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Certificate-based admissions from 2026 on

On this page, you will find information on how your matriculation examination certificate will be scored in the following degree programmes starting from 2026:

  • Administrative and social sciences

Any changes to the scoring are always notified about three years before the changes enter into force.

Finnish matriculation examination

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

  • Mother tongue and literature
  • Four other subjects for which you receive the highest points

The maximum score is 149,9.

Point systems and threshold criteria

Degree programmes

Rules for calculating points

  • If you have not completed a test in one of the subjects for which points are scored, you will receive zero points for that subject. However, you may be admitted without the subject in question if the certificate points you receive for other subjects are sufficient for admission.
  • You may only score points once for each subject. This means that for example in mathematics, an applicant may score points either for the advanced syllabus or the basic syllabus.
  • If you have taken tests related to several matriculation examinations taken into account in the certificate-based admissions process, the certificate points are calculated by combining the tests that produce the most points for you.
  • No points are awarded for the Finnish matriculation examination’s tests in natural sciences and humanities taken before 2006.

Scoring for languages

  • Mother tongue and literature includes the following tests: mother tongue and literature in Finnish, Swedish and Sami, and Finnish or Swedish as a second language.
  • If you have taken more than one test for mother tongue and literature, points are awarded for the highest scoring one according to the scoring for mother tongue and literature. You can score points for the other tests according to the scoring of the advanced syllabus.
  • You can earn points for more than one language of the same syllabus type.
  • You can earn points for the same language only once, even if you have taken tests in different syllabi for that language, or if you had taken a test in the language in question both as a mother tongue and as a foreign language.

Subjects that count towards all applicants’ scores

Subject

L

E

M

C

B

A
Mother tongue and literature
36,1
32,5
28,8
21,7
10,8
5,4

Four other subjects

Subject

L

E

M

C

B

A
Mathematics, advanced syllabus
28,9
28,6
26,0
20,2
8,7
4,3
Mathematics, basic syllabus
28,2
25,4
22,5
16,9
8,4
4,1
Language, advanced syllabus
28,3
25,5
22,6
17,0
8,5
4,2
Language, intermediate syllabus
25,0
20,0
15,0
10,0
7,5
3,8
Language, basic syllabus (other than English)
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Biology
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Chemistry
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Geography
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Health education
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
History
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Philosophy
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Physics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Psychology
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Religion
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Social studies
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Worldview and ethics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
English, basic syllabus
20,0
16,0
12,0
8,0
6,0
3,0

Threshold criteria

In administrative and social sciences there are no threshold criteria.

Criteria for equal points

Applicants who have scored the same certificate-based points are in the same position in the admission process. In such a situation, applicants shall be ranked by comparing the certificate points that the applicants got from the following subjects:

  1. Certificate points in mother tongue and literature
  2. Certificate points for mathematics
  3. Certificate points for another subject giving the applicant the highest score
  4. Certificate points for another subject giving the applicant the second highest score
Degree programmes

International Baccalaureate degree

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

  • One subject from studies in language and literature
  • Four other subjects for which you receive the highest points

The maximum score is 149,9.

The following courses in mathematics are considered to follow an advanced syllabus:

  • Mathematics: Analysis and approaches HL
  • Mathematics: Applications and interpretation HL
  • Mathematics: Analysis and approaches SL
  • Further Mathematics
  • Mathematics HL
  • Mathematics SL
  • Mathematical methods

The following courses in mathematics are considered to follow a basic syllabus:

  • Mathematics: Applications and interpretation SL
  • Mathematical Studies

Rules for calculating points

  • If you have not completed a test in one of the subjects for which points are scored, you will receive zero points for that subject. However, you may be admitted without the subject in question if the certificate points you receive for other subjects are sufficient for admission.
  • You may only score points once for each subject.
  • If you have taken tests related to several matriculation examinations taken into account in the certificate-based admissions process, the certificate points are calculated by combining the tests that produce the most points for you.

