Eligibility for studies at UAS depends on completing

• The Finnish Matriculation Examination or Finnish upper secondary education,
• European Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate or Reifeprüfung examination,
• A Finnish vocational qualification of three years or more in duration or
• An applicable foreign degree or qualification which gives eligibility for higher education in the awarding country.

A vocational qualification of less than three years in duration gives eligibility to a corresponding field of study.

The educational qualification used in the joint application during the spring must be completed at the latest 31 July. The educational qualification must be completed by the end of the application period if the applicant is applying with:

• A specialist vocational qualification
• A further vocational qualification
• A degree completed in a foreign country, if the applicant is not a citizen of an EU/EEA-country

All applicants must also prove that they have a sufficient knowledge of English language.

English Language Skills

Applicant who is not a citizen of an EU/EEA-country  and who applies with a foreign qualification must provide proof of his/her English language skills. In order to prove the applicant's English language skills, he/she must provide one of the following minimum requirements:

• IELTS score academic level 6.0
• TOEFL score 550 paper-based test/ 79-80 internet -based test
• skills level 4 in English in the Finnish National Certificate of Language Certificate (http://www.oph.fi/ => mobility => testing language skills).

Both TOEFL and IELTS test results are valid for two years. The Finnish National Certificate of Language Profiency does not have a set date of validity. TOEFL score results are only accepted directly from the Educational Testing Service.

In addition, upper secondary school education or Bachelor's or Master's degree in English completed in Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand or Bachelor's or Master's degree conducted in English in a European Union or European Economic Area -country, is also accepted as a demonstration of sufficient English language skills. No other countries will be considered.

An applicant must provide a certificate of his/her language skills to his/her first-choice polytechnic/UAS by 24 February 2012.

Applicant who is a citizen of an EU/EEA-country: Polytechnics/UAS evaluate applicants' language skills in a language test included in the entrance examination. An applicant who fails the language test is withdrawn from admission. An applicant can be exempted from the language test, if he or she has provided a certificate of his/her language skills to his/her first-choice polytechnic/UAS by 24 February 2012.

• IELTS score academic level 6.0
• TOEFL score 550 paper-based test/ 79-80 internet -based test
• grade C in the Finnish Matriculation examination in advanced level English
• skills level 4 in English in the Finnish National Certificate of Language Certificate (http://www.oph.fi/ => mobility => testing language skills).

Please note that some degree programmes require participation in the entrance examination's language test.

Discretionary admission

Saimaa University of Applied Sciences uses discretionary admission. This means that also other applicants may be admitted, if Saimaa UAS considers their skills and knowledge sufficient. In discretionary admission the applicant is evaluated by the result of the entrance examination only.

If an applicant has a valid IELTS score academic level 5,5 he/she can apply for discretionary admission. The applicant's language skills will be evaluated in the language test included in the entrance examination on a pass/fail basis. An applicant who fails the language test is withdrawn from admission.

An applicant who wants to apply for discretionary admission, can apply at www.admissions.fi. In addition he/she has to send the copies of relevant certificates to our admissions office and inform us that he/she is applying for discretionary admission. The copies of relevant certificates has to be delivered to the Admissions Office by 24 February 2012 at 4.15 p.m. Finnish time.