Apply to Nursing TopUp (August 2026)

The Nursing TopUp programme with application open 31 August - 10 September 2026 is aimed at an applicant who has:

• 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 of 3 years
• work experience within the field 
• Finnish or Swedish language skills at B.1 level
• English language skills

The estimated length of studies is 1–1,5 years, depending on the applicant's background.

The application to the Nursing TopUp programme for applicants residing in Finland will be held twice a year: through the joint application in January with studies starting in August, and through the joint application in Autumn with studies starting in January. All applications are to be submitted through Studyinfo, next application time is 31 August - 10 September 2026. A link to the application will be provided here when the application is open.

The application to the Nursing TopUp programme for applicants residing outside of Finland has been stopped indefinitely. Applicants living in Finland can still apply through the selection method of entrance exam on campus. If Arcada continues with the International Nursing TopUp programme in the future, then updates about this will be published on Arcada's website.

Work experience requirement

All applicants must have a minimum of two years of work experience in the field in order to be considered for admission. Work experience will also award points as part of the admissions process.

Work experience is only counted after the date when the Nursing certificate/diploma was awarded, and needs to be proven by a work certificate. Work experience gained before or during your bachelor's studies cannot be counted towards the work experience minimum requirement. Work experience can be counted up to the last day of December.

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 part of the degree used for applying.

An applicant can get a maximum of 3 points for work experience. 2-4 years of work experience gives 1 point, 5-9 years gives 2 points, and 10 or more years or ongoing employment within the health care field gives 3 points. Arcada maintains the right to assess what is considered relevant work experience.

Language requirements

B.1 Finnish or Swedish language requirement
All applicants must have either Finnish or Swedish language skills at a minimum level of B.1 on the European framework before the start of studies. The applicant will be asked to select which language skills they have on the application form, and the selected language skills will also be assessed in the entrance exam.

B.1 Finnish or Swedish language skills can be proven 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

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

Applicants must attach proof of skills in Finnish or Swedish, or proof of participation in an accepted language course to their application by 17.09.2026. If the applicant is pursuing a language course aiming at level B.1 result, they must submit a copy of the final certificate by 30 Dec 2026.

An applicant who is completing Finnish or Swedish studies at the time of application can be conditionally admitted but must provide a final language certificate at minimum level B.1 by 30 Dec 2026.

Admission of an applicant who, before the start of studies, does not meet the level B.1 in Arcada's own test, can be cancelled.

English language requirement

The applicant can prove skills in English with one of the following:

• a high school level education completed in English in the EU/EEA, the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. At least 60% of studies must have been completed on location in one of the listed countries
• Bachelor's or Master's studies in English completed in the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or the Philippines. At least 60% of studies must have been completed on location in one of the listed countries.
• A vocational degree completed in English in Finland
• IELTS/IELTS Online Academic, minimum overall score 6,0. One skill retake test is also accepted
• TOEFL iBT , minimum score 67. In tests taken after January 2026, the minimum score is 3,5. Arcada's TOEFL code is 5724.
• Pearson , minimum score 51.
• Cambridge , B2 First, minimum score 170.
• OET , (Occupational English Test), minimum C
• Oxford ELLT Global or Oxford ELLT Digital from 1 July 2023 onwards: minimum overall score 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking).  
  Arcada's code ARCADA10 gives a 10% discount on the test fee. Available also until 30 August, the code Summer20 gives a 20% discount on the standard test fee. Oxford ELLT Digital - Student Guide , Oxford ELLT Global - Student Guide , Oxford ELLT Portal Guide
   

English language proficiency can not be proven with language courses such as Duolingo.
The TOEFL, Pearson and OET certificates are valid for two years. IELTS is valid for three years. The applicant must attach proof of skills in English by 17 September 2026.

Please ensure that you have allowed your language test result to be verified by Arcada. Test results that can not be verified will not be accepted.

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

Admission through entrance exam on campus

The entrance exam to Nursing TopUp is held on campus Arcada, Helsinki, on 5 and 6 November 2026. Invitations will be sent out one week prior to the exams.
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. For verification purposes, all applicants will be required to bring the original educational documents they used for applying with them to the exam. 

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. Applicants must pass all parts of the entrance exam to be considered for admission.