Studies
Would you like to study Public health nursing in bilingual degree programme?
In this programme, you study to become both a Public Health Nurse and a Nurse. You start your studies in English. You do not need to know Finnish before you start. You will learn Finnish during your studies. This programme is also good for Finnish speakers who want to study in English.
Being a Public Health Nurse (or Community Health Nurse) means working with people
- You have the role of health promotion expert
- You work together with many other professionals
- Your job is to care for people of all ages. You help them stay healthy and prevent illness.
Could you be a Public Health Nurse?
This job is good for you if:
- You like working with people
- You want to help people live healthy lives
- You are friendly and can understand others’ feelings
- You are ready to work well in a team
You will learn these skills during your studies:
- You can organize your own work and take responsibility
- You can make decisions by yourself
- You have good communication skills
- You have strong theoretical and practical public health nursing competencies
- You can work well with others
What kind of jobs can a Public Health Nurse do?
With this degree, you can work with people of all ages. You can work in many places, for example:
- maternity and child health clinics
- school and student health care
- occupational health care
- health centres and home care
You can also work:
- in organisations that promote health
- in education or different projects
- as an entrepreneur
You can also work as a Registered Nurse in:
- primary health care
- home care
- specialised healthcare, for example in hospitals
- private health and welfare services
You can work in Finland and in other countries.
What is the salary of a public health nurse?
A public health nurse in Finland usually earns about 3,000€ each month.
How do you study?
Your studies include theory lessons, practice in skills labs, simulation exercises, language studies, and Bachelor’s thesis. About one third of your studies will be real work experience in health care settings.
You start your studies in English. Finnish is included in your courses from the first semester. You can learn Finnish from the basics or continue from your own level.
If your own language is not Finnish, you will study more Finnish as part of your programme. If you already speak Finnish, you can choose other optional studies. You need to be motivated to study Finnish.
At Myllypuro campus, you will use high-level simulation spaces to practise nursing skills. There is a simulation hospital and Hymy Village for health care training. Some lessons are online. You will spend a lot of time learning in real health care places.
Before you apply, please check the health and ability requirements. You can find more information here: Application process – Ammattikorkeakouluun.fi
What is it like to study nursing in Metropolia?
Read what our students Anna and Michael say about their experiences studying nursing at Metropolia.
International experience
You will study with people from many countries. Your teachers and classmates will speak English and Finnish. You can join international projects. You can also take part in student exchange programmes.
Students' experiences on public health nursing studies
More study options after your degree
With this degree, you can apply for Master’s studies in universities of applied sciences or in universities in Finland or abroad. You can also participate in continuing education.
At Metropolia, you can study for example Master’s degree in Advanced Practice Nursing.
You can also study Nursing Science at university.
Language Proficiency and Qualification Standards
You will study in both English and Finnish.
You must know English well (at least level B2) when you apply.
You do not need to know Finnish before you start.
During your studies, you will learn more Finnish.
By graduation, you should know enough Finnish to work as a Public Health Nurse or Registered Nurse in Finland.
At the end of your studies, you will show that you have the right language skills for the job.
The degree in Public health nursing is a Bachelor level degree. The programme meets the standards of the European Union Directive (2013/55/EU) on the recognition of professional qualifications, as well as the national criteria and European Qualifications Framework (EQF level 6) set for degree programmes.
Only people who have the right education and a certificate can work as a Public Health Nurse or a Registered Nurse.
After you finish your degree, you must apply for permission to work as a nurse from Valvira (the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health). Valvira is the national authority that checks health care workers in Finland. You must follow the Act on Health Care Professionals (559/1994).
All health care workers in Finland need to have good oral and written skills in Finnish or Swedish (checked by Valvira).
Scholarships and tuition fees
Annual tuition fee
- 11 000 € for non-EU/EEA degree students, whose right of study starts after 31 July 2025
- 11 500 € for non-EU/EEA degree students, whose right of study starts after 31 July 2027.
This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.
Ask Head of Degree Programme more about studies
Ask Guidance Counsellor more about studies
Ask Career Coach more about 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 2027
- Day-time studies
Instructions for applying
In the spring 2027 Joint Application 1 to higher education, you can apply to degree programmes that start in the autumn of 2027. The application period starts on the 7 January 2027 at 8 am and ends on the 21 January 2027 at 3 pm (local time in Finland).
All the information needed to apply can be found on the national Studyinfo.fi portal. At Studyinfo.fi you can find descriptions of degree programmes, application criteria, application instructions, application forms and much more.
Application fee
Applicants who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland are required to pay an application fee in order to apply to higher education studies. The application fee of 100 euros is collected for applicants from countries outside EU/EEA seeking education leading to a degree in higher education. The Finnish National Agency of Education will collect the application fee in connection with filling in the Studyinfo application form. There is no application fee for Finnish or EU citizens.
