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Bachelor of Social Services, Social Services

Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk) · Oulu, Finland

100% taught in EnglishApply via Studyinfo.fi joint application, not the CAOEntrance examTuition-freeEntrance testEnglish-taught
Duration3 years
StartsAutumn 2027
EntryEntrance exam
Deadline (EU)21 Jan 2027 (tbc)
EU fee 2027/28No tuition fee

About the course

A 3.5-year (210 ECTS) bachelor’s programme taught in English at Oamk’s Linnanmaa campus in Oulu, preparing students for professional social services and social care work. International students also get intensive Finnish language training to prepare for work placements.

Entry requirements for Irish students

  • Finland accepts a school qualification that gives eligibility for higher education in the country where it was awarded, so a completed Leaving Certificate meeting Irish entry rules should count. No Finnish body sets minimum Leaving Cert grades, subjects or Higher/Ordinary levels, and CAO points are not used. Confirm with Oamk admissions (admissions@oamk.fi).
  • Leaving Cert holders are not ranked on school results: Oamk’s certificate-based quotas are for Finnish matriculation, IB/EB and similar diplomas. In 2026 this programme selected through the online International UAS Exam (10 places) or SAT scores (5 places). Expect the same for 2027, but check the admission criteria when published.
  • English: native speakers must still prove English. Upper secondary schooling completed entirely in English in the EU/EEA is accepted. The Leaving Cert certificate does not state the language of teaching, so get a school letter confirming you were taught and assessed entirely in English. Otherwise IELTS Academic 6.0+, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic 55+ or Cambridge 169+. Gaelscoil students should expect to need a test.

How to apply

  1. Check the programme pageConfirm the 2027 admission criteria on Oamk’s site, and decide between the International UAS Exam and a SAT score.
  2. Apply on Studyinfo.fiSubmit the joint application in the January 2027 round (expected about 7-21 January).
  3. Send documentsUpload proof of English (e.g. school letter) and identity documents by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 Finnish time.
  4. Sit the examTake the online International UAS Exam on 23 March 2027 (or send SAT results by the Oamk deadline), then accept any conditional offer and send final Leaving Cert results as Oamk instructs.
Deadline for Irish/EU applicants: First spring joint application on Studyinfo.fi in January 2027 (Oamk’s English-taught degrees use this round; in 2026 it ran 7-21 January, and 2027 national guidance implies it opens 7 January 2027 – confirm the closing date on Studyinfo). Proof of English and identity documents: by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 Finnish time. International UAS Exam (online): 23 March 2027 from 12:00 Finnish time; results by 14 April 2027..

Costs

  • Free for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (Oamk lists €10,000 a year for non-EU students only). Application fees apply only to non-EU/EEA applicants.
Your Leaving Cert points will not rank you: you are selected on the International UAS Exam or a SAT score. Places are small (15 in 2026). Get a school letter confirming you were taught and assessed in English before the late-January document deadline.

At a glance

CountryFinland
CityOulu
LanguageEnglish
Apply viaStudyinfo.fi joint application
Places15 in 2026 (10 via International UAS Exam, 5 via SAT); 2027 figures not yet published
EntryEntrance exam
Programme page ↗Oamk selection methods ↗International UAS Exam ↗UAS language requirements ↗← Back to all European courses

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Checked on official Oamk and UASinfo pages on 27 September 2026. Programme details and places are from the 2026 intake. Exam and document dates are for 2027 entry. The exact January 2027 application dates were not yet published on Oamk’s pages. Always confirm details with the university before applying.