LAB University of Applied Sciences

About LAB University of Applied Sciences

LAB is an independent, degree-granting Finnish university of applied sciences rather than a department of LUT University. The two institutions collaborate through the LUT Universities community, but LAB conducts its own bachelor’s and master’s education and its own admissions. Official Finnish education data also records LAB as an active higher-education institution in the 2026 admissions system. The present institution was established in 2019 when Lahti University of Applied Sciences and Saimaa University of Applied Sciences merged; operations under the LAB name began on 1 January 2020. LAB now operates in Lahti, Lappeenranta, and online. Its official institutional profile reports approximately 10,900 students and 650 teachers and research, development, and innovation experts. LAB’s identity is that of a professionally focused university of applied sciences. Teaching and applied development work are organized around business, design and fine arts, health care and social services, technology, and tourism and hospitality. The institution highlights collaboration with companies and other organizations, so students should expect practical assignments and workplace-facing projects alongside classroom or online study. Campus experience varies: Lahti occupies converted industrial premises, while the Lappeenranta campus is shared with LUT University. Prospective students should therefore evaluate the specific program, campus, teaching format, and professional requirements rather than treating LAB as a single conventional residential campus.

Admissions are program-, degree-, and intake-specific. As of 20 August 2026, LAB’s current rolling admission for selected English-taught bachelor’s programs runs from 17 July to 10 September 2026, or until places fill, for studies beginning in January 2027. Applicants may select only one program in that round. Applications are submitted through Finland’s Studyinfo service, and LAB reviews them continuously. General bachelor’s eligibility requires an upper-secondary qualification that grants access to higher education in the country where it was completed. The current round uses several selection groups based on the applicant’s qualification. Depending on the group, selection may consider certificate results, specified national qualifications, an SAT result, and/or proof of English. Required materials can include the qualification certificate, transcript, grading-scale verification, official translations, passport, language evidence, and residence-permit documentation where applicable. Missing documents for the current rolling round must generally be uploaded within seven days. Master’s admission follows separate program-specific rules and should not be inferred from bachelor’s requirements. Applicants normally need an eligible prior higher-education degree, while relevant work-experience and selection requirements vary by program. Non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss applicants must also check Finland’s higher-education application fee and LAB’s tuition obligations. Because LAB changed its English bachelor’s admissions model and current rounds can close when full, applicants should rely on the live admission page and Studyinfo listing before applying.

LAB awards bachelor’s and master’s degrees and also provides open-university-of-applied-sciences and continuing-education options. Its degree portfolio is organized across five broad fields: business; design and fine arts; health care and social services; technology; and tourism and hospitality. English-taught options exist at both degree levels, but the available intake, campus, and delivery mode differ by program. Applicants should use the current program page rather than assume that every subject is available in English or at the Lahti campus. The academic model is applied and professionally oriented. LAB describes students working with businesses and other organizations through projects, internships, and thesis assignments. This structure can be useful for students who prefer solving practical problems and building work samples, but it also requires active participation in group work, employer-linked assignments, and self-directed study. Some programs may include laboratory, clinical, studio, or field components, depending on the discipline. LAB also combines education with applied research, development, and innovation. Its institutional focus areas include human well-being, multipurpose materials, and intangible value creation. Students can encounter this work through RDI projects and organizational partnerships. International opportunities include exchanges and placements abroad; LAB reports agreements with more than 300 higher-education partners. These opportunities are not automatic components of every degree, so students should confirm program-specific mobility windows, credit recognition, language expectations, and any professional placement rules with the relevant program.

Key Highlights

• Established in 2019 through the merger of Lahti and Saimaa Universities of Applied Sciences; operations began in 2020.
• Operates in Lahti, Lappeenranta, and through an online campus.
• Officially reports approximately 10,900 students and 650 teachers and RDI experts.
• Forms the LUT Universities higher-education community with LUT University.

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed across Lahti, Lappeenranta, and online study rather than centered on one residential campus. KOE, LAB’s statutory student union, represents students and supports activities, benefits, and student advocacy. New students can also engage with tutors and field-specific student associations. LAB’s 2026 guidance identifies tutoring, association activities, community spaces, and student events as practical routes into the community. Sports and well-being activities are available through MOVEO for LAB and LUT students on both physical campuses. The shared LUT Universities environment also gives students access to joint services, including the LUT Academic Library. The precise facilities and social rhythm differ by campus, while online students should expect a less place-based experience. LAB does not operate its own Lahti student residences. Students must apply for accommodation themselves, with Lahden Talot identified as a principal provider in Lahti. Applications are handled in the order received, and LAB warns that applicants may not obtain their preferred apartment. Students should apply early and compare additional private options. In Lappeenranta, students can apply directly to the Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation. Housing is therefore separate from admission and is not guaranteed by LAB.

Location & Surroundings

Although the database record is associated with Lahti, LAB is a multi-campus institution. Its Lahti campus consists of buildings at Mukkulankatu 19 and Niemenkatu 73. The main campus environment combines renovated former factory premises with contemporary learning spaces. Lahti has about 120,000 residents and is known for winter sports, design, cultural services, and its industrial history. Students should check which of the two Lahti buildings hosts their teaching. LAB also operates in Lappeenranta, where its campus is shared with LUT University in the Skinnarila district, roughly seven kilometres from the city centre. That campus offers a larger combined university community and access to Lake Saimaa and nearby natural areas. An online campus supports programs designed for remote delivery. Campus choice has practical consequences for housing, commuting, facilities, and daily student life. Admission to LAB does not necessarily mean study in Lahti, and some courses or services may involve another campus or online participation. Applicants should confirm the stated study location and attendance expectations on the individual program page before making relocation plans.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For new non-EU/EEA students beginning in autumn 2026, LAB lists tuition of EUR 11,000 per academic year for bachelor’s programs and EUR 18,000 for an entire master’s degree, paid in one instalment. Students who pay within the period stated after admission can receive the autumn 2026 early-bird price: EUR 9,000 for a bachelor’s program or EUR 15,000 for a master’s program. The admission letter supplies the controlling payment deadline. For bachelor’s students in the autumn 2026 intake, LAB states that no scholarship is awarded in the first year. From the second year, a EUR 3,000 tuition reduction may be available after completing 60 eligible ECTS credits in the preceding academic year. LAB states that master’s students beginning in autumn 2026 have no scholarship. Fee liability depends on citizenship and residence status, so students should verify any exemption against LAB’s current documentation. Housing, food, transport, insurance, and residence-permit costs are separate. LAB does not guarantee accommodation. Non-EU/EEA students should budget against the Finnish Immigration Service’s applicable maintenance-funds requirement rather than tuition alone. Career preparation is embedded through internships, employer projects, RDI activities, and theses. LAB advertises opportunities through its career systems and works with organizations on student projects and placements. These connections can help students develop experience and contacts, but LAB publishes no guaranteed employment outcome or salary for graduates; prospective students should assess placement requirements and local-language expectations for their chosen field.