Study opportunities and competence development for immigrants
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences offers a possibility to study something new and inspiring, enhance your professional know-how in working life and apply to a degree program.
Develop your competence and study at Metropolia!
Higher education preparatory programme for immigrants
Do you wish to study for a degree in Finnish in a university of applied sciences? Metropolia provides studies to prepare you for this. The courses are taught in Finnish.
Degree studies in Metropolia
Metropolia offers degree studies in the fields of Business, Culture, Health Care and Social Services, and Technology. You can study for a bachelor or a master degree in a university of applied sciences. Degrees are available in Finnish and in English.
Supplement your competence and study in open UAS
Metropolia Open UAS offers a wide variety of courses. Open UAS path studies can also open an opportunity to apply for degree studies in Metropolia.
Open UAS NonStop studies
Study flexibly according to your own schedule in the Open UAS online studies of Information and Communication Technology.
Diplomas of Higher Education and study modules
Deepen or update your skills to meet the needs of working life!
Ukrainian refugees
Metropolia offers courses, study modules and path studies of the Open UAS free of charge for people fleeing from Ukraine.
Finnish language courses
Finnish as a second language courses at different levels. General and subject-specific language courses available.
Career Boost Programme in ICT
The programme offers a wide variety of courses in software development, web technology, cloud computing, AI and machine learning, and in IT fundamentals to develop and to update competence that meets the demand in Finnish worklife.
Career Boost Programme in Business Accounting
Career Boost for business accounting is targeted to professionals who wish to update their knowledge of financial and management accounting and understand better the work environment and expectations of this field in Finland.
Previously started Career Boost programmes
Career Boost in Automation Business
The programme is now closed to applications.
Career Boost for automation business is targeted to professionals in electrical and automation technology who wish to develop and update their skills or specialise from programming to automation business. You will learn to programme industrial applications and devices (e.g. embedded measurement and control systems, control devices, data collection and management, different industrial IoT applications). You will also develop your competence in data management and analytics by exploring data management in different databases, data-based problem-solving and applications of machine learning and AI. The studies also give you the opportunity to develop your skills in operating in project environments and in managing projects.
By completing the programme you will improve your employment prospects in jobs such as e.g. automation engineer/specialist, industrial engineer/manager, system specialist or maintenance specialist in Finland. You will also develop your field-specific language skills in Finnish and build your networks with the local businesses and industry.
Mode of delivery, structure and timing:
- Language of tuition: Finnish, but material also in English
- Duration: max 12 months
- Extent: max 60 ECTS credits
- Mode of delivery: online studies and contact teaching partly in groups, partly independently
Courses from which the most suitable ones for you will be selected:
- Industrial programming technology and an IoT project (max. 10 ECTS)
- programming (max. 10 ECTS)
- control system engineering and mathematics (max. 10 ECTS)
- innovation project and safety at work (max. 10 ECTS)
- Professional Finnish (max. 15 ECTS)
- Work-based learning (max. 10 ECTS)
In addition you will develop your career skills and network with local employers
Programme-specific selection criteria:
- A higher education degree from abroad related to automation business, e.g. technician or engineer, or when applicable also professional competence developed through work experience
- Language requirement: min. B1 level in Finnish, in addition good English skills
- Good mathematical skills
- In addition the above eligibility criteria for all the programmes
Career Boost in Nursing
The programme is now closed to applications.
The Career Boost programme in nursing is designed to support immigrants who have a degree in Nursing from abroad to obtain the right to practise the nursing profession in Finland.
The content and the length of the programme will be determined by the requirements set individually by Valvira. The competences covered in the programme include e.g. clinical, surgical and perioperative nursing and nursing in the contexts of internal diseases, mental care and substance abuse. Also, you will develop special competences required in work with children, the youth, families and the elderly. Furthermore, you will learn about different service environments and nursing in cases of special needs.
Note that in addition to the programme, in order to obtain the right to practise the profession you will also need to be able to demonstrate sufficient Finnish language competence:
- YKI test with the result 3, coordinated by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI)
- another nationally accepted language degree (see the EDUFI website in Finnish) or
- upper secondary education in Finnish.
