Apply for a transfer

When you transfer to SAMK, you give up your study right at your previous higher education institution and transfer it to SAMK.

You should be aware that applying for a transfer to SAMK will not give you more time to complete your studies or to receive student financial aid. The maximum study period is based on the date when you accepted your study place in the previous higher education institution.

The semesters you have been enrolled as present or absent in your previous studies will be reduced from your study right when we calculate how much time you have left to study after the transfer. If you are obligated to pay the tuition fee, you will pay the same amount as the 1st year students after the transfer.

Criteria for transferring

To apply for a transfer, you must fulfill these criteria:

• you have a valid right to study in another higher education institution in the same or similar field of education
• you have advanced in your studies enough to be able to graduate within the remaining study time
• you meet the eligibility requirements of the education you are applying for
• you have studied for at least two semesters in your current higher education institution. For example, if you became a student in autumn 2024, you could apply for a transfer during the next spring semester and begin your studies at SAMK on 1 August 2025 at the earliest.

Changing study language

If you have previously studied in an English-language degree programme and are switching to a Finnish-language programme, or vice versa, in addition to meeting the previous criteria, you may need to provide proof of your language proficiency. Please contact our Admissions Office at admissions@samk.fi, and we will be happy to guide you on this.

Transfer admission can be admitted if:

• you fulfill the transfer requirements above
• there is an available study place in the degree programme you have applied to
• you can complete your studies within the normative study time.

Application periods

You can apply for a transfer to SAMK from 1 to 15 May or from 1 to 15 November. If you apply and get accepted in spring, you can begin your studies in the beginning of the autumn semester. If you apply and get accepted in autumn, you can begin your studies in the beginning of the spring semester.

Filling in the application

You can fill in the transfer application online on Studyinfo.filaunch launchduring the application period.

Attachments

You need to attach these documents to your application form:

• a study certificate showing your enrollment history (present and absent terms)
• a transcript of records in Finnish and English.

Please combine these documents into a single pdf file, if possible.

To which degree programmes you can apply?

You can apply to almost all of our degree programmes. Approximately a month before the start of the application period, you can find information about the transfer application on the Studyinfo.fi website of each degree programme included in the transfer application.

You cannot apply for a transfer to this degree programme:

• Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Health Care.

Application fee

An application fee of 100 euros is collected from applicants from countries outside EU/EEA. This fee covers applications to multiple universities, for studies starting in the same semester. The application fee will not be charged from Finnish or EU citizens.

You can read more on application fee on Studyinfo.fi.launch

When you will receive the transfer decision

You will receive the transfer decision by e-mail either by 15 June (spring application period) or by 15 December (autumn application period). If you receive a study place offer, you must accept it by 15 July (spring application period) or by 20 December (autumn application period). When you accept the study place offered, you give up your study right at your previous higher education institution.

Recognition of prior learning

You can get your previous studies, skills, or other experiences, such as work, recognised and included in your degree. This process is called the recognition of prior learning (RPL or AHOT).