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University of Vaasa

University of Vaasa

University of Vaasa

Introduction

In Vaasa, energy is a positive force that is not only visible in business but also in people's everyday lives and the development of the city. The Nordic Energy Capital is a unique combination of modern internationalism, young enthusiasm, innovative know-how as well as peace and tranquillity.

Top-Quality Education

The University of Vaasa's accredited programs in business and technology attract students from all around the world. A friendly atmosphere combined with top-quality education provides you with a unique foundation for your future.

We will accept applications to our international master's programs for autumn 2024 intake through rolling admission in November-January and March-April, as well as through joint admission in January.

Become a Doctor

The doctoral degree offers strong capabilities for working life, either for an academic career or for demanding expert tasks outside the university. A doctoral graduate of the University of Vaasa is an expert who produces in-depth scientific information for the use of the academic community and the surrounding society.

University of Vaasa Doctoral Program

The University of Vaasa produces Doctors of Science in Business Administration and Economics (D.Sc. (Econ)), Doctors of Science in Technology (D.Sc. (Tech)), Doctors of Science in Administrative Sciences (D.Sc. (Admin)) and Doctors of Science in Philosophy (PhD). You can apply twice a year, in February and in August/September using the Studyinfo service.

Accommodation in Vaasa

On this website you will find useful information to help you find accommodation in Vaasa. Most international students apply for an apartment through the Student Housing Foundation VOAS.

For further questions about the apartments, we recommend you to be in touch directly with the companies offering apartments. Admission Services and Mobility Services at the University of Vaasa cannot provide further assistance regarding apartments.

You should apply for an apartment as soon as you have received an acceptance letter from the University of Vaasa.

Vaasa International Talents

The program admits international degree students from each of the higher education institutions in Vaasa, that is University of Vaasa, VAMK University of Applied Sciences, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Å bo Akademi University, and Hanken School of Economics.

As a participating degree student, you will be equipped with must-know facts about Finnish and local working life and its expectations on job applicants and employees.

The program provides you with competence development knowledge and tools of different kinds. It further provides the possibilities needed to develop Finnish working-life skills and to connect with companies and other actors within the region.

The aim is to help the students integrate into the Finnish job market and establish themselves in the region after graduation.

Multidisciplinary Research

Our multidisciplinary research platforms combine our strong disciplinary knowledge with prevailing global trends. They are also an integral tool in the transformation and renewal of the University’s operations. We utilise them to advance multi-, cross- and inter-disciplinary research to help address the complex challenges facing our society. In addition to finding solutions to complex problems, our research findings also give rise to new theoretical frameworks, new scientific thinking, or new areas of scientific inquiry.

Vaasa Energy Business Innovation Center VEBIC strives to meet the global needs of energy production, energy business, and sustainable social development. The Digital Economy examines the innovations made possible by new technologies and their impact on individuals, organizations, industry, and society as a whole from the perspective of different sciences. Innovation and Entrepreneurship, InnoLab explores open innovation, user innovation, public sector reform, and entrepreneurship.

Read more on the institution's website

Campus Features

The University of Vaasa is situated in Finland's newest campus area, close to the sea, often referred to as the most beautiful campus in Finland. The campus is an interesting fusion of old and new, a combination of continental and Anglo-Saxon architectures. It is in Vaasa, the sunniest City in Finland. With its 12,000 students, Vaasa is also a lively student city. Moreover, the beautiful Kvarken archipelago surrounding the city has been part of UNESCO's World Natural Heritage sites since 2006.

The tight-knit international community of more than 5,000 students is one of the main strengths of the university. 9% of the students and 30% of the academic staff are international, ensuring a lively and active campus.

Most students apply for apartments at VOAS (The Vaasa Student Housing Foundation). VOAS provides accommodation for approximately 3,700 students. Please note that VOAS is a private company and not part of the University of Vaasa.

Student accommodation facilities are situated in various parts of the city, generally in the form of terraced houses or blocks of flats. The rent for a room in a student flat varies approximately from 230 euros to 350 euros per month depending on size and location. In general, the costs of electricity and internet are included in the rent. VOAS also has furnished apartments.

