Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) was ranked to be one of the best five universities of applied sciences in Finland, with a wide international network.

Table of Contents

Overview

Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) is an international higher education institution situated in the region of Satakunta in the beautiful coastal area of Finland. The university offers a large selection of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the fields of international business, health care, tourism, and IT.

7 bachelor’s degrees are conducted entirely in English, with online and on-campus studies.

During the studies, international students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge with internships and projects together with companies and organizations. Entrepreneurial skills are at the core of SAMK’s value, and the university encourages all degree students to learn and to develop them during their studies.

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Semester starts

January & August/September 2024

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Application period

Spring: 28.08.2023 – 11.09.2023
Autumn: 27.12.2023 – 12.01.2024

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Tuition fee

Bachelor’s: 9 500 – 10 500 € / year

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SAMK campus in Pori by Veera Korhonen
New campus building in Pori. Credits to Veera Korhonen.

The school has campuses in the picturesque towns of Pori and Rauma. The campus in Pori is brand new and opened its door for students in autumn 2017. It combines innovative Finnish design and functionality in a way that aims to enhance the student experience.

PORI CAMPUS ADDRESS

Satakunnankatu 23,
28130 Pori
Finland

RAUMA CAMPUS ADDRESS

Syväraumankatu 39,
26100 Rauma
Finland

WEBSITE

Satakunta University of Applied Sciences

Currently, there are approximately 6000 enrolled students and 400 employees. Out of the students, more than 300 are international exchange and degree students, coming from 60 different countries. The atmosphere at SAMK is truly international, and people from all over the world have sought after their top-quality degree programs. It is also one of the universities in Finland with scholarships for international students.  Moreover, SAMK has great overseas relations, and over 160 partner universities worldwide.

SAMK students sitting next to a pink wall
Picture from Veera Korhonen

Even within education, the school focuses on research, innovation, and development activities. They provide both research and comprehensive study programs in technology, business administration, and social sciences alike. SAMK’s mission is to ensure the employability and success of their students. To achieve this, SAMK students are provided with the best possible skills for employment and an entrepreneurial attitude. The students receive the first-hand experience, as SAMK cooperates with various companies in different projects. The students have an amazing opportunity to apply classroom theories in practice.

SAMK is among universities in Finland with scholarships for international students, be sure to browse our website more for further information on criteria and how to apply!

Are you interested to know how it looks like to study at SAMK? Check out our students’ stories:

Top 3 Reasons to Choose SAMK

Interview with a Nursing Student at SAMK

Vietnamese Student in Finland: I Love Rauma- The Town’s Beauty and Vibe

Why Filipino Students Choose to Study in Finland

STUDY PROGRAMS

SAMK’s focus areas are Automation, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence, Maritime Management, and Services for the Ageing. Emerging areas are Intelligent Water and Energy Technology, Logistics, and Tourism.

Admission criteria

The application process is fast and simple. The students are pre-screened on a first-come, first-served basis which means that if you meet the eligibility requirements, Edunation forwards your application to the university. The university processes the applications and makes the final admission decision within 4-6 weeks.

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  • Guaranteed admission

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

    Admission requirements:

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

  • Admission Requirements

    Educational background

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

    • Copy of the final/official higher 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: All documents need to be translated to either Finnish, Swedish or English if the original document is in none of those languages. The translations need to be signed and stamped by an authorized translator.

    Proof of nationality

    • Passport ID page OR
    • Official ID card indicating nationality

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

    Online exam and interview

    Only for Nursing.

    Applicants must pass an online exam and online interview to be admitted to the program.

    Written part measures the applicant’s learning skills, mathematical skills, motivation and understanding of written English. Written part consists of an essay, a calculation exam and a video introduction. Applicants are required to complete all three tasks and get at least 40 per cent of both essay’s and calculation exam’s maximum points. The written part will open a limited time and each task’s completion time be limited.

    Only 110 applicants with the highest scores will be invited to the online interview.

    In the online interview, the applicant will be interviewed through a video negotiation platform with his/her own computer, webcam, headset/microphone and Internet connection. Applicant’s skills of understanding and producing spoken English are measured. The applicant is given a time of 10 minutes for the interview by invitation – the applicant cannot change the date and the time of the interview. Applicants are required to get at least 40 per cent of the online interview’s maximum points.

    The final student selection is done in the order of the written part’s and the online interview’s points. Only applicants who have passed both the written part and the online interview are available for selection.

