Vocational education and training student admission criteria

Admission criteria for the training starting in March 2026 (application period 16.12. - 29.12.2025)

The application process considers three applicant groups:

1.    Applicants of compulsory education age (under 18-year-old applicants) and others who do not have a vocational qualification or higher education completed in Finland
2.    Adult applicants who already have a vocational qualification or higher education completed in Finland
3.    Omnia’s internal transfer applicants

The application process can be opened for one or more applicant groups. Applicants are firstly divided into applicant groups and secondly into admission groups. Applicants will be chosen in the order listed below. If all applicants from the same admission group are not selected, a draw will be held within the group.

Applicant group 1: Applicants of compulsory education age (under 18-year-old applicants) and others who do not have a vocational qualification or higher education completed in Finland

1. Applicants of compulsory education age (under 18-year-old applicants).
2. Adults who are unemployed and do not have a vocational qualification or higher education in Finland.
3. Adults who are employed and do not have a vocational qualification or higher education in Finland.

Applicant group 2: Adult applicants who already have a vocational qualification or higher education completed in Finland

1. Applicants who have completed only upper secondary school in Finland.
2. Adults who are unemployed and already have a vocational qualification or higher education completed in Finland.
3. Adults who are employed and already have a vocational qualification or higher education completed in Finland.

Applicant group 3: Omnia’s internal transfer applicants

Applicants who are attending one of the programs/services listed below are considered Omnia’s internal transfer applicants.

Internal transfer applicants are selected in the following order based on current attendance:

1. Preparatory education and training (TUVA)
2. Basic education for adults, Youth workshops, Omnia Skills Centre for immigrants (OSKE), and Education for immigrant youth (MANU)
3. Upper secondary school for adults and vocational qualifications
    

Admission criteria for the training starting in January 2026 (application period 29.9. - 19.10.2025)

Applicants are divided into admission groups according to their necessity for education and are chosen in the order listed below. If all applicants from the same group are not selected, a draw will be held within the group.

Continuous admission: Daytime implementations open for all applicants

1. Applicants of compulsory education age (under 18-year-old applicants)
2. Unemployed applicants of not compulsory education age, who do not have an upper secondary degree.
3. Employed applicants of not compulsory education age, who do not have an upper secondary degree.
4. Applicants who already have an upper secondary degree completed in Finland or abroad.

Continuous admission: Online and evening implementations as well as other implementations for certain target groups

1. Unemployed applicants of not compulsory education age, who do not have an upper secondary degree.
2. Employed applicants of not compulsory education age, who do not have an upper secondary degree.
3. Applicants who already have an upper secondary degree completed in Finland or abroad. 

Under 18-year-old applicants are not the target group of the online and evening implementations. However, under 18-year-olds may be admitted to these implementations at our discretion.

At our discretion, you can be admitted as a student without the admission groups, for example, if you want to complete an unfinished degree, if you have an apprenticeship, or if you are a top athlete.
 

Admission criteria for Further Vocational Qualifications and Specialist Vocational Qualifications

In further vocational qualifications and specialist vocational qualifications, students are admitted on the basis of the application information and possible guidance discussion. You can be admitted as a student if you have a suitable job, suitable work tasks or work experience as specified in the skills requirements for the qualification you are applying for. In other words, you must have suitable previous training or skills in the field.

Assessment of language proficiency

The applicant’s language proficiency is verified. These applicants are invited to a language test. Read more about assessment of language proficiency.

Applicant's Health and Functional Capacity

In social and health care as well as safety an security vocational qualifications, it is ensured that the applicant meets the requirements set by SORA regulations. Read more about SORA legislation and health requirements.

Conditionality of study place

The study place granted to the applicant is conditional until their identity and the information provided in the application have been verified. These will be verified at the latest during the personalisation discussion at the beginning of the studies. 

The applicant must also read carefully the contents of the qualifications/education they are applying for.