Mode of delivery, structure and timing:
- Language of tuition: Finnish
- Timing of studies: start once a month during the academic semesters, studies according to the individual study plan
- Length: varies depending on the education background (e.g. degree from EU/EEA or non-EU/EEA countries) and the Valvira requirements
- Extent: 25-40 ECTS credits depending on the Valvira requirements
- Mode of delivery: multiform learning mostly online including simulations; work placements take place in different units in the health care sector
- Location of contact teaching: Myllypuro campus (Myllypurontie 1, Helsinki)
- Number of seats: max. 40 yearly
Studies are carried out in accordance with Valvira's regulations, usually including 25-40 ECTS:
- Three simulations, clinical practices (minimum 8 ECTS), final exam (1 ECTS)
- Service system and legislation in health care and social services, medication, clinical care
- Guidance and professional Finnish (max. 8 ECTS)
In addition you will develop your career skills and network with local employers
Programme-specific selection criteria:
- A bachelor-level higher education degree in nursing which is based on nursing science (NB: not medicine)
- Language requirement: min. B1 level Finnish demonstrated with an YKI3 result at the start of the programme or the preparedness to reach YKI3 level - note also the requirements to obtain the right to practise profession
- Career Boost programme for nurses accepts individuals nationwide, but please notice that the programme includes some contact teaching in Helsinki. Furthermore, collaboration in clinical practice matters is limited to municipalities and other employers in the Helsinki region. If you wish to find a clinical practice required by Valvira outside the region, you are responsible for independently securing one. While searching for such a placement, note that Metropolia does not pay guidance fees to employers.
How to apply to the programme?
This programme is now closed to applications.
Should you need any career guidance or mapping of further possibilities, sign up for SIMHE career guidance
More information
simhe [at] metropolia.fi
Career Boost in Real Estate and Construction
The programme is now closed to applications.
The Career Boost program in Real Estate and Construction is for immigrants who have a relevant university degree from abroad and who aim to supplement their professional competence, develop their Finnish language skills and expand their knowledge of the Finnish operating environment in the field.
The courses complement a student's knowledge of Finnish building regulations, design criteria and construction project practices, and information modeling of construction projects. Finnish language studies support the ability to work in a Finnish-speaking work environment in the field. The program also includes career coaching and networking.
You can select individual courses or take them all.
Course selection
- Introduction to Timber Building and Sustainability 5 ECTS
- Wood and wood construction 5 ECTS
- Basics of building construction 5 ECTS
- IT in Construction 5 ECTS
- Real estate legislation and regulations 5 ECTS
- Professional Finnish 5-10 ECTS
Mode of delivery
- All courses are in Finnish (as a second language).
- Independent online studies (wood construction courses) or Autumn courses online/on Myllypuro campus
Fees
- The courses are free of charge
Programme-specific selection criteria:
- a Bachelor or Masters degree from abroad in the field of real estate or construction, eg civil engineer or graduate engineer, master builder or building architect
- native language other than Finnish, Swedish or Sami
- Finnish language skills at least at B1 level (European Language Proficiency Assessment Reference Development CEFR)
More information
information on application process: simhe [at] metropolia.fi
Information on courses: senior lecturer Simo Hoikkala, simo.hoikkala [at] metropolia.fi
Importance of a work placement in UAS studies: Arsalan Shakil shares his experiences
Explore our other services
SIMHE services
What are SIMHE services about and what opportunities do international professionals and future talents have with us? SIMHE helps you find your study and career path in Finland.
SIMHE Career Guidance for immigrants
A one-to-one discussion with a SIMHE Career Coach helps you to map your competences and identify suitable study and career paths in Finland.
Guidance Generalia lectures
The Guidance Generalia are lectures and info sessions open to all immigrants. The topics are selected to help you navigate your study options and develop your career prospects in Finland.
Recognition of competence
How can you get started with recognising your key competences? Metropolia also provides recognition of competence by a professional in selected fields of study and for limited target groups.
Tips for information search
Useful tips and links for immigrants on career planning in Finland e.g. professional qualifications, studies, employment, entrepreneurship and learning Finnish.