Studies
Join our prestigious Nursing Bilingual Top-Up Degree and work in Finland
At Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, you can study Nursing in English, learning also Finnish language at the same time. The studies are aimed at international students with a previous Nursing degree. With us, you study and learn evidence-based Nursing and develop your competence in the field of health care. You will be trained by our qualified international staff, utilizing our innovative learning environments. After graduation, you will have a great opportunity to work in Finland as a registered nurse.
How will you study?
The estimated time for your studies is 1,5 - 2 years, depending on your previous degree and nursing studies. At the beginning of your studies, you and your career coach will prepare an individual study plan, in which your previous studies are recognized.
The studies are mostly provided as contact teaching on campus, as simulation learning, and by training practical skills both independently and with other students. Part of the studies will be carried out as independent online studies.
You will begin the studies in English without the Finnish language proficiency requirement. The role of Finnish as a language of instruction strengthens as the studies proceed. During the studies, you can either start learning Finnish from the basics or continue the studies from your own starting level. Finnish language is integrated in the courses from the beginning of the studies. As a student you must be motivated and committed to study Finnish to reach the required proficiency.
At Metropolia, you have an opportunity to complete part of your studies in our Future Proof Health and Wellbeing innovation hub. Read more about the Research and Development Programs and Collaboration Platforms in innovation hub.
Study contents
The training consists of 210 ECTS credits and takes about 1,5 - 2 years to complete, depending on your prior education in the field of Nursing. The studies consist of advanced Nursing studies, Finnish language studies, clinical practice, research and development studies and a Bachelor’s thesis (written in English).
Completing the degree requires full-time study. Clinical practice follows the work hours of the unit in question, which may be in three shifts.
Studying Nursing in modern learning environments
At the Myllypuro campus, you will study in internationally unique learning environments. In the simulation hospital, you can practise a wide range of nursing skills independently in skills workshops and under the guidance of a teacher. The simulation hospital's facilities are similar to a real hospital environment.
Career opportunities
Graduates may find employment in primary health care, specialized nursing units in either public or private health care.
You might work in a hospital ward or at a clinic. You may also find a job in home care, various rehabilitation and senior centers or a health center. In addition to these, the nurse’s degree will enable you to work as an expert or consultant, for a non-profit organization or in international duties.
A nurse's degree will also provide students with excellent opportunities to work abroad. You will complete a university of applied sciences degree comparable with similar international and European qualifications. The degree provides graduates nursing qualifications conforming to EU directives, enabling you to seek interesting and challenging jobs also outside Finland.
Internationalization
You will study in a multicultural group of students and teachers, with English and Finnish as teaching languages. You will have the chance to network with other nursing professionals, and participate in international projects and joint teaching by international partners.
Qualification
Only certified professionals who have completed the appropriate degree may work as a nurse.
Once students have completed their degree, they apply to Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, for the right to practice their profession.
Scholarships and tuition fees
Annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants 11 000 €.
This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.
Ask Head of Degree Programme about the studies
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You will receive information 1–3 times a year about Metropolia's degree programmes, application schedules, and studying with us.
Applying
- Application period-Start of studiesautumn 2026Apply now!
- Day-time studies
The Separate Application for International Degree Programmes is aimed at those applying on the basis of GMAT/GRE test, SAT/ACT test, the Edunation Pathway Diploma or a credit transfer -based student selection for an education leading to a higher education degree in English. Application period for studies starting in autumn 2026 starts on 1 December 2025 08:00 am (local time in Finland).
Application instructions have been published on Studyinfo.fi Check the individual selection methods for each degree programme in Studyinfo.fi .
Useful links
More information on the application process
Tel. +358 9 7424 5902, Mon-Wed 10 am – 12 pm
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Starting studies
Welcome to study for a degree at Metropolia!
Congratulations! You have been admitted to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and we are delighted to have you as a new member of our vibrant community of more than 16 000 students!
