application, it is very important that you prepare your application with care and submit all necessary documents. We only consider applications that contain all the required documents.
You are eligible to apply to our bachelor's programme if you have completed or will complete by 10th July 2025 one of the following qualifications:
- Finnish matriculation examination
- International Baccalaureate diploma (IB), completed in an accredited IB school
- European Baccalaureate examination (EB), completed in an accredited EB school
- Deutsches Internationales Abitur diploma (DIA) or Reifeprüfung diploma (RP) in Finland
- Upper secondary education completed outside Finland (general or vocational), e.g. high school diploma. The qualification has to give eligibility to university-level studies in the country in question. The level of education and qualification must correspond to the Finnish education that provide eligibility to apply for 180 ECTS Bachelor's degree.
Eligibility for our master's programmes depends on your previous education. As per the Universities Act (558/2009), section 37, you’re eligible if you have:
- a relevant bachelor’s degree from a university;
- a relevant bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences; or
- relevant study programme completed abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding higher education.
Each programme has more detailed admissions criteria that cover, for example, success in previous studies and level of language skills.
Finnish universities function under specific legislation, like the Universities Act (558/2009) and the Government Decree on University Degrees. Our quality assurance system has passed the audit by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC).
University of Vaasa values diversity and is committed to equality in education and across our admissions process. Applicants are selected on the basis of their individual merits, abilities and aptitudes.
