Faculty of Social Sciences

Frequently Asked Questions on Admissions

I come from a country with many different languages. English is the ‘Lingua Franca’ in my country . Moreover, I have completed my secondary education (and my university education) in English. Do I still need to take the required English test or is this enough to prove my English skills?

You’ll find a list of the approved language tests and a listing of other acceptable ways of indicating language skills here.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in business administration and I would like to apply for the master’s degree studies in economics. Is this possible?

Graduate admission is meant for applicants who have a bachelor’s degree from the same or very close area of study than the subject they are applying to. Economics taught at the Faculty of Social Sciences is classical economics, not business economics. University of Helsinki does not offer studies of business administration, management, accounting, marketing, business technology or finance.

In case you have a bachelor's degree in business-related studies, your chances of being admitted to the programme, ECON, are not very good. You might want to consider studying at the Helsinki School of Economics or at Helsinki Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in sociology. I have completed my degree in 1994. Can I apply for master level studies in sociology?

No, you can't. Studies completed more than ten years ago will not be taken into consideration.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in sociology. I would like to apply for master's studies in social psychology. What are my chances of being accepted?

In graduate admission, it is very important that the applicant's previous studies correspond to the studies offered at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Sociology and social psychology are from relatively close areas of study, but the content of your degree does not necessarily compare with the bachelor level studies offered in social psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences.. However, each application will be considered individually.

I have completed a Bachelor’s degree with two major subjects, development studies and social sciences history. Can I apply to both subjects?

Yes, you can. You’ll need to send two sets of supporting documents. Remember to state in your application form which subject you prefer in case you are admitted to both of them.

I want to apply to Master’s degree program in social work. I have worked several years with social matters in my home country. Can I apply?

No, you can not. Work experience from the field will probably help you with the studies and it is advisable to mention it in your motivation letter. However, if you do not have a Bachelor’s degree, you will not be accepted as a student for master level studies..

I am studying for a bachelor’s degree in Great Britain . I am currently completing the second year of studies. I would like to continue my studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences next year, write my Bachelor’s and then continue to the Master’s degree. Can I apply?

No, you can not. Graduate admission is meant for applicants, who have already completed their Bachelor’s degree.

Can I complete my studies entirely in English at the Faculty of Social Sciences?

Yes, you can. It is possible to complete degrees in English in all of those major subjects that accept international students. However, it should be kept in mind that the main language of instruction at the University of Helsinki is Finnish. Non-Finnish speaking students may have to complete some of the study units as written examinations based on required reading listed in study guides.

The amount of offered lecture courses in English varies with the department and with the year. An up-to-date listing of the courses is available here.

If the required reading for a particular course is in Finnish, it is possible to contact teachers in order to choose alternate books in English.

Although a working knowledge of English and also other European languages is quite common among Finns, acquiring a basic knowledge of Finnish (or Swedish) is essential for everyday life and contact with people.

Is studying tuition free? Are there any grants or scholarships available for international students?

For general information on tuition fees and financing of studies, please see
http://www.helsinki.fi/studying/fees_and_costs.shtml
http://www.helsinki.fi/studying/Financing_of_studies.shtml
http://www.helsinki.fi/studying/grants_and_scholarships.shtml

I would like to apply to the Faculty of Social Sciences for Bachelor level studies, but I don't know any Finnish or Swedish. Can I still apply?

You need to have an excellent knowledge of Finnish or Swedish to be able to take the entrance examination for Bachelor level studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Detailed information on admission for Bachelor level studies is available here (in Finnish) .

I would like to apply for graduate studies for the spring session. Is it possible to start my studies in January?

No, unfortunately not. It is possible to apply for graduate studies only once a year. The application period runs from mid-November until the end of January. If you are offered a study place, you can start your studies when the autumn term begins at the end of August/beginning of September.

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