Three people are standing next to the blue wall.

About SAMK

Think future

We are a multi-disciplinary and an international higher education institute of over 7,400 students and almost 500 employees. In our operating area on the west coast of Finland, we are a significant creator of experts as well as a developer, a propeller of internationalisation and a promoter of entrepreneurship.

SAMK’s vision, mission and profile

We make dreams come true. Finland succeeds when the Satakunta region succeeds. Satakunta succeeds when SAMK succeeds. We succeed together.

Our job is to make dreams come true, no matter how big or small. Our work-oriented education enables each of our students to graduate and find employment. Future growth stories are built around our core competences and faculties, around human welfare and modern industry. Our doors are open to the world, and we are part of the European higher education community. SAMK is a thriving higher education community of skilled people with its roots in Satakunta and its eyes on the future.

We educate, develop and internationalize, and we promote entrepreneurship. The economic and industrial structure of the Satakunta region requires us to provide extensive and multidisciplinary education and research opportunities.

Our profile: People and renewing industry. Finland depend on the industry of Satakunta and the West Coast. The role of people in a renewing industry is important. Skilled workers and new technologies help to achieve common goals.

Our vision is: Every SAMK student graduates and finds employment.

Explore our strategic goals and values in more detail here.

SAMK in figures (2023)

Staff 487

Turnover 43,8 M €

Publications 250

Degree programmes a total of 38
In Finnish 29
In English 9

Degrees 1232, of which Master Degrees 226
Degree students 7,407

Business accelerator
47 new contracts (806 in total)
16 new companies (398 in total)

Students of the Open University of Applied Sciences 4486

101 nationalities

International students on campuses 1024

More than 500 partner companies and communities

More than 200 international partner universities

Ongoing projects a total of 141
New domestic projects 23
New international projects 13
External financing of projects 5,6 M € (in 2023)
The total volume of ongoing projects is 24,2 M €

The best quality teaching

Satakunta University of Applied Sciences is a high quality teaching university of applied sciences in Finland, measured by the average score of the 2010–2021 feedback surveys (AVOP). SAMK has been ranked the first four times during the period, most recently in 2021.

AVOP is a feedback survey in which students evaluate and give feedback on the education they have received. The results of the survey are used both locally in the development of the HEI’s own activities and nationally in the guidance and funding of education. The questionnaire is completed by all graduating students at universities of applied sciences.

Excellent employability after studies

Our vision is that every one of our students will be employed.

According to Statistics Finland’s ten-year statistical average, SAMK graduates are the most employed among the universities of applied sciences outside the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The employment rate varies by sector.

Exstensive cross-institutional study networks

Cross-institutional studying allows students to take courses offered by other higher education institutions. We are involved in several cross-institutional study networks. The networks and agreements for cross-institutional studies vary and cover a wide range of studies. Many networks focus only on a specific field of study.

High-Quality SAMK

Building a sustainable and responsible future for more than 10 years