Certificate-based selection
This website provides information about certificate-based selection for bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Xamk.
The principles for certificate-based selection for Finnish qualifications to bachelor’s degrees are common to all universities of applied sciences.
Certificate-based selection
Apply to bachelor’s degrees with a Finnish qualification
Apply to bachelor’s degrees with a non-Finnish qualification
Apply to master’s degrees with a Finnish UAS degree
Certificate-based selection to bachelor’s degrees, Finnish qualifications
This certificate-based selection for Finnish qualifications concerns the following degrees
- matriculation examination (Finnish or EB, IB and RP/DIA diploma)
- vocational upper secondary qualification (completed in Finland after 1 August 2015).
At Xamk, this selection method is generally used for some degree programmes in the Joint application.
Those applying with one of the listed degrees have a specific study place quota which varies between study programmes available for application. You don’t have to choose or inform which selection method you apply with. The selection is made based on the information you give on the application form and data in KOSKI service.
All universities of applied sciences comply with the scoring models and principles of certificate-based selection for Finnish qualifications. In certificate-based selection, the university of applied sciences may independently determine the lowest score limit or the threshold criteria. If you have completed two different vocational qualifications or both the matriculation examination and a vocational qualification, each degree is considered separately in the certificate-based selection.
The certificate-based selection for degree programmes conducted in English (January application) is conducted in May (after the entrance exams) and in October (September application).
The common university of applied sciences scoring models of certificate-based selection can be found at UASinfo website. Certificate-based selection for Finnish qualifications is used in some degree programmes in English but not all of them. You can find a list of degree programmes in English that use this selection method at the UASinfo website. The list is updated before the application opens.
As of the first joint application in spring 2025, applicants must demonstrate their knowledge of the English language by means of a separately defined previous qualification, part of a qualification or a language test. More detailed information on language requirements will be published on the UASinfo website in autumn 2024.
Data on completed subjects and grades for Finnish matriculation examination is retrieved from the relevant register (YTL/Matriculation Examination Board). If the examination was completed prior to 1990, the Certificate of Matriculation must be uploaded to the application form. Those finishing their examination in autumn are not considered in the certificate-based selection for the relevant year’s autumn application round.
International matriculation examinations only refer to the following qualifications:
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma completed in an IB World School,
- European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma completed in a European School,
- Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) degree completed in Finland
These qualifications are scored similarly to the Finnish matriculation examination in certificate-based selection.
The certificate-based selection does not concern:
- Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) degree completed outside Finland
- other types of Baccalaureate diplomas than listed above. The diplomas can meet the eligibility requirement for the studies but are not considered in the certificate-based selection.
See UASinfo website for information on the scoring of
The lowest score limit and threshold criteria at Xamk in Joint application, spring 2025
- Lowest score limit for all fields of study: 60/198 points
- Threshold criteria for all engineering fields: The lowest score limit 60/198 and Mathematics test in Matriculation Examination, basic syllabus grade C or higher, or advanced syllabus grade A or higher
The lowest score limit and threshold criteria at Xamk in Joint application, autumn 2024
- Lowest score limit for all fields of study: 60/198 points
- Threshold criteria for all engineering fields: The lowest score limit 60/198 and Mathematics test in Matriculation Examination, basic syllabus grade C or higher, or advanced syllabus grade A or higher
- Threshold criteria for the business field: The lowest score limit 60/198 and English language test in Matriculation Examination, basic syllabus grade C or higher, or advanced syllabus grade A or higher
Certificate-based selection of vocational upper secondary qualifications of the year 2017 and later is conducted on the basis of data in KOSKI service.
If you have graduated between 1.8.2015 – 31.12.2016, you shall report on the application form, the grades of the common units of the vocational upper secondary qualification, and the qualification’s weighted average. You shall also attach a copy of the qualification to the application (a good quality scan or photo of the certificate).
Competence-based qualifications are not taken into account in certificate-based selection.
If you are graduating after the autumn application period, make sure that your study records and the confirmation date of your qualification are stored in KOSKI service by 13.5.2025 (Joint application, spring 2025) / by 18.9.2024 (Joint application, autumn 2024). You can check your details in KOSKI service (My studies) and if needed, contact your vocational institution.
Scoring of vocational upper secondary qualification
In certificate-based selection, grades of the three common units are considered and the weighted average of the qualification (total max 150 points). Vocational upper secondary qualification scoring model can be found on the UASinfo website.
