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Points system in certificate-based admissions in 2023–25

Computer science and natural sciences

Quotas and threshold criteria: computer science and natural sciences

Please note that some of the programmes offering studies in computer science and natural sciences are listed on the webpage Technology and engineering.

Degree programme

University

Share of students admitted based on certificates

Threshold criteria
Bachelor in Science, Information Technology (3 years)
University of Eastern Finland
50 %
No threshold criteria.
Bachelor’s Programme in Science
University of Helsinki
50 %
At least grade M in advanced syllabus in mathematics or grade L in basic syllabus in mathematics.

Points system: computer science and natural sciences

You can score points for up to four subjects, which are:

  • mother tongue
  • mathematics (advanced or basic syllabus)
  • the two subjects for which the applicant scores the highest points

The maximum score is 132.7.

In the tables below, you can see how many points you get for the different grades of each matriculation exam. The grades in the tables (L, E, M, C, B and A) are grades for the Finnish matriculation examination.

In the correspondence tables of the IB-, EB-, RP- ja DIA degrees, you can see which of the grades are comparable to the Finnish matriculation examination grades.

Points table: subjects that count towards all applicants’ scores

Mother tongue

L

E

M

C

B

A
mother tongue
33.0
27.5
22.0
16.5
11.0
5.5

As mother tongue is accepted Finnish as mother tongue, Swedish as mother tongue, Sámi as mother tongue, Finnish as a second language and Swedish as a second language.

Mathematics (advanced or basic syllabus)

L

E

M

C

B

A
mathematics, advanced syllabus
39.7
33.1
26.4
19.8
13.2
6.6
mathematics, basic syllabus
28.3
23.6
18.9
14.1
9.4
4.7

Points table: two subjects for which the applicant scores the highest points

Subject

L

E

M

C

B

A
biology
26.8
22.4
17.9
13.4
8.9
4.5
chemistry
26.8
22.4
17.9
13.4
8.9
4.5
geography
22.0
18.3
14.7
11.0
7.3
3.7
health education
13.9
11.5
9.2
6.9
4.6
2.3
history
19.6
16.3
13.1
9.8
6.5
3.3
language, advanced syllabus
28.3
23.6
18.9
14.1
9.4
4.7
language, intermediate syllabus
25.1
20.9
16.8
12.6
8.4
4.2
language, basic syllabus
22.6
18.9
15.1
11.3
7.5
3.8
philosophy
16.0
13.3
10.7
8.0
5.3
2.7
physics
31.7
26.5
21.2
15.9
10.6
5.3
psychology
24.6
20.5
16.4
12.3
8.2
4.1
religion or culture, worldview and ethics
19.6
16.3
13.1
9.8
6.5
3.3
social studies
16.0
13.3
10.7
8.0
5.3
2.7
Other natural science and humanities subjects in EB, IB, RP and DIA diplomas
16.0
13.3
10.7
8.0
5.3
2.7

European Baccalaureate (EB) degree correspondence tables

You may receive points for all subjects in which you have completed tests in writing and/or orally.

To assess EB diplomas, two recommendation on correspondence are used:

  • for those who took the diploma in 2021 and later, the new recommendation is followed, and
  • for those who took the diploma in 2020 or earlier, the old recommendation is followed.

The grades of Final marks included in the EB diploma correspond to Finnish matriculation examination grades as set out in the following tables.

The correspondence of grades: applicants who have taken the diploma in 2021 or later

Final mark in EB diploma (applicants who have taken the diploma in 2021 or later)
Corresponding Finnish matriculation examination grade
9.00–10.00
laudatur (L)
8.00–8.99
eximia cum laude approbatur (E)
7.00–7.99
magna cum laude approbatur (M)
6.00–6.99
cum laude approbatur (C)
5.50–5.99
lubenter approbatur (B)
5.00–5.49
approbatur (A)

The correspondence of grades: applicants who have taken the diploma in 2020 or earlier

Final mark in EB diploma (applicants who have taken the diploma in 2020 or earlier)
Corresponding Finnish matriculation examination grade
9.00–10.00
laudatur (L)
8.00–8.99
eximia cum laude approbatur (E)
7.00–7.99
magna cum laude approbatur (M)
6.00–6.99
cum laude approbatur (C)
5.00–5.99
lubenter approbatur (B)
4.00–4.99
approbatur (A)

Correspondence of subjects

Points for natural sciences and humanities subjects in EB diploma are scored as shown in the scoring tables of each degree programme.

Points for subjects in EB diplomas that do not have equivalents in the Finnish matriculation examination are scored as “Other natural science and humanities subjects in EB, IB, RP and DIA diplomas” in the scoring tables.

