We accept international students and applications. We select both international and local students who meet the student selection criteria.
International applicants can apply and become accepted as a student.
Please take into consideration that Varia's vocational and TUVA trainings are intended primarily for people living in Finland. If applying for training from outside the EU or Schengen countries, the applicant must have a job in Finland.
Please make sure you check the student selection criteria for each vocational qualification.
There is no Finnish language requirement for Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services – degree or for The Vocational Qualification in Tourism Industry -degree. Please note that the possible interviews are done on-site at school only. The rule is the same for all applicants. Student selection is based on said interview.
Have you missed completing your vocational basic qualification and want to continue your studies? Or do you want to transfer from another educational institution to Varia to study the same degree?
You can apply to us if you have completed at least one (1) professional degree part of the degree you are applying for. The performance can be done at Varia or another vocational school.
The applicants will be selected based on the priority order in accordance with the need for education in basic degrees and parts of vocational qualifications. The order is as follows:
Applicants subject to compulsory education
Applicants with no employment or degree
Applicants with either no employment or degree
Applicants with employment and degree
Language test and interview
We don't offer the option to do the language test or interview remotely. Unfortunately, this rule is the same for all applicants.
We conduct language tests and interviews only on-site at school.
We are unable to help with Visa-issues. We don`t send additional letters / documentation for Visa application.
Unfortunately, that is not possible due to the large number of applicants.
Generally we don`t have a English language test. But there might be studies that test English language. Please read the student selection criteria for that.
Only valid photo documents are accepted as proof of identity. In Varia, the following documents are accepted as proof of identity: (specified on March 3, 2025)
Finnish passport
EU or Schengen Area passport
Foreign passport (non-EU or Schengen Area). In addition to a foreign passport, a valid Finnish residence permit card must be presented. N.B.! A residence permit card for a country other than Finland will not be accepted as proof of identity.
Finnish ID card or ID card issued by a country within the EU or Schengen Area
Finnish driver’s license
The customer must have an original ID card, just a photo of the ID card is not enough.
The Reception Centre's customer card or residence permit card are not official forms of identification and are not valid as proof of identity on their own.
Identity is checked in a language test, in an interview, in a entrance exam and at the beginning of studies.
Study and living costs
Study costs depend on the field of study you enroll in. The possible costs are mentioned on our website on the vocational qualification page for each field.
Please note that the cost of living in Finland is about 50 euros per day. Rent and food can be quite pricey.
No, as we are an upper secondary school and not a university nor do we provide higher education.
We do not offer student accommodation, housing or dormitories. Varia does offer all its students school lunch in the cafeteria on school days.
Study visa, residency or other matters
For such concerns, we recommend you contact Immigration Services.