Eligibility

Before starting your application process to Arcada, make sure that you are an eligible applicant.

Educational background required

To apply to Arcada you need one of the following (as stated in Polytechnics Act 932/2014):

A) Finnish degree

  • the Finnish general upper secondary school syllabus and/or the Finnish Matriculation Examination
  • a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification with a score of 120 credit units or 180 credit points, or a comparable previous Finnish vocational qualification with a minimum score of 80 credit units
  • a Finnish post-secondary or higher vocational level diploma
  • a Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification or a further or specialist vocational qualification as a competence-based qualification, or a comparable previous qualification

B) An international degree

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
  • European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma
  • Reifeprüfung (RP) Diploma

C) Other foreign qualification completed outside Finland

  • A non-Finnish degree or qualification which gives eligibility for higher education studies in the country in question (e.g. a high school diploma, an upper general certificate of education, a higher secondary school certificate)

D) Higher education degree

  • A completed higher education (bachelor or master level)

Discretionary admission

Discretionary admission is used 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.