The University campus is situated in the Palosaari district, so if you want to live very close to the University, it's best to apply for an apartment in Palosaari or Downtown–Vöyrinkaupunki districts. The distance between Palosaari and the city centre, i.e. Downtown–Vöyrinkaupunki is approximately 1 kilometre. However, bus connections in Vaasa are fairly good, which means that you will be able to travel to the city and to the University with the buses even if you choose to live a bit further away from the university.

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    Admissions

    As our admission decisions are based on the documents that you submit along with your application, it is very important that you prepare your application with care and submit all necessary documents. We only consider applications that contain all the required documents.

    Eligibility for our master's programs depends on your previous education. As per the Universities Act (558/2009), section 37, you're eligible if you have:

    1. A relevant bachelor’s degree from a university
    2. A relevant bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences; or
    3. Relevant study programs completed abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding higher education.

    Finnish universities function under specific legislation, like the Universities Act (558/2009) and the Government Decree on University Degrees. Our quality assurance system has passed the audit by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC).

    Each program has more detailed admissions criteria that cover, for example, success in previous studies or level of language skills.

    Application Deadlines and Instructions

    • Early bird rolling admission: Apply from 1 November 2023 to 2 January 2024 – or until the intake is full
    • Joint application round: Apply from 3 to 17 January 2024
    • Final call rolling admission: Apply from 4 March to 30 April – or until the intake is full

    Studies will begin in August 2024 for all.

    Visa Requirements

    Residence Permit

    Every foreign person staying in Finland for more than three months needs to have either a residence permit or register their stay at the Finnish Immigration Services. Please note that without a valid registration/residence permit, the person won’t be allowed to enter Finland again if they have left the country and they might have problems with authorities also in Finland. For up-to-date information on residence permits, please visit the Finnish Immigration Services' website.

    Citizens of the Nordic Countries

    Only need to register their residence in Finland at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

    EU/European Economic Area (EEA) Citizens

    Only need to register their right to reside in Finland at the Finnish Immigration Services if their continuous stay in Finland exceeds 90 days.

    Citizens of all Other Countries

    Must obtain a residence permit from the Finnish Embassy or Consulate in their home country before arrival in Finland. We strongly advise you to apply for the residence permit as soon as possible after being accepted to the University of Vaasa, preferably within one week of receiving the acceptance letter. It might take about 1– 3 months to get the residence permit.

    You are asked to attach documentation of the paid tuition fee to your residence permit application, or if you have not yet paid the fee, you have to attach proof of having the funds for your tuition fee to your bank account. In addition, you need to have funds to cover your living costs in your bank account, when applying for a residence permit.

    Extension of the Residence Permit

    A residence permit for studies can be granted for one year or for the duration of your studies. If your studies continue and your residence permit is about to expire, you will need to apply for an extension to your residence permit before it expires. In order to have your residence permit extended for studies, you must still be enrolled in the same educational institute and present proof of having studied full-time and having completed the courses required by the educational institute concerned. The extension of residence permit is granted by the Finnish Immigration Services.

    Visa

    Usually, students coming to the University of Vaasa do not need a visa.

    A visa is needed only for a shorter visit (maximum three months), for example, if a student coming from a non-EU country has to participate in an entrance exam in Finland prior to being accepted at the educational institution. The University of Vaasa does not arrange entrance examinations for the international Master’s degree programs or doctoral studies, thus the students do not need to apply for a visa. Exchange students do not need a visa either, but non-EU nationals need a residence permit.

    Scholarships and Funding

    The University of Vaasa offers a generous scholarship program for students who are subject to tuition fees. The scholarships can be granted for the target time of the program, which is two years in the Master’s programs.

    First-Year Scholarships

    Scholarships are applied for by choosing the scholarship option in the application form to the program. Students are informed about receiving a possible scholarship together with the admission results.

    Scholarships are personal and linked to the acceptance of the offered study place. They do not transfer to other universities. Finland scholarships awarded by the University of Vaasa are part of the national Finland Scholarship program funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.

