Initial vocational qualifications

Initial vocational qualifications consist of 180 competence points and typically take 2–3 years to complete. You can apply for an initial vocational qualification either through the joint application or the rolling admission process. Stadin AO has over 30 different initial vocational qualifications.

Most of our programmes are taught in Finnish, so you will need to know Finnish for your studies. If necessary, we will test your language skills. Only the Initial Vocational Qualification in Tourism Industry is available in English.

After gaining an initial vocational qualifications, you can appy for further studies in universities and universities of applied sciences.

Stadin AO’s initial vocational qualifications

We at Stadin AO have over 30 initial qualification in different professional fields on offer. For more detailed descriptions of initial vocational qualifications, visit the Finnish-language page:

• If you are browsing on a smartphone, find the list of qualifications under Valikko (Menu) at the top right corner.
• If you are browsing the page on a computer, find them in the menu on the left hand side.

How to apply to an initial vocational qualification

You can apply to Stadin AO’s initial vocational qualification in three ways:

• through the annual joint application procedure
• through the rolling admission process
• through apprenticeship training.

Learn more about the ways to get a study place below:

Apply to an initial vocational qualification via Joint application procedure

The joint application procedure is intended for applicants who have finished comprehensive school but have not yet completed a vocational qualification, the general upper secondary education syllabus or a higher education degree.

You can apply through the process of rolling admission if:

• you do not have vocational qualifications
• you want to complement your existing skills
• you already have a degree, but you want to change careers
• you want to complete unfinished studies and learn a trade.

Apply to an initial vocational qualification via rolling admissions

You can also apply through the rolling admission process if you did not receive a study place in the joint application process.

Apply to an initial vocational qualification via apprenticeship training

In apprenticeship training, studying takes place mostly at a workplace.