Bachelor's and Master's Degree Programme in Information Technology

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

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 50 student places in Joensuu and 50 student places in Kuopio.

Students are selected to the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programme in Information Technology in three ways:

• Admission group I: Selection based on entrance examination course and video interview: 40 student places
• Admission group II: Open university route for first-time applicants: 5 student places
• Admission group III: Open university route: 5 student places

The best 50 applicants for each campus are accepted to the programme and the rest of the applicants 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.

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, Information Technology, degree in Computer Science and a Master of Science, Information Technology, degree in Computer Science.

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 degree if you already have a valid right to study in the Information Technology degree programme resulting in a Bachelor of Science degree or a right to study in the Information Technology degree programme resulting in a Master of Science degree at the University of Eastern Finland. 

Admission procedure

Admission group I - Selection based on the results of the entrance exam and interview

The applicants must complete the course by 14 March 2027 to be considered for admission. The maximum for the whole course is 200 points and only applicants who achieve at least 100 points will be invited to a video interview and considered for admission. The video interview will be graded based on (1) motivation, (2) presentation skills, and (3) knowledge of the subjects of the entrance exam course. Each grading part (1)-(3) has a maximum of 20 points, and at least 10 points must be achieved in each grading part (1)-(3) to be considered for admission. The interview must be completed by 21 March 2027.

The applicants are then ranked based on the combined score of the entrance exam course and video interview, which can be a maximum of 260 points. If more than one applicant has the same combined score, all such applicants will be admitted.

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

Entrance exam and interview

The entrance exam course will be passed during the application evaluation period. The course opens on 15 February 2027 and must be finished by 14 March 2027. It must be completed using the university’s Moodle platform. Access rights for the course will be sent to applicants after the application period. The entrance exam course comprises selected parts of the Introduction to Computer Science course. It includes material and exercises on elementary computer science and algorithmic topics.

Once an applicant has completed all course content, tests, and exams, and achieved a score of at least 100 points, they will be invited to a video interview. The video interview must be completed by 21 March 2027.

Admission group II - Open university route for first-time applicants

Only first-time applicants are eligible to apply in this admission group. In addition, applicants must meet the above-mentioned language requirements and general eligibility requirements to be eligible to apply in this admission group.

A person is considered to be a first-time applicant if they have not completed a degree in a university of applied sciences or university in Finland or accepted a study place in a degree programme that started in autumn 2014 or later. For more information see Quota for first-time applicants.

To be eligible to apply in admission group II, applicants must have completed at least 15 ECTS of Computer Science studies through the University of Eastern Finland Open University, of which at least 5 ECTS are programming. The studies must be completed with a credit-weighted grade point average of at least 3 on a scale 1-5.

In addition, you must submit a motivation letter on your application by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 pm, in which you explain the reasons for your motivation to apply for the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programme in Information Technology.

Applicants must submit their current open university study transcript of courses completed so far by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 pm. All courses must be completed, graded and found in the University of Eastern Finland’s student register by 10 May 2027.

If there are more applicants than available places, applicants will be ranked based on the credit-weighted grade point average of their completed studies. If more than one applicant has the same combined score, all applicants with the same score will be admitted to the programme.

If some of the 5 study places in this Admission group II are not filled, remaining places will be transferred to be filled in the Admission group III.

Submit a current transcript of records of open university studies by January 28, 2027, at 3:00 PM (UTC+2).

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

Admission group III - Open university route

The applicant must meet the above-mentioned language requirements and general eligibility requirements to be eligible to apply in this admission group.

To be eligible to apply in admission group III, applicants must have completed basic studies (25 ECTS) of Computer Science in the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programme in Information Technology at the University of Eastern Finland Open University. The studies must be completed with a credit-weighted grade point average of at least 3 on a scale 1-5.

In addition, you must submit a motivation letter on your application by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 pm, in which you explain the reasons for your motivation to apply for the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programme in Information Technology.

Applicants must submit their current open university study transcript of courses completed so far by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 pm. All courses must be completed, graded and found in the University of Eastern Finland’s student register by 10 May 2027.

If there are more applicants than available places, applicants will be ranked based on the credit-weighted grade point average of their completed studies. If more than one applicant has the same combined score, all applicants with the same score will be admitted to the programme.

If some of the 5 study places in this Admission group III are not filled, remaining places will be transferred to be filled in the Admission group II.

Submit a current transcript of records of open university studies by January 28, 2027, at 3:00 PM (UTC+2).

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. Current open university transcript (if you are applying in Admission group II or Admission group III): Applicants must submit their current open university study transcript of courses completed so far by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 pm. All courses must be completed, graded and found in the University of Eastern Finland’s student register by 10 May 2027.
2. Motivation letter (if you are applying in Admission group II or Admission group III): Submit a motivation letter on your application by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 pm, in which you explain the reasons for your motivation to apply for the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programme in Information Technology.

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.