The University of Turku was founded in 1920 with donations from more than 22,000 Finns who wanted a Finnish-language university, and is based in Turku, Finland’s oldest city, on the south-west coast. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 398th in the world and the fifth-highest-ranked university in Finland. It’s known for medicine and the biosciences, education, futures studies, and business through the Turku School of Economics.
Turku offers two bachelor’s programmes and a range of master’s programmes taught in English, and it admits international students once a year, in January. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Turku’s own guidance and official Finnish government information.
1. Choose an English-taught programme
Turku’s English-taught bachelor’s programmes are Information and Communication Technology and Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship. Its international master’s programmes cover areas such as biosciences, drug discovery, health technology, materials and mechanical engineering, East Asian studies, futures studies and global innovation management. University of Turku degree programmes.
2. Apply between 7 and 21 January 2027
Turku’s international programmes accept applications only once a year, in Finland’s joint application, from 7 to 21 January 2027 at 15:00 Finnish time, for studies starting in August 2027. You must attach your documents by 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. Up to three of your six choices can be at the University of Turku. University of Turku: application guide for master’s programmes.
3. Take the SAT for a bachelor’s, unless you have the IB or EB
Bachelor’s applicants have two admission groups. If you have the IB, the European Baccalaureate or the Finnish matriculation examination, you can be ranked on your diploma. Otherwise, you must take the SAT, and you’re ranked on your combined Reading and Writing and Math score, which also proves your English. Your SAT must be from within the last two years. University of Turku: apply to bachelor’s programmes. Practise with our free SAT practice tests.
4. Meet the master’s requirements
For a master’s programme, you need a bachelor’s degree of at least 180 ECTS credits, or three years of full-time study, that’s relevant to your programme. You can apply before you graduate by attaching your latest transcript, but your degree certificate must reach Turku by 15 August 2027. Updated admission criteria for each programme are published on Studyinfo.fi in September.
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. Book your tests early
Turku advises applicants to take the SAT or an English language test several months before the application period, as tests usually need to be booked well in advance. Turku accepts only the tests and minimum scores listed on its website, with no exceptions.
7. Understand the fees
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t pay tuition fees. For others, Turku’s fees for students admitted in 2026 were €10,000 a year for the bachelor’s programmes and €10,000 or €12,000 a year for most master’s programmes. Since August 2026, Finnish law requires universities to charge non-EU students at least the full cost of their education. University of Turku tuition fees and scholarships.
8. Pay early, then earn a scholarship
Turku doesn’t offer scholarships for the first year, but master’s students get a €2,000 Early Bird discount if they accept their place and pay the fee within 28 days of the admission results. From the second year, bachelor’s and master’s students whose studies have progressed as required, including some Finnish language studies, can receive a scholarship covering 50% of the next year’s fee. Living costs in Turku are about €800 to €1,000 a month.
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 Turku 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 Turku’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 Turku?
Doctoral education in Finland is free of tuition fees for all nationalities. Turku’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
Use your six choices to apply to more than one university. Read our guides to the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, the University of Oulu and LUT University. 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 Turku’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 Turku’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Turku.