Finland

1. Diagram of the Finnish higher education system

Diagram of the Finnish higher education system

2. Types of higher education institutions

National nameEnglish nameAccreditationNQF levelTypes of qualifications offered
Yliopisto/universitetUniversitySee section 5 below6-8Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degrees
Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu/ FörsvarshögskolanNational Defence UniversitySee section 5 below6-8Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degrees
Ammattikorkeakoulu (AMK) / yrkeshögskolan (YH)University of applied sciences (UAS)See section 5 below6-7Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree
Högskolan på ÅlandÅland University of Applied SciencesSee section 5 belown/aBachelor’s degree
Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu/ PolisyrkeshögskolanPolice University CollegeSee section 5 below6-7Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree

3. Types of higher education

QualificationQualification in EnglishEQF / cycleLength / ECTSAccess requirementAccess to further study
Kandidaatin tutkinto / kandidatexamenBachelor’s degree6 / 1st cycle
180 ECTS *Upper secondary qualificationMaster’s degree
Ammattikorkeakoulututkinto (AMK)/ yrkeshögskoleexamen (YH)Bachelor’s degree6 / 1st cycle180-270 ECTSUpper secondary qualificationMaster’s degree
Maisterin tutkinto / magisterexamenMaster’s degree7 / 2nd cycle
120 ECTS **Bachelor’s degreeDoctoral degree
Ylempi ammattikorkeakoulututkinto / högre yrkeshögskoleexamen
Master’s degree7 / 2nd cycle
60-90 ECTS ***
Bachelor’s degree + 3- years’ work experienceDoctoral degree
Lisensiaatin tutkinto / licentiatexamenLicentiate degree8 / 3rd cycle
N/AMaster’s degreen/a
Tohtorin tutkinto / doktorsexamenDoctor degree8 / 3rd cycleN/AMaster’s degreen/a

* Exception: The extent of studies required for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts shall be 210 credits. The university must arrange the education to enable the student to complete the degree in three and a half years of full-time study. 

**  In the fields of Medicine and Dentistry the university may arrange the education leading to the second-cycle university degree without including a first-cycle university degree in the education. In Medicine the degree consists of 360 credits (6 years of full-time study) and in Dentistry the degree consists of 300 credits (5 years of full-time study).

*** Exception: The extent of studies required for the degree of Master of Police Services is 120 ECTS.

4. Qualifications framework

The National Framework for Qualifications and Other Competence Modules entered into force March 2017. It is based on the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

Finnish higher education qualifications are placed at the following levels of competence in the National Qualifications Framework (FINQF):

  • University and UAS Bachelor’s degrees at level 6
  • University and UAS Master’s degrees at level 7
  • Scientific, artistic and professional postgraduate degrees from universities, e.g. Licentiate and Doctoral degrees at level 8

5. Quality assurance and accreditation

The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) is responsible for the evaluation of education provided by universities and universities of applied sciences in Finland. The three key evaluation types are the audits of higher education institutions’ (HEIs) quality systems, thematic evaluations of the education system and engineering degree programme reviews.

Formerly this task was carried out by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC).

6. Upper secondary qualifications giving access to higher education

This table includes only qualifications that are currently part of the Finnish education system.

QualificationOrientationAccess to further study
Ylioppilastutkinto / studentexamenGeneral upper secondary educationAll first cycle programmes
Ammatillinen perustutkinto (120 ov) /yrkesinriktad grundexamen (120 sv) / as a school based qualification requires three years of studyVocational qualification, available in eight fields and in more than in 60 professionsAll first cycle programmes
Ammattitutkinto / yrkesexamenVocational qualification, available in eight fields and in more than in 60 professionsAll first cycle programmes
Erikoisammattitutkinto / specialyrkesexamenVocational qualification, available in eight fields and in more than in 60 professionsAll first cycle programmes

The completion of general upper secondary education (lukion oppimäärä/ gymnasiets lärokurs) gives eligibility to apply to a university of applied sciences. The document is titled “Lukion päättötodistus” / “Avgångsbetyg från gymnasiet”.

Competence based qualifications in upper secondary vocational education (for adults)

In order to complete a competence-based qualification, candidates must demonstrate certain skills and competence required in the profession. These skills are outlined in the Requirements of Competence-based Qualifications defined by the Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus / Utbildningsstyrelsen). Vocational modules are defined in collaboration with representatives of business life and are directly based on real-life work tasks.

There are three levels of competence based qualifications:

  • Vocational qualifications which indicate competence to enter employment in the field.
  • Further vocational qualifications which indicate the vocational skills required of skilled workers in the field.
  • Specialist vocational qualifications which indicate a command of the most demanding tasks in the field.

7. Useful links