Application on the basis of uncompleted degree in higher education

If you want to complete your unfinished higher education degree from a Finnish university, you can apply to HAMK during the autumn application period (1 August–30 November) to start in the autumn semester, or during the spring application period (1 December–31 May) to start in the spring semester. You may be admitted to the same or a corresponding degree programme in which you previously studied.

Who can apply?

You are a former student of HAMK or another Finnish higher education institution, and your degree was left incomplete in a Finnish higher education institution, and your previous right to study has ended.

You have a maximum of 60 credits missing (Bachelor’s degree) or 30 credits missing (Master’s degree).

Your completed studies can be accredited towards the degree, and you can complete the remaining studies at HAMK.

If you do not complete your degree during the new right to study, you can continue in Open University of Applied Sciences (Open UAS) to finish the missing studies. After completing all required studies, you can apply for the right to study in the “Application based on an uncompleted degree in higher education” process to receive your degree certificate. However, you cannot complete any new studies at that stage.

If you have more than 60 credits (Bachelor’s) or 30 credits (Master’s) missing, you can first study in Open UAS and later apply for the right to study (see section: Studying in Open UAS after the end of your right to study as a HAMK degree student).

The right to study is applied for through HAMK’s separate admission process based on an uncompleted higher education degree in the Studyinfo.fi service, once your previous right to study has ended. The right to study can only be granted once and cannot be extended.

Admission criteria

Selection is based on:

• The suitability of your completed studies for HAMK’s degree programme
• Academic performance
• Timing and amount of completed credits
• Student intake situation (group size)

It is an advantage if your previous studies can be fully accredited towards the degree and if fewer than 60 credits (Bachelor’s) or 30 credits (Master’s) are missing.

Note – you apply only the same or corresponding program as your previous studies.

The suitability of completed studies will be assessed, and after the assessment, the missing studies must not exceed the maximum limit. It is an advantage if your previous studies can be fully accredited towards the degree. It is also considered an advantage if fewer than 60 credits (Bachelor’s) or 30 credits (Master’s) are missing

Language skills

If your previous higher education studies were completed in a different language than the language of instruction of the degree programme you are applying to, we will verify your language skills if necessary.

Processing Fee

If you have started your studies at HAMK on or after 1 August 2015, you must pay a processing fee of 50 euros and attach the receipt to your application.
Payment link:
https://shop.hamk.fi/tuote/application-processing-fee-for-right-to-study-bachelors-and-masters-degree/

Application Fee

Starting from 1 January 2025, citizens of countries outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland must pay an application fee of 100 euros to apply for higher education studies in Finland.
The application fee does not guarantee admission and is non-refundable, even if you cancel your application or are not offered a study place.
Read more: https://opintopolku.fi/konfo/en/sivu/application-fee

Tuition fees

The student’s tuition fee liability will be redefined in accordance with the legislative change that entered into force on 1 December 2024. The liability is based on the residence permit originally granted to the student. Further details regarding tuition fees and possible exemptions are available via the following link.