The Lisbon Recognition Convention, a convention on the recognition of higher education qualifications in the European region, is in force in Finland. The Lisbon Convention is in force in nearly all European countries. It aims at facilitating academic recognition of qualifications by improving the recognition procedures and increasing transparency.
In Finland, the universities and universities of applied sciences, the National Defence University, and the Åland University of Applied Sciences come within the scope of the Lisbon Convention.
Recommendations on among others the use of qualifications frameworks as tools in recognition, the criteria and procedures for the assessment on foreign qualifications, transnational education, joint degrees, and recognition of qualifications held by refugees have been accepted as appendices to the Lisbon Convention.
Academic recognition of qualifications and studies
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• admitting someone to studies based on a foreign education, and
• crediting of studies completed abroad towards a Finnish qualification.

In Finland, education providers and higher education institutions are responsible for academic recognition. They decide on the admission of applicants who have completed their studies abroad and on the crediting of studies and other learning towards a Finnish qualification.
Upon request, the Finnish National Agency for Education provides information to education providers and higher education institutions to support academic recognition.
Lisbon Convention on academic recognition of qualifications
Information exchange networks
ENIC (European Network of Information Centres) - and NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centres) -networks share information on higher education systems, higher education degrees, recognition procedures and good practices in recognition of qualifications. The Finnish National Agency for Education represents Finland in the networks.
The Nordic ENIC- and NARIC-offices form a Nordic National Recognition Information Centres (NORRIC) -network.
The websites of the networks provide information on education systems and recognition of qualifications in different countries as well as jointly developed material to support recognition of qualifications.
Information about foreign systems of education
The Finnish National Agency for Education has published diagrams on foreign systems education. They are meant for guidance and counselling purposes as well as for student admission professionals.