Eligibility
You can apply to most degree programmes leading to a university of applied sciences bachelor’s degree if you meet the general eligibility requirements.
Bachelor’s degree programmes
You can apply for the bachelor’s studies with an upper secondary school level qualification that provides eligibility for higher education studies in the country in question, or with a prior bachelor’s or master’s degree.
You can apply to bachelor’s programmes with a temporary certificate if you are able to upload your final graduation certificate (and an official translation into English, Finnish or Swedish if applicable) to your application form or information about your graduation in KOSKI service is available by:
High school / Upper secondary school qualification
- Joint application and Rolling admission (August 2025 intake): by 10 July 2025, 3 pm.
Higher education degree
- Joint application and Rolling admission (August 2025 intake): by 31 July 2025, 3 pm.
Programme-specific requirements
Master’s degree programmes
You can apply to a Master’s degree programme if you have completed
- an appropriate UAS bachelor’s degree or another appropriate higher education degree and
- at least two years of work experience in a relevant field after completing the higher education degree. As a relevant field is regarded both the field being applied to and the field of the previous higher education degree.
As regards to the appropriate degrees and relevant work experience, the requirements are confirmed separately for each programme and application round. Generally a prior bachelor’s degree in the same field of study is required.
Work experience
You must provide a work certificate written by the employer and confirmed by the empoloyer’s signature/stamp as proof of employment. Only work experience obtained after completing the higher education degree can be considered: the work experience can be accumulated from the date of award of the higher education degree and obtained no later than 31 July (spring joint application) / 31 December (autumn joint application) in the year of applying.
Programme-specific requirements
Language requirements
You are generally required to have proof of your English language skills when applying. Lists of the accepted language certificates:
Proof of English language skills is not required when you apply:
- with a sufficient SAT test score (bachelor) or GMAT test score (master)
- to Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Game Design (language skills are evaluated in the entrance exam)
- to Master of Health Care, Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology (language skills are evaluated in the interview)
Admission criteria
The admission criteria are decided on a yearly basis for each application and degree programme separately. The criteria consists of the eligibility requirements and the student selection methods.
You can find the admission criteria from the programme details on the Studyinfo service (Select degree > select programme > see admission criteria for each application):
The student admission is conditional until all information and certificates used for applying have been checked. Original certificates are checked in the beginning of studies on campus. Your study place can be withdrawn if you have given false information about your qualifications or fail to submit the required documents.
Discretionary admission
At Xamk, discretionary admission is used only in the field of culture, for Degree Programme in Game Design. Other degree programmes in English at Xamk do not use discretionary admission.
Discretionary admission means that Xamk may invite applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirement, to the entrance exam, if their skills and knowledge are considered sufficient.
Discretion only concerns the eligibility to apply. Discretionary applicants are included in the student selection process in the same way as other applicants and follow the regular procedure for applying.
If you wish to apply to the Game Design programme as a discretionary applicant, please follow these instructions:
- Check the eligibility criteria at Studyinfo service.
- Submit your application form on Studyinfo service during the application period.
- If you do not meet the eligibility criteria attach the following documents to your application on:
- copies of the certificates you wish to invoke to
- a cover letter shortly explaining why your application should be considered in discretionary admission.
- The deadline for the attachments
- Joint application, spring 2025: 29 January 2025, 3 pm (Finnish time UTC +2).
Contact Admission Services
Xamk’s Admissions Services primarily assists with matters related to applying for degree studies. You can contact us by phone or through our online form.
Mon-Fri 09.00-15.00
Degree education in Finnish:
- +358 44 702 8891
- +358 40 585 6610
Degree education in English:
- +358 40 585 6610
Contact request via online form: