Poliisi

Overview

Police officers in Finland qualify through the Police (AMK) degree at the Police University College (Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu, Polamk) in Tampere. Polamk runs the admission itself, through a selection exam with two phases. This page covers the Finnish-language programme. The selection criteria document also mentions a separate Swedish-language programme with its own application.

Who can apply

By the end of the application period, an applicant must be a Finnish citizen, hold the required prior education, and hold a category B driving licence. Polamk also describes good character (nuhteettomuus) and suitable health as requirements. Everyone who meets the requirements is invited to the exam. After the exam, selection is conditional on a health examination, a drug test, a basic security clearance by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, a copy of the qualification used to apply, and proof of swimming skill (the Nordic swimming test of the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation).

Exam pattern

The exam is worth 100 points in total. Candidates must score at least 55 points to be selected.

Phase one (held at Polamk, about ten hours for each applicant in one day):

• Physical test, 20 points.

• Written exam, 30 points.

• Part of the psychological tests.

Phase two, for those ranked highest after phase one:

• The rest of the psychological tests.

• A group task.

• An individual interview.

Suitability assessment (the psychological tests, interview and group task) is worth 50 points. In the selection criteria it is assessed in six psychological areas, three interview areas and two group-task areas.

Written exam. The candidate writes an essay on a topic set in the task, using two source materials, at least one of which comes from the official selection exam book. The exam book cannot be used during the test, so its content must be known from memory. Five aspects are scored 0, 2, 4 or 6 points: following the task, using the materials, reflection, structure and language.

Physical test. For applications from the summer 2026 period (opening 4 May 2026) there are five parts, in this order: endurance (a 1,500 m run), eye-hand coordination, agility, pull-up (or high-pulley pull-down) and bench press. Eye-hand coordination is a new ball-throwing test that can add a point but cannot fail you. A failed part, or a zero in two parts, ends the exam. Bench press weights are 35 kg for women and 65 kg for men.

Marking and results

Polamk's April 2026 selection criteria give the weights: suitability assessment 50%, written exam 30%, physical test 20%. Failing the written exam, the physical test, or a required area in the psychological part rejects the performance. Candidates are invited to phase two in order of points. Ties are decided by the suitability score, then by psychology, interview and group-task scores in that order. Applicants are placed by their first-choice start date first.

Important dates

Polamk marks all dates as provisional. Applications run in two periods a year, and the Finnish-language programme has four start dates a year.

• The summer application period (usually April to June) fills January and March starts. In 2026 it ran from 4 May to 17 June, with phase one on 10 to 19 August 2026 and phase two on 5 to 9 October 2026, with decisions on 16 December 2026.

• The winter period (usually November to February) fills August and October starts. The next one runs from 18 November 2026 to 24 February 2027, with phase one from 31 March to 9 April 2027 and phase two from 10 to 14 May 2027, with decisions on 1 July 2027.

The application window opens on the first day at 10:00 and closes on the last day at 16:15, and you can apply in both periods.

How to apply

Apply through Polamk's own online application service (haku.polamk.fi). Invitations to each exam phase and all schedule changes are sent through that service, and you do not need to register for the exam separately. If you apply for both start dates in one period, state which is your first choice, which can be changed until the period ends.

After the exam

Students admitted conditionally must book their own health examination and fill in the security clearance forms sent to them. Admitted students then study the Police (AMK) degree at Polamk.

Preparation tips

The suitability assessment carries the most points, so prepare for the interview and group task as well as for the fitness test. Learn the exam book well enough to write from memory, and train for the 1,500 m run, pull-ups and bench press at the stated weights.