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Bachelor’s degrees

Social Services

Do you want to make a real difference in people’s lives — empowering clients, promoting wellbeing and developing social services? This bachelor’s degree at Laurea prepares you as a Bachelor of Social Services — taught in English, supported in Finnish.

Degree programme

Bachelor of Social Services

Degree title

Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Social Services

Extent and duration

210 ECTS, 3,5 years

About the Social Services programme

The Social Services degree is the equivalent of the Finnish sosionomi (AMK) qualification — required for many roles in Finland’s social services field. You build professional competence to work with clients across the lifespan — from children and families to elderly, mental health, substance abuse and people with disabilities. The work emphasises a client-oriented approach, preventive work, initial support and the promotion of health and welfare.

A unique feature of the programme is practical training: 45 ECTS across three internships, each at least 10 weeks of full-time work in different client settings. Studies are anchored in Laurea’s Learning by Developing (LbD) model — you work on real projects with diverse clients and organisations throughout your studies. The blended format combines on-campus and online teaching at Tikkurila Campus. You’ll learn alongside other students from Finland and around the world, building multicultural competence that is increasingly valued in social services.

Note: All applicants for the Degree Programme in Social Services are required to have basic Finnish skills (level B1) and English skills (level B2). 
See the certificates required for applying here.

Apply in the joint application

Application period for degree programmes taught in English is held annually in January. Check available options for studying Social Services in Finnish.

Daytime studies

Not available in January 2027 joint application round.

Blended learning studies

  • Social Services, Tikkurila

    Application period:

    7.1.-21.1.2027

    Language:

    English

    Semester begins:

    09/2027

    Apply in Studyinfo

Online studies

Not available in January 2027 joint application round.

Where can this degree take you?

Employment outcomes for a Bachelor of Social Services graduating from Laurea are excellent, and the degree is required for many social services roles in Finland. You can work across a wide range of client groups and settings.

Career paths in social services

Your expertise applies in roles such as:

  • Social counsellor in municipalities, NGOs or the third sector
  • Family welfare counsellor
  • Service counsellor in social services
  • Youth leader or youth work specialist
  • School counsellor
  • ECEC Social Pedagogue (early childhood education and care)
  • Organisational worker in NGOs and welfare organisations
  • Specialist in substance abuse, criminal welfare or mental health support
  • Immigrant and integration support specialist
  • Entrepreneur or service provider in the social services field

You can work in child and family welfare, elderly care, youth work, adult welfare, substance abuse, immigrant work, ECEC, mental health, working with people with disabilities.

Your impact as a graduate

You support people through life transitions, build inclusion and prevent exclusion. Your work has direct impact on wellbeing, equality and the everyday lives of clients. You combine practical client work with research-based development of services — building both the people and the systems around them.

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 are required for internships with Finnish-speaking clients

See language requirements for the full list of accepted certificates.

Is this programme for you?

  • You are motivated by supporting people, promoting wellbeing and empowering clients
  • You want a practical, client-oriented bachelor’s degree with strong internships
  • You meet the Finnish (B1) and English (B2) language requirements
  • You enjoy working in multicultural, diverse and multidisciplinary teams
  • You are ready for blended learning at Tikkurila Campus — combining on-campus, online and internship work
  • You are committed to ethical, reflective and client-centred practice

What you’ll be able to do after graduation

You graduate with professional competence in social services that meets the requirements of the Finnish sosionomi qualification. You’ll be able to:

  • Work with clients across the lifespan: children and families, elderly, mental health, substance abuse, people with disabilities
  • Apply approaches and methods of social work in diverse settings
  • Support inclusion and prevent exclusion in your work with clients
  • Communicate professionally with Finnish-speaking clients and colleagues
  • Develop client-oriented services through research-based development
  • Work in multicultural, multidisciplinary teams that are increasingly valued in social services

These outcomes are built through the core competence studies, three substantial internships and complementary studies detailed below.

Laurea rewards excellence

Students who complete their Bachelor’s degree within the target time and with at least good grades will be granted separate study rights for Master’s degree studies.

