Year: 2022

The results of the International UAS Exam, used in spring 2022 first joint application round, are now released. More than 2,200 students are selected to universities of applied sciences on the basis of the International UAS Exam.

During the past year, universities of applied sciences have developed their selection methods of programmes conducted in English to a more applicant-friendly way. The development work has proceeded fast. Universities of applied sciences launched a wide, joint UAS cooperation project to develop student selection for programmes conducted in English, and already in spring 2022 the new joint digital UAS entrance exam, the International UAS Exam, was launched.

– I am proud of our universities of applied sciences solving their joint challenges together. Finland needs international professionals and by working together, we use our resources more efficiently. In this way, we not only save resources but also generate effective results, Executive Director Ida Mielityinen of the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene says.

The use of International UAS Exam facilitates and simplifies the application process. In previous years, many different entrance exams and student selection practices for UAS programmes conducted in English have been in use, which has seemed strenuous and complicated for the applicant.

The International UAS Exam was developed to replace the previous, field-specific entrance exams. The application process is now considerably easier, as the applicant may take a single entrance exam to apply for several programmes open for application in different UAS. In the spring first joint application round 2022, a record number of applicants was noted – more than 17,000 applicants took the exam to apply for programmes using the International UAS Exam.

– This spring was the first time that we used the International UAS Exam. In developing the International UAS Exam, we based our work on the high-quality development work and best practices of the Finnish-language joint entrance exam. Universities of applied sciences will continue the development of student selection for programmes conducted in English also in the coming years, Project Manager of the UAS Student Selection Consortium Marko Borodavkin explains.

The International UAS Exam consists of two phases conducted online: a written exam and a group interview. The Finnish UAS successfully carried out these phases in February–March. The online entrance exam meant that applicants could take the exam in any location instead of having to travel to Finland for it. 

In autumn 2021, the universities of applied sciences also released a joint UASinfo website, providing information on the International UAS Exam and the application process in general, selection methods and studying. The joint website further harmonizes the steering and communication of the student selection of UAS programmes conducted in English.

International UAS Exam is used for the first time in spring 2022. Due to diffculty level of the exam, the minimum pass scores of the first phase written exam have been amended (18 February 2022) in the following sections:

Reasoning skills 

• The original minimum pass score was 5 points. The final minimum pass score is 2 points.  

English language 

• The original minimum pass score was 7 points. The final minimum pass score is 4 points.  

Mathematical skills 

• The original minimum pass score was 5 points. The final minimum pass score is 2 points.  

Ethical skills 

• The original minimum pass score was 8 points. The final minimum pass score is 2 points.   

All eligible applicants who have passed the first phase written exam will be invited to the second phase. The second phase group interviews will be organised on 2–16 March 2022.

The first phase written exam of the International UAS Exam, the joint entrance exam of Finnish UAS, was organized today, 9 February 2022. 12 054 participants took the exam and the participation rate was 72,4%.

The International UAS Examis used for the first time this spring. It is used to select students to UAS study programmes leading to a degree and conducted in English. In joint application procedure, 16,641 applicants applied for a programme using the joint entrance exam.

Most applicants taking the International UAS Exam are from outside Finland, mostly from non-EU/non-EEA countries. The online entrance exam enabled the applicants to take the exam in a location of their choice, instead of having to travel to Finland. The entrance exam was successfully executed in the entrance exam system. The exam was executed with the same digital entrance exam system that is used in, among others, the UAS entrance exam.

In previous years, students to UAS study programmes conducted in English have been selected by using several different entrance exams. Now, the UAS have developed their student selection in collaboration and the result, the joint entrance exam, greatly facilitates and simplifies the application process. Most UAS study programmes open for application use the joint entrance exam. The applicant can now take a single exam to apply for different programmes and study fields.

–“Universities of applied sciences have started to develop, in extensive cooperation with stakeholders of the entire UAS sector, student selection procedures of study programmes conducted in English into a more student-friendly direction. A good example of this is the successful execution of the first phase written exam of the International UAS Exam”, Marko Borovadkin, Project Manager of UAS Student Selection Consortium describes. 

The International UAS Exam consists of two phases. The eligible applicants that have passed the first phase exam are invited to a group interview organized on 2–16 March 2022. The second phase group interview is also a joint exam for all study fields and the applicant participates in only one group interview.  In some study programmes of social and health care fields, also the applicant’s oral language skills in Finnish and/or Swedish are assessed.

In the spring first application round, the universities of applied sciences have a little more than 3,000 study places in programmes leading to a UAS degree open for application. For programmes leading to a Master’s degree, there are almost 1,000 study places available for application.

The selection results will be released on Friday, June 3, at the latest. In the spring first application round, applicants may be selected to several study programmes, depending on their entrance exam success. However, approved applicants may only accept one study place leading to a higher education degree, among study programmes that start in the same semester.

The spring first application round to universities of applied sciences ended on Wednesday, January 19. The applicants applied for UAS study programmes conducted in English that start in autumn.

In the joint application round, over 21,000 applicants applied for Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes of universities of applied sciences, almost 9,000 applicants more than in 2021. Most UAS applicants, 85%, were from other countries than Finland. 15% of the UAS applicants were Finns. Most foreign applicants were citizens of non-EU/non-EEA countries.

In the spring first application round, the universities of applied sciences had 156 study programmes open for application. In total, they have almost 4,000 study places in different UAS study programmes. Over 3,000 study places are in programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree and some 900 study places in programmes leading to a Master’s degree.  Service fields saw the highest number of applicants in relation to study places; 12.8 applicants per study place.

Joint UAS entrance exam, the International UAS exam, is organised in February

International UAS Exam is the new digital joint entrance exam of Finnish UAS, to be used in selecting students for UAS study programmes leading to a degree and conducted in English. The entrance exam will be used for the first time in spring 2022 first joint application round. Universities of applied sciences also have other selection methods in use, on the basis of which applicants may be selected to study programmes.

– I’m very proud that universities of applied sciences stand at the forefront of reform, also in this matter. Collaboration ensures that applicants find it easier to find and compare different study programmes. By combining resources, we also guarantee resources for further development, Ida Mielityinen, Executive Director of the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene describes.

Most of the study programmes use the International UAS Exam. In the joint application round, over 17,000 applicants applied for a study programme that uses the joint entrance exam.

– From the applicant’s perspective, the procedure is simpler: with a single exam, the applicant can apply for several study programmes available for application, in many study fields. An online exam may be taken anywhere in the world, and the applicant does not have to travel to Finland for it, Marko Borovadkin, Project Manager of UAS Student Selection Consortium points out.

International UAS Exam consists of two phases. The first phase written examination is organised on 9 February 2022. The written exam includes common sections to all applicants and programme-specific sections that applicants complete based on their selected study programmes. All applicants who have passed the written exam are invited to a group interview, organised between 2 and 16 March 2022. More information on the entrance exam in English is available at UASinfo website.

Selection results will be released at the beginning of June at the latest

The results of the spring first application round will be released at the latest on Friday, June 3. In the spring first application round, applicants may be selected to several study programmes, depending on their entrance exam success. However, approved applicants may only accept one study place leading to a higher education degree, among study programmes that start in the same semester.

The spring second application round is organised on 16–30 March 2022, for UAS study programmes conducted in Finnish and Swedish that start in autumn.

The figures in this release have been retrieved from Vipunen – Education Statistics Finland on 20 January 2022. The reported figures may change as applications are being processed.