Merkonomi, Vocational Qualification in Business

Vocational Qualification in Business

OSAO is offering a study programme in business delivered completely in English. After graduation you will be qualified to work in various business-related jobs such as customer service, sales and marketing communications in international environments.

Career and studies

After graduation you will be qualified to work in various business-related jobs such as customer service, sales and marketing communications in Finland or abroad.

Employment and opportunities for further studies

The course of study provides you with vocational as well as language skills that are an advantage when working in international business environments.

Vocational qualification gives students eligibility for further education in universities and universities of applied sciences in Finland.

Studies and applying

Rolling admission is aimed especially at upper secondary school graduates and those who are changing career direction and already have some previous studies or work experience. Applicants with upper secondary or higher level qualifications completed abroad are also suitable for the programme if their Finnish language skills are not sufficient for Finnish-language vocational education (liiketoiminnan perustutkinto, merkonomi). The studies require both good English language skills and good study skills.

Who can apply

Basic entrance requirements for studying Vocational qualification in Business:

  • Completed Finnish comprehensive school or corresponding education  
    (9 years of education)
  • Good written and oral command in the English language
  • Basic level command of Finnish language (A.1.3 European language framework)

Applicants without Finnish basic education certificate 

  • Copy of original basic education certificate must be certified by authorized public body.  
  • Copy of original basic education certificate must be translated into English and certified translator. 
  • In case foreign basic education certificate is not comparable with Finnish basic education certificate the applicant will be invited to attend (learning) preparedness test (emphasis on Mathematics and digital skills).  
  • Finnish language fluency (level A.1.3 European language framework) will be tested. 
  • The tests will be held in Oulu. 

Foreign applicants under 18 years old must have a legal guardian living in the Oulu area. We will check the eligibility and guardian’s information before inviting the applicant to a selection interview.

Application period

2.4.-31.5.2024. 

Start and planned duration of studies
Studies start on 2 September 2024. Planned duration is two years. You will have a personal competence development plan (PCDP). Duration of your studies depends on your prior competence and PCDP.

Place of study
OSAO, Kaukovainio unit, Services, Kotkantie 1, 90250 Oulu

Selection criteria

Students are selected based on an interview.

Admission points (10) are awarded for an interview as follows

    • prior competence, max 3 points
    • need for education, max 4 points
    • motivation, max 3 points

Applicants will be contacted and invited to a selection interview within a week after the application period has ended. The decision on the selection will be made in week 34 latest.

Learning preparedness test and Finnish language test will be arranged before the selection interview. Only applicants who have passed the tests will be invited to the selection interview.

Language proficiency assessment

  • Good written and oral command in the English language is required.  English skills are tested in the entrance examination or in the interview.
  • Finnish language fluency (level A.1.3 European language framework) will be tested. 

Form of studies
The study is carried out as full-time education in accordance with the personal competence development plan. It is not possible to complete the studies as online studies. Teaching and guidance is provided as face-to-face, online and distance learning (Teams). Studies also include independent study.

Structure of studies

Vocational units 145 competence points(cp) 

Compulsory vocational units (40 cp) 

  • Customer Service, 15 cp 
  • Operating in a business environment 25 cp 

Optional vocational units 105 cp 

Common units, 35 competence points 

  • Communication and interaction competence 
  • Mathematics and science competence 
  • Citizenship and working life competence 

Read more information about qualification at Studyinfo. 

Cost of studying

Education is free. You must have an own laptop and you buy the books yourself.

Further information

Maria Juntunen, Guidance Counsellor
+358 40 637 3094
maria.juntunen(at)osao.fi

Applying

Apply for training

Studies and applying

Separate admission is for those who have completed basic education and are without completed vocational qualification.

The programme includes International Baccalaureate career-related studies (IBCP). Our internationally geared study programme gives you both globally valid working life skills and academically challenging study component that improve s your thinking skills and intercultural understanding.

Kaksi logoa. Ensimmäisessä sinivalkoisella pohjalla kirjamet i ja b, toisesa sama pyöreä sinivalkoinen merkki IB-kirjaimilla ja teksti Career-related programme.

 

As a result of IB career-related studies you will be well-prepared for applying to higher education.

Read more about IB Career-related studies

Who can apply

Basic entrance requirements for studying Vocational qualification in Business:

  • Completed Finnish comprehensive school or other basic education (approximately nine years, age 7-16)
  • Good written and oral command in the English language
  • Basic level command of Finnish language (A.1.3 European language framework)

This study programme is for those who have completed basic education and are without completed vocational qualification. Upper secondary or higher education graduates with completed qualification cannot be accepted.