    Invitations and instructions for completing the written part of the online entrance examination will be sent to applicants.

    Each eligible applicant is given one time and one web address for the interview – the time and the address cannot be changed.

    English language proficiency

    Adequate results from accepted international English language tests are required. Following results are accepted: 

    • ELTS Academic and IELTS Academic online : a minimum total score of 6.0
    • TOEFL Academic (iBT): a minimum total score of 60
    • PTE Academic and PTE Academic online: a minimum total score of 55
    • Cambridge C1 Advanced: a minimum total score of 169
    • Cambridge C2 Proficiency: a minimum total score of 169

    Also following test, exams or degrees are accepted: 

    • National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) English: Proficiency level 4 on all the subtests (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
    • Higher education degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States
    • Upper secondary degree completed in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States
    • Finnish vocational upper secondary qualification: grading scale 1-5 with a minimum grade of 5, grading scale 1-3 with a minimum grade of 3

    Language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser. The TOEFL test cannot be verified after two years. If the test results are more than 2 years old, it is advised to retake the test.

    For more information click here.

  • Application process

    SAMK evaluates all applications and student selection is made based on the applicant’s former study success. Online entrance exam is organized only for the Bachelor’s program in Nursing. Applicants to all other programs are evaluated separately by scoring their study certificate, possible language test scores, and their country of origin.

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

Tuition Fees & Scholarship

Tuition Fees

Students who are from non-EU/EEA countries are required to pay a tuition fee of 10 500 € per year for a Bachelor’s degree program in Artificial Intelligence or Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics and 9 500 € per year for all the other Bachelor’s programs.

Students starting their studies in Autumn: Tuition fee for the academic year can be paid in one or two installments semester wise.

Students starting their studies in January: Tuition fee for the Spring semester has to be paid in one installment. The tuition fee for the next academic year can be paid in one or two installments.

Scholarships

Early Bird Discount for Bachelor level students

The Early Bird is a discount of 1,500 € on the tuition fee of the first study year at SAMK.

All the new students who have been selected and who have accepted the study place and paid the tuition fee early enough are rewarded an early bird discount of 1,500 €. The discount will be given from the first year payment. Detailed instructions on how to pay the tuition fee will be sent along with the acceptance letter. This offer is valid only for the first year of studies.

Early Bird Discount in 2022 is available only for January 2022 application period, and doesn’t include Bachelor’s Degree Programs of Logistics and Industrial Management. Please note that an early bird has to pay the tuition fee in one installment.

Please note that the early-bird discount does not concern pathway applicants!

Success in Studies Scholarship 

During the studies students can apply for a scholarship after each study year and get 50 % of the paid fee back by progressing well in studies. A student can get a scholarship if he/she:

  • completes 60 ECTS credits during the academic year, and
  • the weighted average of the studies during the academic year is at least 3.5., and
  • the student’s achievements have to be among the best fifth compared to other students in the degree program that same year, liable or non-liable to pay a tuition fee.

Finnish Language Skills Scholarship

SAMK grants scholarships based on Finnish language skills. Scholarships are awarded for students who gain at least the basic skills (level A2) of the Finnish language during their degree studies at SAMK. The aim of the scholarship is to support future employment of international degree students in Finland by encouraging the students to gain an intermediate level of Finnish language during their studies.

If a student qualifies for the scholarship based on success in studies, they can also apply for scholarship based on the Finnish language studies.

The Finnish language skills are evaluated by National language proficiency tests (YKI 3, level B1) or by a written certificate of the exam results by SAMK Finnish language teacher (level A2: completed Finnish studies (10 ECTS credits) at SAMK with a minimum grade 4, or Recognition of prior learning (RPL).

  1. Scholarship: Basic User of Finnish language (CERF level A2): 1,500 €
  • Paid once, after the first academic year at the earliest
  • Bachelor´s degree students have the opportunity to gain level A2 by taking part in Finnish language studies offered by SAMK and by studying independently.
  1. Scholarship: Independent User of Finnish language (CERF level B1): 3,000 €
  • Paid once, after the first academic year at the earliest. If the student is awarded with Scholarship 1, he/she can be awarded with Scholarship 2 after the second academic year, at the earliest.

The Student Ambassador Scholarship 

The Student Ambassador Scholarship Program has been created for students who have an interest in becoming involved in international activities in SAMK during their studies. The Student Ambassador Scholarship offers successful students an annual award of 200–500€. The Student Ambassador Scholarship can be granted more than once.

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