Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Sciences

Improve your understanding of the rapidly changing world. Social scientists examine the dynamics of societal change and seek answers to questions such as what creates wellbeing or a lack of it, what causes alienation, what is happening in education and the labour market, and what is the role of culture in shaping our relationships with each other.

The Bachelor of Social Sciences degree consists of studies in sociology and social and public policy. Teaching covers key social scientific theories and methods for collecting and analysing data. These are applied to key topics in social sciences, such as labour, education, care, multiculturalism, and information and communication technology, and how they interlink with each other.

This programme is offered by the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. The staff in the department are experts in their field and enthusiastically welcome new students from all backgrounds into the social sciences community. The programme is hybrid, but it does not require in-person participation on the campus.

For instructions on how to apply and a direct link to the application form on Studyinfo, please scroll down. The application period for the next available intake opens 7 January 2027 and closes on 21 January 2027 at 3:00 PM (UTC+2).

Key information

Level of degree: Bachelor's degree
Programme duration: 3 years / 180 ECTS credits
Language of instruction: English
Programme start: August/September 2027
The annual tuition fee: for non-EU/EEA students is €10,000. Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are exempt from paying tuition fees. Note that also permanent residents are exempted from the tuition fee under certain conditions.
Tuition waivers: 30% Early Bird discount (€3,000) on first-year tuition for 2027 intake students who pay within 21 days of admission offer. 30% second-year waiver is available based on 55 ECTS completed in the first year. More details here.
Study campus: Hybrid. Studying on campus will provide more minor options.

Why study with us?

This is the only Bachelor's programme in Social Science in Finland that is taught in English. Hybrid tuition also allows a high degree of flexibility.
The programme provides tools for understanding society and its policy processes. It develops critical thinking in social sciences.

Join our webinar 19 November at 3 PM (UTC+3)

We warmly welcome you to our webinar, where you get to learn more about our programme, studies and about the application process!

Studies

Structure of studies

The Bachelor of Social Sciences degree familiarises students with key concepts and methods in social sciences. You will learn to gather information, organise it, and apply existing information in a range of tasks. During the three years of studies, you will take a combination of required and optional courses to total 180 ECTS.

The programme consists of basic and intermediate studies in social sciences, language and communication studies, general studies, and minor studies.

Basic studies in Social Sciences 25 ECTS
Intermediate studies in Social Sciences 60 ECTS
Language and communication 12 ECTS
General studies 18 ECTS
Minor subjects 65 ECTS

Teaching emphasises the dynamics of contemporary society and the changing labour market, as well as the needs of everyday welfare. Teaching and learning take place online in lectures, seminars, and reading groups. Tasks range from learning journals to essays and exams.

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean that the programme is taught in a hybrid form?

Hybrid tuition means that classes are taught both online and on campus. It also means that flexible options exist, if your life situation makes presence on campus difficult. Please just keep in mind that you have more options regarding minor subjects, for example, if you choose to study on campus.

I don’t live in Finland. Can I study in the programme?

We do not keep track on the location of our students. Please just keep two things in mind.

First, from the 2025 intake onwards, all exams are taken in e-exam rooms. There are e-exam rooms in several cities in Finland, so travelling to Joensuu is not necessary. However, if you aim to be located abroad, be prepared to make a few annual exam-taking trips to Finland. For course assessment, we use learning journals more than traditional exams, so the number of exams is not necessarily that high, but this does not mean zero exams.

Second, do keep in mind that this is a Finnish university. While we warmly welcome all applicants, the programme is best suited for foreigners living in Finland. If you have no connection with Finland, you should in any case know that there will be some lectures on Finnish society and compulsory Finnish language courses.

How do I take exams without being on campus?

For course assessment, we use learning journals more than traditional exams, so the number of exams is not necessarily that high. When exams are taken, they are organized either through co-operation agreements (within Finland) or on online platforms.

I don’t have a high school degree in English but I have lived for years in an English-speaking country. Do I still have to take the language test?

Sorry but yes. We realize that sometimes taking a language test feels like a waste of time. However, we have to apply general requirements.

Do I have to pay a tuition fee?

Finnish universities charge a standard tuition fee from international students. Yet all EU/ETA citizens and permanent residents are exempted from paying the fee.

I have already completed some studies in another university. Can they be counted towards the degree?

Usually some can be, but not necessarily all. We have to see how the previous studies overlap with our curriculum requirements. Please also note that if these existing studies are part of a completed degree, they cannot be used again as part of your degree at UEF.

I work full-time. Is it possible to study in the programme?

We realize that our students have to support themselves. However, online study does not mean complete flexibility time-wise. There are scheduled classes in which presence is required. So you could maneuver working full time and studying, if your job allows a high degree of flexibility. Studying only outside office hours is not possible.

I would like to study, but all kinds of things keep me so busy that full-time studying feels exhausting. Can I use more than 3 years to complete the degree?

