Bachelor's and Master's Degree Programme in Data Engineering

In most cases, applicants who are eligible to pursue higher education in their home country are also eligible to apply for bachelor's level studies in Finland. To be eligible for admission to a bachelor's programme at the UEF, applicants must submit their application during the official admission period. The following documents must be uploaded in electronic format (paper copies are not required during the application process):

• Certificate of completed upper secondary education (or higher education degree)
  ➤ Eligibility Based on Educational Background
• Proof of English language proficiency
  ➤ Language Requirements

Please note: a language test is not required if the admission is based on SAT scores.

Programme-specific requirements are listed below and on the Studyinfo application portal. Please review them carefully before applying.

General instructions about the application process are available on How to apply?

Description of admissions criteria

In total, there are 40 student places in Joensuu and 40 student places in Kuopio.

Students are selected for the Bachelor's and Master’s Degree Programme in Data Engineering in two ways:

• Admission group 1: Selection based on the SAT test scores and video intake: 30 student places
• Admission group 2: Selection based on the grades obtained in the Finnish matriculation examination, IB, EB or DIA/RP diplomas intake: 10 student places

Applicants will be considered in all admission groups for which they meet the eligibility criteria.

The best 30 applicants in the SAT test-based admission group (Admission group 1) are accepted to the programme and the rest are rejected. The programme may accept more applicants by discretion to fill the available study places in the programme. Applicants are not placed on the waiting list.

The best 10 applicants in the certificate-based admission group (Admission group 2) are accepted to the programme. Selection results will be released in two stages: a) for applicants who have graduated by the end of the application period: 5 student places, and b) for applicants who will graduate in spring 2027: 5 student places. Applicants are not placed on the waiting list.

Any study places that remain unfilled in one admission group may be transferred and allocated to applicants from another admission group.

The granted right to study

If you are admitted to the programme, you will gain the right to complete a Bachelor of Science, Technology, degree in Data Engineering and Master of Science, Technology, degree in Data Engineering.

You may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree that begins in the same academic term. Furthermore, under the one study right rule effective from 1 August 2026, you may hold only 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.

You cannot be granted a new right to study resulting in a Bachelor of Science (Technology) degree if you already have a valid right to study in the Data Engineering degree programme resulting in a Bachelor of Science (Technology) degree or a right to study in the Data Engineering degree programme resulting in a Master of Science (Technology) degree at the University of Eastern Finland.

Admission procedure

Admission group 1: Based on the scores of SAT test and video

The results of the SAT test and video-based admission will be announced in the My Studyinfo service on 31 May 2027 at the latest.

The applicants must submit their SAT scores and application video by 28 January 2027 to be considered for admission. Additionally, University of Eastern Finland must receive the SAT test scores from the test organizer by 28 January 2027. Applicants must ensure that official SAT test results are sent directly from the test organizer (College Board) to the University of Eastern Finland. Please indicate the University of Eastern Finland SAT code 43171 as the score recipient when registering for the test. Test results submitted after the deadline, or solely by the applicant, will not be accepted. If you have taken the test earlier, please request that the College Board send the results directly to the University of Eastern Finland.

The applicant must get at least 1250 total SAT score to be considered for admission. In addition, they must get at least 650 points from the Mathematics section. Every applicant must also upload a video describing their motivation to study data engineering at University of Eastern Finland (maximum length 2 minutes) as an attachment of their application. The video must start by mentioning the identity of the applicant, the programme and university applied to, and the date when the video was recorded. The video will be graded based on (1) motivation and (2) presentation skills. Each grading part (1)–(2) has a maximum of 10 points, and at least 5 points must be achieved in each grading part (1)–(2) to be considered for admission.

The applicants who meet the minimum SAT score and video grade requirements are then ranked based on their total SAT scores and the best 30 per campus are selected. In case of tie in total SAT scores, the scores in the Mathematics section will be used to break the tie. If the applicant has several valid test scores, the highest Mathematics section score will be considered. If total and Mathematics SAT scores are tied, the grades from the video decide the order of the applicants.

The applicant’s eligibility for application and selection will be checked before the final selection decision.

Admission group 2: Based on the grades obtained in the Finnish matriculation examination, IB, EB or DIA/RP diplomas

The results of the certificate-based admission will be announced in the My Studyinfo service on 31 May 2027 at the latest.

