Postgraduate studies

All vocational qualifications give you general eligibility for further studies at universities of applied sciences and universities. This means that you can apply for higher education studies in any field. You can therefore continue in the same field or switch to a completely new career.

Your eligibility for further studies does not expire! You can apply to higher education immediately after graduation or later, once you have gained some work experience.

After completing a vocational upper secondary qualification

1. Aiming for a university of applied sciences

With a good upper secondary qualification, you can be admitted directly to a university of applied sciences on the basis of your certificate – without an entrance exam! It is therefore worth focusing on your basic degree grades: the better your grades in vocational demonstrations and common degree components (YTO), the better your chances of being admitted to study directly with your certificate.

In addition to certificate-based selection, there are many other ways to enter a university of applied sciences, depending on the higher education institution and study program, e.g., entrance exam, a study module based on which you can be accepted to studies, open studies and open path application. Check out the options for the university of applied sciences and fields of study that interest you on Opintopolku or the educational institution's website.

2. Aiming for university

You can apply to university by taking an entrance exam: you cannot apply with a vocational qualification through certificate selection. 

After completing a vocational or specialist vocational qualification

With a vocational or specialist vocational qualification, you can apply to a university of applied sciences or university through an entrance examination or open pathway.

There are also other routes to universities of applied sciences, depending on the higher education institution and study program, such as entrance examinations, entrance courses, open university of applied sciences routes, or pathway studies. Check out the options for universities of applied sciences and fields of study that interest you on Opintopolku or the educational institution's website. 

Joint application system for higher education institutions

Applications to universities of applied sciences and universities are submitted through the joint application system for higher education institutions. The joint application system is organized three times a year: twice in the spring and once in the fall. 

See more information about the joint application process for higher education institutions on Opintopolku:

• Joint application to higher education
• How to fill in the application form in joint application to higher education

Further education paths in vocational education

Don't forget about the further education paths offered by vocational education. Vocational and specialist qualifications, as well as various additional and supplementary training courses, offer a wide range of options.

Further information

Contact your study counsellor, and we will plan your further study counsellor!