All applications and entrance exams from a single search.
The autumn 2026 joint application to higher education had 32,900 applicants, and the results will be published by 19.11.2026 at the latest. The first joint application of spring 2027 opens on 7.1.2027, the upper secondary joint application on 16.2.2027 and the main higher education joint application on 9.3.2027. Joint-procurement training is available for employers, but the training deduction was abolished on 1.1.2025.
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All Opintopolu education in a single search: vocational qualifications, upper secondary schools, universities of applied sciences and universities. You see where the education is provided, when applications are open and whether there is an entrance exam.
Enter a search term and press Search. You can also select only the type of education and limit to programmes where applications are open.
Details: Opintopolku (Finnish National Agency for Education). Applications are always made through Opintopolku – check application periods, selection criteria and entrance exams on the programme's own page before applying.
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Application periods and exam dates 2026–2027
Confirmed application periods and matriculation examination dates. The Matriculation Examination Board's dates are provisional accordingly.
| Application / exam | Date | Results and acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education spring 1st joint application 2027 (foreign-language programmes) | 7.1.2027 at 8:00 – 21.1.2027 at 15:00 | Results by 6.7.2027 at the latest, acceptance by 13.7.2027 at 15:00 |
| Higher education spring 2nd joint application 2027 | 9.3.2027 at 8:00 – 23.3.2027 at 15:00 | Certificate-based admission results by 28.5.2027 at the latest, all results 6.7.2027, acceptance of study place 13.7.2027 by 3 pm |
| Autumn joint application to higher education 2027 | 30.8.2027 at 8:00 – 9.9.2027 at 15:00 | Results by 18.11.2027 at the latest, acceptance on 25.11.2027 at 15:00 |
| Joint application for upper secondary education 2027 | 16.2.2027 at 8:00 – 16.3.2027 at 15:00 | Results on 17.6.2027, acceptance by 1.7.2027 at 23:59 |
| Matriculation examinations spring 2027 | 16.3.–5.4.2027 (mother tongue 16.3. and 19.3., languages 18.3. and 22.3., mathematics 24.3., humanities and sciences 30.3. and 2.4., second national language 31.3.) | Results to schools on 18.5.2027, in Oma Opintopolku on 19.5.2027 |
| Matriculation examinations autumn 2026 – results | Exams held 14.–30.9.2026 | Results to schools on 12.11.2026, in Oma Opintopolku on 13.11.2026 |
Source: OPH / Eduuni wiki, Matriculation Examination Board, City of Vantaa
Student financial aid 2026 (higher education student)
Key amounts for the 2026–2027 academic year. No index increases are made to the study grant in 2024–2027.
| Benefit | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Study grant | 279,38 €/month | Living independently, aged 18 or over |
| State guarantee for a student loan | €850/month | Adult student in Finland (from 1.8.2024) |
| State guarantee for a student loan abroad | 1 000 €/month | Studying abroad |
| Guardian supplement to the study grant | 141,63 €/month | Guardian of a minor child |
| Housing supplement, capital region | up to 296 €/month | When housing costs are at least €370/month |
| Housing supplement, 24 growth centres | up to 248 €/month | When housing costs are at least €310/month |
| Housing supplement, other municipalities | up to 216 €/month | When housing costs are at least €270/month |
| Annual income limit, 9 support months | 20 127 €/v | Your income in the calendar year |
| Meal subsidy | 2,80 €/meal | From 1.1.2026; student's charge 3,10 € |
Source: Kela; Taloustaito 3.9.2026
Popular study options in the spring 2026 joint application
Applicant numbers according to the universities' own releases (all applicants, not only first-choice). The Finnish National Agency for Education did not publish a national top list.
| Study programme | University | Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Business studies (Turku) | University of Turku | 7 135 |
| Law | University of Turku | 6 537 |
| Court trainee (Finnish-speaking) | University of Helsinki | 6 344 |
| Law | University of Eastern Finland | 4 739 |
| Medicine | University of Eastern Finland | 4 732 |
| Medicine | University of Helsinki | 4 626 |
| Medicine | University of Turku | 4 545 |
| Psychology (bachelor's) | University of Helsinki | 3 936 |
| Business studies (Kuopio + Joensuu) | University of Eastern Finland | 3 811 |
| Social sciences (Bachelor's) | University of Helsinki | 3 828 |
| Psychology | University of Jyväskylä | 3 591 |
| Psychology | University of Turku | 3 469 |
| Business studies | University of Jyväskylä | 3 161 |
Source: Releases of the universities of Helsinki, Turku, Eastern Finland and Jyväskylä 25.3.2026
Employer's training options 2026
In joint-procurement training, the employer and the public employment service (employment area) plan and fund the training together. Company size according to the EU SME definition.
