Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants from Abroad and Non-Finnish Speakers

• Yes, applicants from outside the EU and EEA can apply.
• The applicant must be able to participate in person in all stages of the application process in Finland.
• When applying directly from abroad in continuous application process, the applicant must be of legal age, i.e. at least 18 years old.
• All underage applicants to the IB upper secondary school from outside the European Union must have a legal guardian who holds a residence permit in Finland, and a certificate of basic education or equivalent that has been translated into English or Finnish by an official translator.

• You can apply to Gradia’s programmes
  • through the joint application process, only if you have a basic education certificate
  • through the continuous application process, if you already hold an upper secondary qualification or a higher education degree
• English-language vocational programmes at Gradia Vocational College are available only through the continuous application process. In the continuous application process applications are submitted via Gradia’s website during the application period.
• When applying directly from abroad in continuous application process, the applicant must be of legal age i.e. at least 18 years old.
• For the IB programme at Jyväskylän Lyseo Upper Secondary School, which is part of Gradia, you can apply through the joint application process or, if places become available, through Gradia’s continuous application process. The application of an underage applicant must include a certificate of residence of the guardians, which can be obtained from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, and a basic education certificate translated into English or Finnish by an authorised translator. 

• If the programme description on the website requests a certificate of previous studies, it must be translated into Finnish, Swedish or English. The translation does not need to be done by an authorised translator, except for applicants to the IB programme, who must have their certificate translated by an official translator into either Finnish or English. All certificates will be verified at the beginning of the studies, so it is recommended to arrange translations well in advance.
• To demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the Finnish language, you may attach one of the following certificates to your application:
  • basic education certificate completed in Finnish
  • general upper secondary school or matriculation examination certificate completed in Finnish
  • a vocational qualification completed in Finnish
  • YKI test (intermediate level), with writing and reading comprehension graded at level 3

As a general rule, no additional certificates are required, and any programme-specific exceptions are clearly stated in the programme description. For example, motivation letters are not required in any application round.  

• An application in the continuous application process is valid for one round only.
• In the joint application process, you can choose 1–7 study options on the same application.

• The next application period is always announced in the sections 'Application period' and 'How to apply' of the course description once the dates are confirmed 

• The intake varies by programme and may differ depending on the application round.
• A starting group may consist of approximately 10 to 30 students.
• If the admission is a supplementary intake, only a few places may be available.
• A group may also be filled through two different application processes, for example via the continuous application process and the joint application process, or through continuous application process and labour market training. 

• The key points of entrance-tested programmes are described in the programme descriptions.
• The aim of the entrance and aptitude tests for vocational qualifications is to assess the applicant’s study motivation and goals, as well as the study skills required in the field. The test also evaluates the applicant’s readiness to study and work in the chosen field.
• Applicants who possess sufficient language proficiency in accordance with the requirements of the study option are usually invited to the entrance examination.
• Some fields require participation in a selection event. Information about the event can be found in the course description, and applicants will not receive a separate invitation.
• Some application processes may include a pre-assignment, portfolio or questionnaire, based on which some applicants are invited to an interview. More detailed information can be found in the programme descriptions.
• The language skills assessment tests the applicant’s written and reading comprehension skills in Finnish. Oral Finnish language skills are assessed in an interview organised by the field of education.

• The recommended level of English language proficiency is at least B1.1.
• The Finnish language proficiency requirement varies by programme. In vocational education and training, the required level is B1.1. For shorter training, such as individual units of a qualification, the required level may be A2.2.
• You can enrol in Finnish as a Second Language Studies at Gradia’s Jyväskylä Upper Secondary School for Adults even if you do not speak Finnish.
• You can apply to adult basic education even without Finnish language skills. The goal must also be to complete the basic education certificate. 

• The schedules listed in the programme descriptions cannot be changed for individual applicants.

• It is not possible to participate in the interview, the entrance and aptitude test or language skills assessment online. This ensures that the applicant’s identity can be verified, for example with a valid passport, a photo ID card, or a Finnish driver’s license. 

• The availability of English-language study programs at Gradia varies from academic year to academic year.
• You can check the current offering on our website.

• Finnish language studies can be included in English-language vocational programmes.
• The IB programme at Jyväskylän Lyseo Upper Secondary School, which is part of Gradia, does not include separate Finnish language studies.
• Gradia’s Jyväskylä Upper Secondary School for Adults offers Finnish as a Second Language Studies from beginner level to upper secondary level. These studies are fee-based and taught in the evenings. They are part-time and therefore do not qualify for a student visa for applicants from outside the EU.
• Finnish language instruction is also available in adult basic education. However, this is not degree-oriented and does not qualify for a student visa.
• Preparatory Education for Programmes Leading to an Upper Secondary Qualification (TUVA S2) includes support for Finnish language learning. The required entry level for Finnish is approximately A2.2 and is assessed in the entrance exam. Admission to TUVA S2 requires a residence permit in Finland. 

• Gradia does not cover the applicant’s travel costs or arrange accommodation.
• There are no scholarships or grants available from the institution for studies.
• The applicant is responsible for all costs related to attending the interview, such as food, accommodation and travel.
• Applicants from abroad are not eligible for other financial benefits, such as Finnish student financial aid.

• Full and partial initial vocational qualification are currently free of charge. They may become subject to fees starting in autumn 2026. Up-to-date information is available in the programme descriptions.
• Further and specialist vocational qualifications and their modules are subject to fees. More detailed information is provided in the programme descriptions. 

• Study materials, as well as other essential items such as workwear and tools required for studies, cost approximately €200–300. In many fields, students are also expected to purchase their own laptop. For students under compulsory education, these items are provided free of charge.  
• Special equipment (e.g. musical instruments, sports gear) must be purchased by the student.
• Instruction and meals are currently free of charge for all students in basic vocational education. 

• Gradia’s vocational education offers dormitory accommodation in Jyväskylä and Jämsä. Students admitted to a vocational upper secondary qualification programme may apply for a place in these dormitories.
• Priority is given to students subject to compulsory education who reside permanently in Finland. A place in the dormitory cannot be guaranteed for applicants from abroad.
• The residence hall is free of charge. It is not considered a permanent place of residence for students, and living there is not allowed during weekends or school holidays.
• There is no dormitory accommodation available for general upper secondary school students.
• If a dormitory place cannot be offered to a student, they must arrange their own accommodation either through student housing foundations (e.g. https://www.koas.fi) or the private rental market, and cover the costs themselves. 

• Information is available from the Finnish Immigration Service (migri.fi).
• Gradia cannot speed up the applicant’s visa process. The process is handled by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and Finnish embassies.
• If the applicant changes institutions, the visa must always be rechecked by Migri.
• An invitation to the language skills assessment will be sent to the applicant by email. The invitation can be used when applying for a visa.
• An invitation to an interview or to an entrance and aptitude test will be sent to all applicants by email after the application period has ended. The invitation can be used when applying for a visa.