International Professional Teacher Education

Teachers of vocational subjects teach vocational modules in programmes of education leading to a recognized vocational qualification at the upper secondary level of the Finnish education system. According to the regulations, the applicant must have

• a relevant tertiary level degree completed in a university or University of Applied Sciences and
• a minimum of three years’ work experience in a field corresponding to the content of his or her degree.

• a relevant Bachelor’s degree completed in a University of Applied Sciences and
• a minimum of five years’ professional work experience in a field corresponding to the content of his or her degree is required.

OR

• a relevant Master’s degree completed in a university or University of Applied Sciences and
• a minimum of three years’ works experience in the field corresponding to his or her degree.

Teachers of general subjects teach common core modules in programmes of education leading to a recognized vocational qualification at the upper secondary level of the Finnish education system. The requirement for general subject teachers in vocational education is in most cases a relevant Master’s degree. Professional work experience from the field corresponding to the degree is not required.

In the student selection process to Professional Teacher Education, applicants who have studied one of the following subjects as the major subject in their Master’s degree can be considered teachers of general subjects:

• languages
• philosophy, psychology, theology
• literature
• culture research
• statistics, mathematics, physics, chemistry
• political science, law
• health education.

In some cases, a relevant tertiary level degree other than a Master’s degree may grant eligibility to apply for Professional Teacher Education (for example, a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, completed either in a university or in a University of Applied Sciences).

Applicants from the fields of dance or circus may enter a tertiary level degree or three years of relevant studies as the degree on which the application is based. They also are required to have artistic or other professional experience from the field. In the application process to Professional Teacher Education, three years of professional work experience in the field is considered to correspond to this requirement.

In some cases, qualifications other than a relevant tertiary level degree may grant eligibility if the applicant is employed as a teacher of vocational subjects in Finland at an officially recognized programme of vocational study in vocational education during the application period to Professional Teacher Education.

In these cases, further clarification is required of the educational institution on a separate form (Further clarification by the educational institution), in addition to the certificate copies, for the evaluation of the applicant’s eligibility. If the teacher of vocational subjects applies without a degree from a university or University of Applied Sciences, they must have a minimum of five years’ professional work experience in a field corresponding in content to the teaching duties assigned to them.

The requirement for an applicable Master’s level university degree or applicable degree from a University of Applied Sciences cannot be disregarded in cases where the applicant is applying with a degree from the field of Social services and health.

A decision by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) or the Finnish Ministry of Education on the recognition of the level of the degree as equivalent to a tertiary level degree completed in Finland must be attached to the application in the following cases:

• You have completed the degree on which your eligiblity is based outside the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland).
• You have completed your tertiary level degree outside Finland in a nother Nordic country and
• (SISENNETTY) the degree belongs to the field of social services, health and welfare, and/or
• (SISENNETTY) based on the degree, you are seeking qualification as a so-called general subject teacher, and/or
• (SISENNETTY) the degree is less than three years in scope, and/or
• (SISENNETTY) you are not a citizen of any of the Nord countries.

EDUFI is responsible for decisions regarding the eligiblity conferred by foreign qualifications for positions, which in Finland require specific education or a university or university of applied siences degree of a certain level (Act 1385/2015). A certain level of education is required for example for teaching positions.

Without a decision on recognition, the application will not be considered. The avarage processing time for applications is three months. Notice that the decision on recognition is subject to a charge. Please see the details from the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.

More information about the recognition and international comparability of qualifications by the Finnish Agency for Education (EDUFI).

Applicants of the International Professional Teacher Education programme 2018-2024

A score threshold for admission in 2018-2024

Source: Studyinfo 2018-2024

A decision by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) or the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture on the recognition of the level of the degree as equivalent to a tertiary-level degree completed in Finland must be attached to the application in the following cases:

• You have completed the degree on which your eligibility is based outside the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland).
• You have completed your tertiary level degree outside Finland in another Nordic country and
  • the degree belongs to the field of social services and health, and/or
  • based on the degree, you are seeking qualification as a so-called general subject teacher, and/or
  • the degree is less than three years in scope, and/or
  • you are not a citizen of any of the Nordic countries.

EDUFI is responsible for decisions regarding the eligibility conferred by foreign qualifications for positions, which in Finland require specific education or a university or University of Applied Sciences degree of a certain level (Act 1385/2015). A certain level of education is required for example for teaching positions.

Without the decision on recognition, the application will not be considered. The average processing time for applications is three months. Notice that the decision on recognition is subject to a charge. Please see the details of costs from the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.

The teaching language of the programme is English. Your English language level must be B2 (CEFR) or IELTS 6 or higher. You can self-evaluate your language proficiency using the European Language Level Self Assessment Grid or through the Finnbrit site.

The results of the student selection process will be published on 27 March 2025 at the earliest in the My Studyinfo service at www.opintopolku.fi. Applicants will also be notified of the results by email. When you log in to My Studyinfo service, you need Finnish online banking credentials, a mobile certificate or a microchip identity card.

Each student who is offered a study place must confirm the study place by the due date by using the My Studyinfo service. When you log in to My Studyinfo service, you need Finnish online banking credentials, a mobile certificate or a microchip identity card. If you are unable to confirm the study place in the service, you must confirm the study place in writing (for example by email) by the deadline. If this is not done, the offer of a study place will automatically be withdrawn.

All eligible applicants who have not been offered a study place in either of the programmes which they entered in the application form, will be placed on a waiting list for both programmes. Supplementary selections will take place if vacancies arise due to approved candidates rejecting the offer of a study place. If a study place becomes available, the Professional Teacher Education institution will contact the applicant at the top of the waiting list.

The application period takes place annually in January. You can order a reminder to your email when the next application period starts.