Time: 12 January – 31 December 2026. The pathway starts on 12 January, and students must be present on campus by this date. Participation in the orientation week (12-16 January) is mandatory for all students.
Place of Study: South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), Kouvola campus, Paraatikenttä 7, Kouvola
Scope: on average 60 ECTS credits
Target group: All who are interested in these studies. The students must be fluent in English and have basic computer and Internet skills.
Credited in degree: Bachelor of Business Administration, Digital International Business
Enrolment period: 18 November – 27 November 2025. The enrolment is binding. The enrolment form will open on 18 November at 9 am Finnish time (UTC+3).
Number of study places: 5
Fee: Semester fee EUR 250, or EUR 500 for the whole academic year. The customers pay the fee for the first semester when confirming their study place. The fees for the following semesters will be charged each semester. You can read more about our payment policy here.
Please notice that only students with a Finnish social security number (i.e. a personal identity code) can start their studies on Xamk Pulse courses. You can read more here.
Xamk degree students who are present or absent cannot enrol for open path studies. Enrolments by Xamk degree students will be removed without separate notification.
Learning outcomes:
The goal of open path studies is to complete, on average, 60 ECTS credits of core competence studies included in the degree programme in one academic year. By completing at least 50 ECTS credits, you have the right to apply to become a degree student in the degree programme. No more than 10 ECTS credits of your open path studies may be field-specific practical training completed during the path.
Later, if you get a place as a degree student, you will graduate from the Digital International Business Degree Programme for challenging digital international business, marketing, and commerce assignments. The programme, taught in English, will help you become a professional able to communicate with people from various cultural backgrounds and take an active part in developing the world of work.
The Degree Programme in Digital International Business offers you a wide range of competence in business administration in a digital international context. Studies equip you with solid skills in basic business functions and competence to work in the digital business environment. Studies focus also on the use of modern project management and development of work methods and tools.
Contents and methods:
The contents of these studies are in accordance with the Xamk University of Applied Sciences Bachelor of Business Administration (Digital International Business) degree programme, and the language of instruction is English. Digital International Business is a highly international degree programme, with lecturers of many different nationalities. The teaching methods are adapted to multicultural study groups typically consisting of students from various nationalities. Each semester, the Digital International Business programme hosts more than 20 exchange students from several European countries.
The learning outcomes and requirements of open path studies correspond to those of programmes leading to a bachelor’s degree. At the beginning of your studies, you can make a personal study plan (PSP) together with your Studies Coordinator, considering your previous studies and your own goals.
The first-year studies start with courses on Study and Workplace Skills, Business and Entrepreneurship, Intercultural Competence, Economics, Digital Skills, English Communication Skills, Finnish Communication Skills (for Finnish students) or Finnish 1 (for non-Finnish speaking students). In the second semester, the focus is on New Business Environment, Customer-Oriented Marketing, Customer Insight and Customer Experience, Supply Chain Management, Research and Development Skills, Profession Swedish (for Finnish students) and Finnish 2 (for non-Finnish speaking students).
The studies are carried out as daytime studies with the group of full-time degree students. Contact lectures are during weekdays, mainly during 8 am–6 pm on campus. It is not possible to complete the studies as online studies. The timetable for spring is published before the start of the studies.
For further information on the studies, please contact:
Degree Programme Coordinator Jagat Kunwar, jagat.kunwar@xamk.fi, tel. +358 44 702 8250
Studies Coordinator Hugh Clack, hugh.clack@xamk.fi, tel. +358 44 702 8758
For further information on degree studies, see:
https://www.xamk.fi/en/degree-programmes/bachelor-of-business-administration-digital-international-business/
Link to the curriculum:
https://opinto-opas.xamk.fi/28/en/50/188674/2081?lang=en
Student selection is based on the course ‘Motivation and readiness for higher education studies’
After enrolling for open path studies, you must complete an online course on Motivation and readiness for higher education studies, aiming to assess your study-related motivation, knowledge and skills. The course’s scope is 1 ECTS credit, equivalent to approximately 27 hours of work for the student. The course is completed online independently, and studying is independent of time and place. Instructions for completing the motivation course will be sent by email by 1 December 2025. The course must be completed within one week, i.e. between 2 December and 8 December 2025.
Students are selected based on the points they receive from the Motivation and readiness for higher education studies course. In the event of similar scores, the students will be chosen by lottery. The course will be scored automatically. An approved completion requires that at least 30% of your answers are correct and all sections must be completed. If possible, the course can be credited towards optional studies of the degree.
After completing the Motivation and readiness for higher education studies course, all who have enrolled for the open path studies are notified of the selection results by email by 10 December 2025.
Those who are selected must confirm their study place by 15 December 2025 at 3 pm by following the instructions they receive by email. The study place can only be confirmed by paying the first semester fee. The fee is not refunded even if you do not start your studies or discontinue your studies. The fees for the following semesters will be charged at the beginning of each semester. If you cancel your study place or discontinue your studies, always notify us at openstudies@xamk.fi.
If all who are selected do not confirm their study place by the deadline, some of those on the waiting list can receive a place. They will be notified of this by email.
Xamk Pulse does not provide information about the applicant’s reserve position or the score with which he/she completed the course. The applicant can check his/her own score until the last day of the course. Instructions can be found on the course platform Learn.
The emails we send may end up in spam!
BYOD – Bring your own device
The BYOD policy demands students to use their own laptops. Read more here.
Study grants
Studying at the Open UAS does not entitle you to a study grant or other student benefits or discounts. In case you intend to study unemployed, please contact your local employment office before you begin your studies.
From path studies to degree studies
In open path studies, there is no credit transfer for previous studies. However, if you are admitted as a degree student, the studies you have completed earlier may be accepted as part of the degree.
1. You can apply to be a degree student in the Bachelor of Business Administration degree programme in the joint application time during your path studies if you meet the admissions criteria. More information here.
2. It is also possible to apply to be a degree student without a formal qualification in a separate application procedure organised by Xamk. This is possible after you have completed 50 ECTS credits at Xamk. More information is available here. The credits you have completed will be recognised as a part of your degree. Path studies do not automatically guarantee a place in a degree programme, since students are selected through an application process. The application process focuses on the number of credits completed and the average grade.
Please note that if you are admitted as a degree student, the tuition fee for students outside of the EU/EEA is EUR 10,700 per academic year for bachelor’s degrees. More information on tuition fees is available here.
Additional information about the enrolment
Xamk Pulse Open University of Applied Sciences, email openstudies@xamk.fi.
Information regarding the start of studies will be provided via email before the studies begin.
Xamk Pulse OUAS reserves the right to make changes.
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is audited by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC).