Admission through certificate/diploma

On this page you will find information on how to apply to Information Technology, International Business and Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering through a certificate/diploma.

There are two application periods for those applying through a certificate/diploma:

  • Joint application 7–21 January 2027
    • For applicants holding a Finnish 12-year education, International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma education, European Baccalaureate (EB) education or Reifeprufung/Deutsches Internationales Abitur completed in Finland
    • For more information, visit our Joint application pages.
  • Separate application 30 October 2026–19 April 2027
    • For applicants who have carried out their upper secondary/high school/12-year education in Estonia, Germany, India, Latvia, Morocco, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, Türkiye or Vietnam.
    • For more information, please scroll down.

Separate application (Estonia, Germany, India, Latvia, Morocco, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, Türkiye, Vietnam)

To be considered for admission through the certificate-based selection method applicants need to have carried out their upper secondary/high school/12-year education in one of the countries below and meet the threshold criteria as outlined. Applicants completing the degree in summer of 2027 or earlier are eligible to apply and will be assessed based on their school performance. All applicants who apply through this selection method and meet the criteria will be offered admission. 

Please note that applicants from South Africa need to have graduated when applying, but applicants from the other countries are accepted as graduating seniors as long as they graduate during summer 2027. Applicants from Poland have separate threshold score requirements for those who have graduated as compared to those who are graduating during summer 2027. For the other countries of graduating seniors Arcada checks the latest received grade from the transcript of records.

Estonia

  • Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus: minimum grade 3 in Mathematics (basic and advanced) and minimum grade 3 in B2 English. Applicants do not need a separate proof of English language skills.

Germany

  • Allgemeine Hochschulreife: minimum grade 7 in Mathematics (basic and advanced) and minimum grade 7 in advanced English. Applicants do not need a separate proof of English language skills.

India

  • 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). Threshold criteria: Mathematics 60% or Economics 60%, English 60%, and GPA 60%. Applicants do not need a separate proof of English language skills.

Latvia

  • Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību: minimum grade 7 in both Mathematics and English. Applicants do not need a separate proof of English language skills.

Morocco

Poland

  • Świadectwo dojrzałości obtained by completing the Matura Examination (Egzamin maturalny) completed in 2005 or later.
    • For those who have already graduated: minimum grade 60% in Mathematics and minimum grade 70% in extended or bilingual English. Applicants do not need a separate proof of English language skills.
    • For those who are graduating during summer 2027 the required grades at the time of application: minimum grade 4 in Mathematics and minimum grade 5 in English.

South Africa

  • South African National Senior Certificate with matriculation endorsement (Matric examination): minimum GPA of 60% (excluding Life Orientation) and minimum level 6 or 70% in Mathematics Literacy and level 5 or 60% in English. Applicants do not need a separate proof of English language skills and they need to have graduated when submitting the application.

Thailand

Türkiye

Vietnam

  • Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông: minimum grade 7.5 in both Mathematics and English, and minimum GPA of 7.5. Applicants do not need a separate proof of English language skills.

Required attachments

Admission of an applicant completing their degree in spring/summer 2027 is conditional and may be withdrawn if the applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements for higher education studies. The applicant needs to attach their predicted grades, transcript of records up to date or an equivalent document upon submitting the application by 26 April 2027 at 3 p.m. (UTC+3).

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