TUCS Master's Schools - Frequently asked questions

Q: Why do I need to take the language test even when my secondary school and university studies have been in English?

A: Only those students who are native English-speakers and come from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States are exempted from taking the language test. The reason why we insist that students prove their English skills by taking one of the approved tests is to ensure that students have language skills they will need to succeed in their studies. It is not enough to be able to read and understand English well, students must also be able to communicate with their professors and other students to enjoy their studies fully.

Q: Why some Bachelor's degree are considered sufficient basis for being accepted into the Master's programmes while others are not?

A: The students must have a university degree that is equivalent to a Finnish university level Bachelor's degree. In some countries the Bachelor degree is sufficient, in others a Master's degree is required. The degree must be a university level degree, so for example a Bachelor's degree from Finnish polytechnic is not considered sufficient.

Q: Why must the previous degree be from the same field as the programme I want to apply for?

A: The studies in the Master's programmes are on the advanced level and students are expected to have a good prior knowledge in the field they intend to study. On a more practical level, only advanced studies are arranged in English while the language of tuition in basic and intermediate studies is Finnish or Swedish.

Q: Do the universities or TUCS provide scholarships or other financial aid for Master's School students?

A: No. Students must finance their studies privately. Students should also bear in mind that there are no tuition fees at Finnish universities but, according to Finnish law, all students studying for a basic university degree must be members of the Student Union. The annual fee is about EUR 80 - 100. For more details please see:

• ÅAU, The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS)
• UTU, The Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY)
• TSE, The Student Union of Turku School of Economics (TuKY) -> [Exchange students] -> [International]

Q: Is TUCS a university?

A: TUCS is not a university but a joint research and education unit for the three universities in Turku. These universities are the University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University and the Turku School of Economics and Business Administration. When you apply to TUCS Master's School, you send the application to TUCS, and TUCS administration does the initial processing before sending your application to the university that arranges the Master's programme you have applied to. If you are accepted to the programme you become a student at that university. Simply put, TUCS coordinates the cooperation between three universities, but does not admit students or grant academic degrees.