Certificate-based admission

On this page you will find important information on how to apply to the bachelor's degree programmes International Business, Information Technology and Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering through the certificate-based admission.

The application for studies beginning in autumn 2025 will be open from 27th March 2025 at 9 AM (UTC+2) to 7th April 2025 at 3 PM (UTC+2).

To apply in this certificate-based application, you will need the following: 

  • A Finnish Matriculation examination
  • Finnish vocational upper secondary education completed after 1.8.2015. NB: Competence-based qualifications are not taken into account in certificate-based selection.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma education (IBO)
  • European Baccalaureate (EB) education completed at an European school
  • Reifeprufung/Deutsches Internationales Abitur
     

In addition, all applicants must also prove their English language skills, and meet the threshold criteria as explained below. 

If the applicant does not have any of the above-mentioned educational backgrounds, or they do not meet the English language or threshold criteria they can not apply or be considered for admission in this application but must instead apply in the rolling separate application (application time 20 Nov 2024-18 March 2025) based on either SAT or OMPT test result. 
 
All applicants must also prove their English language skills. The following are accepted as proof of skills in English:

  • Finnish Matriculation examination: grade C (advanced syllabus). If your matriculation score does not meet the requirements you must submit another certificate of language proficiency.
  • Completed International Baccalaureate Education with the exception of career-oriented courses. Medium of instruction needs to have been English.
  • Completed European Baccalaureate Education with medium of instruction being English or a minimum grade of 6.00 in L2 English.
  • Reifeprüfung/DIA diploma completed in Finland, with a minimum grade of 7 in advanced English.
  • Finnish vocational education completed in English
  • High school, bachelor's or master's degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, or in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand, excluding online degrees and offshore campuses. A minimum 60% of the degree must have been completed on location in one of the before mentioned countries.
  • Cambridge ESOL’s tests B2 First (First Certificate in English) Cambridge Advanced: minimum score 170
    • include your Candidate ID and Candidate Secret number when sending your results to Arcada
  • Pearson Test of English Academic or Academic online: minimum score 51
    • results are accepted only when sent through the online PTE account and are valid for two years
  • IELTS / IELTS online ; academic: minimum overall band score 6.0
    • valid for two years
  • TOEFL Internet-based or Home Edition test: minimum score 79
    • test result must arrive directly from the Educational Testing Service through Arcada's TOEFL code 5724
    • valid for two years


Admission of an applicant completing their degree in spring/summer 2025 is conditional and may be withdrawn if the applicant does not meet the requirements upon graduation. The applicant needs to attach their predicted grades or an equivalent document upon submitting the application. Only students who have proven to meet the English language requirements can be offered admission.

Student selection

Student selection is based on the points for the Finnish Matriculation examination, International Baccalaureate, European Baccalaureate, Deutsches Internationales Abitur/Reifeprüfung or on the Finnish vocational certificate issued after 1 August 2015. Arcada UAS follows the scoring models from the UAS webpage . 

Threshold requirements
 DP in Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering & Information Technology: 

  • Finnish Matriculation examination/ IB/ EB: minimum grade A in advanced math or grade C in basic math. Equivalent grades for the IB/EB /Reifeprufung examinations
  • Finnish vocational education: minimum grade 3 (on a scale of 1-3) or 4 (on a scale of 1-5) in Knowledge in math and science  (Kunnande i matematik och naturvetenskap/Matematiikan ja luonnontieteiden osaaminen)  
     

 DP in International Business: 

  •  Finnish vocational education: minimum grade 3 (on a scale of 1-3) or 4 (on a scale of 1-5) in Knowledge in math and science  (Kunnande i matematik och naturvetenskap/Matematiikan ja luonnontieteiden osaaminen) 
     

There are 20 available study places in each programme.  18 places per programme are reserved for those applying with a matriculation examination while 2 are reserved for those applying with a vocational qualification. If either queue is not filled, places may be filled through the other queue. Applicants are admitted in order of scores. An applicant must have a minimum of 85 points to be considered for admissions and Arcada admits continuously from the waiting list if study places become available. The waiting list is valid until 5.8.2025 at 03:00 PM UTC+2.

Required attachments and their deadlines

The following attachments should be uploaded to the application no later than 14th April 2025:
- English proficiency certificate other than Finnish Matriculation examination completed after 1990 
- Copy of Finnish Matriculation examination if it was completed before 1990
- IB Diploma/ EB Diploma/ Reifeprufung. An applicant graduating in 2025 will need to submit predicted grades or similar or equivalent proof of grades and expected graduation. 
- Passport copy or official Identity card from EU/EEA country