To be eligible for certificate-based admission, you must meet the minimum threshold requirement for the field of technology and engineering. The threshold criteria can be found on the Yliopistovalinnat.fi website.

Scoring the certificate-based admission

Applicants are ranked based on their admission score. The admission score will be calculated based on applicant’s grades in the matriculation examination. If the applicant has completed multiple examinations or parts thereof, the combination of grades that gives them the highest admission score will be considered.

The scoring tables and threshold criteria of Technology and engineering for certificatebased admission can be found on the Yliopistovalinnat.fi website:

• the Finnish matriculation examination Finnish matriculation examination
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma International Baccalaureate degree
• European School’s European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma European Baccalaureate degree
• Reifeprüfung (RP) diploma or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) diploma in Finland Deutsches Internationales Abitur and Reifeprüfung degree

The same page contains the criteria for equal points as well as the rules for calculating scores.

If several applicants on the threshold of admission have the same score after applying these criteria, all applicants with the same score will be accepted.

The applicant’s eligibility for application and selection will be checked before the final selection decision.

During the application period

Applicants must upload high-quality scans of their 1) original educational documents, 2) proof of English language proficiency, and 3) any programme-specific attachments to their electronic application during the application period. Paper copies are not required at the first application stage. Instructions on Studyinfo must be followed, and all documents submitted by the given deadlines.

Students in the final semester of their studies are eligible to apply. Their admission will be conditional until graduation is confirmed. For details, see: Eligibility Based on Educational Background

Programme-​specific documents

1. SAT scores (If applying on the basis of the scores of SAT test and video): In addition to the official SAT test results directly sent from the test organizer (College Board), applicants must upload their SAT test results on the online application form 3 PM (UTC+2) on 28 January 2027.
2. Application video (If applying on the basis of the scores of SAT test and video): An application video (motivation video) Maximum length is 2 minutes, max size 500MB and video must start by mentioning the name of the applicant, recording date and the program into which the applicant is applying. The video format must be one of the following: x-m4v, x-matroska, x-msvideo, mpeg, ogg, webm, 3gpp, 3gpp2, mp4, MP2T, quicktime, x-ms-wmv, x-ms-vob. Maximum size of the video file is 500 MB. 

Copy of passport or residence permit card 

Applicants must upload a copy of their passport's ID page or their ID card, or upload copies of both sides of their residence permit card to the online application form. General information on types of documents and how to submit them.

Document verification for accepted students

All applicants are conditionally admitted pending verification of their educational documents*. To finalize admission, students must submit verified copies of their degree certificates or diplomas by the specified deadlines. The university will assess the authenticity and eligibility of all submitted documents. Failure to verify documents will result in cancellation of the conditional admission. 

*Degrees completed at a Finnish university or university of applied sciences, as well as the Finnish matriculation examination, are verified through the national database.

There are several ways to submit documents for verification:

1. Educational documents shared through electronic credential services
2. Electronically signed or verified educational documents
3. Educational documents sent by e-mail by the awarding institution
4. Educational paper documents sent by post

We recommend using electronic verification methods. For detailed instructions, deadlines and tips, please refer to verification of official documents. 

Tuition fees and waivers (2027 intake)

The annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students is €10,000. Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are exempt from tuition fees. UEF's tuition waiver programme is designed to provide partial support towards tuition fees. Students are expected to have sufficient personal funds to cover the remaining tuition fees and living expenses throughout their studies in Finland.

First year: Early Bird (EB) discount – 30% (€3,000) 
To qualify, students must accept their offer of admission and pay the full tuition fee, or the first instalment (50% of the Early Bird price) within 21 days of the publication of the admission results. UEF does not offer any other tuition waivers or discounts that can be applied to the first year of study. 

Second and third years: Tuition waiver – 30% (€3,000)
Available to students who complete at least 55 ECTS credits during their first academic year. A separate application period is organized after the first year of studies for students wishing to apply for the tuition waiver.

Finnish Proficiency Tuition Waiver – €1,500/€2,500 
Students can apply for this one-time tuition waiver during their studies at UEF, based on their progress in Finnish language studies. There are separate application periods throughout the academic year. 

More detailed information about tuition fees and waivers.

Other National Fees: In addition to tuition fees, degree students are required to pay the Student Union membership fee and the Kela student healthcare fee. Please also note: a national application fee is collected from applicants from countries outside EU/EEA.