    Second-Year Scholarships

    All first-year scholarships include a conditional Achievement scholarship worth EUR 5 000 or EUR 6 000 for the second year. In order to receive the Achievement scholarship, the student must proceed with the studies in the target time (55 ECTS during the first year). With a possible scholarship, the tuition fee for the second academic year is:

    • EUR 5000 (Industrial Management, Industrial Systems Analytics, Smart Grids, Strategic Project Management, Sustainable and Autonomous Systems) or
    • EUR 6000 (Finance, International Business, Strategic Business Development)

    The required ECTS credits must be completed by the end of the first academic year i.e. by the 31st of July.

    Students who do not have a first-year scholarship can apply for a second-year scholarship during their studies. Details about the application for the second-year scholarship will be communicated to the students during their first year.

    The University of Vaasa offers a generous scholarship programme for students who are subject to tuition fees. The scholarships can be granted for the target time of the programme, which is two years in the Master’s programme.

    First-year scholarships

    Scholarships are applied for by choosing the scholarship option in the application form to the program. Students are informed about receiving a possible scholarship together with the admission results.

    Scholarships are personal and linked to the acceptance of the offered study place. They do not transfer to other universities. Finland scholarships awarded by the University of Vaasa are part of the national Finland Scholarship programme funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.

    Second-year scholarships

    All first-year scholarships include a conditional Achievement scholarship worth EUR 5,000 or EUR 6,000 for the second year. To receive the Achievement scholarship, the student must proceed with the studies in the target time (55 ECTS during the first year). With a possible scholarship, the tuition fee for the second academic year is:

    • EUR 5 000 (Industrial Management, Industrial Systems Analytics, Smart Grids, Strategic Project Management, Sustainable and Autonomous Systems) or
    • EUR 6 000 (Finance, International Business, Strategic Business Development)

    The required ECTS credits must be completed by the end of the first academic year i.e. by the 31st of July.

    Students who do not have a first-year scholarship can apply for a second-year scholarship during their studies. Details about the application for the second-year scholarship will be communicated to the students during their first year.

    View Scholarships

    Rankings

    To reach our goals and continuously improve our university, we regularly evaluate the quality and effectiveness of education, research, and societal impact as well as the university services through external and internal evaluations.

    • Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2024: 401-500
    • The Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2023: 18
    • Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2023: 251-300

    Rankings are one way of assessing and ranking universities. The benchmarks primarily measure research performance, as high standards of research are valued. Universities are often compared in terms of peer review and the number of citations in scientific publications. Various rankings also measure reputation, scientific and teaching excellence, the number of degrees, internationality, and Nobel laureates. All rankings use different data and calculation models. There are both university rankings and discipline-specific rankings.

    The ranking results provide important information for the university on its strengths. In particular, the strengths of the University of Vaasa include the number of scientific publications, the number of citations to scientific articles (meaning the impact of publications), and international co-publications.

    Student Testimonials

    Why study at University of Vaasa

    Valued by employers

    Our graduates enjoy excellent employment opportunities, and employers hold degrees earned from the University of Vaasa in high regard. We offer basic courses in business competence to all students; business acumen is a competitive advantage in whichever field you specialise.

    Hello world!

    We offer our foreign students a university with an international ambience. You can study in English, travel abroad as an exchange student or apply for summer internships with international companies.

    Learn and succeed

    Pursuing your studies on our beautiful campus will be a joy. We promise great teachers, high-quality teaching and diverse teaching methods. The package also includes new friends, active clubs and subject organisations, and the ease of living in Vaasa.

    To us, you are an individual

    Our teachers and professors are easy to approach and eager to help. The university community is here to support you throughout your studies, and you will receive individual guidance for your studies. We provide you with the foundation for a successful tomorrow.

    No one is left behind

    Our university is a close-knit community in which we support each other. We have a great team spirit and an inspiring atmosphere. This is a great opportunity to build your support network of lifelong friends. This network is of great help later on in your working life.

    Energetic Vaasa

    Study by the sea near the city centre. Vaasa is home to the leading energy industry business hub in Finland, an abundance of workplaces, six universities and locals who surveys confirm are happy and energetic.

    Awards & Accreditations

    Master's Degree Programme in Finance

    EFMD

    Master's Programme in Strategic Business Development

    EFMD

    Master's Degree Programme in international Business

    EFMD

    Master's Programme in Industrial ManagemenT

    ASIIN

    Master's Programme in Industrial Systems Analytics

    ASIIN

    University of Vaasa is in the Top 10 Countries to Study Abroad

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