Apply now for the third year of the BA degree
Have you completed two years of business studies in another university? Or, have you achieved a Higher National Diploma or another similar qualification in business? Apply to HELBUS’ BA (Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business and Management) top up programme and achieve a complete university degree. At HELBUS, you can complete the third year of your BA degree in just six months of intensive studying. The BABM or top-up programme is well suited for applicants who want to finalise – or “top up” – their previous studies and turn them into a BA degree.
The third year courses deepen the skills and knowledge students have acquired in diverse areas of business and management in their earlier studies: for example, strategic leadership, financing, and corporate communication.
You should consider the top up programme if
- you want to complement your previous studies and obtain an official BA degree awarded by the University of Northampton (Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business and Management)
- you wish to build a stronger foundation for your professional career
- you need a stepping stone for further studies, such as HELBUS's MBA programme.
Puoli vuotta opiskelua, loppuelämä urakiitoa. Apply now for the top up programme!
Important information about the BABM programme:
- The programme can only be completed full-time on-site. Classes are held on average three days a week.
- As is customary at HELBUS, all instruction is in English.
- Studies start in the beginning of January and end in July.
- After completing the programme, students can apply for master’s studies at HELBUS and in other universities in Finland and abroad.
Kandiopintojen kolmas vuosi on osa BA-tutkintoa, jonka voi suorittaa kokonaisuudessaan HELBUSissa. HELBUSissa tutkinnon kahden ensimmäisen vuoden opinnot suorittanut opiskelija pääsee suoraan kolmannelle vuodelle (eli top up -ohjelmaan) ilman erillistä hakua. For more information, see the BA programme overview.
Who can apply?
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
- Two years of studies in business or commerce (120 ECTS credits, including 60 credits of basic studies and 60 credits of specialised studies from the second year).
- Higher National Diploma in Business (Pearson, ABE, NCC), or
- A two-year "foundation" or "associate" degree in business or a related field.
In addition, applicants must meet the language proficiency requirements. Proficiency can be proven in one of the following ways:
- IELTS: English language test score (overall band score of at least 6.0, with no section below 5.5) or equivalent (for example, TOEFL 550/213, Password Skills Plus).
- A grade of at least C in advanced English from the Finnish matriculation examination (in this case, no further language certificate is required).
- A lower-level degree completed entirely in English (in this case, no further language certificate is required).
HELBUS welcomes applications to all programmes throughout the year.
Applicants to the top-up programme must include the following documents in their application, all of which must be in English:
High school diploma
A high school diploma or a 3-year vocational qualification certificate and academic transcript, along with any relevant diploma from previous studies.
Motivation letter
An English-language motivation letter (up to 4000 characters including spaces). The motivation letter should explain the applicant’s motivation for completing a business degree and demonstrate their English language skills.
Proof of English Language Proficiency
Proof of English language proficiency. You can find the language proficiency requirements in the “Who can apply?” section on this page.
Recommendation Letter
An academic reference letter from a previous teacher or someone who can assess the applicant’s suitability for the HELBUS programme. The letter must be in English.
Certificates and other attachments will be sent to the University of Northampton for approval. This is why all documents must be in English. Applicants can request an English-language high school diploma from the matriculation examination board, and other certificates can be translated by a professional translator if needed.
Admission decision
The final admission decision is made by the University of Northampton, HELBUS’ academic partner. You will receive this information within a few weeks from submitting your application.
Tuition fees
Instalment | Tuition fee | Payment schedule |
Year three | 5 833 e | January 2026 |
5 833 e | April 2026 | |
Total | 11 666 e | |
The price includes a value-added tax of 25,5%.
Students accepted into the programme are eligible to apply for Kela’s study allowances and loans for studies abroad, provided they meet Kela's other requirements.
Application schedule
The top-up programme begins in January and ends in July. The next possible start date is in January 2026.The final application deadline is 1.12.2025.
Start the application here!
Do you need help with your application or more information about the top-up programme? Contact the HELBUS staff.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Need more information on the application process? Contact us by email at admissions(at)helbus.fi.