| Means | Employer's share | Notice |
|---|---|---|
| RekryKoulutus | 30 % | Training new employees from unemployed jobseekers |
| TäsmäKoulutus, small company | 30 % | Fewer than 50 employees, and turnover or balance sheet total of no more than €10 million |
| TäsmäKoulutus, medium-sized company | 40 % | 50–249 employees, turnover up to €50 million or balance sheet total up to €43 million |
| TäsmäKoulutus, large company | 50 % | At least 250 people |
| MuutosKoulutus | 20 % | New skills for those being made redundant or laid off |
| Employer's training deduction | – | Abolished 1.1.2025, last in the 2024 tax year |
| Training paid for by the employer | tax-exempt benefit | When the training relates to the employee's current or future duties |
| Adult education allowance | – | Not granted for new studies from 1.8.2024 |
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Joint application 2027: application periods, results and how to apply correctly
The spring 2027 joint application to higher education is 9–23.3.2027 and the upper secondary application 16.2.–16.3.2027. See the schedules, programmes and the one-degree rule.
Read the guide →Student financial aid 2026: amounts, income limits and adult study options
The study grant for a university student is €279.38/month, and the income limit for 9 support months is €20,127 in 2026. See also the options for adult students.
Read the guide →Student loan compensation 2026: who gets it and how to apply
Student loan compensation 2026: conditions, deadlines by degree, 40% of a loan over €2,500, maximum amounts, applying and the state guarantee.
Read the guide →Related topics on other radars
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- Buffer fund: how much savings should you have for a rainy day? · Money Radar
- Recruitment cost calculator: what does a new employee cost in the first year? · Jobs Radar
- Employer cost calculator: what does an employee cost? · Salary Radar
- How to choose a career: compare employment, pay and education · Career Radar
Deadlines and dates
Study Radar reminds its subscribers of these by email.
- Autumn joint application certificate-based selection results
Results of the certificate-based selection in the autumn 2026 joint application to higher education, in Studyinfo (Opintopolku).
Source - Universities of applied sciences entrance exam
Autumn joint application UAS entrance exam 26.–28.10.2026.
Source - Autumn 2026 matriculation exam results in My Studyinfo (Oma Opintopolku)
Results to schools on 12.11. and to candidates on 13.11.2026. Date is provisional.
Source - Autumn joint application results by
Admission results for higher education studies starting in January 2027.
Source - The spring 1st joint application to higher education begins
Programmes taught in a foreign language, application period 7 Jan at 8:00 – 21 Jan 2027 at 15:00.
Source - Joint application for upper secondary education opens
Application to upper secondary school and vocational education runs from 16.2. at 8:00 to 16.3.2027 at 15:00.
Source - The spring 2nd joint application to higher education begins
Finnish- and Swedish-language programmes, application period 9.3. at 8.00 – 23.3.2027 at 15.00
Source - The spring matriculation examinations begin
Mother tongue reading comprehension exam at 9:00; the exams continue until 5.4.2027.
Source
No upcoming dates right now.
Frequently asked questions: Study Radar
When is the 2027 joint application for higher education?
The second joint application of spring 2027 for programmes in Finnish and Swedish is from 9.3. at 8:00 to 23.3.2027 at 15:00. The first joint application for foreign-language programmes is from 7.1. at 8:00 to 21.1.2027 at 15:00, and applications are made on Opintopolku.
When is the 2027 joint application for secondary education?
Application to upper secondary school and vocational education runs from 16.2. at 8:00 to 16.3.2027 at 15:00. Results will be published on 17.6.2027, and the place must be accepted by 1.7.2027 at 23:59.
How much is the study grant in 2026?
The study grant for a higher education student aged 18 or over who lives independently is 279,38 € per month in 2026 (Kela). The state guarantee for a student loan is 850 € per month, and no index increases are made to the study grant in 2024–2027.
How much can a student earn alongside student aid?
If you draw student financial aid for 9 months, the annual income limit is €20,127 per calendar year (2026). The limit depends on the number of support months, and you can check your own limit on Kela's website.
When do the matriculation exam results come out?
