Admission offered to 8 650 applicants in the spring joint application to higher education
The selection in the joint application consisted of programmes offered in English and programmes offered by University of the Arts Helsinki. There were 8,600 study places available in 431 degree programmes.
The number of applicants, 26,100, was halved from last year. Two thirds of applicants were from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. In 2024, there were 63,000 applicants, 80% of whom were from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
The acceptance rate rose to 33% from 18% in 2024. The acceptance rate to universities of applied sciences (UAS) was 32% and to universities 27%.
Around 3,650 applicants applied to studies in the University of the Arts Helsinki, of whom 10% were accepted.
Share of Finnish applicants increased in admission offer recipients
Applicants from 148 countries applied in the joint application, and applicants from 121 countries were offered admission. 31% of Finnish applicants and 34% of applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland were offered admission.
Around 29% of the accepted applicants are Finnish citizens. The same number for applicants outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland was 62%. Last year, these shares were 23% and 71%, respectfully. In addition to Finland, the most common nationalities among the accepted applicants were Bangladesh (10%), Pakistan (9%), Sri Lanka (7%) and Nigeria (6%).
Most of the applicants applying to English-taught degree programmes are from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and as such they are required to pay tuition fees. Starting from 1 Jan 2025, they are also required to pay an application fee of 100 euros to apply to Bachelor's or Master's level studies in Finland. The implementation of application fees can be seen as one factor for the diminishing applicant numbers. For example, the number of Bangladeshi applicants dropped by over 5,000.
Fiercest competition in the field of culture and arts
Once again, the competition was hardest in field of culture and arts, with only 14% of applicants being accepted, as well as the field of agriculture and forestry with an acceptance rate of 17%. With an acceptance rate of 27%, the easiest fields to gain admission to were Information and communication technologies as well as business, administration and law.
50% of the students were accepted to bachelor's degree programmes, while 53% were accepted to master’s degree programmes.
Offer of admission to be accepted by July 10
The applicants have been informed of the results of the joint application on the 28th of May at the latest. The offer of admission must be accepted by July 10, before 3 PM EEST (UTC+3). Applicants can be admitted from a waiting list until the 5th of August.
The higher education institutions can organize supplementary application rounds to fill study places left vacant in the joint application. The higher education institutions independently decide if they will organize supplementary application rounds, and the programmes and instructions on how and when to apply are published on Studyinfo and the institutions’ websites once the decisions have been made. These programmes can be applied to via Studyinfo.
Since 2020, the joint application to higher education has been divided into two separate joint applications. In the first joint application, one can apply to degree programmes offered in English and to programmes offered by University of the Arts Helsinki. In the second joint application in spring, one can apply to degree programmes offered in Finnish and Swedish. The studies begin in autumn 2025.
Additional information:
Senior Adviser Topias Kähärä, topias.kahara [at] oph.fi, tel. 029 533 1758
Senior Adviser Mikko Eronen, mikko.eronen [at] oph.fi, tel. 029 533 1485