Programme-specific criteria

In addition to the general admission criteria, all the Master's programmes have their own admission criteria.

Please, read this page through carefully, including the information under the programme(s) you are interested in. Kindly note that the admission criteria are not the same in all of the programmes. Also check the general criteria (e.g. language requirements) and instructions.

Intakes of the programmes in autumn 2025 intake

	Rolling admission	Joint admission
Master's Programme in Finance	30	20
Master's Programme in International Business	60	20
Master's Programme in Strategic Business Development	50	20
Master's Programme in Electrical and Energy Engineering	60	30
Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management	120	55
Master's Programme in Computing Sciences	75	60

University of Vaasa reserves the right to decide whether a degree and/or higher education institution meet our requirements or not.

Please note that University of Vaasa does not evaluate the relevance of the applicant’s educational background in advance. The evaluation is only done during the processing of the applications with the application and enclosures at hand. Only courses / study modules that have been obtained and are visible on the transcript of records submitted with the application will be considered when evaluating the applicant’s educational background.

Applying with an unfinished degree

Applicants, who have not graduated from the degree used for eligibility to the programme by the time the application period ends, may be conditionally accepted to the programme. In the cases of conditional acceptance, the final acceptance is made and the right to study is granted only when the applicant graduates and receives the degree certificate with the required grades by 10 July 2025. Evidence of the completed degree needs to be presented to the University by 10 July 2025 at 15:00 (UTC+3). Applicants who are conditionally accepted are informed on the conditions, and updated information on the acceptance is sent to the applicants who have submitted a copy of the degree certificate and final transcript of records by the deadline.

You can apply with an unfinished degree in rolling admission and joint admission.

Evaluation of applications

Applicants in both rolling admission and joint admission must meet all the programme-specific criteria of the programme in question in order to be considered for admission. However, there is a difference between the two admissions what comes to defining which of the applicants who meet the admission criteria will be accepted.

Rolling admission

Applicants that satisfy the admission criteria will be admitted in the order they apply until the intake is full. The degree must be from a higher education institution located outside Finland.

Selections are made every two weeks, during which the applications received by that time are ranked in order of academic performance. If multiple applicants have achieved the same cumulative grade point average (CGPA), and not all of these applicants can be selected, the applicants will be ranked according to the time of receiving the application.

After the intake is full the remaining applications will be rejected.

All the enclosures need to be submitted to the application form by the time of applying. In case of missing or illegible enclosures, the application will be rejected.

If accepted, the applicant must accept the study place after receiving the offer and pay possible tuition fee by the given deadline. In addition, if country-specific requirements apply to the applicant's degree(s), the applicant must submit the educational documents according to country-specific requirements. The documents must arrive to the University of Vaasa at the latest by the given deadline. The offer is conditional until the tuition fee has been paid and the documents submitted according to the country-specific requirements.

Joint admission

Applications that satisfy the eligibility and suitability criteria will be put through a subsequent evaluation process that will determine which applicants will be admitted.

The applicants are ranked according to the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of the degree, including the thesis or final report (if applicable).

If multiple applicants have achieved the same CGPA, and not all of these applicants can be selected, the applicants will be ranked according to the prior studies at bachelor level or higher in the core areas of the programme.

The admission results are published by 28 May 2025. If accepted, the applicant must accept the study place after receiving the offer and pay possible tuition fee by the given deadline. In addition, if country-specific requirements apply to the applicant's degree(s), the applicant must submit the educational documents according to country-specific requirements. The documents must arrive to the University of Vaasa at the latest by the given deadline. The offer is conditional until the tuition fee has been paid and the documents submitted according to the country-specific requirements.

Master's Programme in Finance

Both international and Finnish applicants are eligible for admission if they have completed a bachelor’s or master's degree in an appropriate field. In the rolling admission the background degree cannot be awarded in Finland. In the joint admission all degree-awarding countries are allowed.

The studies lead to a Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration.

Applicants must fulfill all the following requirements to be considered for admission to the Master’s Programme in Finance:

1. Scope of the degree

A recognized 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree at a higher education institution. The degree must be considered equivalent to a Finnish bachelor’s degree.

2. Suitability of the background education

A bachelor’s degree in business administration in the field of finance or banking
If the applicant does not have one of these degrees, the background education is considered suitable if the degree includes min. 20 % of academic business studies, or at least 35 ECTS (or equivalent) of academic business studies have been completed outside of the degree. The academic business studies must consist of one or several of the following: corporate finance, investments, derivatives, financial mgt, financial markets, financial reporting, banking, financial modeling.

3. Applicant’s overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in previous degree, including the thesis or final report if applicable, must be at least 3,00/5 (ECTS grading).

