Guidance for migrants

If you have completed Bachelor’s or Master's degree abroad, you can apply to applicable Master's programmes at the University of Jyväskylä.

If you haven’t completed Bachelor’s or Master's degree or you consider to change the field of studies, you can apply for Finnish-taught Bachelor’s degree programmes. Note the language proficiency requirements.

Check out the Finnish and English taught programmes

Check out the English Master's programmes

Read more about studies and the admission criteria of the education you are interested in on at Studyinfo.fi. If you are applying for Finnish-taught degree studies, read more about language proficiency criteria in Finnish.

Language proficiency criteria

If you have moved to Finland and you are already highly educated or qualified for higher education, you can apply for JYU.INTEGRA training, where you can learn Finnish and English languages and academic skills.

JYU.INTEGRA aims at integrating language studies with studies in your own discipline. In the guidance you will also get support on how to continue your study and professional career. The next application round for JYU.INTEGRA is spring 2025, and the application period is 16.4.-4.5.2025. The application info and form can be found on the following site. 

Read more about INTEGRA training

If you have fled to Finland from another country, you can apply for higher education and study at a Finnish university.

You can normally apply for university studies, if you have certificates of your previous degree and required language proficiency for university studies. If you want to apply for higher education studies, but you don’t have official certificates of your previous degree, you can contact the SIMHE-services and we will help you to clarify your educational background to apply for study program.

If you apply to higher education without official certificates, you must have documents of your refugee status in Finland.

If you have fled the war from Ukraine to Finland and you are interested in higher education studies, familiarize yourself with the courses offered at the University of Jyväskylä.

Courses and guidance for people who have fled the war in Ukraine
Also, other Finnish higher education institutions offer support and study opportunities for students and researchers who have fled the war in Ukraine. More information about free study options is available on Study in Finland. Study in Finland.

If you already have an academic degree from another country and you want to continue studies in Finland, familiarize yourself with different study options on the website Studyinfo.fi.

If you want to work in your profession in Finland, you should find out if your profession is regulated in Finland and whether you need recognition of your previous degree. According to Finnish legislation, teaching & early childhood education, healthcare and social welfare professions are regulated and qualification in these professions may require a decision of the competent authorities.

Regulated professions in Finland

If you are not sure, whether you need recognition of your previous degree, see the OPH's service guide for the recognition of qualifications:

OPH service guide

If you have a degree of healthcare field profession (doctor, dentist, nurse, psychologist etc.) and you wish to qualify in your profession in Finland, you can apply for profession practice right from VALVIRA (National Authority for Welfare and Health).

If you are interested in applying for VALVIRA’s decision, familiarize yourself with the following instructions.

Read the Valvira guide for application

Please, note that in order to work as a healthcare professional in Finland, you must have sufficient Finnish or Swedish language proficiency.

Demonstrating sufficient language proficiency

If you have completed doctor’s or dentist's degree outside of the EU/ETA Member State, we recommend you to familiarize yourself with Finnish-taught training organized at the University of Tampere.

Training for the qualification exam for doctors (only in Finnish)

Teaching & early childhood education professions are usually regulated in Finland, which means that pursuing these professions may require recognition of qualification in Finland. Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI/OPH) is the competent authority, what makes decisions on eligibility for teaching and early childhood education qualifications.

Do you know, whether you need a decision on recognition? The service guide helps you to find out!

OPH's service guide

When you have received a decision, the decision may require you to complete supplementing studies, an adaptation period or an aptitude test. You can contact SIMHE-services for help in finding relevant supplementing studies.