An applied arts degree program may be offered for many different fields of study. The main characteristic is that this type of program is not research-based. Instead, it is designed to be vocational in nature.

The formal higher education system of Finland is the 7-3-2-2 pattern. The university takes two years in vocational or technical education and finally two-year pre-tertiary education. Finland also has several public as well as private universities that have enabled accessibility of higher education to students.