Apply to Information Technology (Joint application)

On this page you will find information on how to apply to the bachelor's degree programme Information Technology in the joint application.

All applicants who apply in the joint application have to have one of the following Finnish or international certificates/diplomas:

  • A Finnish Matriculation examination
  • Finnish vocational upper secondary education completed after 1 August 2015. NB: Competence-based qualifications are not taken into account in certificate-based selection.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma education
  • European Baccalaureate (EB) education completed at a European school
  • Reifeprüfung/Deutsches Internationales Abitur

Admissions process and threshold criteria

Student selection is based on the points for the Finnish Matriculation examination, IB, EB, Reifeprüfung/Deutsches Internationales Abitur or on the Finnish vocational certificate issued after 1 August 2015. Arcada UAS follows the scoring models found on the UAS webpage (in Finnish and Swedish). 

  • Minimum grade in Mathematics:
    • Finnish Matriculation examination/IB/EB/Reifeprüfung/Deutsches Internationales Abitur: A in advanced math or C in basic math
    • Finnish vocational upper secondary education: 3 (scale 1–3) or 4 (scale 1–5) in Knowledge in math and science (sv. Kunnande i matematik och naturvetenskap, fi. Matematiikan ja luonnontieteiden osaaminen)

Applicants who do not meet the threshold criteria can apply through the SAT test or OMPT test. If you apply through one of those tests, please read more on our Separate application pages.

There are 15 study places, ten for those applying with a matriculation examination and five 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. The waiting list is valid until 5 August 2026 at 3 p.m. UTC+2.

Admission of an applicant completing their degree in spring/summer 2026 is conditional and may be withdrawn if the applicant does not meet the requirements upon graduation.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.

Proof of English language skills

All applicants must also prove their English language skills in one of the following ways:

  • Finnish Matriculation examination: grade C (advanced syllabus). If the matriculation score does not meet the requirements, the applicant 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
    • the applicant should include their Candidate ID and Candidate Secret number when sending their 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
    • one skill retake test is accepted
    • valid for three years
  • TOEFL Internet-based or Home Edition test: minimum score 67
    • test result must arrive directly from the Educational Testing Service through Arcada's TOEFL code 5724
    • valid for two years
  • Oxford ELLT Global :
    • from 1 July 2023 onwards: minimum score 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
    • Digital Oxford ELLT Global also accepted

When signing up for a language test, please select the option to send your scores directly to Arcada. In most cases we do not accept paper score reports submitted by the applicant. Instead, they should come directly from the testing center.

Only students who have proven to meet the English language requirements can be offered admission.

Required attachments and their deadlines

The following attachments should be uploaded to the application no later than 30 April 2026:

  • 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 2026 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

Supporting documents – Joint application

Here you can find detailed information on which supporting documents to submit when you apply to Arcada in the joint application.

If you do not complete your application with the required documents by the set deadline, you cannot be admitted.

Please see the list below to find detailed information on which supporting documents to submit.

Translation to Swedish, Finnish or English

All educational certificates in languages other than Swedish, Finnish or English must be translated. All certificates in other languages have to be translated into one of these languages by an officially certified translator. A copy of the original document (in original language) shall also be submitted. The translation shall bear the stamp and signature of the translator.

How to submit documents

When you fill in the application form, you are at the same time requested to upload application documents that are needed for processing your application.

If you wish to upload your documents at a later time, you can do that through the link found in the application confirmation email you received when you applied. If you have Finnish bank codes, you can also log in to MyStudyinfo to access your application.

List of supporting documents:

Qualification completed in Finland

If you apply with a qualification completed in Finland, you do not in general need to send in a copy at the time of application.

If you are completing your qualification in Finland, i.e. the Matriculation examination or a vocational degree, the qualification must be completed and a copy of the final certificate submitted in July 2026 or when you accept your study place.

NB! If you completed your Finnish Matriculation examination prior to 1990 you should submit a copy as soon as possible. Deadline for submitting a copy is to be confirmed.

Higher education degrees (bachelor's or master's degrees) completed in Finland can be checked in the application register and do not need to be submitted as proof of eligibility.

International Matriculation examination (IB, EB, RP)

If you apply with an International Matriculation examination, i.e. the International Baccalaureate (IB), European Baccalaureate (EB) or Reifeprüfung (RP), copies of the completed diplomas and their official translations should submitted as soon as possible. Deadline for submitting a copy is to be confirmed.

If you are completing your diploma/degree during the application in spring/summer 2026 you should send in your Predicted Grades or Equivalent. A copy of the final certificate of applicants who complete an RP or EB diploma during the application period (Transcript of Grades for those completing an IB diploma) must be delivered in July (date to be announced) or when you accept your study place.

Qualification taken outside Finland

If you apply with a qualification obtained outside of Finland, the following applies to you:

If you have completed your upper secondary/high school/12-year education you should submit a copy of the final degree certificate/diploma, together with an official translation as soon as possible. Deadline for submitting a copy is to be confirmed.

If you are completing your upper secondary/high school/12-year education during spring/summer 2026, you should submit a certificate/statement issued by the school stating that you are graduating in spring/summer 2026, along with a document showing your predicted grades.

Proof of English language skills

You can prove your English language skills either by a minimum grade or English language certificate. Learn more about the English language requirements on the page of the programme you are interested in, found here.

Documents proving refugee or similar status

Decisions to grant asylum or residence permits issued on the basis of a need for protection of refugees or applicants in a refugee-like situation should be submitted as soon as possible. Deadline for submitting a copy is to be confirmed.

Proving citizenship and/or exemption from application and/or tuition fees

In addition to the application documents, you should submit a copy of passport or residence permit document proving possible and/or exemption from application and/or tuition fees:

Valid proof of identification

All applicants are required to submit a valid proof of identification. 

  • Passport
  • National identity card issued in an EU/EEA country
  • Finnish identity card