General eligibility for the programmes is given by:

• completed Finnish upper secondary education or the Finnish matriculation examination
• International Baccalaureate, Reifeprüfung or European Baccalaureate examination
• a vocational college diploma or higher vocational diploma (e.g. in engineering)
• a vocational qualification of at lest three years duration, completed in vocational upper secondary education and training, referred to in the Vocational Education and Training Act (630/98), or an earlier corresponding qualification
• combined education programmes of at least three years duration, referred to in the Act on Youth-level Education and the Polytechnic Experiment (391/91)
• a vocational qualification in adult education of at least three years duration, referred to in the Vocational Adult Education Act (631/98)
• a foreign degree or qualification which gives eligibility for higher education in the awarding country

Those applicants who are applying with competence based vocational qualification or competence based further vocational qualification must have completed their studies by the end of the application period.

In order to demonstrate eligibility to polytechnic/UAS studies, an applicant applying with a non-Finnish qualification must provide a copy of the original certificate to the admissions office of his or her first-choice polytechnic/UAS by the set date. This does not apply to those applicants who are citizens of an EU/EEA-country and who are completing their qualification in the spring of applying.

Polytechnics/UAS only accept final certificates awarded by national and regional bodies granting educational certificates. Therefore various other documents such as "Testimonials", "Statements of Results", "Examination Results" or "Result Slips" are not considered as official certificates. Please note, that if you have a scratch card, it is advisable to attach the card to your final certificate.
Eligibility for applying a corresponding field of study is given by:

• a vocational qualification of less than three years duration, completed in vocational upper secondary education and training, referred to in the Vocational Education and Training Act (630/98), or a corresponding earlier qualification
  
  
• combined education programmes of less than three years duration, referred to in the Act on Youth-level Education and the Polytechnic experiment (391/91)
  
  
• vocational qualifications or further vocational qualifications in adult education of less than three years duration, referred to in the Vocational Adult Education Act (631/98)

Eligibility for polytechnic/UAS studies in a corresponding field of study on the basis specified above may be broadened into general eligibility for polytechnic/UAS studies by:

1. completing in addition a) general or vocational studies that extend the post-basic education studies to three years of duration, or b) a further vocational qualification or c) a specialist vocational qualification or
   
   
2. gaining at least three years of work experience in a corresponding field, after completing the qualification.

The corresponding field of study is defined according to the following fields of vocational education and training: humanities and education; culture; natural sciences; natural resources and the environment; tourism, catering and domestic services; social services, health and sports; technology, communications and transport; social sciences, business and administration.

Polytechnic/UAS can also take into consideration a vocational qualification or school-level vocational education that does not fall into the fields of education and training specified above as studies in a corresponding field, if its content is close to the study programme specialisation.

If a polytechnic/UAS uses discretionary admission, other applicants may also be admitted, if the polytechnic/UAS considers their skills and knowledge sufficient. Central Ostrobothnia UAS is using discretionary admission which means that also applicants who do not meet required level of language skills can apply.