The University of Oulu, founded in 1958, is a research university in Oulu, northern Finland’s largest city. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 360th in the world and the third-highest-ranked university in Finland. It’s known for wireless communications and 6G research, information technology, electronics, health sciences, architecture and geosciences.
Oulu offers several bachelor’s programmes and over 20 master’s programmes taught in English, with first-year discounts for fee-paying students. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Oulu’s own guidance and official Finnish government information.
1. Choose an English-taught programme
Oulu’s English-taught bachelor’s programmes for autumn 2027 are Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Software Engineering and Information Systems, and International Business Management. Its master’s programmes in English range from Wireless Communications Engineering and Biomedical Engineering to Architecture, Finance and Education for Global Futures and Leadership. University of Oulu international programmes.
2. Apply between 7 and 21 January 2027
Oulu’s international bachelor’s and master’s programmes are part of Finland’s joint application, which runs from 7 January 2027 at 08:00 to 21 January 2027 at 15:00 Finnish time, for studies starting in autumn 2027. You can add your supporting documents until 28 January 2027. Applications for most English-taught programmes in Finland are made through Studyinfo.fi, Finland’s national application portal, where you can apply to up to six programmes in the January joint application. If you’re from outside the EU/EEA, you’ll also pay a one-off application fee of €100, which covers all your applications for studies starting in the same term. You can accept only one study place per term, so rank your choices carefully. University of Oulu master’s application deadlines.
3. Consider rolling admission for International Business Management
For the bachelor’s in International Business Management, applicants with an international school qualification apply through rolling admission, from 1 October 2026 to 25 February 2027, for studies starting in autumn 2027. Selection is based only on SAT or ACT scores, so prepare your test early. In the January joint application, this programme only admits applicants with qualifications such as the IB or European Baccalaureate. University of Oulu bachelor’s admission deadlines.
4. Prepare your SAT scores or diploma grades
The three technology bachelor’s programmes have two selection routes in January. Applicants with the IB, the European Baccalaureate or the Finnish matriculation examination are ranked on their grades, and those graduating in spring 2027 send predicted IB or EB grades by 28 April 2027. Applicants with other qualifications, such as A-levels or a national high-school diploma, are ranked on their SAT or ACT scores. Check the criteria for your programme on Studyinfo.fi. Practise with our free SAT practice tests.
5. Prove your English
Most English-taught programmes ask you to prove your English, usually with a recognised test such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or a Cambridge English qualification, although some applicants qualify through their previous studies. Minimum scores vary by university and programme, so check yours on Studyinfo.fi, and book your test early so your results arrive in time. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
6. Meet the master’s requirements
For a master’s programme, you need a relevant bachelor’s degree with the subjects your programme requires. If you’re admitted, you must send verified copies of your final diploma, transcript and proof of English by 13 July 2027.
7. Understand the fees
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t pay tuition fees. For others, the fee for students starting in 2027-28 is €10,000 a year for all English-taught bachelor’s programmes. Master’s fees range from €8,500 to €14,000 a year, with most at €10,000 or €12,000, and Architecture the highest at €14,000. The full first-year fee must be paid in one payment. University of Oulu tuition fees and scholarships.
8. Pay early for the Early Bird discount
Oulu doesn’t offer scholarships in the first year, but most programmes give an Early Bird discount, usually 30%, if you pay the fee within three weeks of the admission results being published. That cuts a €10,000 fee to €7,000. From the second year, students who complete at least 60 credits, including required Finnish language studies, can get a tuition fee waiver of between 10% and 40%, depending on the programme. Applicants to some master’s programmes, including Electronics and Wireless Communications Engineering, can also apply for a €3,000 Nokia Scholarship.
9. Pay your fee and apply for a residence permit
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t need a residence permit, but they must register their right of residence if they stay in Finland for more than three months. If you’re from outside the EU/EEA, you apply to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) for a student residence permit after the University of Oulu has admitted you, usually online through the Enter Finland service followed by a visit to a Finnish embassy or consulate. You must show that you have enough money for your living costs, at least €800 a month, or €9,600 for a year of study, and that you can pay your tuition fee if you haven’t paid it yet, as well as valid health insurance. Apply as early as you can, as processing can take weeks. Study in Finland: student residence permit.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
International students can work part time, up to 30 hours a week on average during term and full time in the holidays, but jobs can be hard to find without Finnish or Swedish, so don’t count on them to pay your tuition or living costs. After you graduate, you can apply for a two-year residence permit to look for work or start a business in Finland. Learning some Finnish while you study will help your job search, and the University of Oulu’s career services can help you find internships and thesis projects with companies. Study in Finland: opportunities after graduation.
Applying for a PhD at the University of Oulu?
Doctoral education in Finland is free of tuition fees for all nationalities. Oulu’s doctoral programmes have their own application rounds, and many doctoral researchers are funded through paid positions or grants. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Apply to more than one programme to give yourself options. Read our guides to the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, LUT University and the University of Turku. Our guide to studying in Finland explains how the Finnish system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Oulu’s official admissions and fee pages, Finnish government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on the University of Oulu’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Oulu.