FAQ for 2021 entrance examinations
After carrying out careful assessment and risk analyses, Finnish universities have concluded that holding entrance examinations which require applicants’ physical presence and also involve careful safety arrangements is the best way to implement a fair student admission procedure that takes into account subject-specific special requirements and treats all applicants equally.
In spring 2020 universities also held on-location entrance examinations that complied with detailed safety regulations. There have been no reports of exposure to coronavirus or chains of infection resulting from these previous examinations.
For spring 2021, the safety regulations have been revised so that, for example, the precautionary distance has been increased from last year. Information on the transmission and infectiousness of the virus has increased, and so it is possible to effectively make the examination arrangements.
The universities also ensure that it is known who took the examination in which room, meaning that any chains of infection can be effectively traced.
Entrance examinations are not classified as public events and are therefore not subject to the general restrictions on public gatherings.
For arts subjects, entrance examinations are being held both remotely and on location. Programmes that have already announced that they will hold entrance examinations remotely (for example, University of the Arts and programmes that include international applicants) will carry out their examinations as planned.
Is participation in entrance examinations safe?
All arrangements pertaining to arriving at the examination location and taking the examination itself aim at an examination process that is as safe as possible for both applicants and invigilators.
The safety arrangements include receiving applicants in outdoor areas, escorting them to the examination room, using protective equipment and maintaining sufficient distance between applicants.
Universities recommend that applicants avoid close contact with others for two weeks prior to the examination and during the examination itself. Applicants are invited to familiarise themselves well in advance with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) guidelines on coronavirus transmission and protecting oneself: Transmission and protection – coronavirus (THL).
Should applicants wear a face mask during the examination?
Universities require that masks be used during entrance examinations. If you have health-related reasons for not wearing a mask, please apply for individual arrangements. Please contact universities’ admission services Opens in new window if you have questions about wearing a mask. Applicants who have not contacted the admissions services in advance and do not wear a mask will be redirected to a separate space for those not wearing a mask.
I’m worried about the coronavirus situation. What should I do?
Applicants are invited to familiarise themselves well in advance with the THL guidelines on coronavirus transmission and protecting oneself: Transmission and protection – coronavirus (THL).
What should I do if I get ill before the entrance examination?
Those in isolation or in official quarantine or self-quarantine are not permitted to take the entrance examination. The coronavirus situation requires responsible behaviour from everyone in accordance with the instructions issued by THL and the local authorities Opens in new window . Taking care of both your own health and that of others must be a priority.
If an applicant has symptoms of a coronavirus infection, they must follow the instructions of the public healthcare system in their area and get tested for coronavirus. Those waiting to take a test or to receive the results should stay at home and avoid close contact with others, and thus they are not allowed to take an entrance examination.
If an applicant travels to Finland from a country subject to travel restrictions due to the coronavirus situation, THL recommends that the applicant self-quarantine at home (THL instructions on travelling during the coronavirus epidemic). Those in self-quarantine should not take an entrance examination.
It is not possible to make special arrangements for applicants to take an entrance examination if they have been assigned to isolation or are in quarantine.
You can read more about the joint university safety guidelines for all applicants on the Unifi website or on the websites of universities and the joint application system.
Why can’t an examination room be arranged for those in quarantine?
Those in quarantine are subject to the Communicable Diseases Act (1227/2016). When you are in official quarantine or self-quarantine, you must avoid close contact with people outside your own household, in accordance with the THL instructions.
Those in quarantine are not allowed to enter university premises, and as it is not possible to take an entrance examination without coming into close contact with others, those in quarantine cannot take an entrance examination. Entrance examinations are held according to the timetable provided and no additional examinations are arranged.
Why can’t I take a remote examination if I’m quarantined? After all, the universities organised remote examinations last spring.
Entrance examinations must be carried out using uniform arrangements for all applicants in order to ensure equal treatment. It is therefore not possible to organise entrance examinations separately for those in quarantine or those assigned to isolation.
In order to effectively avoid exposure before entrance examinations, applicants are encouraged to avoid close contact with others for two weeks prior to the entrance examination and during the examination itself.
What if physical entrance examinations cannot be arranged?
The method of carrying out the entrance examinations will only be changed if regulations by authorities so require. Ensuring equal treatment and trust in the application system is essential in student admissions. Remote, online examinations that are not invigilated involve obvious legal risks and challenges. We consider non-invigilated remote examinations to be an alternative that should be used only as a last resort.
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