Student selection process at VAMK Vaasa University of Applied Sciences
Education system in Finland and polytechnics The Finnish education system is composed of nineyear basic education (comprehensive school); upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education; and higher education, provided by universities and polytechnics. The Finnish higher education system comprises 20 universities and 26 polytechnics governed by the Ministry of Education.
Education system in Finland and polytechnics Education offered at polytechnics/uas is more practical and more focused on vocational skills than at the universities. Bachelor degree programmes take about 3.5 to 4.5 years to complete. Polytechnics/UAS provide degree programmes in the following fields of vocational education and training: humanities and education; culture; natural sciences; natural resources and the environment; tourism, catering and domestic services; health and sports; technology, communications and transport; social sciences, business and administration.
Studies at VAMK At VAMK the education in English is offered at three different degree programmes: Tourism, Information Technology and International Business. Studies at Finnish or Swedish language are provided also in the fields of Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Health and Sports. Bachelor degree programme consists of five modules: basic studies, vocational studies, work practise, free studies and a final project. The scope of the Bachelor degree is usually 210 study credits, even though degrees of 240 and 270 exist.
Studies in Finland Higher education in Finland is free of charge. A non- EU student must prove that he/she is able to support his or her living in Finland during the studies. The required sum of money is 500 euros per month or 6000 euros per year. Students coming from the EU countries do not need a visa when studying in Finland. Students coming from other than EU countries need a visa when they stay less than three months in Finland (taking an entrance examination, for example).
Studies in Finland EU citizens and the citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland do not need a residence permit when studying in Finland. For a stay longer than three months period, students from EU countries need to register their right to reside in Finland at the local police department. Students coming from Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Iceland do not need to have a clarification on their financing.
Application practicalities Applying to programmes conducted in English at polytechnics/uas takes place through a system of online joint application (www.admissions.fi). Prospective students can apply to four different degree programmes at polytechnics/uas using the same application form The application takes place one s a year, some Polytechnics/UAS is Finland have another application round in Autumn.
Eligibility for Bachelor level studies upper secondary education or matriculation examination completed in Finland International Baccalaureate, Reifeprüfung or European Baccalaureate examination a foreign degree or qualification which gives eligibility for higher education in the awarding country
Application form/education All applicants who have completed their education in their own country choose non-finnish qualification Fill in the year of graduation, name of the qualification in English and name of the school or the awarding institution
Application form/ options of preference Applicant chooses 1-4 different options of preference Options can be from the same polytechnic or different polytechnics The options must be placed in the order of preference. If an applicant is chosen for his/her first option of preference he/she cannot be chosen for a lower option.
Language certificate Applicant applying with a foreign qualification must provide proof of his/her language. Applicants who are citizens in EU/EEA-countries or Switzerland does not need to provide the language certificate. The minimum language skills requirement is: IELTS score academic level 6.0 or TOEFL score 550 paper-based test/ 79-80 internet -based test, or skills level 4 in English in the Finnish National certificate of Language Proficiency examination Both TOEFL and IELTS test results are valid for two years. TOEFL score results are only accepted directly from the Educational Testing Service. In addition, primary and secondary school education in English completed in Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand or Bachelor s or Master s degree completed in English in one of these countries or in a EU/EEA -country, is also accepted as a demonstration of sufficient English language skills.
Application period 9 Jan-14 Feb 2012 online application www.admissions.fi application period has ended at 14 Feb. 2012 The next application round will be at Jan-Feb 2013.
Required attachments to application Copy of the required educational certificates Proof of language skills (non-eu applicants) copy of authorised translation of the educational certificate into Finnish, Swedish or English Attachments are posted to the first option polytechnic. Scanned or faxed copies are not accepted. The admission of a student is conditional until the polytechnic/uas has checked the applicant s school and other relevant certificates. The polytechnic/uas may withdraw the admission, if the applicant has given false information.
Entrance examinations Invitations to entrance examinations for eligible candidates was posted at mid-march 2012 Entrance examinations are arranged between 2 April and 4 May 2012. Entrance examinations at VAMK will be arranged at week 17, 25. -26.4.2012.
Results Results of admission are announced after 28 May at the earliest, but before 17 July 2012 Study place must be confirmed by 31 July 2012 at the latest
One study place per term Applicant can only accept one new study place included in joint applications in a Finnish Higher education institution within the same academic term Academic term starts 1 August or 1 January and ends the following 31 December or 31 July Confirmation of study place must be returned by the set time, otherwise the study place will be cancelled
More information More information about the Joint-Application System from the Admissions page, www.admissions.fi Admissions Office of VAMK, e-mail: admissions@vamk.fi Ministery of Education and Culture, http://www.minedu.fi/opm/