The application fee does not guarantee that you will be offered admission to studies. The application fee is not refunded if you cancel your application or are not offered admission.
More about application fee in Studyinfo.fi.
Questions about application fees? Contact applicationfee [at] oph.fi (applicationfee[at]oph[dot]fi)The One Study Right Rule
The One Study Right Rule refers to legislative amendments entered into force on 1 August 2026. Under these amendments, a student’s study rights at the same or lower level will be terminated if they accept a new study right leading to a degree. The rule applies only to study rights at Finnish higher education institutions.
The International UAS Exam is a joint digital entrance exam of the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), used for selecting students to study programmes leading to a bachelor’s degree and conducted in English. The entrance exam is completed by the applicant’s own computer remotely online.
Read more about the International UAS Exam and language requirements on the website uasinfo.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
First, read guidelines common to all Metropolia degree students and then degree specific instruction below.
Start of studies in the Degree programme in Public Health Nursing in August 2026
Welcome to Public Health Nursing studies.
Below you will find instructions for new students who start the Public Health Nursing degree in August 2026.
The information is divided into four parts.
- Before your studies begin
- Students admitted through Joint Application
- Students with previous Public Health Nursing or Nursing studies
- General advice for starting your studies
1. Before your studies begin
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 curriculum of your degree programme before studies start.
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: Sari Nyman
- Finnish language teachers: Maiju Ollikainen
- Guidance counsellor: Riikka Sorri
- Welcome Hub coordinator: Lilli Rasilainen
2. Students admitted through Joint Application
12 August 2026: Finnish language level test for students who already live in Finland
- Time: 9.00–12.00
- Place: Myllypuro Campus, Myllypurontie 1, 00920 Helsinki, room MPD1006
- The test helps teachers understand your Finnish level for planning your studies.
17 August 2026: Individual online meetings with Finnish language teacher for all students
- You will have an individual online meeting with a Finnish language teacher.
- A link to book the meeting
Official start of studies
24 August 2026 at 9.00 at Myllypuro Campus and online (for students living abroad)
- 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.
Hybrid teaching at the beginning
- In the first part of the semester, studies are hybrid:
- In-person at Myllypuro Campus for students living in Finland
- Online for students who are still abroad. 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 the Myllypuro campus.
- Students who are unable to arrive in Finland by week 43 will be offered alternative online studies.
Important to know
- Prepare for a full-time schedule starting 24 August 2026.
- If you have earlier Public Health Nursing or Nursing studies, your studies may start already in week 33.
- The autumn timetable will be published in week 30 in Lukkarikone (Schedule Machine)
- Nursing daytime group code: SXV26S1
- Bring your own laptop on the first day.
- Schedules may change before studies begin.
- Student tutors will support you. They will create a WhatsApp group and share the link by email.
3. Students with previous Public Health Nursing or Nursing studies
Guidance meetings (Myllypuro Campus)
Wednesday 5 August 2026
- 9.00–11.30, room MPA1014
- Contact: Riikka Sorri (riikka.sorri [at] metropolia.fi (riikka[dot]sorri[at]metropolia[dot]fi))
Individual guidance meetings
- Wed 5 August: from 12.30 to 16.00
- Contact: Sari Nyman (sari.nyman [at] metropolia.fi (sari[dot]nyman[at]metropolia[dot]fi))
RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) workshop
- Monday 10 August 2026, 14.00–16.00
- Room MPC5014
- Bring your laptop
- Contact: Riikka Sorri
If you have completed Public Health Nursing or Nursing studies earlier
- Read the Metropolia Nursing curriculum before the meeting.
- Bring:
- Your laptop
- An official transcript of records from your previous university
- This will help compare your earlier studies with Metropolia’s curriculum.
If you have previous higher education studies (not Public Health Nursing)
- You will get instructions on how to include your previous studies at the start of your studies.
Important
- Studies start in week 33.
- You must attend the guidance meetings.
Otherwise, your study start may be delayed.
4. General advice for starting your studies
Welcome Hub helps you with:
- Moving to the Helsinki area
- Housing
- Daily life
- Integrating into the local community
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 and Applicant 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 202 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 public health nursing studies.
Contact
Sari Nyman
Head of Degree Programme
Email: sari.nyman [at] metropolia.fi (sari[dot]nyman[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Phone: +358 40 630 4858
Kati Ylikahri
Personal Study Planning Counsellor
Email: Kati.Ylikahri [at] metropolia.fi (kati[dot]ylikahri[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Phone: +358 40 714 5126
Maiju Ollikainen
Finnish as a Second Language Teacher
Email: maiju.ollikainen [at] metropolia.fi (maiju[dot]ollikainen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Phone: +358 50 409 4685
Riikka Sorri
Guidance Counsellor
Email: riikka.sorri [at] metropolia.fi (riikka[dot]sorri[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Phone: +358 50 465 6631