4. English language proficiency as instructed in the admission criteria

Master's Programme in International Business

The studies lead to a Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration.

Applicants must fulfill all the following requirements to be considered for admission to the Master’s Programme in International Business:

1. Scope of the degree

A recognized 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree at a higher education institution. The degree must be considered equivalent to a Finnish bachelor’s degree.

2. Suitability of the background education

A bachelor’s degree in business administration in the field of international business, brand management, consumer behavior, cross-cultural management, digital marketing, human resource management, international marketing, management, marketing, organizational leadership or supply chain management
If the applicant does not have one of these degrees, the background education is considered suitable if the degree includes min. 20 % academic business studies, or at least 35 ECTS (or equivalent) of academic business studies have been completed outside of the degree. The academic business studies must consist of courses in one or several of the following fields: international business, marketing, HR management, strategic management.

3. Applicant’s overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in previous degree, including the thesis or final report if applicable, must be at least 3,00/5 (ECTS grading).

4. English language proficiency as instructed in the admission criteria

Master's Programme in Strategic Business Development

The studies lead to a Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration.

Applicants must fulfill all the following requirements to be considered for admission to the Master’s Programme in Strategic Business Development:

1. Scope of the degree

A recognized 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree at a higher education institution. The degree must be considered equivalent to a Finnish bachelor’s degree.

2. Suitability of the background education

A bachelor’s degree in business administration in the field of accounting, auditing, banking, brand management, business administration, business analytics, business law, consumer behavior, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, cross-cultural management, digital marketing, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, industrial management (business degree), innovation and product development, international business, international marketing, management, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, organizational leadership, project management, sales management, strategic management or supply chain management.
If the applicant does not have one of these degrees, the background education is considered suitable if the degree includes min. 20 % academic business studies, or at least 35 ECTS (or equivalent) of academic business studies have been completed outside of the degree. The academic business studies must consist of courses in one or several of the following fields: accounting and finance, HR management, strategic management, international business, entrepreneurship and marketing.

3. Applicant’s overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in previous degree, including the thesis or final report if applicable, must be at least 3,00/5 (ECTS grading).

4. English language proficiency as instructed in the admission criteria

Master’s Programme in Electrical and Energy Engineering

The studies in both majors lead to a degree of Master of Science in Technology.

Applicants to any of the majors under the Master’s Programme in Electrical and Energy Engineering must fulfill all the following requirements to be considered for admission to the programme:

1. Scope of the degree

A recognized 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree at a higher education institution (HEI) which is considered equivalent to a Finnish bachelor’s degree.

2. Applicant’s overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in previous degree, including the thesis or final report if applicable, must be at least 3,00/5 (ECTS grading).

3. Language proficiency as instructed in the admission criteria

Proficiency in English, if the language of instruction selected is English
Proficiency in Finnish, if the language of instruction selected is Finnish

In addition to these, the applicant’s prior degree/studies must be considered suitable to the major the applicant applies to in order to be considered for admission. Please see the appropriate degrees and fields in each major below.

Electrical Engineering

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are electrical engineering, energy engineering, power systems engineering, renewable energy engineering, robotics engineering, electronic engineering, mechatronics engineering, computer engineering, network engineering, telecommunications engineering. A degree in business studies is generally not an appropriate degree.
Degrees from the following fields may be also suitable if the degree has included enough courses in electrical engineering and power systems / power electronics: applied engineering, automotive engineering, aviation engineering, computer science, computing, control engineering, cyber security, data science, financial engineering, industrial engineering, information technology, manufacturing/production engineering, marine engineering/naval architecture, mechanical engineering, operations engineering, optical engineering/optical sciences and engineering, safety engineering, software engineering, systems engineering, thermal engineering/science.

Energy Engineering

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are energy engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, renewable energy engineering, power systems engineering, robotics engineering, automation engineering, acoustical/sound engineering, aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, astronautical engineering, automotive engineering, aviation engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, manufacturing/production engineering, marine engineering or naval architecture, mechatronics engineering, mining engineering, network engineering, nuclear engineering, ocean engineering, petroleum engineering, process engineering, production technology or machine shop engineering, safety engineering, structural engineering, systems engineering, thermal engineering/science, transportation engineering. A degree in business studies is generally not an appropriate degree.
Degrees from the following fields may be also suitable if the degree has given wide knowledge of engineering mathematics, physics and thermodynamics but also understanding of technical/drawings/ documentation, fundamental knowledge of chemistry and object-oriented programming: agricultural engineering, air treatment engineering, applied engineering, architectural engineering, biochemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, computing, construction management, control engineering, cyber security, data science, ecological engineering, fire (protection) and safety engineering, industrial engineering, information technology, management science/engineering, materials science and engineering, mathematics, metallurgical engineering, nanoengineering, operations engineering, optical engineering/optical sciences and engineering, physics, plastics engineering, software engineering, soil treatment engineering, statistics, supply chain management/engineering, telecommunications engineering, waste management engineering, water (resources) engineering, water treatment engineering.

Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management

Applicants to any of the majors under the Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management must fulfill all the following requirements to be considered for admission to the programme:

1. Scope of the degree

A recognized 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree at a higher education institution (HEI) which is considered equivalent to a Finnish bachelor’s degree.

2. Applicant’s overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in previous degree, including the thesis or final report if applicable, must be at least 3,00/5 (ECTS grading).

3. English language proficiency as instructed in the admission criteria

In addition to these, the applicant’s prior degree/studies must be considered suitable to the major the applicant applies to in order to be considered for admission. Please see the appropriate degrees and fields in each major below.

Industrial Management

The studies lead to a Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration.

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are industrial management (business degree), supply chain management, innovation and product development, operations management, project management, strategic management, business analytics, econometrics, economics, finance, international marketing, management.
A BSc in Systems Engineering or Industrial Engineering is also suitable but accepted applicants must complete supplementary academic business studies in their MSc Econ. & Bus. Admin. degree as specified in the curriculum.
If the applicant does not have one of these degrees mentioned above, the background education is considered suitable if the degree includes min. 20 % of academic business studies, or at least 35 ECTS (or equivalent) of academic business studies have been completed outside of the degree. The academic business studies must consist of one or several of the following: accounting and finance, economics, operations management, information systems, business law, HR management, strategic management, international business, entrepreneurship and marketing.

Industrial Systems Analytics

The studies lead to a degree of Master of Science in Technology.

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are software engineering, cyber security, data science, information management, information technology, systems engineering, industrial engineering, operations engineering, supply chain management or engineering, applied engineering, automotive engineering, control engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, energy engineering, environmental engineering, financial engineering, management science or engineering, manufacturing or production engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, mechatronics engineering, production technology or machine shop engineering, renewable energy engineering, robotics engineering, statistics, transportation engineering. A degree in business studies is generally not an appropriate degree.
A BSc in Business in industrial management, operations management, business informatics and information systems are also suitable but accepted applicants must complete supplementary studies in their MSc Tech degree as specified in the curriculum.

Strategic Project Management

This major is taught in the city of Seinäjoki. The studies lead to a degree of Master of Science in Technology.

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are acoustical/sound engineering, aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied engineering, astronautical engineering, automation engineering, automotive engineering, aviation engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, computing, construction management, control engineering, cyber security, data science, digital technology, electrical engineering, electronic(s) engineering, energy engineering, industrial engineering, information management, information networks, information technology, management science or engineering, manufacturing or production engineering, marine engineering or naval architecture, materials science and engineering, mechatronics/mechatronical engineering, metallurgical engineering, metallurgy engineering, network engineering, nuclear engineering, ocean engineering, operations engineering, optical engineering/optical sciences and engineering, paper science and engineering, petroleum engineering, plastics engineering, power systems engineering, process engineering, production technology or machine shop engineering, renewable energy engineering, robotics engineering, software engineering, structural engineering, supply chain management/engineering, systems engineering, telecommunications engineering, thermal engineering/science, transportation engineering, water (resources) engineering, wood processing technology. A degree in business studies is generally not an appropriate degree.
A BSc in Business in industrial management, operations management, business informatics and information systems are also suitable but accepted applicants must complete supplementary studies in their MSc Tech degree as specified in the curriculum.

Master’s Programme in Computing Sciences

Applicants to any of the majors under the Master’s Programme in Computing Sciences must fulfill all the following requirements to be considered for admission to the programme:

1. Scope of the degree

A recognized 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree at a higher education institution (HEI) which is considered equivalent to a Finnish bachelor’s degree.

2. Applicant’s overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in previous degree, including the thesis or final report if applicable, must be at least 3,00/5 (ECTS grading).

3. Language proficiency as instructed in the admission criteria

Proficiency in English in the following majors: Sustainable and Autonomous Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering, Automation and Robotics
Proficiency in Finnish in the following majors: Automaatio ja tietotekniikka, Tietojärjestelmätiede

Sustainable and Autonomous Systems

The studies lead to a degree of Master of Science in Technology.