Applicants without Finnish basic education certificate

  • Copy of original basic education certificate must be certified by authorized public body.
  • Copy of original basic education certificate must be translated into English and certified translator.

Foreign applicants under 18 years old must have a legal guardian living in the Oulu area.
We will check the eligibility and guardian’s information before inviting the applicant to a selection interview.

How to apply

  • Read the applicant’s quide before filling in the application form.
  • Fill in the online application form. The application form is available during the application period from 20 February to 19 March 2024 and closes on the last day of application at 15:00 Finnish time.
  • Attach copies of the school certificates to the application form.
  • If you are graduating from a Finnish comprehensive school (peruskoulu) in the spring 2024, deliver a photocopy of the school certificate by 7 June 2024.
  • Invitations to entrance examination are sent to all invited applicants by email.
  • The entrance examination is arranged on 16 May 2024 in Oulu. We cannot arrange any entrance examinations online.
  • The results of student selection will be published 12 June 2024 at the earliest.
  • Studies start on 7 August 2024. All selected students must bring their original documents to be verified on the first day of their studies.

Delivery address for the documents

KV-merkonomivalinta
OSAO, Kaukovainion yksikkö, palvelut
Kotkantie 1
90250 OULU
Finland

Documents by email to kaukovainio.palvelut@osao.fi.

Planned duration of studies

Planned duration is three years.

Selection criteria

Admission points are awarded for general academic success and for entrance examination result.

Some applicants can be accepted in discretionary selection. The reasons for discretionary selection are e.g. difficulties in determining the applicability of certificates (applicants without the Finnish national qualifications in basic education).

If you have the required amount of points but lack sufficient readiness in oral and written communication in English, you cannot be admitted to the study programme.

Structure of studies

Vocational units 145 competence points(cp)

Compulsory vocational units (40 cp)

  • Customer Service, 15 cp
  • Operating in a business environment 25 cp

Optional vocational units (105 cp)

  • IBDP Business and Management, SL, 15 cp
  • IBDP English B, SL, 10 cp
  • IBCP Reflective project, 5 cp
  • Other vocational units 75 cp

Common units, 35 competence points

  • Communication and interaction competence
  • Mathematics and science competence
  • Citizenship and working life competence

Read more information about qualification  at Studyinfo.

Note! The national requirements of the qualification will be renewed as of 1.8.2024. Please view the new draft here (in Finnish).

Cost of studying

Education is free. You have to have an own laptop and you buy the books yourself. In addition, IB examination fees round 200 euros.

Further information

Tiina Karvonen, Head of Department
+358 50 462 4720
tiina.karvonen(at)osao.fi

Maria Juntunen, Guidance Counsellor
+358 40 637 3094
maria.juntunen(at)osao.fi

Applying

Apply for training 

 

 


						

FAQ about applying to Vocational Qualification in Business

You have to fill in an online application form. The application form is available during the application period. You can attach the required documents to your application.

With legal guardian we most often refer to the parent; legal guardian has the right to decide for matters concerning a student that is under 18 years old. For example, if an underaged student has some problems, we must be able to contact the legal guardian and have them responsible for helping the student.

No, unfortunately we can not arrange any examinations, Learning preparedness test, Finnish language test or an interview online. You have to attend the exam, tests and the interview in Oulu, Finland. 

No, we follow the Finnish national joint application criteria in which you do not get any extra points from work experience. 

No, your English skill are tested in the entrance examination or in the interview.

Yes, you can apply. Basic entrance requirements are completed Finnish comprehensive school or corresponding education (9 years of education), Good written and oral command of the English language and  basic level command of the Finnish language (A.1.3 European language framework) 

Vocational Qualifications include Finnish as a second language studies and customer service Finnish skills. In order to pass the level required a student must have basic command of the Finnish language at the beginning.  The level recommended is A.1.3 in European language framework.   

The Finnish language fluency will be tested. You can study the basics of Finnish before the entrance examination or the Finnish language test.  

You must attach copies of the school certificates and an official English translation to the application. The translation must be done by an authorised translator and must include the translator’s signature and stamp. 

Upper secondary or higher education graduates can apply in rolling admission. 

Upper secondary or higher education graduates with completed qualification cannot be accepted in separate admission (Vocational Qualification in Business including IBCP studies). If you are eligible for higher education in Finland, you can’t apply for our education in separate application. 

You don’t have to study especially for the entrance examination. The entrance examination measures oral and written English language skills, learning skills, and learning motivation.

There is no tuition fee. Students are required to finance their studies and living expenses themselves. We don’t have a dormitory.

OSAO does not have scholarships available for international students and cannot offer financial assistance to students.

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