Yes. Finnish universities allow a high degree of flexibility in structuring your studies. Your Personal Study Plan can well be based on a more relaxed pace of studying and using 4 years to complete the degree.

I am super-ambitious and want to complete the degree in two years. Is this possible?

As said above, you can plan your studies flexibly. It will be a tough two years, though.

My Finnish is perfect and I would like to take courses taught in Finnish, too. Is this possible?

Please note that this programme is taught in English. This means that also minor subjects need to be from the selection of tuition offered in English. If you are fluent in Finnish and wish to benefit from the selection of minor subjects available in Finnish, we have plenty of programmes taught in Finnish you can consider applying to.

Basic studies in Open university

The department of Social Sciences offers the Basic studies in Social Sciences (25 ECTS) as open university studies. Please see our Open University webpage for more information: Open University: Basic Studies in Social Sciences 2026-2027.

We also recommend checking out our admissions criteria below to learn about our selection based on previous studies.

How to apply?

General Eligibility criteria

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 University of Eastern Finland, applicants must submit their application during the official admission period. The following documents must be uploaded as attachments 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.

Programme specific application process and student selection

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

Students are selected for the bachelor’s degree programme in Social Sciences in two ways

• entrance examination admission intake: 25 student places

• admission based on previous studies intake maximum of 5 students.

Study places left over from previous study based admission will be added to entrance examination admission The best 30 applicants are accepted to the program 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.

Selection based on the results of the entrance exam course and interview

The course “What is Society”, organized by the University of Eastern Finland, serves as the
entrance exam course. The entrance examination has 4 sections, and it consists of written
assignments and video assignments. You can receive 0–10 points from each section (1-4).
The maximum score for the interview is 10. Admission is based on the applicant’s scores in
the entrance exam and admission interview. The applicant must receive at least 1 point from each section of the entrance exam (sections 1-4) and at least 20 total points out of 50 from the entrance examination and the interview to be accepted.

The entrance exam must be completed online using the university’s DigiCampus platform
between 8 March 2027 and 9 April 2027. Only eligible applicants are invited to take the
entrance exam. All eligible applicants are also invited to a mandatory admissions interview
during the entrance exam. The interview will only be evaluated from at least the most
successful 55 applicants from the entrance exam.

If more than one applicant has the same combined score, applicants are ranked as follows:
1. The score for the interview
2. The score for the section 4
3. The score for section 3
4. The score for section 2
5. The score for section 1

If, after this, more than one applicant still has the same combined score and the same scores
in sections 3, 2, 1 and in the admissions interview, all applicants with the same score will be
admitted to the programme.

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

If the applicant has participated in the entrance exam before, and they want to apply to the
programme again, they must submit their entrance examination assignments again in the
year of application. The applicant may either submit the same assignments they have
submitted before, or the applicant may also modify them. In both cases, the applicant must
submit the assignments again in the Digicampus platform while the entrance examination is
open from 8 March 2027 to 9 April 2027. The admissions interview must also be done again in
the year of application by the applicant.

Selection based on previous studies (Open university route)

To be accepted into the programme based on previous studies, the applicant must have
completed basic studies of Social Science (25 ECTS) in the University of Eastern Finland.
Information about the basic studies of Social Sciences can be found here Open University:
Basic Studies in Social Sciences 2026-2027 University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi). The applicants must receive at least the grade 3 out of 5 from the course “What is Society” to be accepted. The course “What is Society” has 4 sections. You can receive 0–10 points from each section (1-4).

If more than one applicant has the same combined score, applicants are ranked as follows:
1. The score for section 4
2. The score for section 3
3. The score for section 2
4. The score for section 1

If, after this, more than one applicant still has the same combined score and the same scores
in sections 3, 2, 1 all applicants with the same score will be admitted to the programme.

Submit a transcript of incomplete open university studies by January 28, 2027, at 3:00 PM
(UTC+2), and the final one by April 30, 2027, at 3:00 PM (UTC+3). In order to be accepted,
the course “What is Society” has to be completed and graded by April 5, 2027.

If the applicant is not selected from the admissions based on previous studies, they will
placed among the admission group Selection based on the results of the entrance exam and
interview. Their course assignments from the course “What is Society” will be ranked in the
same scale as the other applicants in the Selection based on the results of the entrance exam
and interview. In order for the applicant to be accepted in the admissions group for selection
based on the results of the entrance exam and interview, they must receive at least 1 point from each section of the entrance exam (sections 1-4) and at least 20 total points out of 50 from the entrance examination and the interview to be accepted. The interview will only be evaluated from at least the most successful 55 applicants from the entrance exam. For the applicant to be considered in the selection based on the results of the entrance exam and interview, the applicant must complete the interview in the year of application.

Application documents

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 for International Bachelor's degree programmes.

Admission Services will assist you in matters related to applying (e.g. questions related to the
application form and required attachments): [email protected] or +358 29 445 8990.

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 educational documents.

Tuition fees and waivers

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 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.