Other subjects in EB diploma correspond to Finnish matriculation examination subjects as follows.

EB diploma subject
Corresponding Finnish matriculation examination subject
L1 syllabus in a language
mother tongue
L2 syllabus in a language, Other National Language
advanced syllabus in a language
L3 syllabus in a language
intermediate syllabus in a language
L4 syllabus in a language,
L5 syllabus in a language
basic syllabus in a language
advanced syllabus in mathematics (5h)
advanced syllabus in mathematics
basic syllabus in mathematics (3h)
basic syllabus in mathematics

Threshold criteria

The threshold criteria of the degree programmes are given as Finnish matriculation examination grades. As a rule, marks achieved in EB diplomas are also converted into corresponding Finnish matriculation examination grades when examining the fulfilment of threshold criteria. Some of the degree programmes in languages are an exception to this rule, and in these cases, the threshold criteria are given separately as EB diploma marks.

International Baccalaureate (IB) degree correspondence tables

Correspondence of grades

The grades included in the IB diploma correspond to Finnish matriculation examination grades as set out in the following table.

Final grade in IB diploma
Corresponding Finnish matriculation examination grade
7
laudatur (L)
6
eximia cum laude approbatur (E)
5
magna cum laude approbatur (M)
4
cum laude approbatur (C)
3
lubenter approbatur (B)
2
approbatur (A)

Correspondence of subjects

Points for natural sciences and humanities subjects in IB diploma are scored as shown in the scoring tables of each degree programme.

Points for subjects in IB diplomas that do not have equivalents in the Finnish matriculation examination are scored as “Other natural science and humanities subjects in EB, IB, RP and DIA diplomas” in the scoring tables.

Other subjects in IB diploma correspond to Finnish matriculation examination subjects as follows.

IB diploma subject
Corresponding Finnish matriculation examination subject
A syllabus in a language
mother tongue
A syllabus in a language (not the same as mother tongue),
B syllabus in a language
advanced syllabus in a language
AB syllabus in a language
basic syllabus in a language
Mathematics: Analysis and approaches HL,
Mathematics: Applications and interpretation HL,
Mathematics: Analysis and approaches SL,
Further Mathematics,
Mathematics HL,
Mathematics SL,
Mathematical methods
advanced syllabus in mathematics
Mathematics: Applications and interpretation SL,
Mathematical Studies
basic syllabus in mathematics

Threshold criteria

The threshold criteria of the degree programmes are given as Finnish matriculation examination grades. As a rule, grades achieved in IB diplomas are also converted into corresponding Finnish matriculation examination grades when examining the fulfilment of threshold criteria. Some of the degree programmes in languages are an exception to this rule, and in these cases, the threshold criteria are given separately as IB diploma grades.

Reifeprüfung (RP) degree and Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) degree correspondence tables

Only RP and DIA diplomas taken in Finland are considered in certificate-based admission.

Correspondence of grades

The scores for tests included in the RP and DIA diplomas correspond to Finnish matriculation examination grades as set out in the following table.

Test score in RP and DIA diplomas
Corresponding Finnish matriculation examination grade
13–15
laudatur (L)
10–12
eximia cum laude approbatur (E)
8–9
magna cum laude approbatur (M)
7
cum laude approbatur (C)
5–6
lubenter approbatur (B)
4
approbatur (A)

Correspondence of subjects

Points for natural sciences and humanities subjects in RP and DIA diplomas are scored as shown in the scoring tables of each degree programme.

Points for subjects in RP and DIA diplomas that do not have equivalents in the Finnish matriculation examination are scored as “Other natural science and humanities subjects in EB, IB, RP and DIA diplomas” in the scoring tables.

Other subjects in RP and DIA diploma tests correspond to Finnish matriculation examination subjects as follows.

RP and DIA diploma subject
Corresponding Finnish matriculation examination subject
mother tongue: Finnish or German
mother tongue
Finnish or German (not the same as mother tongue), English
advanced syllabus in a language
B1 syllabus in a language
intermediate syllabus in a language
B2 or B3 syllabus in a language
basic syllabus in a language
mathematics
advanced syllabus in mathematics
mathematics in a certificate of correspondence
basic syllabus in mathematics

If the subjects for which points are scored are not included in the subjects the applicant has taken for the diplomas, the points will be based on a certificate of correspondence issued by Deutche Schule Helsinki.

Threshold criteria

The threshold criteria of the degree programmes are given as Finnish matriculation examination grades. As a rule, points achieved in RP and DIA diplomas are also converted into corresponding Finnish matriculation examination grades when examining the fulfilment of threshold criteria. Some of the degree programmes in languages are an exception to this rule, and in these cases, the threshold criteria are given separately as RP and DIA diploma points.