Eligibility to apply for Bachelor studies

Eligible applicants for Bachelor studies have completed at least one of the following: 

• the studies required for graduating from the Finnish upper secondary school or a Matriculation Examination;
• an International Baccalaureate (IB) degree and/or graduated from IB high school (IB Diploma Results/IB Certificate); 
• a European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma;
• a Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA) degree;
• a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification covering 120 credits or 180 competence points or a corresponding earlier Finnish vocational degree covering at least 80 credits;
• a Finnish post-secondary or higher vocational level diploma;
• a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification or a further or specialist vocational qualification as a competence-based qualification, or a corresponding previous qualification;
• a foreign qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies in that country;
• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree.

The qualification must be completed by the end of the application period. However, this doesn’t apply to those who are graduating by the summer 2027. In the Joint application, if the applicant has not graduated by the end of the application period, the degree must be completed and the final certificate submitted by 13 July 2027. In the Direct application, the degree must be completed and the final certificate submitted by 31 July 2027.

Copies of certificates must be uploaded to the application form. Copies of certificates are required from everyone whose basic education information is not available electronically: Matriculation Examination completed before 1990 in Finland; applicants applying with a Finnish upper secondary school certificate only; EB, IB, RP/DIA applicants; vocational degrees completed before 2017 in Finland; all degrees completed outside Finland.

If the applicant is graduating after the application period ends, he/she must upload to the application form a copy of the transcript of records or other document by the set date. The transcript of records or other document must state that the applicant will complete the degree by 13 July 2027 (Joint application) or 31 July 2027 (Direct application).

If the language of the certificate is other than Finnish, Swedish or English, an official translation must also be submitted. The translation must be signed and stamped by the authorized translator. 

Admitted students’ eligibility for application will be verified. Savonia UAS may require to see original documents before studies start. Savonia UAS may cancel the applicant’s study place if the applicant fails to submit the required documents by the set date or if the applicant has provided incorrect personal information.

Applicants with a refugee / refugee-like situation

If an applicant is a refugee or in a refugee-like situation and is unable to submit documentary evidence of his / her qualification, he / she can still apply to Savonia UAS. The applicant must have an official decision attesting to his / her refugee status, e.g. a decision on asylum or a residence permit granted on the basis of a need for protection.  

In addition to filling in the online application form during the application period at Studyinfo.fi, an applicant with a refugee / refugee-like situation must upload to the application form a copy of the decision by the set date. 

Additional requirements to Nursing applicants

Legislation relating to aptitude

The so-called SORA legislation applies to education leading to a UAS degree in the fields of social services and health care, humanities and education, sports and exercise and seafaring. These fields have requirements concerning the safety of minors, patient and client safety or traffic safety which restrict student admission.

In the field of health care and social services the studies include working with customer groups requiring special protection, in which case ethical requirements and requirements for patient or customer safety are crucial. The health and functional capacity of students shall be such that they are capable of performing assignments and practical training related to their studies.

Those applying to the field should bear in mind that: 

• studying and working in a profession of this field requires sufficient physical, mental and social capacity
• the field of health care and social services is not suitable for individuals convicted of one of the following: offences against children, sexual offences, violent offences, crimes against freedom, or drug offences
• the field is not suitable for those who have been drug or alcohol abusers during the last two years
• conditions such as musculoskeletal diseases, chronic skin diseases, allergies and mental health disorders may lead to health issues during studies or later on in working life
• blood-borne illnesses may restrict practical training and, after graduation, the students’ placement in work assignments
• many health care and social services operating units care for patients/clients susceptible to infections, and in order to work at these units, students and staff must have up-to-date vaccination cover (e.g. measles, chicken pox, whooping cough). In addition, annual influenza vaccination is required. The required vaccinations are free of charge for students in the field of health care and social services.

Applicants are required to provide information concerning their health status and functional capacity as required to assess admission at the request of the university of applied sciences concerned, as well as information on any possible prior decision on cancellation of their study entitlement. 

Students are required to produce an extract from criminal records at the request of the university of applied sciences if working with minors forms an essential part of the tasks assigned to them during their studies or work placement periods that are part of their studies.

Universities of applied sciences are entitled to require a student to produce a certificate of a drugs test if there is any reason to suspect that the student is under the influence of drugs during practical assignments or during a work placement that is part of their studies, or that the student is addicted to drugs.s.