You have made an excellent choice - Metropolia offers you unique multidisciplinary opportunities throughout your studies with its strong connections to working life and active role in innovations built around socially significant phenomena.
We are happy to have you with us and help you with any questions you might have. Welcome to Metropolia!
The below information applies to students who have been accepted to study for a full degree at Metropolia. Make sure to complete all the steps in order to secure your study place.
Confirming a place of study requires certain formalities to be completed by the deadline. More detailed instructions below:
Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. You can begin the student residence permit application online at Enterfinland.fi. Remember that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate as part of this process. Start your residence permit process as soon as possible, carefully following the immigration authorities' instructions and regulations, so that you can receive your permit in good time before your studies begin! You can find detailed information and advice on the residence permit requirements and procedures on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website.
Note that participating online programmes does not entitle you receiving residence permit. See more about the topic in Finnish Immigration Service websites.
All Metropolia's students who do not have a Finnish personal identity code, have to apply for it before their arrival or register at the local registry office after their arrival to Finland to apply for one.
Students who have to apply for residence permit (i.e. non-EU/non-EEA citizens) before their arrival to Finland should ask to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System when they apply for their first residence permit. This way they will receive a Finnish personal identity code at the same time as they are issued with the permit. More information on this for residence permit applicants in Migri site
Other students have to apply for the personal identity code from the local registry office of the city where you are living in.
More information on Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).
More information on registration to the Finnish Population Information System in DVV site
After you have received the personal identification code, remember to inform it to the Student Services with the official document. Acceptable documents are for example DVV:s document (Notification of registration), Finnish passport, Finnish identity card with a photo, issued by police, Finnish driver's license, residence permit or KELA card with a photo.
When you start as a new student you need to activate your user account. Activation is possible when the right to study begins. For joint application, activation is possible from 1 August.
The purpose of the activation is that you personally accept the rules of the account usage policy and start using your account. Activate your user account primarily using Mobile Certificate and Netbank User ID. Please read first the activation instructions in IT Services' wiki.
If you do not have a Mobile Certificate or Finnish Netbank User ID, you can use the Candour ID application to authenticate yourself. After authentication, you will receive instructions on how to activate your user account. Please read first the instructions in IT Services' wiki.
All foreign students (who are not EU citizens or citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) who come to Finland for the purposes of studying are required to have a health insurance, if the studies endure longer than three months.
More information on insurances in Student's Guide
Student financial aid is for Finnish citizens. Foreign citizens are entitled to student financial aid if they live in Finland on a permanent basis for the purpose other than studying and they have registered as permanent residents in the Finnish population register system.
More information on student financial aid in Student's Guide
- Find out where your campus is located
- If you have a smart phone you can download the free HSL mobile app to get access to the public transportation Journey Planner and tickets (e.g. for travelling from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport to your apartment or from your apartment to the campus).
- If you have a smart phone you can download the Tuudo mobile app for free to get your digital student ID and student discounts (ID and discounts are available from the first day of the studies onwards)
- Information on student life and well-being, costs and finance, study environment etc. in Student's Guide
New students need a laptop for their studies.
Minimum laptop requirements for new students:
- Windows 11 or Mac computer
- Intel i5/i7 processor (at least 8 gen), AMD Ryzen 5/7 or equivalent processor
- RAM 8 GB memory
- SSD hard disk min. 256 GB
The life cycle of the laptop should be at least 4 years. The estimated cost of a laptop meeting the recommended specifications is between €600 and €800 and upwards. If the student's studies are geared towards gaming or graphic design, for example, the laptop should have a more powerful graphics card and more SSD hard disk space.
The recommended operating system will depend on the degree programme and the area of specialisation. As a general rule, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are safe choices for a laptop operating system. Students of XR Design, 3D Animation and Visualisation and Visual Communication Design will be informed in the first weeks of their studies about the purchase of their own computer and the features they need.
