Arcada believes in flexible learning paths that lead to competencies for future working life. This is one of the reasons why Arcada belongs to the top five Finnish UAS’s for employment after graduation.

Table of Contents

Overview

Arcada University of Applied Sciences is a modern, multi-professional university of applied sciences in Helsinki. The campus is located in the beautiful surroundings of Arabianranta on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Arcada offers high-quality practice-oriented programs at both bachelor’s and master’s levels. Arcada is one of the most popular study options for international students to study business administration and technology in Finland. In 2017, Arcada was ranked first in the yearly ranking of best universities of applied sciences in Finland.

Arcada is truly international, with over 40 different nationalities represented among its 2,500 students and 200 employees. In fact, Arcada is the most international university of applied sciences in Finland in relation to its size, with more than 90 partner universities across the globe. Arcada takes part in numerous international research projects and exchange programs and is a member of various networks within education and research.

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Semester starts

August

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Application period

Bachelor’s: 8.12.2022 – 17.02.2023 at 6 PM (GMT +2)
Master’s: 28.12.2022 – 13.1.2023 (GMT +2)

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Tuition fees

Bachelor’s: 8500 € / year
Master’s: 10 000 – 11 000 € / year

Arcada’s modern campus offers excellent facilities. From quiet corners and collaborative spaces to cafes, a well-equipped gym, and even a sauna. In addition to being the hub for student affairs on campus, the student union house offers a variety of activities, services, and facilities that attract both old and new students. Having all faculties around one campus allows for multi-disciplinary collaborations. It is also a great way to meet new students and professors from diverse backgrounds.

Arcada university students chatting

CAMPUS ADDRESS

Jan-Magnus Janssonin aukio 1
00560 Helsinki
Finland

WEBSITE

Arcada University of Applied Sciences

Finland is a safe and equal society which is also reflected and highly valued within Arcada’s walls as well. In 2011, Arcada passed the Quality Audit by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre, FINEEC. Moreover, the Ministry of Education and Culture closely oversees the quality of teaching in all higher education institutions in Finland, including Arcada University of Applied Sciences.

STUDY PROGRAMS

Arcada offers high quality, practice-oriented higher education at both bachelor’s and master’s levels. The university has two bachelor’s degrees and three master’s degree programs in English.

Admission criteria

The application process is fast and simple. Students are pre-screened by Edunation on a first come, first served basis. If you fulfill the eligibility requirements, the university will invite you for an online exam or grants you direct admission, depending on which application method is used in the study program. Online exams are conducted on a continuous basis during the application period.

  • Guaranteed admission for bachelor's degree

    Our Pathway to Finland program offers guaranteed access to bachelor’s degree programs at Arcada.

    Admission requirements:

    Students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Admissions requirements for bachelor's degree

    Make sure you have all the following documents ready when you fill out the application form.

    Educational background

    Applicants who have completed a qualification outside Finland must submit the following documents to Edunation:

    • Copy of the final/official secondary school certificate or vocational qualification which gives eligibility for higher education studies in your own country
    • Transcript of records with a GPA 50% or above. This is required to be able to apply through Edunation.

    Note: Original copies must be shown when arriving in Finland. 

    Proof of nationality

    • Copy of passport ID page

    Note: You will need a valid passport when you apply for a visa or residence permit.

    Language requirements

    A proof of English proficiency is required. You will need to take at least one of these tests with the following scores:

    • IELTS: 6.0
    • TOEFL iBT: 79
    • PTE academic: 51
    • Cambridge ESOL’s tests B2 First (First Certificate in English), with min score of 170
    • International Baccalaureate Education completed at an IB-school
    • 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. A minimum 60% of the of the degree must have been completed on location in one of the before mentioned countries.

    A TOEFL test score will only be accepted if it has been directly submitted from the TOEFL Educational Testing Service (ETS). Arcada’s Toefl code is 5724.

    Application process

    There are two application methods

    1. Online entrance exam, interview + proof of English language proficiency
    2. SAT test score + proof of English language proficiency

    Online exam

    Online exam is conducted for all applicants that fulfill the admission requirements. The online exam can be taken only once and you must complete the test in one sitting, within a set time frame. No preparation is required as the online entrance exam is not based on any pre-reading material.

    Interview

    An applicant who passes the online entrance exam will be invited to the next step in the process, which is an group interview. The group interview is also held online. Detailed information on the interview and requirements (setting, equipment etc) will be given in the invitation that is sent to the applicant.

    SAT

    You can also apply with an SAT Test score with a minimum total score of 1100

    • minimum score of 500 in Reading, Writing and Language Test
    • minimum score of 500 in Math Test (Note: the minimum is 550 if you are applying for the program in Mechanical and Sustainability Engineering.)

    If you submit an SAT Test score, you are not required to take the online exam.

    The applicant should order an official SAT score report straight from the test organizer. If the applicant has already completed an SAT test, you must request a score to be delivered to Arcada directly. Arcada’s SAT code is 7151.

    Note: All documents need to be translated to English, Finnish or Swedish, if the original document is in none of those languages. The translations need to be signed and stamped by the translator.

  • Admissions requirements for master's degree

    Make sure you have all the following documents ready when you fill out the application form.