Scoring for languages

  • The following courses belong to the subject group studies in language and literature:
    • language A: literature
    • language A: language and literature
    • literature and performance
    • language A1 ja language A2 (degrees completed before 2013)
  • If you have a grade in more than one subject in the studies in language and literature group (in different languages), the one with the highest points will be taken into account in scoring. For the other languages, you can earn points according to the scoring for language B.
  • You can earn points for more than one language of the same syllabus type.
  • You can earn points for the same language only once, even if you have taken tests in different syllabi for that language or taken a test in the language in question as a test comparable to a mother tongue and a foreign language.

Subjects that count towards all applicants’ scores

Subject

7

6

5

4

3

2
Studies in language and literature
36,1
32,5
28,8
21,7
10,8
5,4

Four other subjects

Aine

7

6

5

4

3

2
Mathematics, advanced syllabus
28,9
28,6
26,0
20,2
8,7
4,3
Mathematics, basic syllabus
28,2
25,4
22,5
16,9
8,4
4,1
Studies in language and literature
28,3
25,5
22,6
17,0
8,5
4,2
Language B
28,3
25,5
22,6
17,0
8,5
4,2
Language AB
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Biology
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Business management
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Chemistry
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Computer science
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Dance
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Design technology
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Economics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Environmental systems and societies
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Film
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Geography
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Global politics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
History
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Information technology in a global society
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Latin or Classical Greek
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Music
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Philosophy
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Physics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Psychology
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Social and cultural anthropology
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Sports, exercise and health science
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Theatre
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Visual arts
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
World religions
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7

Threshold criteria

In administrative and social sciences there are no threshold criteria.

Criteria for equal points

Applicants who have scored the same certificate-based points are in the same position in the admission process. In such a situation, applicants shall be ranked by comparing the certificate points that the applicants got from the following subjects:

  1. Certificate points for a subject in studies in language and literature
  2. Certificate points for mathematics
  3. Certificate points for another subject giving the applicant the highest score
  4. Certificate points for another subject giving the applicant the second highest score
Degree programmes

European Baccalaureate degree

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

  • Language 1 (L1 or L1-advanced)
  • Four other subjects for which you receive the highest points

The maximum score is 149,9.

Rules for calculating points

  • You may receive points for all subjects in which you have completed tests in writing and/or orally.
  • If you have not completed a test in one of the subjects for which points are scored, you will receive zero points for that subject. However, you may be admitted without the subject in question if the certificate points you receive for other subjects are sufficient for admission.
  • You may only score points once for each subject.
  • If you have taken tests related to several matriculation examinations taken into account in the certificate-based admissions process, the certificate points are calculated by combining the tests that produce the most points for you.

Scoring for languages

  • If you have taken tests in several L1 languages (e.g. the mother tongue and literature test of the Finnish matriculation examination), the highest score will be given according to the L1 language scoring. You can score points for the other tests according to the scoring of the L2 language syllabus.
  • You can earn points for more than one language of the same syllabus type.
  • You can earn points for the same language only once, even if you have taken tests in different syllabi for that language, or if you had taken a test in the language in question both as an L1 language and as a foreign language.

Subjects that count towards all applicants’ scores

Aine

9,00–10,00

8,00–8,99

7,00–7,99

6,00–6,99

5,50–5,99*

5,00–5,49**
L1-kieli (tai L1-advanced)
36,1
32,5
28,8
21,7
10,8
5,4

* 5,00–5,99 for diplomas taken before 2021
** 4,00–4,99 for diplomas taken before 2021

Four other subjects

Subject

9,00–10,00

8,00–8,99

7,00–7,99

6,00–6,99

5,50–5,99*

5,00–5,49**
Mathematics, advanced syllabus (5h)
28,9
28,6
26,0
20,2
8,7
4,3
Mathematics, basic syllabus (3h)
28,2
25,4
22,5
16,9
8,4
4,1
Language 2 (L2 or L2-advanced)
28,3
25,5
22,6
17,0
8,5
4,2
Other National Language
28,3
25,5
22,6
17,0
8,5
4,2
Language 3
25,0
20,0
15,0
10,0
7,5
3,8
Language 4
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Ancient Greek
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Art
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Biology
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Chemistry
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Economics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Geography
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
History
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Latin
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Music
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Philosophy
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Physics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7

* 5,00–5,99 for diplomas taken before 2021
** 4,00–4,99 for diplomas taken before 2021

Threshold criteria

In administrative and social sciences there are no threshold criteria.