The autumn 2026 results appear in My Studyinfo (Oma Opintopolku) on 13.11.2026 and the spring 2027 results on 19.5.2027. According to the Matriculation Examination Board, the dates are provisional.
What changes in student financial aid on 1.8.2027?
The government proposes that a person who graduates within the target time would receive a student loan compensation of 45 % of the loan exceeding 8 000 €, up to 7 000 €. In addition, the state guarantee for student loans would be removed from minors living with their parents. The proposal has not yet been approved (Kela 25.9.2026).
Can you still apply for the adult education allowance?
Not for new studies. Adult education allowance was abolished, and it has not been granted for studies starting on or after 1.8.2024.
What is RekryKoulutus?
RekryKoulutus is training procured jointly by the employer and the public employment service, in which unemployed jobseekers are trained for the company's needs. The employer pays 30 % of the costs and takes part in selecting the students.
How much does TäsmäKoulutus cost the employer?
TäsmäKoulutus trains the company's own staff. The employer's share is 30% for a small, 40% for a medium-sized and 50% for a large company; the rest is funded from public funds.
Does the employer still get the training deduction?
No. The employer's training deduction was abolished from 1.1.2025, and it could last be claimed for tax year 2024 (Finnish Tax Administration).
Is training paid for by the employer taxable for the employee?
Not when the training is in the employer's interest and relates to the employee's current or future duties. It is taxable if the training is unrelated to work, replaces pay or the employee could have chosen money instead of the training (Finnish Tax Administration).
How to use the information
- The main joint application to higher education institutions runs 9–23.3.2027 and closes at 3 pm. Submit your application in good time, as a late application will not be accepted.
- Put your application choices in your true order of preference. You will get a place only in the highest choice for which your points are sufficient.
- The one-degree rule began with the autumn 2026 joint application: if you accept a new place, your earlier right to study at the same or a lower level ends. Check your situation before accepting a place.
- If you do not get a place in the joint application, check Opintopolku for continuous applications and open university courses. You can study on them even before the next application round.
- Kela reports that changes to student financial aid are proposed from 1.8.2027. The changes have not yet been confirmed, so follow Kela's announcements.
- In the spring 2026 joint application for foreign-language programmes, competition was toughest in art and culture (9.2 applicants per place) and loosest in technology (2.6). The number of applicants tells you how many backup choices it is worth adding.
- If you need skilled people, ask your local employment area about RekryKoulutus: the employer pays 30% and takes part in selecting applicants.
- TäsmäKoulutus is suitable for training your own staff: a small company pays 30%, a medium-sized one 40% and a large one 50% of the training price.
- The employer's training deduction was abolished on 1.1.2025, so an additional deduction can no longer be made for wages paid on training days. Budget training in full as an expense.
- Work-related training is a tax-exempt benefit for the employee, but travel compensation for basic studies leading to a degree is taxable pay.
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Sources (24)
- OPH / Eduuni wiki: Schedules of the joint applications to higher education
- Matriculation Examination Board: Exam dates for spring 2027
- Matriculation Examination Board: Exam dates for autumn 2026
- City of Vantaa: Joint application 2027
- Hyria: Yhteishaku 2027
- OPH 25.3.2026: 149,000 applicants in the second joint application of spring
- OPH 22.1.2026: Number of applicants in the first joint application of spring fell
- OPH 18.3.2026: 84,250 applicants in the joint application to post-primary education
- Verkkouutiset 27.8.2026: Joint application to higher education begins, 12 100 places
- University of Helsinki 25.3.2026
- University of Turku 25.3.2026
- University of Eastern Finland 25.3.2026
- University of Jyväskylä 25.3.2026
- Kela: How Kela's benefits will change in 2026
- Kela: The state guarantee for student loans is increasing (2023)
- Kela 25.9.2026: Government proposes changes to student financial aid from 1.8.2027
- Taloustaito 3.9.2026: A student keeps income and benefits on track
- OPH 11.9.2026: 32,900 applicants seeking a higher education place in the autumn joint application
- Finnish Tax Administration: Employer's training deduction
- Finnish Tax Administration: Taxation of training paid for by the employer
- Employment services: funding contributions for joint procurement of labour market training
- Redu: Joint procurement training
- Job Market Finland: Kuopio employment area, employers and entrepreneurs
- Kela: adult education allowance loan guarantee will not be granted for new studies from August 2024
The information has been compiled from public sources on 6.10.2026. Always check the current terms from the original source. The information is not investment, loan or legal advice.