Tampere University
Tampereen yliopisto
Finland's second-largest university, with English-taught bachelor's that include a master's study right.
- Students
- 23,200
- International
- 10%
- of students
- Tuition
- €10,000
- 2027-28
- Founded
- 2019
About TAU
Tampere University was created on 1 January 2019 by merging the University of Tampere, whose roots go back to the Civic College founded in Helsinki in 1925, and Tampere University of Technology, which began in 1965 as a Tampere branch of Helsinki University of Technology. Today it has about 23,200 students and 4,400 employees, making it the second-largest university in Finland, and it focuses on technology, health and society across seven faculties and three campuses in Tampere.
Most teaching is in Finnish, but the university runs English-taught bachelor's programmes that admit international students through Finland's joint application in January. These are combined bachelor's and master's programmes (3 + 2 years), mainly in science and engineering, such as Computing Sciences and Electrical Engineering and Automation and Robotics, plus social-science options linked to sustainable urban development. Places are small: in 2026 the English-taught bachelor's programmes offered 150 places and received 1,983 applications.
The university produces slightly over a quarter of Finland's engineering and technology degrees, and it has a medical faculty linked to Tampere University Hospital. It suits students who want a technical or social-science degree taught in English, who can compete on SAT/ACT scores or an IB, EB or Finnish certificate, and who want to live in an affordable, student-heavy Nordic city.
Why students choose TAU
English-taught bachelor's programmes give you a study right for both the bachelor's and the master's degree (180 + 120 ECTS).
Non-EU tuition is €10,000 a year for bachelor's programmes, with a €2,000 early bird reduction in the first year if you accept and pay within 21 days.
Admission is transparent: you are ranked on your SAT or ACT score (admission group I) or on your IB, EB or Finnish matriculation certificate (group II).
Tampere University says monthly living costs are on average €800 to €1,200, with student housing from €250 a month.
Admissions
Autumn 2027 entry (joint application, January 2027)
Selectivity
In the 2026 round, Tampere University's six English-taught bachelor's programmes had 150 places and 1,983 applicants in total (about 13 per place), e.g. 40 places and 419 applicants for Computing and Electrical Engineering. No overall admit rate is published. Across all its programmes, the university reports about four priority applicants per study place in 2025.
Typical entry requirements
| SAT or ACT (admission group I) | Open to anyone with a qualification giving university eligibility in its home country; ranked on the SAT/ACT total. Programme minimums are listed on Studyinfo.fi |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma (admission group II) | Certificate-based ranking of IB Diploma scores; IB, EB, Finnish matriculation or RP/DIA (completed in Finland) holders can apply in both groups |
| European Baccalaureate (admission group II) | Certificate-based ranking; applicants graduating in spring 2027 can apply |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 78 Only needed in admission group II (SAT/ACT applicants are exempt). IELTS Academic 6.0 with 5.5 in Writing; TOEFL iBT 78 with 20 in Writing (or 4 on the new scale with no section below 3.5); PTE Academic 62 with 61 in Writing; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency; YKI level 4. Tests must be taken by 21 January 2027; exemptions for certain previous studies. |
Deadlines
- Joint application, bachelor's programmes in English Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 months21 January 2027, 15:00 (UTC+2)
Application period opens 7 January 2027 at 08:00 (UTC+2). Attachments due 28 January 2027 at 15:00. Results by 15 April 2027 (group I) and by 31 May 2027 (group II).
Accept the study place by 13 July 2027 (or the date in your letter). Waiting-list offers end on 3 August 2027, and certified documents confirming spring 2027 graduation are due by 23 August 2027. Studies start in August 2027.
How to apply
Apply online at Studyinfo.fi during the joint application period, choose admission group I (SAT/ACT) or II (certificate), pay the €100 application fee and upload attachments by 28 January 2027. SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly by the test organiser (SAT code 0599, ACT code 8352). Apply for the Tampere University scholarship in the same application.
What admissions looks for
- In admission group I, the highest SAT or ACT total from a single test, with programme-specific requirements and in some programmes a video.
- In admission group II, the strongest IB, EB or Finnish matriculation certificate scores for the programme.
- Proof of English for academic purposes (group II), taken by the application deadline.
- For the tuition fee scholarship, an overall academic assessment of all application documents and, where required, a scholarship application letter.
Tips for applying to TAU
- 1 Book the SAT or ACT early: only scores from tests taken after 1 January 2025 count, and the December 2026 sitting is the last one for this round.
- 2 If you hold an IB or EB diploma, apply in both admission groups to get two chances.
- 3 Apply for the Tampere University scholarship in the same Studyinfo application; it cannot be requested later.
- 4 If admitted, accepting and paying within 21 days gets you the €2,000 early bird reduction for the first year.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in EUR
Tampere University tuition fee scholarships cover 50% of tuition for the programme duration but are highly selective: nine were awarded across all bachelor's and master's programmes in 2026. Fee-paying students without a scholarship get a €2,000 early bird reduction in the first year if they accept and pay within 21 days, and bachelor's graduates who finish within three years get a €2,000 Graduation Scholarship towards the first master's year.