Criteria for equal points

Applicants who have scored the same certificate-based points are in the same position in the admission process. In such a situation, applicants shall be ranked by comparing the certificate points that the applicants got from the following subjects:

  1. Certificate points in L1-language (or L1-advanced)
  2. Certificate points for mathematics
  3. Certificate points for another subject giving the applicant the highest score
  4. Certificate points for another subject giving the applicant the second highest score
Degree programmes

Deutsches Internationales Abitur degree and Reifeprüfung degree

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

  • Mother tongue and literature: Finnish or German
  • Four other subjects for which you receive the highest points

The maximum score is 149,9.

Rules for calculating points

  • The first tests to be taken into account are the diploma tests i.e. the subjects for which you have completed the final exam. If one of the subjects for which points are scored is not included in your degree subjects, the score for that subject will be calculated from the certificate of correspondence issued by Deutsche Schule Helsinki.
    • You can only score points for music and art if you have completed them as diploma tests.
  • If you have not completed a test in one of the subjects for which points are scored, you will receive zero points for that subject. However, you may be admitted without the subject in question if the certificate points you receive for other subjects are sufficient for admission.
  • You may only score points once for each subject.
  • If you have taken tests related to several matriculation examinations taken into account in the certificate-based admissions process, the certificate points are calculated by combining the tests that produce the most points for you.

Scoring for languages

  • If you have taken more than one test for mother tongue and literature, points are awarded for the highest scoring one according to the scoring for mother tongue and literature. You can score points for the other tests according to the scoring of English language.
  • You can earn points for more than one language of the same syllabus type.
  • You can earn points for the same language only once, even if you have taken tests in different syllabi for that language, or if you had taken a test in the language in question both as a mother tongue and as a foreign language.

Subjects that count towards all applicants’ scores

Subject

13–15

10–12

8–9

7

5–6

4
Mother tongue and literature: Finnish or German
36,1
32,5
28,8
21,7
10,8
5,4

Four other subjects

Subject

13–15

10–12

8–9

7

5–6

4
Mathematics
28,9
28,6
26,0
20,2
8,7
4,3
Mathematics in a certificate of correspondence
28,2
25,4
22,5
16,9
8,4
4,1
Finnish
28,3
25,5
22,6
17,0
8,5
4,2
German
28,3
25,5
22,6
17,0
8,5
4,2
English
28,3
25,5
22,6
17,0
8,5
4,2
B1 syllabus in a language
25,0
20,0
15,0
10,0
7,5
3,8
B2 syllabus in a language
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
B3 syllabus in a language
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Art
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Biology
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Chemistry
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Computer science
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Economics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Geography
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
History
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Music
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Philosophy
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Physics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Religion
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7
Worldview and ethics
24,5
19,6
14,7
9,8
7,4
3,7

Threshold criteria

In administrative and social sciences there are no threshold criteria.

Criteria for equal points

Applicants who have scored the same certificate-based points are in the same position in the admission process. In such a situation, applicants shall be ranked by comparing the certificate points that the applicants got from the following subjects:

  1. Certificate points in mother tongue and literature
  2. Certificate points for mathematics
  3. Certificate points for another subject giving the applicant the highest score
  4. Certificate points for another subject giving the applicant the second highest score
Degree programmes

Degree programmes

Below is a list of the degree programmes in administrative and social sciences that are currently available at each university. The degree programmes for 2026 will be decided by autumn 2025 at the latest. This means that in 2026, some degree programmes may be available that are not listed here. Some of the programmes listed may also change or disappear completely.

Administrative and social sciences

Tampere University:

  • Administrative Sciences, Sustainable Urban Development
  • Social Sciences, Sustainable Urban Development
  • Socially Sustainable Societies