For Ukrainian refugees

Информация для беженцев из Украины на русском языке

In response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, universities and The Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland offer services and study opportunities for Ukrainians.

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences offers degree programmes only in Finnish or English language.

SIMHE Career Guidance and Counselling for immigrants

SIMHE career guidance and counselling at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences helps highly educated immigrants and immigrants interested in higher education studies to find suitable study and career paths in Finland. Service in free of charge and available also for refugees from Ukraine. The service is mainly offered online.

Our services are in English or in Finnish. If you wish, you may take your own interpreter with you.

SIMHE Services at Metropolia are part of a national SIMHE - Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education network.

Free of charge studies of the Open University of Applied Sciences

Metropolia offers courses, modules and path studies of the Open UAS free of charge for people fleeing from Ukraine. People fleeing from Ukraine and eligible for temporary protection in Finland can be exempted from the open UAS fee with Migri decision of temporary protection.

Check out studies and enroll in the Metropolia Open UAS enrollment system.

When enrolling, choose invoice as a payment method and after enrollment send Migri decision of temporary protection using secured email to avoinamk [at] metropolia.fi (avoinamk[at]metropolia[dot]fi). Please note that pending document of temporary protection is not valid. Please find the instructions for sending secure email.

Examples of open UAS course offerings in English

Gaming

2D Game Art Fundamentals (nonstop), 5 ECTS
Fundamentals of 3D Game Modelling (NonStop), 5 ECTS
Game Design and Gamification - Part 1 (NonStop), 5 ECTS
Game Design and Gamification - Part 2 (NonStop), 5 ECTS
Unity Game Development (NonStop), 5 ECTS

Information Security

Basics of Information Security (NonStop), 6 ECTS
CyberDefence Professional (NonStop), 8 ECTS
Ethical Hacking (NonStop), 6 ECTS

Artificial Intelligence

Python Programming (NonStop), 3 ECTS
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (NonStop), 3 ECTS
Artificial intelligence with Python (NonStop), 3 ECTS

Programming languages

Introduction to C# programming (NonStop), 3 ECTS
C - Programming (NonStop), 3 ECTS
C++ Programming (NonStop), 3 ECTS
Introduction to Kotlin (NonStop), 3 ECTS
Introduction to Javascript (NonStop), 5 ECTS

Finnish

Finnish for Foreigners 1 (NonStop), 5 ECTS
Finnish for Foreigners 2 (NonStop), 5 ECTS

Projects

Metropolia participates to the following projects developing skills of temporary protection beneficiaries in Finland:

OODI project offers new digital skills and guidance in ICT industry
Here Ukraine project provides skills required in renovation and reconstruction, rehabilitation, psychosocial and physical wellbeing.
PrepProg project offers preparatory training for foreign language university studies.

Degree studies and grants

Refugees from Ukraine can normally apply for a Metropolia degree programs through a joint application or a separate application.

Metropolia UAS awards scholarships to students who have been granted a temporary residence permit under the EU Council Implementing Regulation (EU 2022/382) following an attack on Ukraine. These students will get a grant based on humanitarian ground so that they do not need to pay the tuition fees.

Scholarships based on humanitarian grounds can be awarded also to Ukrainian students in Finland. It will be paid to the student in such a way that the scholarship will offset the full tuition fee of 2022-2024, starting on March 30, 2022.

Check out all Degree Studies of Metropolia.

Separate study rights

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences can grant separate study rights in certain degree programmes to Ukrainian degree students. This study opportunity is aimed at students who have an existing, valid right to study at a Ukrainian university, and whose studies have been discontinued due to the war in Ukraine.

Separate study rights will be granted based on the compatibility of applicants’ earlier studies with those offered by university of applied sciences. Applicant must fill specific academic and language requirements. Separate study right can be granted for a maximum of two years and 120 ECTS point. Separate study right doesn't lead to a degree.

Metropolia offers degree programmes in the fields of Business, Culture, Health Care and Social Services, and Techonology.

Degree programmes in English:

If you are interested in separate study rights, sign up for a SIMHE guidance discussion

Additional information

The Finnish higher education system consists of universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS). Universities of applied sciences offer professionally oriented higher education on bachelor’s and master’s level and have strong ties with working life and regional development.