Tuudo is a mobile app with which you can use various Metropolia web services easily on your smart phone. With Tuudo you can get VR, HSL, Matkahuolto and Kela student discounts immediately. The benefits are free for all Metropolia students.
In Tuudo you can check Metropolia, Admission Services, and student union METKA announcements, your schedule, study attainments, and cafeteria menus.
Get Tuudo on your phone from the app store for free and start using it!
During your studies, your support of well-being and health is Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS). The specialist in student health care offers you general, mental and oral health services and supports the well-being of study communities.
Our services can be used by students completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a university or a university of applied sciences who have registered as attending for the semester.
Master the facts! Familiarize yourself with our services and user instructions in Kela's site fshs.fi, and Kela's Health information resource on the address.
Start using Self! Self is the student’s own online service for health care issues at FSHS. In Self, you can manage appointment bookings, communicate via SelfChat and start a remote consultation. Log in to Self as a user immediately from the beginning of the semester and keep your contact details up to date for as long as you are a student. Read more about Self in Kela's site.
The health care fee for students in higher education will be paid to Kela on your initiative. Read more about health care fee in Kela's site.
If you have social security coverage in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you do not have to pay the healthcare fee. However, you can to use the FSHS’s services.
Metropolia does not have housing services to offer. Thus, it is the student's responsibility to find an accommodation for the period of their studies. There is a lot of competition in affordable housing, so it is important to start searching for a room many months prior to arrival.
Already excited about starting your studies in Metropolia and meeting new people?
On Student Union Metka's site you will find welcome letters for each degree program.
Welcome letters are information packages prepared by your future tutors. They include, for example, important dates as well as information about studying, student benefits, or student life.
Create your own profile and sign up to JobTeaser portal now and stay up to date on job vacancies, training and upcoming recruitment events promoted especially to Metropolia students. There are hundreds of job opportunities available and a lot of information to support your career planning.
JobTeaser is a career portal where you can find lot of career information in one platform.
- Open jobs and traineeships
- Working life events
- Advice & guidance
- Employer profiles
Sign up and start exploring
Sign up to JobTeaser using your @metropolia.fi email address.
You can also download a Jobteaser application.
Start of the studies in the Nursing Degree Programme in January 2026
Starting instructions for new students starting in January 2026:
- Before the start of studies
- Start of studies in August
- General advice on starting your studies
1. Before the start of studies
- Answer the Study and Career Guidance questionnaire by 18 December 2025. If you are registered as an absent student for spring 2026, answer the questionnaire only when you start your studies as a present student.
- Familiarize yourself with the curriculum of your degree.
- If you wish, take a virtual tour around the Myllypuro campus!
2. Start of studies in January
The studies will start on Monday 19 January 2026 at 9.00 - 15.15 Finnish time online.
The schedule for the first day will be as follows:
09.00 - 11.45 Meeting with career coach, commencing studies
12.45 - 15.15 Welcome to Metropolia: Study start together with tutor students
The beginning of the first semester will be held online. Contact teaching starts 30 March 2026 on Myllypuro Campus. Please note that attendance is required from 30 March 2026 onward.
The schedule for the entire first semester will be ready before the studies start. Be prepared to have full schedules throughout the semester, from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.
You can see the entire semester’s schedule in Metropolia’s Schedule Machine (Lukkarikone). The schedule will be published by 22 December 2025. You will find the schedule and links to online teaching sessions by group ID SXN26K1B1 (if you have a bachelor's degree) or SXN26K1B2 (if you have a diploma). Please note that some of the times might be subject to change. Be prepared to have a full schedule throughout the semester from 19 January onward.
3. General advice on starting your studies
Information for new students
Make sure to complete all the steps in order to secure a smooth start for your studies.
Welcome hub
At Metropolia Welcome Hub, you’ll find information and guidance on settling in the Helsinki metropolitan area, housing, managing everyday life, and integrating into the local community.
