Studies
Study Nursing in Finland – in English and Finnish
Do you want to work as a registered nurse in Finland?
At Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, you can study Nursing in English and learn Finnish at the same time. This programme is designed for international students who already have a Nursing degree or diploma. With us, you develop your professional skills using evidence‑based methods and modern learning environments.
The Bachelor of Health Care degree gives you the official qualification of a Registered Nurse to work in Finland and within the area of European Union.
How will you study?
- The estimated study time is 1.5–2 years. Your previous studies affect the length.
- At the start, you create your personal study plan together with your career coach. We recognise your prior learning.
- Most teaching is held on campus, as theory studies, as laboratory skills training and in simulations.
- Some studies take place online and independently.
You begin your studies in English. Finnish becomes more common as you progress.
You can start Finnish from the basics or continue from your own level. Finnish is included in the courses from the beginning. We encourage you to stay motivated and committed to learning Finnish, as you will need it for your future health care work in Finland.
To study nursing, you should be in good health and functional capacity.
What will you study?
The programme includes 210 ECTS credits in total.
It contains:
- Clinical nursing studies
- Finnish language studies
- Clinical practice(s) in health care units
- Bachelor’s thesis written in English
Studying is full‑time. Clinical practice follows the schedules of real workplaces, including evenings, night shifts and weekends.
Modern learning environments
Myllypuro Campus simulation hospital gives realistic practice opportunities. You can practice nursing tasks in safe environment and learn by doing. You get support from teachers and peer students.
You can explore the simulation hospital in a 360° online tour.
Career opportunities
After graduation, you can find work as registered nurse in:
- Public and private health care
- Primary health care, e.g. health centres, home care, senior centres
- Specialised health care, e.g. hospital wards, operating room, accident and emergency
- Associations and organisations
- Companies, e.g. health technology, pharmaceutical industry, research
- As an entrepreneur
This degree meets European Union requirements, so you can apply for jobs in Finland and other EU countries. In Finland, a registered nurse typically earns about 3600–3700 euros per month.
To work as a registered nurse in Finland, you must have sufficient Finnish language skills.
Internationalization
You will study in a multicultural group with teachers and students from many countries.
Teaching is in English with Finnish integration and Finnish language courses.
You have a possibility to do your clinical practise abroad.
Qualification
The Bachelor of Health Care degree follows the European Qualifications Framework, at level 6.
The programme follows the national criteria for Nursing degrees in Finland.
It also follows the standards of the European Union Directive 2013/55/EU.
This Directive guides how professional qualifications are recognised in all European Union countries.
Only certified professionals with the required degree may work as nurses in Finland.
After completing your degree, you apply for the right to practice your profession from the Finnish Supervisory Authority.
Tuition fees and scholarships
- The annual tuition fee for non‑EU/EEA students is 11 000 €.
- The fee applies only to degree students from outside the EU or EEA.
- Read more on tuition fees
- Read about scholarships
Contact
Head of the Degree Programme in Nursing, Career coach
Tiina Varamäki
Senior Lecturer
Guidance Counsellor
Riikka Sorri
Subscribe to the Applicant’s Newsletter
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 studiesspring 2027Apply 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, commissioned education or a credit transfer -based student selection for an education leading to a higher education degree in English. Application period for studies starting in spring 2027 starts on 1 April 2026 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.
User account activation is possible from the start date of your study right. Activate your user account before the orientation days by following the instructions available on the IT Services website. To activate your account, you will need personal online banking credentials or a mobile certificate. Also check the instructions provided by your degree programme.
If you do not have Finnish online banking credentials or a mobile certificate, authenticate using the Candour ID application. After authentication, you will receive instructions on how to activate your user account. Read the instructions for authentication and receiving user accounts on the Information Management Services website.
Once you have activated your user account, enable multi-factor authentication for Microsoft 365 services. First enable SMS authentication, and then Microsoft Authenticator. If possible, also enable alternative authentication methods on your other mobile devices. This will help you avoid login issues if your primary phone is replaced or lost. Follow the instructions available on the IT Services website.