See UASinfo website for the guidelines for calculating the weighed average grade and for the scoring model:
Lowest score limits and threshold criteria at Xamk in Joint application, spring 2025
- Lowest score limit for the ICT field (Information Technology): 110/150 points
- Lowest score limit for other fields of study: 80/150 points
- Threshold criteria for the ICT field (Information Technology): Common unit of Mathematics and science competence grade 3 or higher (grading scale 1-3), or grade 4 or higher (grading scale 1-5)
- Threshold criteria for the other engineering fields: Common unit of Mathematics and science competence grade 2 or higher (grading scale 1-3), or grade 4 or higher (grading scale 1-5)
Lowest score limits and threshold criteria at Xamk in Joint application, autumn 2024
- Lowest score limit for the ICT field (Game Technologies): 110/150 points
- Lowest score limit for other fields of study: 80/150 points
- Threshold criteria for the business field: Common unit of Communication and interaction competence grade 2 or higher (grading scale 1-3), or grade 4 or higher (grading scale 1-5)
- Threshold criteria for the ICT field (Game Technologies): Common unit of Mathematics and science competence grade 3 or higher (grading scale 1-3), or grade 4 or higher (grading scale 1-5)
Certificate-based selection to bachelor’s degrees, non-Finnish qualifications
This certificate-based student selection method applies to:
- eligible upper secondary qualifications completed outside Finland and
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma completed in an IB World School,
- European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma completed in a European School,
The principles for certificate-based selection for non-Finnish qualifications only concern bachelor’s degree programmes at Xamk. This selection method is generally used for the bachelor’s degree programmes in the Rolling admission procedure.
You are considered in the certificate-based selection for non-Finnish qualifications if your qualification meets the general eligibility requirement for the bachelor’s studies and you have provided sufficient documentation on the grading system concerning your qualification on the application form.
Higher education degrees are not considered in the certificate-based selection. If your eligible degree is a higher education degree, you can be considered for admission based on SAT test score.
All applicants must demonstrate their knowledge of the English language by means of a separately defined previous qualification, part of a qualification or a language test.
Only eligible applicants who have acceptable proof of their English language skills are considered in the certificate-based selection.
Good study performance is required for admission in certificate-based selection for non-Finnish qualifications. In addition, when applying for engineering degree programmes, the degree used for applying must include successfully completed studies in mathematics or equivalent subject.
Lowest accepted average: average equivalent to grade 3 “good” on Xamk grading scale (1-5). The requirement equals to grade C on the European Credit Transfer System and grade B on the United States grading scale:
Xamk – ECTS
5 – A
4 – B
3 – C
2 – D
1 – E
0 – F
Xamk – US
5 – A
4 – B+
3 – B
2 – C
1 – D
0 – F
- Every application is evaluated individually as the grading systems vary by country.
- Points are not awarded in this certificate-based selection model because it is used in the Rolling admission procedure. Applications are processed continuously and students are admitted in the order of submitted, complete applications. It is enough that the qualification meets the minimum requirement set for good study performance.
Certificate-based selection to master’s degrees
Certificate-based selection in master’s degree programmes is based on weighted average for the bachelor’s degree completed in the suitable field in a university of applied sciences in Finland. The admission criteria may include a lowest accepted average.
This certificate-based selection model applies only to the following master’s degree programmes at Xamk:
You are considered in the certificate-based selection if you meet the eligibility requirements, and you have added a link to view the completed studies in that degree at My Studyinfo service to your application form. When creating the link on My Studyinfo, please make sure to use the option “Share full details of the studies you selected.” The link to share information about your studies must be valid until 28 February 2025.
- If you have more than one degree that meets the eligibility requirement, the degree providing the highest average is considered in the certificate-based selection.
- If you have not added the link to your application form, or if the link you have added is incorrect or has expired, your degree will not be considered in the certificate-based selection.
- If the grades for your degree cannot be viewed at My Studyinfo service, you should in any case add the link to your application form for the certificate-based selection at Xamk. In addition, upload the transcript of records attached to your degree certificate (including the completed studies and grades) to the application form. The grades are checked from the transcript of records only in the case where the link to view the studies has been submitted and no information about the grades is available at My Studyinfo.
- Master’s degrees are not considered in the certificate-based selection. Only studies and grades that are included in the eligible UAS degree are taken into account.
This is how you can calculate the weighted average for your UAS Bachelor’s degree:
Multiply each course grade by the course credit amount (e.g. grade 3×4 credits=12, grade 4×5 credits=20 etc.). After this, sum up the products from the multiplications (e.g. 12+20=32). Then divide the sum by the total of the course credits (e.g. 32/9=3,56). Finally, round the average to two decimals.
- Consider the numerical grades only. Verbal grades are not considered for the average (e.g. accepted H or passed S).
- Consider the total course grades only. Leave out possible grades for course parts or other grades included in the total course grade.
- You can use an online calculator https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/math/weighted-average-calculator.html or a spreadsheet programme (e.g. Excel or Sheets) to help you with the calculation.
Example
grade credits product
3 4 12
4 5 20
2 2 4
4 15 60
H (5) not considered
total 26 96
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: