Master's Degree Programme in Forestry (Transatlantic Forestry)

Degree requirements (when UEF is the home/host university*)

To assess an applicant's eligibility for the programme, the applicant must submit an application during the admission period. 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.​

​Eligibility criteria - Degree certificate & transcript of grades (A previous Bachelor's degree in forestry or in related field corresponding to at least 3 year's 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. Applicants who have a previous Bachelor’s degree in forestry or in related field from a recognized university of applied sciences or polytechnic are also eligible.)

Language requirements - Applicants must either (1) meet the language proficiency criteria (see below), or (2) reach the minimum required language test results to be considered eligible to the University of Eastern Finland. No exceptions will be made and no waivers to the language proficiency requirements are given. 

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

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

The degree/programme must be taught and assessed entirely in English. If you verify your language skills with your education degree, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents. 

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.

(2) All other applicants have to take one of the following language tests

• TOEFL iBT, overall score 92, min. 22 in writing
• IELTS (academic) overall score 6.5, min. 6.0 in writing
• PTE (academic), overall score 62, min 54 in writing
• C1 Advanced overall score C or 180, with min. 162 in writing
• C2 Proficiency overall score level C1 or 180, with min. 162 in writing
• National Certificate of Language Proficiency YKI-test: level 5 in all different subtests (reading comprehension, writing and speaking). It is possible to combine different examinations. 

No other degrees or statements of language proficiency will be accepted.

TOEFL, IELTS and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the day they are issued, i.e. the language test need to be in effect during the application period, from 8 January 2023 onwards.

The language test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser. More information about submitting the language test reports HERE. 

*You also need to check the degree and language requirements of your preferred Canadian host/home university at their websites as their requirements may differ from the ones at the UEF.

Required documents – You must attach the following documents in your application on Studyinfo. Note: The documents must be high-quality scans of original documents. Paper copies are not required during the application period.

• Bachelor’s degree certificate (and an official English translation of it if needed)
• An official transcript of academic records (and an official English translation of it if needed)
• English language certificate (English language test or If you verify your language skills with your education degree, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents)
• Curriculum vitae
• Two recommendation letters*
• A copy of passport (not required from Finnish applicants)
• Possible document giving you an exemption from paying tuition fee

In addition, as a part of the admission requirements, in the application form you will be requested to write a motivation letter (max. 1000 characters) and include information about your work experience (max. 500 characters) and international experience (max. 500 characters).

All enclosures are compulsory for the selection process. 

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 recommendation letters can be attached with the online application form OR they can be sent by email directly to the programme coordinator, Ms. Marjoriitta Möttönen (marjoriitta.mottonen(at)uef.fi) by the referee. The template for the recommendation letters to be used (doc, pdf)

You will apply through your desired home university and be selected by both the home and the host university, and will be required to meet the minimum admission criteria for graduate studies at both universities.  

If there are any questions related to the application or general requirements, please contact the local Transfor-M advisor.  

Transfor-M application procedures at UEF

Every year 1-5 students from UEF will get the chance to study in Canada. Selection will favour students with strong academic records and experience and credentials, suggesting serious interest in international work.

Please see below the instructions how to apply for admission:  

1) Apply for the study right at UEF through Studyinfo.fi  between 7 - 21 January 2026 in case you wish to have UEF as the home university. For the instructions see here.  

2) Students who have applied to Transfor-M programme as one of the Canadian universities as the home university and have been pre-selected to Transfor-M programme with UEF as the host university, will be informed  how to apply for the study right at UEF in case selected to Transfor-M programme. In principle, students having UEF as the second-year host university in 2026-2027, will apply to UEF through Studyinfo.fi  between 7 - 21 January 2026.

If there are any questions related to the application or general requirements at UEF, please contact the local Transfor-M advisor at UEF.  

Should you have any questions about completing your application, please contact our Admissions Office, admissions@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 445 8990.

Application documents will not be returned to the applicant.  

Further information on application procedure at the University of Eastern Finland: Admission to Master's Degree Programmes.

Selection criteria (UEF as the home university)

The admission processes in the Master’s Degree Programme in Forestry 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. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the programme.

Applicants will be ranked according to the selection criteria. The best 10 applicants are accepted to the programme 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.

