Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK)

About Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK)

KAMK is an independent Finnish university of applied sciences rather than a department or non-degree training provider. Its main regulations state that it is a state-recognized institution operating under Finland’s Universities of Applied Sciences Act and a permanent government licence. The institution is organized as Kajaani University of Applied Sciences Ltd and is owned by the City of Kajaani, supporting its classification here as public. The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre’s register shows KAMK’s institutional quality audit as valid through 24 March 2027. The university’s role is explicitly applied and professionally focused. Degree education is connected to working-life competence, regional development, and research, development, and innovation activity. This distinguishes KAMK from a research-intensive university: prospective students should expect practice-oriented curricula and collaboration with organizations rather than a primarily theoretical or doctoral-training environment. Most operations are concentrated on the Vimpelinlaakso campus in Kajaani. The campus brings together teaching rooms, the library, admissions and international services, student welfare support, food services, sports facilities, and the student union. Applicants should nevertheless verify the place and mode of study for their chosen degree. KAMK also lists online master’s programs and some bachelor-level contact teaching in the Helsinki region, so not every English-taught option provides the same residential campus experience.

Applications to KAMK’s English-taught degree programs are submitted through Finland’s Studyinfo service. Requirements and selection methods vary by program, so applicants must follow the admission criteria attached to the exact Studyinfo listing rather than relying on a general university standard. For autumn 2027 entry, KAMK lists rolling admission from 27 August 2026 until places are filled or 10 December 2026 at 15:00 Finnish time. It also lists a joint application from 7 January 2027 at 08:00 to 21 January 2027 at 15:00 Finnish time. Program participation in each round can differ. Bachelor’s applicants should check the accepted prior qualification, required documents, language evidence, and any program-specific examination or task. Master’s applicants must document a qualifying higher-education degree, at least 24 months of relevant work experience gained after that degree, and English proficiency. KAMK’s 2027 master’s guidance says all applicants, including native English speakers, must demonstrate English proficiency through an accepted test or qualifying previous education; detailed thresholds and alternatives are published on the admissions page. Applicants from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland are generally charged Finland’s €100 higher-education application fee for applications to studies beginning in the same academic term. An offer must subsequently be accepted in My Studyinfo by the stated deadline. International applicants needing a residence permit should allow time for immigration processing and follow KAMK’s arrival and registration instructions.

KAMK offers bachelor’s and master’s education, with Finnish- and English-taught options. Its 2026 English bachelor’s portfolio includes fields such as international business, esports business, game development, information technology, nursing, sports coaching and business management, and tourism. Availability, teaching format, application round, and study location differ by program. Some studies are full-time in Kajaani, while selected options are blended, online, or connected to contact teaching in the capital region. Bachelor’s curricula generally combine basic studies, compulsory and optional professional studies, free-choice studies, practical training, a thesis, and a maturity test. Students also participate in innovation and working-life projects. This structure makes the academic experience particularly relevant for applicants who want professional application built into the degree rather than added only after graduation. Curricula are competence-based and form the basis for an individual study plan prepared with guidance from a tutor teacher. English-taught master’s offerings listed for the 2026 and 2027 application cycles focus on business, game business, global business, and tourism business management. The listed programs are largely online and are intended for applicants who already hold a relevant higher-education degree and have professional experience. KAMK requires at least two years of relevant work experience gained after the bachelor’s degree for its master’s admissions. Students should consult the current program page and Studyinfo entry because eligible prior fields, selection methods, and delivery arrangements are program-specific.

Key Highlights

• State-recognized Finnish university of applied sciences with a permanent operating licence
• City-owned institution awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees
• Institutional quality audit valid through 24 March 2027
• Main operations concentrated on the Vimpelinlaakso campus in Kajaani

Student Life & Environment

Student life is centered on a compact campus where academic and practical services are close together. KAMK lists its library, Study Services, International Services, student restaurants and cafés, sports facilities, student welfare officers, and the KAMO student union among the resources available on campus. Career services provide support with employment and internship searches, while academic guidance covers study planning and progress. KAMO is the statutory student union representing student interests and organizing services, leisure activities, and international programming. Its campus office can also be a practical first point of connection for new students. KAMK’s international services support study and practical-training opportunities abroad, and international and Finnish students can meet through campus activities and short international study formats. Campus recreation includes a gym, instructed group exercise, and scheduled ball-sport sessions through Kamove. Degree students registered as attending can use the Finnish Student Health Service after meeting the applicable healthcare-fee requirements. Housing is not automatically assigned to degree students: they apply independently, commonly through Kajaanin Pietari. KAMK reports shared and family apartments on campus or approximately one to three kilometres away, with shared housing often involving a private bedroom and common facilities.

Location & Surroundings

KAMK’s main campus is in Kajaani, in Finland’s Kainuu region. The institution operates primarily from the Vimpelinlaakso campus at Ketunpolku, approximately two kilometres from Kajaani city centre. The railway station is in the centre, while Kajaani Airport is about ten kilometres away. KAMK advises that local public transportation is limited, but important services are generally within walking distance. Kajaani is roughly 600 kilometres from Helsinki. KAMK’s arrival guidance estimates a Helsinki–Kajaani train journey at approximately six to seven hours and a direct flight at about one hour. This location offers a quieter, smaller-city environment with access to outdoor and sporting activities, but students accustomed to a major metropolitan area should consider the longer travel distances and more limited local transit. The physical campus consolidates classrooms, administrative services, the library, food outlets, student-union facilities, and recreation spaces. Applicants should not assume that every degree is taught there: KAMK also identifies online programs and selected contact teaching in Helsinki, making the program’s stated place of study an important enrollment decision.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For English-taught degrees beginning on or after 1 August 2026, KAMK lists annual tuition of €10,000 for bachelor’s degrees and €12,000 for master’s degrees. Finnish, EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens do not pay tuition, and some residence-permit categories may qualify for an exemption. Fee liability is determined under Finnish law, so applicants with a possible exemption should submit the required documentation to KAMK rather than assume eligibility. The 2026 policy offers eligible fee-paying students a €2,000 first-year early-bird reduction when they accept the place and pay within 14 days of admission. That reduction is not available through rolling admission. Scholarship conditions after the first year depend on when studies began and the applicable student agreement; students should use the agreement for their own intake. Tuition does not cover living expenses. KAMK’s housing guidance reports rents from approximately €280 per month, but this is a starting figure rather than a guaranteed current price or housing offer. Career preparation is embedded in the applied curriculum. Bachelor’s study includes practical training and a thesis, while working-life and innovation projects connect study with organizational problems. Career services support internship and employment searches during study and near graduation, and KAMK research and development projects can provide thesis or internship opportunities. These structures offer practical exposure, but the reviewed sources do not provide verified placement rates, starting salaries, or guarantees of employment. International students should also assess how Finnish-language ability may affect opportunities in their intended occupation.