Application to Saila studies 2026

Saila is a qualification training programme for nurses who have completed their degree outside the EU or EEA.

The registered nurse qualification training helps you obtain the official authorization (professional practice rights) to work as a registered nurse in Finland. The training ensures you gain the nursing competences required in Finland. Please note that the training does not lead to a degree and is considered a non-degree study right. 

The application to Saila studies is open between 11 September 9 a.m. and 18 September 2026 3 p.m. (UTC+3). Studies begin at the end of October 2026. There are 10 available places. The application 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
  • lives in Finland
  • has work experience within the field 
  • has Finnish or Swedish language skills at B.1 level
  • will apply to the Finnish Supervisory Agency for the right to work as a registered nurse in Finland OR you have already received a decision on additional studies from the Finnish Supervisory Agency (former Valvira)

Applicants are admitted through an entrance exam conducted on campus which takes place on 9 October 2026. Please note that if you live outside of Finland you are not eligible to apply. Read more about the requirements in detail further down on this page.

What does the programme include?

According to your personal study plan, the program includes theoretical studies and work placements. Theoretical studies cover Finnish social and healthcare legislation and ethics, pharmacotherapy, and clinical nursing. The language of instruction is Finnish or Swedish. The general description of the studies can be found on Metropolia's website here.

There is no fee for the programme, but you are responsible for paying the Finnish Supervisory Agency’s application fees, document-related costs such as translation fees, certifications and other similar costs, as well as any vaccination fees.

The estimated length of studies is 1 year or less, depending on the applicant's background. It is preferrable that applicants already have their first evaluation from the Finnish Supervisory Agency so that they know exactly which courses/internships that they need to complete. 

How to apply and requirements

All applications are to be submitted through Studyinfo during the application period between 11 September 9 a.m. and 18 September 2026 3 p.m. (UTC+3). All attachments should be submitted by 25 September 2026 before 3 p.m. (UTC+3).

Work experience requirement

All applicants must have 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. 

Work experience will give the following points in the admissions process:

  • 1-4 years experience gives 1 point
  • 5-9 years experience gives 2 points
  • 10 years+ of experience gives 3 points.
  • A current ongoing employment gives an additional 10 points  

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 to their application by 25 September 2026 before 2 p.m. (UTC+3). 

List of documents to be submitted

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). We do not accept temporary graduation certificates that are older than 2 years as you should have received your final degree certificate.

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 and proof of ongoing employment

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. 

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. 

Make sure to also include proof of your current employment (if applicable) in order to receive the additional points for the admissions process. This proof can be in the form as a work contract or proof from the HR department of ongoing employment as long as it includes up to date information regarding your employment as well as your title.

Proving Finnish/Swedish language skills proficiency

Prove your Finnish or Swedish 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 if applicable.

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

Admission through entrance exam on campus

The entrance exam to Saila studies is held on campus Arcada, Helsinki, on 9 October 2026. The entrance exam can not be rescheduled. Make sure to reserve the whole day. Invitations will be sent out one week prior to the exams. The entrance exam will test applicants' Finnish or Swedish language skills through a written test as well as an interviews.

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. 

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. Results of the entrance exam will be published no later than 14 October 2026 and applicants will have 7 days to accept their offer of a study place.

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