    Master of Engineering in Big Data Analytics

    Educational background

    Applicants who have completed a qualification outside Finland must submit the following documents to Edunation:

    • Copy of bachelor’s degree certificate from a related field, prior studies must include a minimum of 30 ECTS in programming subjects
    • Copy of the transcript of academic records

    Note: Original copies must be shown when arriving in Finland. 

    Proof of nationality

    • Copy of passport ID page

    Note: You will need a valid passport when you apply for a visa or residence permit.

    Work certificate

    • Employment certificate(s) with a minimum of 2 years of work experience

    And one of the following options:

    GRE test + motivation letter 

    • Quantitative Reasoning: at least 150 points
    • Verbal Reasoning: at least 150 points
    • Analytical writing: minimum score 4

    Arcada’s GRE code is 2523. Please use this code when requesting your score to be sent to Arcada.

    OR

    Prior master-level studies within the field + motivation letter

    Previous 30 ECTS programming studies in Big Data Analytics at an advanced (master) level. In addition, you should submit a motivational letter.

    The letter of motivation should be 2.5 to 3 pages of text on the following topics:

    • A vision on future possibilities associated with big data analytics
    • A vision of own role and career as an expert in the transition towards analytics-driven intelligent services
    • A proposal for a programming or service creation challenge you would like to study as part of your master’s thesis

    Note: All documents need to be translated to English, if the original document is not in English. The translations need to be signed and stamped by an authorized translator.

    Master of Business Administration in International Business Management

    Educational background

    Applicants who have completed a qualification outside Finland must submit the following documents to Edunation:

    • Copy of bachelor’s degree certificate from a related field, prior studies must include a minimum of 40 ECTS in business studies
    • Copy of the transcript of academic records

    Note: Original copies must be shown when arriving in Finland. 

    Proof of nationality

    • Copy of passport ID page

    Note: You will need a valid passport when you apply for a visa or residence permit.

    GMAT/GRE

    • Minimum GMAT score 500 or equivalent GRE score.

    Arcada’s GRE code is 2523. Please use this code when requesting your score to be sent to Arcada.

    Motivational letter

    In the motivational letter you should explain your reasons for applying to this programme, including a presentation of yourself and how you see the programme supporting your future career, and how you envision the world of business to change in the foreseeable future.

    Personal motivation video

    In the video you should introduce yourself, your prior studies and relevant work and/or other experiences, including a discussion on some business-related topic of specific interest to you.

    Work Certificate

    • Employment certificate(s) with a minimum of 2 years of work experience

    Note: All documents need to be translated to English, if the original document is not in English. The translations need to be signed and stamped by an authorized translator.

    Master of Culture and Arts in Media Management

    Educational background

    Applicants who have completed a qualification outside Finland must submit the following documents to Edunation:

    • Copy of bachelor’s degree certificate from a related field such as Media and Communications, Arts and Culture Management, Business Management, Media and Information Technology, Art&Design, Advertising, Literature, Culture Studies or Entertainment Law.
    • Copy of the transcript of academic records

    Note: Original copies must be shown when arriving in Finland. 

    Proof of nationality

    • Copy of passport ID page

    Note: You will need a valid passport when you apply for a visa or residence permit.

    Work Certificate

    • Employment certificate(s) with a minimum of 2 years of work experience

    MA research proposal and motivational video

    1) a written document in the form of a preliminary MA research proposal

    Write an essay of no more than 1000 words. Outline your interests in the form of a proposal for your potential master thesis. Further information on the thesis proposal will be published on this web page closer to application.

    2) a personal video

    Produce a motivational video that highlights your professional and educational background in the fields of media and management.

    Note: All documents need to be translated to English, if the original document is not in English. The translations need to be signed and stamped by an authorized translator.

  • Application instructions

    Read our general page about how to apply to study in Finland.

Tuition Fees & Scholarship

Tuition Fees

Bachelor’s degrees

Students who are from a non-EU/EEA country are required to pay a tuition fee of 8500 € per academic year for bachelor’s degree programs in English. The payment is always done per academic year, in one installment. The first payment needs to be done when the applicant accepts their study place at the university.

Master’s degrees

Students who are from a non-EU/EEA country are required to pay a tuition fee of:

  • 10 000 € for a master’s program of 60 ECTS (two semesters)
  • 11 000 € for a master’s program of 90 ECTS (three semesters)

Early bird offer

An admitted student can receive a 4000 € discount on the tuition fee for the first academic year by bindingly accepting the study place offer at Arcada within 14 days! The early bird offer does not apply to the Nursing program. Restrictions may apply.

Scholarships

Bachelor’s degrees

Arcada offers scholarships for enrolled bachelor’s students. The scholarship covers a maximum of 50% of the tuition fee. Students can be awarded a scholarship from the second year on, depending on their study achievements. If you have completed at least 60 ECTS during one academic year (consisting of an autumn semester followed immediately by a spring semester), you are entitled to a scholarship of 30% of the tuition fee. If your average grade is at least 4, you are entitled to a scholarship of in total 50% of the tuition fee. The mean grade is calculated based on the total number of credits, i.e. not only on the current academic year’s credits.

Master’s degrees

Unfortunately, no scholarships are offered for master’s level studies.

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