Master's Degree Programme in Toxicology

Eligibility criteria

A previous Bachelor's degree corresponding to at least 3 years of full-time academic studies from an institution for higher education is required from all Master's degree applicants. The degree must be awarded by an internationally recognized university.
 

• Suitable background studies are for example biochemistry, biology, biosciences, chemistry, dentistry, environmental sciences, medicine, pharmacy, physiology, veterinary medicine
   
• In addition, you must show documents that your background studies include university level courses of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology which are prerequisites for acceptance. If the content of the studies in previously mentioned subjects is not clearly identifiable from the title of the course, you must include a separate document of the course content.

Language requirements

Applicants must demonstrate the required level of language proficiency for admission by either (1) achieving at least the minimum required results in one of the approved language tests or (2) meeting the language proficiency criteria outlined below. These requirements apply to all applicants. No exceptions or waivers of language proficiency requirements will be given.

(1) Applicants must complete one of the following language tests, with at least the minimum scores listed:

• TOEFL iBT Total score: 92, with a minimum of 22 in writing (the test was completed before January 21, 2026). Overall score: 4.5, with a minimum of 4.0 in each component (the test was completed on or after January 21, 2026)
• IELTS Academic Overall score: 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
• PTE Academic: Total score: 68, with a minimum of 61 in writing
• Cambridge C1 Advanced Overall grade: C
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency Overall result corresponding to level C1
• National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI-test) Level 5 in all subtests (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking). Results from different examination sessions may be combined.

TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the day they are issued, i.e. the language test needs to be in effect during the application period, from 7 January 2025 onwards. The language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser.

Kindly note the University of Eastern Finland also accepts the following tests:
- IELTS Academic online and UKVI tests, IELTS One Skill Retake test results.
- PTE Academic online and UKVI tests.
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests, MyBest Scores.

OR

(2) Applicants who hold one of the following do not have to take an English language test
 

a) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed Finnish Matriculation Examination, English language (A-language, advanced syllabus) with a minimum grade of magna cum laude approbatur (M)

b) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a degree at a Finnish university or university of applied sciences, provided that the degree includes the mandatory foreign language studies in English required by Finnish degree regulations (Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004 or Government Decree on Degrees of Universities of Applied Sciences 1129/2014).

c) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed their secondary education in English language in EU/EEA -countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or in Switzerland.

The applicants from EU/ETA -countries and Switzerland must prove the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be clearly stated on the educational documents. If your documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, you must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of your educational institution confirming this. The degree/programme must be taught and assessed in English (at least 50 % of the degree must be completed in English).

d) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in an English-taught programme in EU/EEA -countries, or in one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South-Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The applicants from these countries must prove the language of instruction. The medium of instruction must be clearly stated on the educational documents. If your documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, you must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of your educational institution confirming this. The degree/programme must be taught and assessed in English (at least 50 % of the degree must be completed in English).

e) A language test is not required if the applicant has completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or higher degree in an English-taught programme in Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, the United Kingdom or the United States. The applicants prove their language skills with a university degree.

Online studies or studies completed on offshore campuses outside the accepted countries/area cannot be used to indicate language skills, even if the degree-awarding institution is in one of the accepted countries.

Required documents

Each application must include the following documents:

1. The original degree certificates (in the original language) and if needed an English translation provided by an authorized translator of the degree certificates from all degrees you have completed.
2. The original transcript of records (in the original language) and if needed an English translation provided by an authorized translator of the degree certificate from all degrees you have completed. The transcripts should include the course units, their completion time, grades and credits awarded, and information on the grading scale used at institution as well as information of the language of instruction if the degree is used as a proof of English language skills.
3. A document detailing the content of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology courses, if the content of the studies is not clearly identifiable from the course title.
4. If required, certificate of English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/ C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency /YKI).
5. The certificate of name change, if your name has changed after completing your degree.
6. Letter of Motivation (ca 500 words written in English) stating why the applicant is interested in studying toxicology in the Master’s degree programme in Toxicology.
7. Curriculum Vitae (CV) stating how your previous education and experience supports the Master's studies. You can use e.g. the Europass template: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu > Europass CV
    

All enclosures are compulsory for the selection process. If any of the required enclosures is missing, the application will be rejected.

Detailed information about prerequisites is available on Studyinfo web page.

Official translations

Official translations: If your educational documents are issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, you must provide official translations in one of these languages. These translations must be done by the degree-awarding institution or a certified translator. Every page of the official translation should include the translator's stamp and/or signature. The translation must accurately reflect the original documents, and self-translations by applicants are not accepted. 

The instructions are described in verification of official educational documents web page.

1. Search & apply online

General instructions for applying can be found in How to apply website.The application form is filled in and submitted online at national Studyinfo portal.The online application is accessible only during the application period, so be sure to check the dates. There is no entrance exam. 

2. Gather your documents

Details about the documents required for admission are provided by the program you are applying to (see above section about admission requirements), as well as on the Studyinfo portal. The list of necessary documents is also included in the online application. Check the language requirements – is a language test needed?

3. Submit the application 

You must submit the required documents as electronic copies or scanned attachments along with your online application. Instructions are provided on the application form in Studyinfo. Ensure all documents are uploaded by the specified deadline.

4. Verification of educational documents

The University of Eastern Finland will assess the eligibility and authenticity of educational certificates for all applicants. This process includes verifying information with previous educational institutions and language test providers. 

Application period

The application period starts on 7 January 2027 and closes on 21 January 2027 at at 3 PM (UTC+2). After you have successfully sent your application, it is possible to upload documents after the application deadline until 28 January 2027, at 3 PM (UTC+2) (supplementary time). Application documents received after the deadline will not be processed.

Selection process

The admission process in the Master's Degree Programme in Toxicology aims at fair selection of high-quality applicants. Student selection is based on the application documents and evaluation how the applicant’s skills and competences gained by the previous academic studies correspond to the Master's studies applied for. Also, success in earlier studies, work experience as well as curriculum vitae and the motivation letter will be considered in the selection process. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the programme. Applicants will be ranked according to the selection criteria. 

Selection results 

The best 20 applicants are accepted to the program and the rest of the applicants are rejected. The programme may accept more applicants by discretion to fulfill the available study places in the programme. Applicants are not placed on the waiting list.

Results for studies starting in September 2026 will be published on 31 May 2027 at the latest. When the selection decision has been made, the results will be posted immediately to applicants by e-mail.

Admitted students shall inform whether they accept their study place by latest on 13 July 2027 at 3 PM (UTC+3) electronically via Studyinfo portal or by submitting the confirmation form to  [email protected].

You may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree that begins in the same academic year. Furthermore, under the one study right rule effective from 1 August 2026, you may hold one study right leading to a bachelor's or master's degree at a time. Accepting a new bachelor's- or master's-level study right will automatically terminate any existing study rights at the same or a lower degree level.

The annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students is 10,000 EUR. There are no tuition fees for students who are citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland. 

There are scholarships available: 

• For first-year students, a 30% Early Bird (EB) discount is available.
• For second-year students, a 30% tuition waiver is available based on academic progress during the first year of studies.

 More information available on Tuition fees, waivers and scholarships website.

Other mandatory fee: Membership of the Student Union. Further information is available on the website of the Student Union.