🇫🇮 How to apply to university in Finland

Applications go through Studyinfo.fi (Opintopolku) joint application. Programmes usually start: August/September; a few English-taught programmes start in January.

Checked on 20 October 2026 against the official sources listed below.

The essentials

Application system: Studyinfo.fi (Opintopolku) joint applicationThe national portal for joint applications. Some programmes run separate applications with their own dates, mainly December–January.
When programmes start: August/September; a few English-taught programmes start in January.
International applicants: International students apply through the same Studyinfo.fi portal. Non-EU/EEA applicants generally pay a €100 application fee and, once admitted, apply to Migri for a student residence permit.
Language: English test (commonly IELTS, TOEFL and others) at the level each university sets, unless exempt.

Key dates

Add all these dates to my calendar (.ics)

The autumn 2026 joint application (31 August – 10 September 2026, for January 2027 starts) has closed. Programmes with separate applications set their own dates, some opening in late 2026.

Date	What	Who	Intake	Source	Calendar
7 January 2027 –21 January 2027	Joint application for English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes	All applicants to programmes in the January joint application	Autumn 2027 entry	Study in Finland — Prepare for 2027

A window shows its opening date above its closing date. Individual universities and programmes can set earlier dates of their own — always confirm on the official page before you rely on a date. The calendar file adds each date as an all-day event with a reminder a week before.

Your checklist

The usual steps for an international student applying to a bachelor's in Finland, in order. Tick them off as you go — your ticks stay in this browser, with no account.

1.Search English-taught programmes on Studyinfo.fi and check eligibility for your school-leaving certificate.
2.Check whether the programme is in the 7–21 January 2027 joint application or uses its own separate application.
3.Take an English test the university accepts, if required.
4.Apply on Studyinfo.fi — up to six programmes in one joint application.
5.Pay the €100 application fee if you're from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland.
6.Take any entrance exam, test or interview the programme requires.
7.Accept your study place on Studyinfo.fi.
8.Apply for a student residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) through Enter Finland.
9.Arrange housing and tuition payment (or your scholarship) before you arrive.

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Next steps

Sources

Written by CollegeMatcher in our own words from these official pages, checked on 20 October 2026. Dates change every year.