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronic(s) engineering, mechatronics/mechatronical engineering, network engineering, power systems engineering, telecommunications engineering, renewable energy engineering, robotics engineering, control engineering, digital technology and information networks.
Degrees in optical engineering/optical sciences and engineering, software engineering, computer science, industrial engineering, financial engineering, mechanical engineering, fire (protection) and safety engineering, management science/engineering, manufacturing/production engineering, operations engineering, safety engineering, supply chain management/engineering, systems engineering, acoustical/sound engineering, aeronautical engineering, automation engineering, aerospace engineering, astronautical engineering, automotive engineering, aviation engineering, energy engineering, marine engineering/naval architecture, ocean engineering, production technology / machine shop engineering, thermal engineering/science, agricultural engineering, applied engineering, computing, multimedia, cyber security, data science, information systems (business degree), information technology and information management can be considered suitable if they meet the following conditions:
1. At least three courses in mathematics such as: Mathematics (or Calculus) 1, Mathematics (or Calculus) 2, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations. Some universities have linear algebra and differential equations in one course, which is acceptable.
2. At least one course in programming fundamentals
3. At least One course in Linear system theory (or Control Theory/Engineering)
4. At least one course in probability theory (or statistics)
Applicants with other degrees are not eligible.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering

The studies lead to a degree of Master of Science in Technology.

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronic(s) engineering, mechatronics/mechatronical engineering, network engineering, software engineering, telecommunications engineering, computer science, data science, cyber security, information technology, control engineering, computing.
Degrees in optical engineering / optical sciences and engineering, power systems engineering, industrial engineering, financial engineering, management science/engineering, manufacturing/production engineering, operations engineering, safety engineering, supply chain management/engineering, systems engineering, acoustical/sound engineering, automation engineering, aerospace engineering, renewable energy engineering, robotics engineering, applied engineering, mathematics, statistics, business informatics (business degree), information systems (business degree), digital technology, information networks, multimedia and information management can be considered suitable if they meet the specified conditions:
1. Students with engineering degree must have completed at least the following courses or equivalent to be considered eligible:
  - At least two courses from Mathematics and Statistics (such as Linear Algebra or Calculus, Probability Theory or Statistics with topics like random variables or probability distributions)
  - At least a course in database concepts. The course might have terms like “Data Modeling”, “SQL”, “Database Design”, or general data management principles – also called “Database Management Systems” (DBMS) or similar.
  - At least one course in programming fundamentals (course might contain terms like “Programming”, “Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)”, “Java”, “Python”, “Data Structures”, “Algorithms”, or “Compiler Design”, or similar.
2. Students with a BSc in Business Informatics, Information Systems, Mathematics or Statistics must have completed at least the following courses or equivalent to be considered eligible:
  - At least two courses from Mathematics and Statistics, such as Linear Algebra or Calculus; Probability Theory or Statistics with topics like random variables or probability distributions
  - Applicants must complete supplementary studies in e.g. mathematics, database concepts, programming fundamentals in their MSc Tech degree as specified in the curriculum.

Automation and Robotics / Automaatio ja tietotekniikka

Automation and Robotics is taught in the city of Pori in English. Automaatio ja tietotekniikka is taught in the city of Vaasa with Finnish as the language of instruction.

The studies lead to a degree of Master of Science in Technology.

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are automation engineering, robotics engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronic(s) engineering, mechatronics/mechatronical engineering, software engineering, telecommunications engineering, computer science, data science, cyber security, information technology, control engineering, computing, digital technology. A degree in business studies is generally not an appropriate degree.
Degrees in process engineering, network engineering, optical engineering/optical sciences and engineering, power systems engineering, industrial engineering, systems engineering, aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, automotive engineering, production technology or machine ship engineering, applied engineering, mathematics, statistics, information networks, multimedia, and information management can be considered suitable if they meet the following conditions:
1. Mathematics: Min. two courses in mathematics from the following categories:
  - Linear algebra course (the course title mentions "linear algebra")
  - Statistics course (with the title mentioning "statistics," "probability," or "random variables")
  - Course covering complex numbers and transformations (with the title mentioning "complex variables," "complex transforms," or "signals and systems")
2. Programming: At least two different courses that mention any of the following terms: "programming," "object-oriented," "oop," "algorithms," or "compiler"
3. Electronics: One course in electronics mentioning any of the following terms: “digital design”, “logic design”, “electronics”, “circuits” or “vlsi”

Tietojärjestelmätiede

The language of instruction is Finnish. The studies lead to a Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration.

Suitability of the background education:

The appropriate fields are information systems (business degree), computer science (business or technology degree), information technology, software engineering, computer engineering, cyber security, information networks, technical communication, multimedia, information management, systems engineering and industrial management.
If the applicant does not have one of these degrees, the background education is considered suitable if the degree includes at least 20 ECTS (or equivalent) of academic information systems studies or those studies have been completed outside of the degree (e.g. in open university).
If the applicant's previous degree is from a field of other than business administration, accepted applicants must complete supplementary academic business studies in their MSc Econ. & Bus. Admin. degree as specified in the curriculum.