Apply to Business Management and Transformation

Here you will find important information on how to apply to the Business Management and Transformation programme.


The application to Arcada's master's degree programmes in English for studies beginning in August 2024 will open on 8 January 2025 at 08:00 EET and close on 22 January 2025 at 03:00 PM EET. There are a total of 30 study places on offer in the International Business Management programme.

Please use the quick links to navigate smoothly between the different sections.

More information regarding the study programme can be found here.

Eligibility

Before starting your master's application process to Arcada, please make sure that you are an eligible applicant, i.e. that you have a suitable educational background and two years of work experience. The applicant proves his/her English language through the various application methods used in the programme. Thus, no specific language test results need to be provided.

Educational background

To be eligible to apply to International Business Management, you must have a suitable bachelor's degree in the field of business or another relevant field. In case the bachelor's degree is from another field than business, you should still have a minimum of 40 ECTS credits in business studies. In exceptional cases, the 40 credits of business studies can be proven with extensive work experience. Arcada reserves the right to define this case by case.

Two years of work experience

All applicants must, in addition to the requirements listed above, have a minimum of two years (24 months) of relevant work experience gained after the completion of the bachelor's degree to meet the eligibility criteria.

Work experience is only counted from the date of the bachelor's degree diploma/certificate, and needs to be proven by a work certificate. Work experience gained before or during your bachelor studies cannot be counted towards the work experience minimum requirement. An exception is only made for applicants who have completed a Finnish vocational college diploma or higher vocational diploma (opisto- tai ammatillisen korkea-asteen tutkinto) before the completion of their higher education degree, as they may also take into account work experience gained before the higher education degree. Work experience can be counted up to 31st July 2025.

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.

Application methods

All students are selected based on a motivational letter and a video.

Motivational letter
In the motivational letter, you should explain your reasons for applying to the Business Management and Transformation programme at Arcada. Please include a presentation of your background (relevant work experience and previous studies), and how you see the programme supporting your personal development. You are also requested to elaborate on your study and communication skills, as these are prerequisites for succeeding in the programme.

The motivational letter may not exceed one page (use Times New Roman 12, line spacing 1.2, justified text). The letter is scored between 0-60 points focusing on:

- Written English
- Skills and experience
- Clarity and focus
- Interest and suitability for the programme.

Personal motivation video

In the video, you should introduce yourself, your prior studies and relevant work and/or other experiences. Please also discuss why you are interested in the Business Management and Transformation programme.

The video should not exceed 2 minutes in length. The video is scored between 0-40 points focusing on:

- Spoken English
- Presentation skills
- Skills and experience
- Clarity and focus
- Interest and suitability for the programme.

Upload your personal video directly to the application form, or share a link to the video you have uploaded to a video-sharing service. In case you are using a video-sharing service, upload a document containing the link to your video. Make sure the video is set to private and accessible only with the link you share.


The motivational letter and the video should be uploaded to the application as soon as possible, however no later than 29th January 2025 03:00 PM EET.

Student selection process

There are in total 30 study places in the master's degree programme in Business Management and Transformation. Study places may be flexibly shifted between the full-time and part-time options, depending on the number of applications each one attracts. If either option fails to attract a sufficient number of applications, Arcada reserves the right to cancel that option.

Applicants are given a total score for the motivation letter and video and are ranked based on that score. Applicants are admitted in the order of ranking. 

Results will be announced by the end of April at the latest.

How to apply - Master's level

Here you will find a checklist to guide you through the application process.

The application is to be submitted through the national application portal Studyinfo.

Checklist for applying:

Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria for the programme that you are interested in. Please note that you need to apply with a bachelor's degree and mark this on your application form as your educational background.

Decide if you want to apply to the part-time or full-time study option if you are applying to a degree programme where this choice is offered.

The application form is found on the application portal Studyinfo during the application period. Fill in the form yourself, using your own contact information.

You can also use the direct links below (only active during application time):

Business Management and Transformation, full-time studies (application closed)
Business Management and Transformation, part-time studies (application closed)
Emergency Care Systems Development and Leadership, online (application closed)
Healthcare Leadership, online, full-time studies (application closed)
Healthcare Leadership, online, part-time studies (application closed)
Machine Intelligence and Data Science, full-time studies (application closed)
Media Management, full-time studies (application closed)
 

Please read through the instructions carefully and make sure you answer all questions on the form.

Do not forget to click 'submit' to save your application form. You will receive a confirmation e-mail in your inbox. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail, please check your spam folder and make sure that your inbox is not full. If you still have not received a confirmation, contact the admissions services of the university or university of applied sciences that you applied to.

Applicants should in general submit the following supporting documents:

1. Copy of original final bachelor's degree certificate/diploma in the original language
2. Copy of the transcript of academic records in the original language
3. Official translations of the bachelor's degree diploma/certificate and transcript of academic records if it was not issued in English, Finnish or Swedish
4. Copies of relevant work certificates
5. Copy of residence permit or passport that exempt from tuition fee

These are, depending on the programme, English language proficiency certificate, a GRE test, a pre-assignment, a motivational letter and/or video. Please note the deadline for submitting all documents on the application form.

Arcada Admissions Services will contact you in case there are questions about your application or documents, so please make sure that you check your inbox and spam folder regularly.

The result of your application will also be sent to you be e-mail.

Supporting documents - Master's level

Below you will find detailed information on which supporting documents to submit when you apply to Arcada.

The application form will generally alert you to all the documents you should submit, and their specific deadline. Most attachments can be uploaded directly to the application form, others may need to be ordered from an external service provider. No documents, however, need to be sent by post.

Select the category below for further information on documents and deadlines.

Authorised translations in English, Swedish or Finnish of the Bachelor's degree certificate/diploma should also be submitted, if the original degree certificate is not issued in one of the previously mentioned languages. The translation should bear the stamp and signature of the translator.

Authorised translations in English, Swedish or Finnish of the study transcript or academic records should also be submitted, if the original degree certificate is not issued in one of the previously mentioned languages. The translation should bear the stamp and signature of the translator.

Copies of work certificates should be submitted in English, Swedish or Finnish indicating a minimum of two years (24 months) of relevant work experience. A CV can be attached, but it is not accepted on its own. 
Self-employed candidates (independent entrepreneurs) are allowed to prove their work history by sending CVs well as a YEL or MYEL-certificate, where possible. Please send only work certificates that are relevant. The work certificates must show start and end dates as well as title and description of work tasks. If you have worked part-time, the work certificates should indicate the number of work hours per month. 150 work hours or 20 working days (the minimum length of one full working day is 7 hours) is equivalent to one month of work experience.

In order to prove exemption from tuition fees, a non-EU/EEA applicant should submit a copy of a valid residence permit (both sides) issued by the Finnish Immigration Service.

All applicants must submit a copy of valid proof of Identity. 
Accepted documents are:

  • Passport
  • Finnish Identity card
  • Identity card with photo issued in EU-country

These include English language proficiency certificates, pre-assignments, GRE tests, motivational letters and/or videos. See specific details on required documents for each master's programme.