Nursing TopUp Spring intake

Arcada's Spring intake to the Nursing TopUp bachelor programme will be open 10-17 March 2025, closing at 3 pm (Finnish time) on the last day. 

The Nursing TopUp programme is aimed at those who already have a Nursing degree completed outside of Finland, work experience and language skills in Finnish and English.

Application is made through Studyinfo. External link You can access the programme site on Studyinfo and also move on to the application form by clicking on the link, when application is open.
Please note that as of 1st January 2025 application fees will be collected for EU/EEA applicants. More information on this is available on the Studyinfo web site External link


Eligibility

This application is for you who have:

• a degree in Nursing completed outside of Finland ; Bachelor of Nursing; Diploma of Nursing; GNM (General Nursing & Midwifery); PCL (Proficiency Certificate Level); or Technical level Nursing studies of a minimum 3 years
• Finnish language skills
• English language skills

Please note that work experience is also part of the selection criteria. (More information given below)

 

Language requirements

All applicants must have both skills in Finnish as well as English

Finnish language requirement
All applicants must have Finnish language skills at a minimum level of A2 on the European framework before the start of studies.

You can prove your Finnish language skills with one of the following: 

• National Certificate of Language Proficiency
• Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate
• Certificates or verification from established educational institutions that offer language instruction and can be verified by Arcada

Finnish language proficiency can not be proven with language courses such as Duolingo.

Applicants must attach proof of skills in Finnish or proof of participation in accepted Finnish course to their application by 19 March 2025. If the applicant is pursuing a Finnish language course aiming at level A2 result, they must submit a copy of a final certificate by 31 May 2025.

An applicant who is completing Finnish studies at the time of application can be conditionally admitted but must provide a Finnish language certificate at minimum level A.2 by 31 May 2025

Admission of an applicant who, before the start of studies does not meet the level A.2 in Arcada's own test, can be cancelled.

The applicant's Finnish language skills will be assessed in the entrance exam/interview.

English language requirement

Applicant can prove their skills in English with one of the following:

• Bachelor or Master studies in English, which includes a thesis written in English
• IELTS Academic, minimum overall score 6,0
• TOEFL® iBT, minimum score 79
• Pearson, minimum score 51
• Cambridge, B2 First, minimum score 170
• OET, (Occupational English Test) minimum C
• Certificates or diplomas from verified educational providers that can be verified by Arcada

English language proficiency can not be proven with language courses such as Duolingo. 
The IELTS, TOEFL, OET and Pearson certificates are valid for two years. Applicant must attach proof of skills in English by 24.3.2025

Please ensure that you have allowed your language test result to be verified by Arcada.

The applicant's English language skills will be assessed in the entrance exam/interview. 

 

Work experience

There is no set minimum work experience requirement in this intake but it does form part of the selection criteria. Applicants are therefore requested to include all relevant work history in their application.  A maximum of 3 points is given for work experience. Points for work experience will be given according to the following: 
 

•  1-4 years work experience: 1 point
• 4-10 years work experience: 2 points
• 10 years or more work experience: 3 points
• current employment in Finnish health care field: 3 points 
   

Work experience needs to be proven by a work certificate indicating at least the applicant's title, work task, employer and duration of employment.  Ensure that you have officially translated copies if the work certificate was not issued in Finnish, Swedish or English.

Part-time work is converted to full-time work so that 150 hours or 20 full-time working days (a minimum of seven hours per day) are equal to a month. The work experience does not have to be continuous or from the same employer. Practical training or on-the-job learning is not counted as work experience if it forms a part of the degree used for applying.
 

Admission through a Pre-admission course + interview 
 

If you live outside Finland or the EU/EEA area, you are recommended to apply through the pre-admission course to be considered for the TopUp programme. Also, an interview is required. 

The pre-admission course consists of the following two courses:

• Working as a Nurse in Finland
• Nursing in Finland: Clinical Competence, Legislation and Patient Safety

The pre-admission course costs 225 €. Enrollment is binding and the course fee is non-refundable. The enrollment fee is to be paid upon registration. The pre-admission course is to be completed by 28th February 2025.

Enrollment in the pre-admission is now closed! Enrollment in the course was open until 2nd December 2025. 

Please note the following:
Registration for the course is binding and the course fee is non-refundable.  
You will be required to pay the fee before you are allowed to enrol for the course. 
The pre-admission course must be completed by 28 February 2025.
After completing the course, you must also submit an application to be considered for admission.

A certificate of completion will be issued to all who successfully complete the pre-admissions course and this certificate is to be attached to the application.

Online Interview 
Applicants who have completed the pre-admission course and also meet the language criteria will be invited to a mandatory interview. 

The interviews will be held on Zoom in 26-28 March 2025.

The interview will focus on the pre-admission course content. It will test applicants' communicative skills based on the material from the pre-admission course. It does not require any other preparation than completing the pre-admission course.  The invitation will contain all the necessary information.

Applicants who are admitted through the pre-admission course + interview will be accredited the courses as part of their studies.  

Applicants are ranked and admitted in order of points for the pre-admission course, points for work experience, interview and language skills.

Admission through entrance exam on campus

If you reside in Finland you can select to be considered through an entrance exam held on campus.

The entrance exam to Nursing TopUp will be held on campus Arcada, Helsinki in April 2025. 
The entrance exam will test applicants' suitability for higher education studies. It will consist of a written test as well as interviews and language tests.

The exam does not require any preparation. Detailed information on the entrance exam will be given in the invitation letter sent to applicants who have proven their eligibility.

Please note that if you live outside of Finland or the EU/EEA area, it will unfortunately be difficult if not impossible to get a visa for the sole purpose of taking part in an entrance exam. Arcada can unfortunately not assist further in the process other than to send out a formal invitation letter and therefore such applicants are recommended to apply through the pre-admission course.

Applicants are ranked and admitted based on total points for the entrance exam, points for work experience and language skills.