Finland guide · How to apply · 3 min read
How to apply to universities in Finland from Nepal: the joint application, step by step.
Most bachelor's and master's programmes in Finland take applications through one joint application on Studyinfo. The main round for studies starting in August or September 2027 runs from 7 to 21 January 2027, with up to 6 choices, and non-EU applicants pay a €100 application fee. Miss it and you usually wait a year. Have your English test, transcripts and certified copies ready by December, because document deadlines come days after the round closes.
The short version
- Main round for August 2027: 7 to 21 January 2027 on Studyinfo, up to 6 choices ranked.
- Non-EU applicants pay a €100 application fee (for programmes starting from August 2025), in Studyinfo.
- Document deadlines fall shortly after the round closes. Prepare everything in December.
- Some programmes add online exams, video tasks or interviews in February to April. Results usually come in spring.
- The scholarship decision often comes with the admission. Rank programmes by cost after scholarship, not by name.
The 2027 timeline
| When | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| October to December 2026 | Programmes publish requirements | Choose 6 programmes; book IELTS if needed; collect transcripts and certified copies |
| 7 to 21 January 2027 | Joint application open on Studyinfo | Submit the form, rank your 6 choices, pay the €100 fee |
| Late January to early February 2027 | Document deadlines (by programme) | Upload or send every document exactly as asked |
| February to April 2027 | Entrance exams, video tasks or interviews (some programmes) | Prepare each programme’s format |
| Spring 2027 | Results | Accept one place in Studyinfo by the deadline |
| April to June 2027 | Tuition (or first instalment) and residence permit | Pay after your NOC; apply to Migri |
| August 2027 | Studies start | Arrive for orientation |
The autumn round (31 August to 10 September 2026) was for January 2027 starts and is much smaller.
Choosing your 6
Rank by fit, then cost after scholarship, not by the university’s name.
| Type | What it’s like | Typical English score |
|---|---|---|
| University (yliopisto) | Research-based; most master’s | Often IELTS 6.5 |
| University of applied sciences (ammattikorkeakoulu, UAS) | Practical, with internships; most English bachelor’s | Often IELTS 6.0 |
From our files. Anita Chaudhary from Nepalgunj had +2 in management (GPA 3.2) and IELTS 6.0, and was sure it wasn’t enough for Finland. We read each university’s admission page instead of a Facebook post: her programme asked for 6.0, not 7. She’s studying International Business in Turku with a 50% tuition waiver.
The documents
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Transcript and certificate (+2 or bachelor’s) | Some programmes want certified copies by post; others accept uploads |
| English test result | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or the tests the programme lists; check the minimum per section |
| Passport | The page with your photo and details |
| Motivation letter, CV | If the programme asks |
| Portfolio or pre-assignment | Design, architecture, some business programmes |
| Proof of exemption from the €100 fee | Only if you’re exempt |
Entrance exams and interviews
Many universities of applied sciences use an online entrance exam (often a shared exam across universities), and some master’s add a video task or an interview. Practise the format with past tasks; most students who fail an entrance exam do so on time management, not on knowledge.
Mistakes that cost a year
- Missing the round. It’s two weeks long, once a year for most programmes.
- Documents in the wrong form. “Certified copy” means exactly what the programme says; a scan isn’t always enough.
- Applying through a friend at the last minute. Our student Santosh B.K. from Dang applied a week late the year before he came to us. We set his deadline two weeks before the real one; he’s now doing an MSc in Oulu with a 75% tuition waiver.
- Six choices with the same weakness. If all six need IELTS 6.5 and you have 6.0, you’ve applied once, six times.
After the offer
Accept the place in Studyinfo, pay the first tuition instalment after your NOC, and apply for your residence permit straight away. Permits often take 1 to 3 months.
