Online path 2026

Arcada is offering an Online path programme with studies starting in August 2026. By completing 30 ECTS of Online path studies during autumn 2026 applicants can apply to be admitted to International Business or Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering.

The Online path in a nutshell

• Study online in autumn 2026 in the programme of your choice. Before applying, check:
  • Eligibility, English language and technical requirements
  • Online path fee
• During period 1 and 2 in autumn, pass all six courses in either the International Business or Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering programme
  • Applicants who have completed the three mandatory courses in period 1 with a passing grade and applied through Studyinfo will be offered conditional admission.
  • Applicants who then complete the three mandatory courses in period 2 with a passing grade and pay the spring tuition fee will be accepted as degree students.
• Apply for your residence permit on time.
• Start your on-campus studies in Helsinki in spring 2027 as a degree student.

Read on to learn more.

Who can apply and what is expected of an Online path student?

This online programme is a flexible and supportive path into business or engineering studies. It is designed for anyone who dreams of studying at a university of applied sciences (UAS) but may feel unsure about applying through traditional admissions. Here, you do not compete with others — instead, you prove your ability by studying actual first-year courses, in English. If you succeed, you are eligible to continue directly into one of the degree programmes.

The Online path is considered full-time studies and students are expected to actively participate in their classes throughout the two periods of the autumn semester since this affects their grades. Students will be asked to use their webcams and microphones during lectures. Students are expected to complete their own course work by themselves. Use of AI is strictly forbidden and will result in consequences such as failing a course. 

The Online path creates a smooth transition to on-campus studies where students are expected to be on campus for classes starting from January 2027. 

Application dates

The application to Online path studies is open between 25 May at 9 a.m. (EEST) and 1 June at 3 p.m. (EEST) 2026. The application is submitted through Studyinfo. The deadline for all attachments is 8 June at 3 p.m. (EEST) 2026. The deadline to accept an offer of a study place is 7 days from offered admission and the tuition fee needs to be paid within 14 days of offered admission. Please click here to access the application form. Note that the application form will be active only during the actual application time. 

The application to become a degree status student will be open between 27 October at 9 a.m. (EET) and 3 November at 3 p.m. (EET) 2026. The deadline for all attachments is 10 November at 3 p.m. (EET) 2026.

Requirements for admission to the Online path

To be accepted to one of the Online path programmes the applicant must:

1. have a completed upper secondary education or higher education degree (bachelor's or master's)
   • graduates of summer 2026 and before are accepted
2. have proof of English language proficiency
3. pay the Online path fee of €3,650 within 14 days of admission.

Read more about the requirements below.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants who have completed or are currently completing an upper secondary education (to be completed by summer 2026) are eligible to apply as long as they also provide proof of English language skills. You can read more in depth about eligibility requirements on our Eligibility page.

Arcada also uses discretionary admission in this application. It means that if Arcada deems that you have sufficient skills and knowledge without meeting the formal eligibility criteria, you may still be considered for admission.

Discretionary admission only concerns your eligibility to apply. The admission is conditional until Arcada has checked your educational and other relevant certificates. Arcada may withdraw the offer of admission if you have given false information.

If you wish to apply to Arcada through discretionary admission you do not need to mark this separately on the application form, but Arcada will assess this on the basis of the application and its supplements. Remember to submit a copy of your study certificate/transcript of records from your high school/upper secondary school.

English language requirements

All applicants who wish to be considered for admission to Online path are required to submit proof of English language skills. The proof should be attached to the application before 8 June at 3 p.m. (EEST) 2026. All English language tests need to be verifiable in the database by this date.

English language skills can be proven with one of the following methods:

