Bachelor of Health Care, Public Health Nurse

The programme prepares healthcare professionals who:

• Provide holistic care, health promotion, and disease prevention across all age groups.
• Gain strong theoretical knowledge and clinical expertise in both general nursing and public health nursing.
• Build skills in independent decision-making, work organisation, and professional responsibility.
• Develop excellent communication and teamwork abilities in multidisciplinary environments.
• Strengthen intercultural competence while studying in an international, multicultural setting.

The degree integrates diverse study modes and environments:

• Theoretical Studies: Public health nursing, nursing theory, clinical decision-making, and innovation projects.
• Practical Learning: Modern simulation environments at Myllypuro campus, including a simulation hospital and ambulance, plus hands-on practice in Hymy Village.
• Clinical Practice: Roughly one-third of studies, carried out in health centres, clinics, hospitals, and home care.
• Language and Electives: Non-Finnish speakers take Finnish language studies as electives to build professional fluency; Finnish-speaking students may choose other electives.
• Bachelor’s Thesis: Research or development work linked to real-world healthcare practice.

Studies combine classroom learning, online courses, group work, and independent study, ensuring both flexibility and hands-on professional training.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS

• English: A minimum of B2 level is required for admission, as studies start in English.
• Finnish: No Finnish is required at entry. Finnish is integrated into the courses from the beginning, and by graduation students must demonstrate sufficient Finnish/Swedish proficiency to work as Public Health Nurses and Registered Nurses in Finland.

Read more on Valvira site.

Graduates qualify as both Public Health Nurses and Registered Nurses, enabling wide-ranging career paths in Finland and internationally. Examples include:

• Public Health Nursing: Maternity and child health clinics, school and student health care, occupational health care, health centres, and home care.
• General Nursing: Hospital wards, primary healthcare, home care, and private healthcare services.
• Other Roles: Health-promoting organisations, educational or project-based positions, or independent entrepreneurship.

Upon completion, graduates are also eligible to continue to master’s-level studies at universities of applied sciences or research universities in Finland and abroad.

The admission requirements for the program can found on the university page.

Further information about the tuition fee and available scholarships for the program can found on the university page.