Bachelor of Business Administration, International Business and Growth Management

About the course

A 210 ECTS full-time business degree, taught entirely in English on campus in Kuopio. It focuses on international business, entrepreneurship, sustainable growth and leadership in multicultural teams. You take business orientation and professional studies, then choose a specialisation from year two (Entrepreneurship, International Sales or Digital Marketing). The degree also includes electives, a 30 ECTS internship and a thesis.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Finnish universities of applied sciences accept a school qualification that gives eligibility for higher education in the country where it was awarded. A completed Leaving Certificate that meets Irish entry rules should count, but no Finnish body sets minimum Leaving Cert grades, subjects or Higher/Ordinary levels, and CAO points are not used. Savonia does not publish how Leaving Cert results are ranked on its certificate-grades route, so confirm this with Savonia admissions.
• Places are awarded through the International UAS Exam in the joint application or through Savonia’s direct routes: its own entrance exam, SAT scores or certificate grades. Ask Savonia which routes this programme uses for 2027 and what minimum scores or averages apply. You can apply before you finish school, but you must complete your qualification by the deadline in the application instructions.
• English: native speakers must still prove their English. Under the Finnish UAS rules, upper secondary schooling taught and assessed entirely in English in an EU/EEA country qualifies. The Leaving Cert certificate does not say what language you were taught in, so get a school letter confirming it. Gaelscoil students should expect to need a test. The minimum for the spring 2027 joint application is IELTS Academic 6.0 or PTE Academic 55.

How to apply

1. Choose your route (autumn 2026)Decide between the joint application with the International UAS Exam and Savonia’s direct routes. Direct application opens on 1 October 2026. Email Savonia admissions to ask which routes this programme uses for 2027 and how Leaving Cert grades are assessed. If you plan to use the SAT, book it early.
2. Apply (Jan 2027)The joint application on Studyinfo.fi runs from 7 to 21 January 2027. The direct routes have their own dates (certificate grades and SAT: 1 Oct 2026 to 31 Jul 2027; entrance exam: 7 Jan to 23 Mar 2027).
3. Send proof of English (by 28 Jan 2027)On the joint application route, upload proof of English by 28 January 2027 at 15:00 Finnish time. This can be a school letter confirming you were taught and assessed entirely in English, or a test result such as IELTS Academic 6.0 or PTE Academic 55.
4. Sit the exam and confirm (spring 2027)Sit the International UAS Exam online, or Savonia’s own exam in Kuopio or Varkaus if you apply on that route. Check the exact exam date on Studyinfo.fi. If you get a conditional offer, send your final Leaving Cert results by the deadline in your offer.

Costs

• EU/EEA citizens do not pay tuition at Savonia, so Irish students pay nothing. Only non-EU/EEA students pay: 9,700 euro a year for students starting after 1 January 2027, with a lower first-year rate of 7,760 euro if paid early. You will still need to cover living costs in Kuopio. Savonia suggests about 900 to 1,200 euro a month.

At a glance