The applications will be graded using the following criteria: 

All eligible applications will be evaluated according to five selection criteria: 

1. Academic excellence: 0-20 p (0=poor, 20=excellent)
2. Prestige and level of the home university: 0-5 p (0=poor, 5=excellent)
3. Relevant studies and other background (e.g. work experience, international experience and other projects): 0-15 p (0=poor, 15=excellent)
4. Recommendation letters: 0-5 p (0=poor, 5=excellent)
5. Applicant’s own explanations about their motivation to apply for studies: 0-10 p (0=poor, 10=excellent)

The ranking list is made according to the total score. Whenever two or more applicants have the same total points, the one who has higher score in academic excellence will be placed first.

Selection results 2025

Results for studies starting in September 2025 will be published on 28 May 2025 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 10 July 2025 at 3 pm (EEST) electronically via Studyinfo portal or by submitting the confirmation form to hakijapalvelut@uef.fi.

According to One study place per term provision, a student may accept only one study place leading to a higher education degree in Finland during one academic term. This rule applies to all higher education.

Conditional acceptance 

All accepted students need to provide officially certified copies of their educational documents (BSc, MSc or higher degree), if they cannot authenticate their degree/transcript electronically when applying. The students will be conditionally accepted until they have provided the certified copies of the educational document (degree certificate and transcript of records). Country specific requirements are in use in the situations when the applicant cannot provide the documents electronically. The last date when the documents need to be at the university is 30 May 2025. In case the applicants do not deliver the documents by the given deadline, their study right will be cancelled.

In addition, non-EU/EEA students who are required to pay tuition fees will be conditionally accepted until they have paid the required tuition fees and signed the Student Agreement. 

Delimitation of granting right to study 

Applicants cannot be granted a new right to study resulting in a Master of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) degree in Forestry (major) if they already have a valid right to study in the degree programme resulting in a Master of Science (Agriculture and Forestry) degree in Forestry (major) at the University of Eastern Finland. 

Appeal 

If applicants disagree with the decision, they may apply for a rectification of the decision he Dean of the faculty by 11 June 2025 at 3 pm (EEST) at the latest. The instructions for making a request for rectification can be found on Admissions results website.  

Scholarships and tuition fees in Transfor-M  

We would encourage you to search and apply for funding from all possible sources and foundations for your year abroad as Transfor-M programme is not able to offer any scholarships. You would need to pay to your home institution full tuition and all other mandatory and required fees associated with a normal full-time registration with the fee payment schedule of the home institution. You can receive more details from the local Transfor-M advisor(s) and below.  

Instructions for the EU/EEA students whose home university is UEF

The students coming from EU/EEA countries and whose home university will be UEF should note the fact that you do not need to pay the tuition fees to your host university in Canada which can be regarded as a full scholarship from your Canadian host university. You may, however, need to pay e.g. the compulsory payments related to the visas, health service, insurance etc.  

Instructions for the non-EU/EEA students students whose home university is UEF or one of the Canadian Transfor-M partner universities

The non-EU/EEA students whose home university will be UEF or one of the Canadian Transfor-M partner universities will pay tuition fees to the home university for both first and second academic years.  

Students whose home university is in Canada and who pay these tuition fees to Canada, can apply for an exemption for the tuition fees of UEF. The other fees related to e.g. your Finnish residence permit, student union fee, insurance etc. will be on your side.  

At the UEF, 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. 

For more details: Tuition fees, waivers and scholarships

Tuition fee waivers and scholarships at UEF in 2025

Applicants subject to tuition fees can apply for tuition waivers and scholarships during the university application process by completing the relevant section on the application form. The best 70 % of admitted applicants (as ranked by the reviewers of the applications) will receive a tuition waiver covering 50 % of the tuition fee. In addition, the highest ranked applicant will be completely exempted from paying the tuition fee (UEF Scholarship).

Students granted a tuition waiver or scholarship must sign and return a student agreement. Additionally, degree students are required to pay the Student Union membership fee and the Kela student healthcare fee.

For more details: Tuition fees, waivers and scholarships

Services provided by UEF

UEF offers all students - irrespective of whether they are required to pay tuition or not - a range of services that take off some of the financial burden on the student. The cost of living in Finland is relatively high and students are expected to cover these independently and have access to sufficient funds (this will be checked at the time of applying for/renewing your residence permit).

For example, students have free access to the collections of the University Library, there are computers and a free WiFi on campus available to students, as well as a number of other supporting services designed to facilitate the everyday life of our students. And last but definitely not least, membership in the Student Union comes with a variety of leisure time activities organised for free by, for example, your field's subject association. Membership in the Student Union is mandatory for all degree-seeking students. For further information and annual updates about the exact amount of the student union fee, please see the website of the Student Union.

You can receive more details from the local Transfor-M advisor(s).