In the Higher Education Preparatory Programme for Immigrants you gain skills and competencies needed in higher education studies or working life.
The programme includes a lot of Finnish language studies and you will improve your language skills from level B1 to level B2, which is needed for higher education studies in Finland.
During the programme, you will improve your study skills and get to know the field of study that interests you. You will receive information on different education options in Finland as well as councelling and guidance on how to apply to different educational institutions. In addition, you will gain the academic skills needed in a Finnish higher education institution.
The programme is organized in Joensuu and it is mainly contact teaching. Studying is full-time. The language of instruction in the programme is Finnish.
Scope and lenght: 30 credits, 6 months
Application period: 5.6-18.9.2024
Training period: 4.11.2024–30.4.2025
Entrance examination: 30.9.2024 in Joensuu, at Karelia UAS
After the preparatory programme, you can apply to study at all higher education institutions in Finland in the Joint application (an entrance exam is included in the application process).
After the preparatory programme, you can apply to Karelia University of Applied Sciences without an entrance exam, in a separate application. Read more about the separate application process on our website (in Finnish).
Contents of the programme
Preparatory Programme Courses:
- Finnish language, three courses
- Skills and Competencies for Higher Education studies, one course
- Mathematics, one course
- English language, one course (you don’t have to know English when you start the programme)
Read the curricula of the programme: https://opintoopas.karelia.fi/65/fi/90/142
Watch a video about the programme on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQDLUfIIZm0
Watch a video, where the participants of the programme share their experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4V6ALDBKFc
Applying
You can apply to the Higher Education Preparatory Programme, if you have:
– Certificate of Secondary Education (high school or vocational qualification)
– a Foreign degree that in the relevant country qualifies for higher education studies
– Finnish language skills, level B1 (you don’t need a certificate)
You can apply to the programme by filling in an electronical application form. The form is in Finnish.
Info webinar
An info webinar will be held online (in Zoom) on September 2 at 3 p.m.
In the info webinar, we will tell you about the content of the training and give you instructions on how to apply. You can also ask teachers about education.
The webinar will be held in Finnish.
Entrance exam
All applicants will be invited to the entrance exam. The invitations will be sent in September after the application period ends.
There is a written Finnish language exam and an interview in the entrance exam. After the entrance exam, you will receive the information, whether you have been accepted to the programme or not.
Financial aid for studies
The programme is free of charge and you can receive Financial aid for students from Kela. More information about the Financial aid for students from Kela webpage. Ask the TE Office for more information about financial support during studies in the programme.
More information:
Taru Väisänen
[email protected]
+ 358 50 413 8260
Kirsi Autio
[email protected]
+358 50 467 9219