Apply to Nursing TopUp

The Nursing TopUp programme 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 3 years
work experience within the field (recommended but not required as of spring 2025)
Finnish language skills
English language skills

Arcada will open a biannual intake to the Nursing TopUp programme, one in autumn and one in spring:

Autumn intake, studies beginning in spring 2026.
Application was open 29 August - 5 September 2025. See here for more details.
Spring intake, studies beginning in autumn 2025: Application ended

Information regarding the next intake 7-21 January 2026 can be found on this website.

Application is made through Studyinfo . You can access the programme site on Studyinfo and also move on to the application form by clicking on the link.

Detailed information on requirements regarding previous education, Finnish and English language skills and work experience is outlined separately for each intake so please select the correct option.

Student selection through pre-admission course and interview or entrance exam

In both the spring and autumn intake students are admitted through

pre-admission course + interview
entrance exam on campus

The pre-admission course, aimed mainly at applicants residing outside of Finland is to be completed prior to application. The entrance exam on campus Arcada, in Helsinki, is mainly for applicants already residing in Finland.

See details and timetable for each separate intake.

Tuition fees for the Nursing TopUp programme

The tuition fee for this programme is 10,000 / 12,000 € depending on applicant's educational background. Please note that there are no scholarships. Information on tuition fees is available here.

Please note that as of 1 January 2025, application fees will be charged of non EU/EEA applicants when filling in the application form. More information on application fees is available on the Studyinfo website

Below you will find a list of required attachments to the application.

Supporting documents for Nursing TopUp

Here you will find a detailed list on the required documents for the Nursing TopUp application.

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.

Original certificates

You may need to submit your original certificates for verification by the start of your studies. Any false information regarding qualifications will make you disqualified for admission.

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 the processing of your application. Note that some documents are mandatory attachments to the application, thus application can not be submitted if the mandatory document is not attached to application.

If you wish to upload your documents at a later time, you can do that through the link found in the application confirmation e-mail you received when you applied. The deadline is specified for each attachment in the application form.

Educational documents

Please include both the final diploma as well as all academic transcripts of your previous education (bachelor, diploma or similar) Ensure that they show all courses included in the degree, and if possible include also registration certificates (right to work as a nurse/midwife etc)

If your final diploma and/or transcript records are not issued in Finnish, Swedish or English, you will also need translations into one of these languages. 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.

Work certificates

Include all relevant certificates of possible previous work experience. Work experience should be from the health care field, but does not necessarily need to be from nursing. Please include work certificates only, as work contracts signed at the beginning of the employment usually do not in fact prove the duration of employment. You can also add a CV but note that this is not accepted as valid work certificate on its own.

Ensure that the certificates include name of employee, employer, possible task and time of employment and that the certificate is dated for when it was signed.
If the certificates are not issued in Finnish, Swedish or English, they must also be translated by an official translator.

Proving English language skills proficiency

Prove your English proficiency by attaching one of the accepted certificates as listed under each intake.

Ensure that you have enabled Arcada to verify your score from the respective language test provider.

Proving Finnish language skills proficiency

Prove your Finnish proficience by attaching one of the accepted certificates as listed under each intake. Ensure that you have enabled Arcada to verify your score from the respective language test provider.

Certificate of completed Pre-admission course (if applicable)

If you have completed the pre-admission course, you must attach a certificate of completed course or certificate of attendance.

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.

Proving citizenship and/or exemption from tuition fee

In addition to the application documents, you should submit a copy of passport or residence permit document proving exemption from tuition fees:
•    Passport ID page or ID card of EU/EEA/Switzerland which states citizenship
•    Passport ID page (all other citizenships)
•    Residence permit card, both sides; Type A (granted for other reasons than studies), Type P or type P-EU
•    EU Family Member's Residence Card in Finland

Valid proof of identification

All applicants are required to submit valid proof of identification.

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