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 other basic education (approximately nine years, age 7-16)
- Good written and oral command in the English language
Applicants from outside Finland
The education is targeted at Finns, citizens of the EU/ETA countries and applicants possessing a valid residence permit in the EU.
If you are a non-EU/ETA citizen, please note
- residence permit must be valid at the time of submitting the application and also at the beginning of the studies
- residence permit MUST be attached to the application, applications without an attached valid residence permit will not be processed.
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
Application period is from 27 March to 2 June 2023. The application period is extended to 11.8. until. The next application period will start in March 2024 for training starting in September 2024.
Start and planned duration of studies
Studies start on 4 September 2023. 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 2 c, 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.
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.
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
Scope of qualification is 180 competence points (cp)
Compulsory vocational units, 55 cp
- Customer Service, 20 cp
- Profitable operation, 20 cp
- Acting in a work community, 15 cp
Optional vocational units, 90 cp
- Sales, 30 cp
- Planning and implementation of marketing communications, 30 cp
- Service design, 15 osp
- Planning a business 15 osp
- any other optional unit, 15 osp
Common units, 35 cp
- Communication and interaction competence
- Skills in mathematics and natural sciences
- Societal and working life competences
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
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.
As a result of IB career-related studies you will be well-prepared for applying to higher education.
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
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.
Foreign applicants under 18 years old must have a legal guardian living in the Oulu area.
The education is targeted at Finns, citizens of the EU/ETA countries and applicants possessing a valid residence permit in the EU.
If you are a non EU/ETA citizen, please note:
- residence permit must be valid at the time of submitting the application and also at the beginning of the studies
- residence permit MUST be attached to the application, applications without an attached valid residence permit will not be processed.
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 21 February to 21 March 2023 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 2023, deliver a photocopy of the school certificate by 9 June 2023.
- Invitations to entrance examination are sent to all invited applicants by email.
- The entrance examination is arranged on 11 May 2023 in Oulu. We cannot arrange any entrance examinations online.
- The results of student selection will be published 12 June 2023 at the earliest.
- Studies start on 4 September 2023. 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 2 C
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 modules
- Customer Service, 20 cp
- Profitable operation, 20 cp
- Acting in a work community, 15 cp
Optional vocational modules
- Sales, 30 cp
- Event production, 15 cp
- Planning a business, 15 sp
- IBDP Business and Management, SL, 15 cp
- IBDP English B, SL, 10 cp
- IBCP Reflective project, 5 cp
Common units, 35 competence points
Read more information about qualification at Studyinfo.
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
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 cannot arrange any online examinations or an online interview. You have to attend the exam and the interview in Oulu, Finland.
In separate admission we follow the Finnish national joint application criteria in which you do not get any extra points from work experience.
In rolling admission point are awarded for prior competence.
No, your English skill are tested in the entrance examination or in the interview.
The education is targeted at Finns, citizens of the EU/ETA countries and applicants possessing a valid residence permit in the EU. The residence permit must be valid at the time of submitting the application and also at the beginning of the studies.
Residence permit MUST be attached to the application. Applications without an attached valid residence permit will not be processed.
You can apply. Vocational Qualification in Business includes Finnish as a second language studies and customer service Finnish skills. In order to pass the level required a student should study Finnish language also outside of school.
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.
If you are graduating in the spring 2023, you should ask for an official statement of you upcoming graduation from your school. Please attach the statement to the application. In addition, an official English translation of the statement is required if the statement is not written in English.
If you are not a citizen of the EU/ETA country, you must attach the residence permit to the application. Applications without an attached valid residence permit will not be processed.
Upper secondary or higher education graduates with completed qualification cannot be accepted in separate admission (including IBCP studies). If you are eligible for higher education in Finland, you can’t apply for our education in separate application.
Upper secondary or higher education graduates can apply in rolling admission.
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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