Read more

How are studies organised?

Blended learning at Tikkurila Campus

The programme combines on-campus teaching with online learning. Blended learning includes face-to-face days at Tikkurila Campus, scheduled online sessions with mandatory attendance, and independent study. The campus is easily accessed via Tikkurila railway station.

Learning by Developing

Laurea’s pedagogical model means your studies connect to real client situations and partner organisations. You work on authentic challenges in the social services field — not just classroom exercises. Through experience and participation in different courses, internships and projects, you can find the client group or area that interests you professionally.

What to expect at the start of your studies

At the start of your studies, you build the foundations: working with clients in social services, understanding service systems and starting to develop your own study path. Studying as blended learning requires self-direction, group and networking skills, and the ability to schedule studies to fit your life. Even though much of the work is online, scheduled online meetings and on-campus sessions have mandatory attendance — plan accordingly.

You are supported by tutor teachers throughout your studies, who help you shape your study path. If you have previous studies in social services, related fields or relevant work experience, these may be recognised through Laurea’s RPL procedures — discuss this with your responsible teacher at the start.

The internships are a defining part of the programme. Tikkurila Campus is close to the Helsinki metropolitan area, which provides a wide range of internship and work possibilities with the many partner organisations Laurea works with.

Practical details
  • Duration: the programme is designed to be completed in 3.5 years, full-time
  • Internships: three internships totalling 45 ECTS, each at least 10 weeks of full-time work in different client settings (first: working with clients; second: methods; third: research and development of work)
  • Internships are full-time and require attendance, therefore plan time and finances accordingly
  • Finnish language support: Finnish-language development is integrated throughout the programme, supporting your work with Finnish-speaking clients
  • Multicultural learning: classmates from across Finland, Europe and the world; some courses integrate exchange students or other Laurea degree programmes
See the curriculum

Concrete benefits of this degree

  • Sosionomi-equivalent qualification: required for many social services roles in Finland
  • Strong internship component: 45 ECTS in three different settings
  • Multicultural competence that are increasingly valued in social services
  • Bilingual (English + Finnish) professional capability
  • Laurea’s Master’s in Global Health and Crisis Management is open to Bachelor of Social Services graduates

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.

Applying to the programme

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Is this degree equivalent to the Finnish sosionomi (AMK)?

Yes. The Social Services degree in English is equivalent to the sosionomi (AMK) qualification — including for jobs that require sosionomi-level qualification in Finland.

Why is B1 Finnish required?

Internships and many social services roles involve direct work with Finnish-speaking clients. You cannot complete internships safely or competently without basic Finnish. The programme also supports Finnish language development throughout.

Can I apply for daytime or online studies?

Daytime and fully online options are not currently available for this English-language programme. Campus for blended learning studies is located in Tikkurila, Vantaa.

What does blended learning mean in practice?

The programme combines on-campus days at Tikkurila with online sessions and independent study. The exact balance varies by course and semester. Blended learning is full-time — plan accordingly.

How long is the internship period?

Total 45 ECTS, divided into three internships of at least 10 weeks each (full-time). The first focuses on working with clients, the second on methods, and the third on research and development of work.

Can I work in Finland after graduation?

Yes — Bachelor of Social Services graduates are in good demand in Finland. Your Finnish language skills (B1 at entry, developed further during studies) make Finnish employment possible.

Can I do my internships abroad?

Some internships can be completed internationally (often through Erasmus+ or partner networks). However, the requirement to complete internships in Finnish-speaking client environments typically means at least some are in Finland.

Can prior learning be recognised?

Yes. Earlier studies in social services, related fields and relevant work experience can often be credited towards your degree.

Mónika wanted to have a wider influence in peoples lives

She graduated in 2020, and says that the support of teachers is something she still fondly remembers. The study group in Laurea felt like a big family from day one.

Information about admissions

  • Admission services

    admissions@laurea.fi

    +358 9 8868 7273

What is studying in the programme like?

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