The reform has affected both universities and polytechnics and has put study places to the most effective use. General eligibility for university education is conferred by the Finnish matriculation examination and equivalent international and foreign certificates. A three-year vocational qualification also gives general eligibility for university studies. The selection is made by the universities, their faculties or departments. In certain fields of study, entrance tests are arranged in cooperation between universities or departments at various institutions.
Students apply for entry to polytechnics after general or vocational upper secondary education.
The requirement is a Finnish matriculation certificate, i.e. an upper secondary school leaving certificate, a basic vocational qualification, or an equivalent international or foreign qualification. There is a joint national system for application to polytechnics which is administered by the National Board of Education. The polytechnics determine their own entry requirements and select their students. The selection is based on the student's school achievement, work experience and often also an entrance test. This text and the table have been placed here to ensure proper text flow in various NS versions.