Nursing

Where can this degree take you?

As a registered nurse, you work in diverse healthcare settings. The nursing degree at Laurea is recognised internationally, career opportunities across hospitals, community care, public health and international organisations.

Career paths in nursing

Your expertise applies in roles such as:

• Registered nurse in hospitals, clinics or specialised units (surgical, internal medicine, mental health, pediatrics)
• Home care nurse — providing care in patients’ homes
• Occupational health nurse — supporting workplace health
• Specialist nurse in mental health and substance abuse care
• Health educator or trainer — in schools, communities and organisations
• Nurse in international or humanitarian work (with additional experience)
• Public health nurse role with additional studies
• Healthcare entrepreneur — establishing your own service business

Your impact as a graduate

As a nurse, you support people through some of the most important moments of their lives, illness, recovery, and the support of family. Your work touches patients, their families, your team, and the wider community. With Laurea’s English-language programme, you are also prepared to work in multicultural and international healthcare environments.

Apply in the joint application

Application period for English-language bachelor’s programmes is held annually in January.

Daytime studies:
Nursing, Tikkurila – Application period: 7.1.–21.1.2027 – Language: English – Semester begins: 09/2027

Blended-learning and online options are not currently available for this English-language programme.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the programme, you need:

• Upper secondary qualification — a Finnish matriculation examination, a vocational upper secondary qualification, or a foreign qualification giving access to higher education
• English language skills at B2 level (IELTS, TOEFL or other Laurea-approved test)
• Finnish language skills at B1 level — required for clinical placements with Finnish-speaking patients

See language requirements for the full list of accepted certificates.

Is this programme for you?

• You are motivated by caring for people, supporting health and managing complex situations
• You meet the Finnish (B1) and English (B2) language requirements
• You are ready for full-time, daytime studies with clinical placements
• You can study in an international, multicultural group in Tikkurila, Finland
• You are committed to patient safety, ethical practice and lifelong learning as a nurse

What you’ll be able to do after graduation

You graduate with professional nursing competence. You’ll be able to:

• Plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based nursing care across the lifespan and in different healthcare settings
• Provide care in surgical, internal medicine, mental health, pediatric, and rehabilitation contexts
• Support patient and family well-being in everyday and complex situations
• Communicate professionally with Finnish-speaking patients, families and colleagues
• Apply ethical, evidence-based and culturally sensitive practice in multicultural healthcare environments
• Take part in the development of social and health care services as a nurse-professional

These outcomes are built through core competence studies, clinical placements, and complementary studies, detailed below.

Programme structure

The programme is 210 ECTS in total and consists of:

Core competence studies (180 ECTS)

Core competencies are taught in English. The studies include

90 ECTS of theoretical studies and 90 ECTS of clinical practice.

Key units include:

• Complementary Competence: Advanced Nursing Competence
• Developing Competence as a Nursing Professional
• Client-centred support for health and well-being
• Nursing Competence and Clinical Decision-Making
• Ethical Decision-Making and Nursing Expertise
• Safe and Aseptic Medication Administration
• Developing Clinical Competence in Nursing

Clinical placements include eight practice placements in different healthcare settings, where you work alongside your future colleagues.

Complementary competence studies (30 ECTS)

Complementary studies can be taken in English or Finnish, and are divided into:

• Finnish language studies or other professional studies (15 ECTS), particularly recommended Finnish courses (Introduction to Finnish Health Care, Nursing Documentation in Finnish, Boosting Professional Finnish by Simulations) or other studies that deepen your professional nursing knowledge
• Complementary work practice (15 ECTS), in a nursing environment that supports your chosen specialisation

Bachelor’s thesis

Your thesis is a development project that applies research to practice, —typically completed in collaboration with a healthcare partner.

See the curriculum on ops.laurea.fi

How are studies organised?

Daytime studies at Tikkurila Campus

The programme is delivered as daytime studies at our Tikkurila Campus in Vantaa. The campus is easily reached by public transport (next to Tikkurila railway station). Attendance in face-to-face instruction is required as a rule, as the programme is full-time and requires full-time study.

Theory, simulation and clinical practice

Nursing studies combine theory, workshops, simulation exercises, and clinical placements. You first practice nursing skills in safe simulation environments, then apply them with real patients under supervision. All courses on clinical nursing include theory lessons, workshops and simulation exercises, followed by clinical placements in different healthcare environments.

Learning by Developing (LbD)

Laurea’s pedagogical model means you work on real projects in authentic environments. Students at Laurea have visited English-speaking schools to give health education, participated in community outreach for health promotion, and worked with partner organisations across Finnish healthcare.

What to expect at the start of your studies

At the beginning of your studies, students who have completed previous higher education studies attend a workshop where you assess your previous studies and design a personal study path together with your tutor teacher. Your previous studies and work experience can be recognised as part of your nursing studies through Laurea’s RPL procedures. A Finnish practical nurse degree (lähihoitaja) does not give recognition of professional studies, but other tertiary studies often do.

All students whose first language is not Finnish take a preliminary Finnish proficiency test at the start. Based on the test results, you are offered the Finnish language courses that best match your proficiency level. In addition, three nursing-oriented Finnish courses are part of the curriculum (Introduction to Finnish Health Care, Nursing Documentation in Finnish, Boosting Professional Finnish by Simulations).

Clinical nursing studies follow a clear progression: each course begins with theory lessons and workshops, then moves to simulation exercises in safe environments, measuring blood pressure, administering injections, problem-solving in clinical situations, before you apply these skills with real patients in clinical placements. This way, you are never asked to do something with a patient that you have not practice first in simulation.

Practical details

• Duration: the programme is designed to be completed in 3.5 years, full-time
• Clinical placements: eight practice placements totaling 90 ECTS, in different healthcare settings (hospitals, primary care, mental health, pediatrics, surgical and more)
• Working during your studies: after earning 140 credits, you can work as a substitute registered nurse alongside your studies
• Career guidance: support for finding internships and employment in Finnish healthcare

Multivultural student groups

You’ll study with classmates from across Finland and the world. Multicultural competence is one of the skills you build, and it’s increasingly valued in healthcare.

Studying in an international group

The nursing programme is international by design. Your classmates may include nurses-to-be from Finland, the EU, Asia, Africa and beyond. Multicultural learning is part of your professional development.

You can also take part in student exchanges internationally. Laurea has a Dual Degree opportunity with Nazareth University in the USA, where students spend one academic year in the US during their second year. Graduates receive degree certificates from both Finland and the US.

Concrete benefits of this degree

• Bilingual professional capability — English + Finnish nursing competence
• Strong clinical practice — 90 ECTS of placements in different settings
• International exchange options — including the Dual Degree with Nazareth University, USA
• Versatile employability — registered nurses are needed across healthcare settings, in Finland and internationally

Tution fees and scholarships

• EU/EEA students: No tuition fees
• Non-EU/EEA students: €9,500 per academic year

Scholarships are available for non-EU/EEA students. Read more about tuition fees and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

How to apply

Applications are submitted through Opintopolku.fi during the announced application period. For step-by-step guidance, see Applying to Laurea.