- 9, each covering 50% of tuition
- Tuition fee scholarships awarded (admission 2026)
- €2,000 off first-year tuition
- Early bird offer
- €2,000 off first master's year for bachelor's graduates within three years
- Graduation Scholarship
- €100
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Academic year starting in August, divided into periods
Computing Sciences and Electrical Engineering, Science and Engineering (BSc Tech + MSc Tech)
The most applied-to English-taught bachelor's route in 2026 (as Computing and Electrical Engineering): 419 applicants for 40 places.
Automation and Robotics, Science and Engineering (BSc Tech + MSc Tech)
A 3 + 2 year English-taught engineering route taught at the Hervanta technology campus.
Biomedical Engineering, Science and Engineering (BSc Tech + MSc Tech)
Builds on Tampere's pre-merger collaboration between engineering and medicine in biomedical and medical technology.
Administrative Sciences, Sustainable Urban Development
Only 10 places in 2026 against 509 applicants, making it the most competitive English-taught bachelor's per place.
Socially Sustainable Societies (Bachelor and Master of Social Sciences)
An English-taught social sciences route from the university's oldest academic tradition, the 1925 Civic College.
Research
- Tampere University produces slightly over a quarter of all engineering and technology degrees in Finland.
- The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology works with Tampere University Hospital, the affiliated teaching hospital.
- The Kauppi campus hosts the Tampere Centre for Skills Training and Simulation.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
- Faculty of Management and Business
- Faculty of Education and Culture
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology
- Faculty of Built Environment
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Student life
Tampere University has three campuses in the city: the city centre campus for humanities, business, education and social sciences, Hervanta for engineering, natural sciences and architecture, and Kauppi for medicine and health. Every bachelor's and master's student belongs to the student union TREY, and there are more than 80 student associations, many organised by field, which run events and help new students settle in. Students manage their own housing, usually through the student housing foundations TOAS and POAS, and the university cites affordable living costs as a reason students choose Tampere.
- More than 80 student associations and the student union TREY.
- Three campuses: city centre, Hervanta and Kauppi.
- University sports through SportUni for about 91 euros a year.
- Student ambassadors and an ambassador blog for prospective international students.
Housing. Students arrange their own accommodation, mostly through the student housing providers TOAS and POAS; student housing costs about 250 to 600 euros a month, and TOAS applications open in May.
Location
Tampere, in southern Finland's Pirkanmaa region, was the country's leading industrial centre from the late 19th century and is now a large student city. The university puts typical student living costs at 800 to 1,200 euros a month, with a 30-day student public transport ticket at about 48 euros. The city centre campus is close to the centre, while Hervanta is a technology district in the south of the city.
Nearest airport: Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (TMP)
Notable alumni
- SM Sanna MarinPrime Minister of Finland 2019-2023; graduated from the University of Tampere in 2017
- JK Jyrki KatainenPrime Minister of Finland and European Commission Vice-President; master's in political science from the University of Tampere
- HD Hailemariam DesalegnPrime Minister of Ethiopia; master's in water and environmental engineering from Tampere University of Technology
- JK Jarmo KekäläinenGeneral manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets; M.Sc. (Econ.) from the University of Tampere
- RM Rainer MahlamäkiArchitect and co-founder of Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Architects; M.Sc. in Architecture from Tampere University of Technology
- ML Mika LintiläFinnish Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister (2019); Bachelor of Administrative Sciences from the University of Tampere
Frequently asked questions
When is the Tampere University application deadline for 2027?
The joint application for English-taught bachelor's programmes runs from 7 January 2027 (08:00 UTC+2) to 21 January 2027 (15:00 UTC+2), with attachments due by 28 January 2027.
How much is Tampere University tuition for international students?
Non-EU/EEA students admitted in 2027 pay 10,000 euros a year for bachelor's programmes and 12,000 euros for master's programmes. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay no tuition.
Does Tampere University accept the SAT?
Yes. In admission group I you are ranked on your SAT or ACT total from a single test taken after 1 January 2025; no superscoring, and the December 2026 test date is the last one for this round.
What IELTS score does Tampere University need?
IELTS Academic 6.0 with at least 5.5 in Writing, or TOEFL iBT 78 with 20 in Writing, if you apply in admission group II. SAT/ACT applicants do not need a separate English test.
Are there scholarships at Tampere University?
A few: Tampere University tuition fee scholarships cover 50% of tuition, but only nine were awarded in 2026. Every other fee-paying student can get a 2,000-euro early bird reduction for the first year by accepting and paying within 21 days.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- Tampere University: About Tampere University
- Tampere University: Key information on education
- Tampere University: Bachelor's programmes
- Tampere University: Applying to bachelor's programmes (2027)
- Tampere University: Eligibility criteria for bachelor's programmes
- Tampere University: Language requirements for bachelor's programmes
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