Introduction to studying in Metropolia and Finland
Join Welcome to Metropolia UAS Moodle workspace. The Moodle workspace contains important information for new students. Please note that you may join the Moodle workspace from 1 January 2026 onward, after activating Metropolia's user ID.
Activating your Metropolia user account and Microsoft Pro Plus 365 software package
Please see the general instructions for starting your studies at the top of this page. Follow the instructions to activate your Metropolia user account before starting your studies. Activation of the user account is possible from 1 January 2026. If you have been accepted to study earlier and have been absent: you can activate your account before 1 January 2026.
Get to know Metropolia's e-services and download and install the Microsoft Pro Plus 362 software package free of charge before the start of your studies. You can download and install the software package after activating your user ID. Instructions: Student Survival Guide - e-services at Metropolia
Public transportation student discounts (HSL, VR, Matkahuolto) and Meal subsidy
- You will be able to use the benefits when your student status starts on 1 January 2026.
- You can access the benefits with the free Tuudo app downloadable on your phone with a digital student card.
Study certificate
- You can request a certificate from Metropolia's Student and Applicant Services once your study rights have started, i.e. from 1 January 2026.
- If you are applying for student accommodation from HOAS, it is sufficient to submit a study certificate at the start of your studies.
Finnish courses for international students in Metropolia
In Metropolia UAS, you will be studying Finnish as a part of your studies. We will help you choose suitable courses depending on your Finnish language skills level.
- Finnish 1 (A1.2), 5 cr
- Finnish 2 (A1.3-A2.1), 5 cr
- Finnish 3 (A2.1-A2.2), 5 cr
- Finnish 4 (A2.2-B1.1), 5 cr
- Towards YKI 1 (A1), 2 cr
- Towards YKI 2 (A2), 2 cr
- Towards YKI 3 (B1), 2 cr
- Let’s speak Finnish (A2-B1), 3 cr
- Finnish for professionals 1 (B1), 5 cr
- Finnish for professionals 2 (B1-B2), 5 cr
- Develop your text skills in higher education (B1-B2), 5 cr
- Nursing Finnish 1-4 (A2-B2), 5 cr each
Search for Finnish language implementations via the Study Guide.
Language clinics
In addition to Finnish courses, you can get support for learning the professional language skills in two language clinics:
- Basic level A1-A2: Hoitotyön S2-klinikka
- Intermediate level B1-B2: S2-klinikka, sosiaali- ja terveysala
Other Finnish courses in the capital region or online
Search engine for the Finnish courses in the capital region
Adult Education Institutes in the capital region
Non-stop Finnish courses for more advanced students in Savonia
Free self-study courses online for beginners
Introductory Finnish - self study
Hoivaa suomeksi (Nursing Finnish)
Tram Tour into the Culture and Languages of Finland (3 ECTS) (possible to sign up once you have your Metropolia ID)
The scholarship
Students, who come from outside EU/ETA-countries and have paid the tuition fee, have possibility to apply for the scholarship. Find more information about tuition fees and scholarships here: Tuition fees and scholarships for non-EU/EEA students.
Contact
E-mail addresses: firstname.lastname [at] metropolia.fi (firstname[dot]lastname[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Anna Sievers
Head of the Degree Programme in Nursing
Anna.Sievers [at] metropolia.fi (Anna[dot]Sievers[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Tiina Varamäki
Senior Lecturer, Career coach
Tiina.Varamaki [at] metropolia.fi (Tiina[dot]Varamaki[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Linda Dinda
Senior Lecturer, Career coach
Linda.dinda [at] metropolia.fi (Linda[dot]dinda[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Iida Väätänen
Programme Coordinator
Iida.Vaatanen [at] metropolia.fi (Iida[dot]Vaatanen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Riikka Sorri
Guidance Counsellor
riikka.sorri [at] metropolia.fi (riikka[dot]sorri[at]metropolia[dot]fi)