All information about universities of applied sciences in Finland in UAS Info Portal

The study opportunities and services offered by Metropolia SIMHE Services for Immigrants

Study and research opportunities for those fleeing Ukraine in Study in Finland site

Contact us

In case you want to ask some additional information, feel free to contact us in English or in Finnish by email simhe [at] metropolia.fi (simhe[at]metropolia[dot]fi)

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to live in Finland to be eligible for services offered to Ukrainian refugees?

Yes, you have to live with temporary protection status in order to be eligible for services offered to Ukrainian refugees by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (UAS).

Who is eligible for the services offered to Ukrainian refugees?

Individuals granted temporary protection and living in Finland are eligible for the services offered by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

What kind of services Metropolia UAS offers to refugees?

Metropolia UAS offers SIMHE guidance and counselling services as well as possibility to study at Metropolia.

SIMHE career guidance and counselling helps highly educated immigrants and immigrants interested in higher education studies to find suitable study and career paths in Finland. Service is free of charge and is offered online.

People fleeing from Ukraine can study:

in the Open University of Applied Sciences free of charge
apply for a separate study right
apply for exchange program
Apply for a degree program and grant.

What can I study at Metropolia UAS?

You can study Business, Culture, Health Care, Social Services and Technology at Metropolia UAS.

What is the difference between University and University of Applied Sciences?

While traditional Universities are research-driven, Universities of Applied Sciences are more practice-oriented with the goal of educating students for professional work life.

Universities of Applied Sciences have the mission to train professionals with emphasis on labour market needs and conduct research and development which promotes co-operation with the business, industry and service sectors at the regional level in particular.

Universities of Applied Sciences offer:

Bachelor’s degrees
Master’s degrees
professional specialisation and other adult education
open UAS education.

Some degree programs are offered only by Universities (e.g. Medical degree programs) and there are also programs offered only by Universities of Applies Sciences (e.g. nursing degree programs).

What does Open UAS mean in practice?

The open studies are part of the Finnish adult education system. Open UAS courses are fee-charging courses - they are not full degree programmes. Open Studies are available for all, regardless of age, citizenship or educational background.

Path studies at Open UAS are an alternative route to becoming a degree student. With the studies completed in the path studies, individuals can apply for a Metropolia degree student in the separate application. If admitted, a study right as a degree student, path studies will be accepted as part of your degree studies.

Metropolia offers courses, modules and path studies of the Open UAS free of charge for people fleeing from Ukraine.

How can I get to study in Open UAS?

Enrollment for paths takes place in the Metropolia enrollment system. Enrollment is done by clicking "Add to basket". In the enrollment system you will find more detailed information about the course, the implementation methods, enrollment and price information, among other things.

Is there any test to study in Open UAS?

Yes, some of the paths also include a pre-test. However, the pre-test is only eliminating and students are selected in enrollment order to the studies. The amount of students selected is stated in the path information.

What kind of language requirements do you have in order to study at Metropolia?

The language of instruction at Metropolia is English and Finnish. Applicants are required to be proficient in the language of instruction of the study option, and demonstrate their proficiency by passing a language test, when necessary. Studying at Metropolia requires B2 level in English and/or Finnish depending on a program.

Who can apply for separate study right?

Separate study right is aimed at students who have an existing, valid right to study at a Ukrainian university, and whose studies have been discontinued due to the war in Ukraine. Separate study right can be granted for a maximum of two years and 120 ECTS points. Separate study right doesn't lead to a degree.

Are there tests for a separate study right?

Yes, usually there are tests to test language and compatibility of applicants’ earlier studies with those offered by university of applied sciences.

What can I study free of charge at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences as a Ukrainian refugee?

Metropolia offers courses, modules and path studies of the Open UAS, separate study rights for a maximum of two years and 120 ECTS point. In addition to that, there is also possibility to apply for a Metropolia degree programs through a joint application or a separate application and scholarships, which will offset the full tuition fee of 2022-2023, starting on March 30, 2022.

Where can I study Finnish language?

There are many Finnish courses available through Metropolia Open University of Applied Sciences. Please check out the offering of our Finnish language courses:

https://www.metropolia.fi/en/academics/study-opportunities-for-immigrants

If you want to learn Finnish online and on your own pace, InfoFinland has many options for you:

https://www.infofinland.fi/en/finnish-and-swedish/finnish-online

If you are registered as unemployed, you can apply to integration program through TE Services (TE-palvelut).