• Cambridge ESOL’s tests B2 First (First Certificate in English) Cambridge Advanced:
  • minimum score 170
  • include your Candidate ID and Candidate Secret number when sending your results to Arcada
• Pearson Test of English Academic or Academic online:
  • minimum overall score 51
  • results are accepted only when sent through the online PTE account
  • valid for two years
• IELTS or IELTS online ; academic:
  • one skill retake test is accepted
  • minimum overall band score 6.0
  • valid for three years
• TOEFL Internet-based or Home Edition test:
  • minimum score 67 or 3.5 for tests completed after January 2026
  • test result must arrive directly from the Educational Testing Service
  • Arcada's TOEFL code 5724
  • valid for two years
• 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
  • Oxford ELLT Digital - Student Guide
  • Oxford ELLT Global - Student Guide
  • Oxford ELLT Portal Guide
• Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus from Estonia: minimum grade 4 in English
• All India Senior School Certificate (AISSC) from Central 
  Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Indian School Certificate 
  (ISC) from Council for the Indian School Certificate (CISCE): minimum grade 60% 
  in English
• Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību from Latvia: minimum grade 7 in English
• Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông from Vietnam: minimum grade 7.0 in English
• Finnish matriculation examination, grade C in the advanced syllabus test in the English language. If you have completed the Finnish matriculation examination before 1990 you must submit a certificate of language proficiency in case your matriculation score does not meet the requirements.
• Finnish vocational education completed in English
• IB Education : International Baccalaureate diploma or certificate completed at an IB school. An IB diploma and certificate that is completed during spring/summer 2026 is accepted as proof of English skills.
• Completed European Baccalaureate Education with medium of instruction being English or a minimum grade of 6.00 in L2 English
• Reifeprüfung/DIA diploma, with a minimum grade of 7 in advanced English
• An upper secondary level certificate or a bachelor’s or master’s degree completed in English in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, excluding online degrees and offshore campuses. A minimum 60% of the of the degree must have been completed on location in one of the before mentioned countries.
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, excluding online degrees and offshore campuses. A minimum of 60% of the degree must have been completed on location in one of the EU/EEA countries.

N.B.! Duolingo is not accepted.

Technical requirements

In order to succeed in their Online path studies all applicants are required to have access to:

• a stable internet connection
• a working computer
  • Arcada follows the bring your own device (BYOD) policy which will be implemented for degree status students. Read more on requirements in Arcada's digital study guide Start. In preparation for degree status studies it is recommended that Online path students' computers meet these requirements.
• web camera
• microphone/headset with mic.

Fees

The fee for the Online path is €3,650 (autumn semester 2026) and €4,900 for the studies on campus (spring semester 2027). Since the online path consists of continuing education studies all applicants are required to pay for the 30 ECTS and an applicant cannot gain a student status while completing the path. An applicant can apply to become a degree status student after completing the first period of the path with the condition of completing the second period. See below for more information on the process. Please note that an applicant might be exempt from tuition fees and the application fee, but all applicants are required to pay the Online path fee. See Studyinfo's guide on who is required to pay tuition fees.

The tuition fees and scholarships for admitted students in 2026 will apply to those admitted through the Online path starting from the second year. There is an application fee of €100, which needs to be paid by applicants from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland when applying for degree student status. Please check our Tuition fees and scholarships page for more information.

Online path to International Business

The Online path has 40 study places reserved for the International Business programme and they are divided into three different country-specific groups. Study places to Online path are granted in order of submitted applications. If there are more applicants than study places then there will be a waiting list.

• Group 1 has 15 places for applicants from India and Vietnam.
• Group 2 has 15 places for applicants from Morocco and Türkiye
• Group 3 has 10 places for applicants from any of the not previously mentioned countries

If there are free places in one of the groups they will be allocated to the other groups in order. 

Course list

Applicants who wish to be considered for admission as a degree student to International Business are required to complete the following courses through the Online path programme during autumn 2026. Courses extend over the two periods of the autumn semester according to the following:

Period 1:

• Technology and Learning AS-1-044
• Business Mathematics and Statistics AB-1-017
• Introduction to Business Administration AB-1-016

Period 2

• Introduction to Marketing AB-1-018
• Introduction to Accounting AB-1-024
• Teamwork and Innovation AS-1-045

Applicants are not required to receive more than a passing grade in each course listed above to be eligible to apply for degree student status. The learning outcomes and assessment methods of each course are presented by the lecturer at the beginning of the course. More information about the International Business programme and the structure of studies can be found on the programme page.

Online path to Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering 

The Online path has 30 study places reserved for the Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering programme and they are divided into three different country-specific groups. Study places to Online path are granted in order of submitted applications. 

• Group 1 has 11 places for applicants from India and Vietnam.
• Group 2 has 11 places for applicants from Morocco and Türkiye.
• Group 3 has 8 places for applicants from any of the not previously mentioned countries.

If there are free places in one of the groups they will be allocated to the other groups in order. 

Course list

Applicants who wish to be considered for admission as a degree student to Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering are required to complete the following courses through the Online path programme during autumn 2026. Courses extend over the two periods of the autumn semester according to the following:

Period 1

• Technology and Learning AS-1-044
• Engineering Chemistry GT‑2‑013
• Introduction to programming and automation GT‑2‑024

Period 2

• Teamwork and Innovation AS-1-045
• Linear algebra PM‑2‑026
• Technical Drawing PM‑2‑030

Applicants are not required to receive more than a passing grade in each course listed above to be eligible to apply for degree student status. The learning outcomes and assessment methods of each course are presented by the lecturer at the beginning of the course. More information about the Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering programme and the structure of studies can be found on the programme page.