How to apply

Apply to our international Master's Programmes

The University of Vaasa is a multidisciplinary and internationally recognised business-oriented university on the western coast of Finland. You will find more information about the instructions on how to apply to our University here.

We have two application processes annually, rolling admission and joint admission:

In the rolling admission, we accept applications from applicants with previous degree from a higher education institution outside of Finland. All applicants who meet the selection criteria in the rolling admission, will be accepted in the order they apply, until the intake is full.

The joint application round is open for applicants with previous degrees from inside or outside Finland. The admission results are published in Spring, once all applications have been processed.

Please see the exact application deadlines below.

Apply

The University of Vaasa currently offers eight Master's programmes in English for international and Finnish applicants. You may apply to our university with different statuses depending on your educational background and language skills.

We accept international Master's students to our programmes annually. There are no entrance examinations to the international Master's programmes, but the admission decisions are made on the basis of the required application documents. The language of instruction in these programmes is English.

You can apply to the programmes even if you have not yet graduated. If you have not graduated by the time you apply, you are required to submit an officially certified copy of your latest transcript of records. You should submit the documents you have when you apply and if you receive the degree certificate and the final transcript of records during the application period, it is recommended that you submit them as well. You can be conditionally accepted with an unfinished degree, and you will need to graduate and meet the admission criteria (e.g. GPA or thesis grade requirements), as well as present your degree certificate and final transcript of records to the University of Vaasa by the 11th July 2024.

If you have any questions about the admissions process, you are welcome to contact us by e-mail at admissions(at)uwasa.fi.

Application process

We will accept applications for autumn 2024 intake as follows:

The Early bird rolling admission will take place from the 1st November 2023 until the 2nd January 2024, or until the intake is full.
The joint application round will take place from the 3rd to 17th January 2024.
The Final call rolling admission will take place from the 4th March until the 30th April, or until the intake is full.

Studies begin in August 2024 regardless of the application process the student was admitted through. Read more detailed information about the application processes to our international Master's degree programmes below.

Application process in joint admission

Submitting your documents in joint admission

Application process in rolling admission

Submitting your documents in rolling admission

Admission Criteria

As admission is based on the documents you submit along with your application, it is very important that you prepare your application with care and submit all the required documents. The programmes only evaluate complete applications, i.e. applications that contain all the required documents.

The eligibility for studies in the Master's programmes is evaluated on the basis of your previous education. According to the Universities Act (558/2009), section 37, eligible for studies leading only to a higher university degree shall be a person who has

1. an applicable lower university degree;
2. an applicable polytechnic degree; or
3. an applicable education completed abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding higher education.

The function of the Finnish universities is stipulated in legislation. The Universities Act (558/2009) and the Government Decree on University Degrees, among other decrees, define the objectives, extent and overall structure of degrees. The quality assurance system of the university has passed the audit conducted by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC).

The study programmes have more detailed admission criteria which they apply in the selection of new students. These criteria, for example, specify the required success in previous studies or level of language skills which is expected of applicants.

Programme specific-criteria in joint admission

Programme-specific criteria in rolling admission

Country-specific requirements

Language requirements

Required Information on the Transcript of Records

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

Admission Results

Information for parents

Contact information

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding the admission processes or studying in the international Master's programmes at the University of Vaasa.

Admission Services contact details

January 2024 intake for the Master's Programme in Industrial Management

This application round has closed on the 18th September 2023.

On the link below, you can find the admission criteria, application instructions and other important information regarding the January intake.

FAQ

Do I need a GMAT?: No, we do not require GMAT test for admission. Selection of the applicants is done based on their application documents.
I have completed my Bachelor's degree in English, do I need a language test?: Depending on where your degree was obtained. See language requirements here.
I have a Bachelor's degree from a Finnish Higher Education Institution, do I need a language test?: If in your previous degree you have completed language studies in English, your language criteria is met. See language requirements here.
My language test score is below the minimum requirements. Can I still apply?: The language criteria is exact, and if you have scored under the minimum requirement you won't be eligible for admission.
Do I need to certify my documents? Do I need to certify Finnish degree certificates?: Yes, all copies of your educational documents attached to your application need to be officially certified - this is with a stamp, date and signature for example by the institution which issued the original document or a notary public. Copies certified correct by two individuals not representing an official body are not accepted. However, if the University of Vaasa requires the documents from your degree-awarding country in another way (country-specific requirements), please follow those instructions first and foremost. Please consult the country-specific requirements to see if they concern your degree-awarding country.

If you are completing or have completed your degree at one of the Finnish universities or universities of applied sciences and your degree was completed at the earliest on 1 January 2003, you do not need to submit officially certified copies, as University of Vaasa has electronic access to required information. However, photocopies of the degree certificate and transcript of records need to be submitted.
Can I apply to more than one programme at the University of Vaasa?: Yes! If you wish to apply for admission to more than one programme, please choose all the programmes you apply to on your application form. Please note, that in rolling admission, you can only apply to a maximum of two of our programmes.
Can I apply even if I haven't graduated yet?: You can apply to the programmes even if you have not yet graduated. If you have not graduated by the time the application period for the programme begins, you are required to submit an officially certified copy of your latest Transcript of records (please also see Country-Specific Requirements). If you receive the Degree Certificate and the final Transcript of Records during the application period, it is recommended that you submit them as well. You should point out the anticipated graduation date on the application and submit the documents that are available by the time you apply. If you are accepted with an unfinished degree, the acceptance is conditional and you will need to present your Degree Certificate and final Transcript of Records that meet the admission criteria, to the University by the given deadline in July.
Are recommendation letters mandatory? How can I attach them to my application?: Recommendation letters are not requested. Additional documents, such as diplomas or transcripts of additional studies can be uploaded to the application form, to the section reserved for "other documents". These documents are not mandatory.
When do the studies begin?: If you are accepted, orientation days for new students take place towards the end of August and courses start in early September. New students are also required to register at the University by the given deadline.
If I am accepted, can I postpone my studies?: New master's students must accept or decline the offered study place bindingly. Master's programmes offered by the University of Vaasa are included in the one study place per term provision. You can therefore accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term.

In addition, students must register at the University personally by the given deadline at the very latest. Please also note that you have to start your studies in the programme in the beginning of the autumn semester and register as attending for the whole academic year. You cannot register as non-attending for the first academic year and you cannot postpone the beginning of your studies to the next semester or academic year.
Can I transfer credits?: University of Vaasa does not have transfer agreements with any universities at the moment. If you are accepted to a Master's programme you are required to complete 120 ECTS.
Are there tuition fees and do you have scholarships available?: Annual tuition fees vary between 10 000 and 12 000 EUR, depending on the Master's programme. University of Vaasa provides a scholarship scheme for students who are subject to tuition fees. You can apply for the scholarship at the same time when applying for the admission to the Master's Programme. More information on tuition fees and scholarships is available here.
Who can I contact if I have questions?: If you have questions on how to apply or about the admission criteria, you are most welcome to contact the Admission Services of the University of Vaasa at admissions(at)uwasa.fi.

Please note that there might be delays in the responses during holiday seasons and the application period, therefore it is important that you read the admission criteria carefully through to make sure your application is complete.