If you have any questions about user account activation or multi-factor authentication, please contact the Helpdesk. You will find the contact information on the IT Services website.
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 studies in the Nursing (top up) degree programme in August 2026
Welcome to study nursing.
Below you will find instructions for new students who start the Nursing degree in August 2026.
The information is divided into three parts.
1. Before your studies begin
2. Start of studies in August
3. General advice for starting your studies
Survey for New Students
- Answer the Survey for New Students by 2 August 2026.
- If you start as an absent student for autumn 2026, answer the survey later when you start as a present student.
Check your curriculum
- Please read the curricurriculum of your degree programme before studies start.
- Curriculum for students with bachelor´s degree, or advanced diploma from Sri Lanka
Curriculum for students with diploma
Zoom meet-up before studies
- We invite you to a virtual Zoom meetings
- Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 9.00–10.30 (Finnish time)
- Tuesday 11 August 2026 at 9.00–10.30 (Finnish time)
- You will meet:
- Head of Degree Programme: Tiina Varamäki
- Finnish language teacher: Suvi Korhonen
- Guidance counsellor: Riikka Sorri
- Welcome Hub coordinator: Lilli Rasilainen
Where orientation takes place
All orientation events are held online, unless otherwise mentioned.
12 August 2026: Finnish language level test for students living in Finland
- Time: 9.00–12.00, room MPD1006, Myllypuro Campus, Myllypurontie 1, 00920 Helsinki
- The test helps teachers understand your Finnish level for planning your studies.
13–17 August 2026: Individual online meetings for all students
- You will have an individual online meeting with a Finnish language teacher.
- A link to book the meeting will be added later.
24 August 2026 at 9.00: Official start of studies
- Studies start on 24 August 2026 at 9.00
- The first days are orientation days. It is very important that you attend.
- These topics will not be repeated later.
Online teaching at the beginning
- In the first part of the semester, studies are held online:
- You will find the online links in Lukkarikone (Schedule Machine).
- From week 43 (19 October 2026) onwards, most of the teaching will be held only at Myllypuro Campus.
Important to know
- Prepare for a full-time schedule starting 24 August 2026.
- The spring timetable will be published in week 30 in Lukkarikone (Schedule Machine)
- Nursing daytime group code: SXN26S1B1
- Schedules may change before studies begin.
- Student tutors will support you. They will create a WhatsApp group and share the link by email.
Welcome Hub helps you with:
- Moving to the Helsinki area
- Housing
- Daily life
- Integrating into the local community
Kompassi supports you with:
- Orientation, getting started and everyday life
- Study practices, timetables and hybrid schedules
- Integration into the local community
- If you are unsure, stuck, or need to be guided to the right services
Welcome to Metropolia Moodle workspace
- Join the Welcome to Metropolia UAS Moodle from 1 August 2026.
- First, activate your Metropolia user ID.
Microsoft Pro Plus 365
- After activating your user ID, download Microsoft Pro Plus 365 for free.
- Instructions are in the Student Survival Guide – e-services at Metropolia.
Study certificate
- You can request your study certificate from 1 August 2026.
- For HOAS student housing, the certificate can be delivered when studies start.
TE Office form (TEM621)
- If you apply for unemployment benefit for full-time independent study, you must:
- Accept your study place
- Register as attending
- Student Services will fill in the form and send it to you.
- Send your request in Requeste system .
Students registered as absent
- If absent in autumn 2026 → See instructions for spring 2027 in November 2026 on this page.
- If absent in autumn 2026 and spring 2027 → See instructions for autumn 2027 in April 2027.
- Register for academic year 2027–2028 between 1–31 May 2027 in OMA.
If you do not register, you will be marked as resigned from 1 August 2027.
You are warmly welcome to begin your nursing studies.
Finnish courses for international students in Metropolia
In Metropolia UAS, you have the possibility to study Finnish during your studies. You can 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
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