SEAMK received 2431 applicants in the Joint Application spring 2026

The joint application of spring 2026 for higher education institutions ended on Wednesday, 21 January 2026. SEAMK offered five Bachelor’s degree programmes and two Master’s degree programmes in the joint application.

In the recently concluded application, 2431 applicants applied for the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences’ English-language Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes which is almost ten times the amount of study places offered in Joint Application. For the first joint application of spring, the number of applicants declined slightly (by 2 percent) compared to last year, while nationwide there were 27 % fewer applicants than last year, according to the Finnish National Agency for Education. In the first joint application round of the spring, approximately 23,700 applicants applied for a study place. Both Finnish and international applicants were eligible to apply in the joint application.

“The number of applicants in SEAMK’s first joint application round followed the national trend, meaning the number of applicants decreased somewhat compared to last year. However, at SEAMK the decline was moderate, and in that sense, the result can be considered satisfactory. There is no single clear factor for the drop in applicant numbers; rather, it is part of a broader context influenced by various global and national factors both in Finland and in applicants’ countries of origin. Finland’s current labour market situation and changes to legislation concerning tuition fees are among the national factors that can be assessed as having an impact on applicant numbers. The introduction last year of an application fee obligation for applicants from outside the EU/EEA area, as well as factors related to residence permits, also play a role to some extent,” explains Head of Student Affairs Hanna-Mari Rintala.

Applicant numbers rise in three degree programmes

The highest number of applicants is for the Master of Business Administration, International Business Management programme (948 applicants) and the Bachelor of Business Administration, International Business programme (509 applicants).

The number of applicants increased in three degree programmes. The largest growth was seen in the Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing programme, which had 141 more applicants than last year (an increase of 108 %). One change compared to previous years was the removal of the Finnish language proficiency requirement from the programme’s admission criteria, which may have contributed to the rise in applicant numbers

The number of applicants increased also in the degree programmes Master of Social Services and Health Care, Development and Management and Bachelor of Business Administration, International Business.

SEAMK Direct Application

In addition to the joint applications, it is possible to apply to SEAMK in spring 2026 through SEAMK’s own separate admissions. The SEAMK Direct Application for studies starting in August 2026 started on 1 December at 08:00 Finnish time (UTC+2). Direct application is a rolling admission and applications will be processed in the order of completed and submitted applications. Applicants apply using their completed degree’s grades that gives a general eligibility to higher education or an SAT test result and a passed interview result. Studies start in the Autumn of 2026.

You can apply to the following degree programmes in SEAMK Direct Application:

• Bachelor of Business Administration, International Business, full-time studies
• Bachelor of Engineering, Sustainable Food Processing, full-time studies (former name: Agri-food Engineering)
• Bachelor of Engineering, Automation Engineering, full-time studies
• Bachelor of Hospitality Management

The admission will be based on the applicant’s previous degree or SAT-result and a successfully completed online interview conducted by SEAMK via Microsoft Teams.

Read more about the application on SEAMK Direct Application webpage.

Student selections

The results of student selections in Joint Application 2026 will be published by 27 May 2026 at the latest. Admitted applicants must accept the study place and pay the tuition fee by 9 July 2026, 15.00 (+3 UTC) at the latest. Please see more information for new students at SEAMK.fi.

Read more on the Joint Application webpage.

For more information:

For the applicant:

SEAMK Admission Services, admissions@seamk.fi