Post-graduate Diploma in Tourism and Service Business
Boost your skills in our innovative post-graduate programme!
Post-graduate Diploma in Tourism and Service Business is a 60 ECTS programme for Bachelor’s Degree holders. Those who complete the programme successfully have a possibility to continue into the Master’s Degree Programme.
Full time studies
- location: Mikkeli, Finland
- duration of studies: 1 year
- rolling admission: acceptance information will be sent to the selected students shortly after the qualifications have been verified
- tuition fee: €12 000
- studies begin: March 2nd 2026
- mode of study: full-time studies
Entry requirements
- relevant prior studies: at least Bachelor’s degree in tourism, food, hospitality, business, commerce, economics, or finance
- at least 2 years (24 months) of work experience from the sector of tourism, food, hospitality, and/or business after completing the Bachelor’s degree
- valid English language test – check the requirements below
Selection procedure
- Suitability of the degree and work experience
- Paid tuition fee
Opportunity to study in Finland
Finland consistently ranks high in the world happiness ranking, quality of education and security. It is also abundant in nature and peaceful environment. Finland is a technological forerunner in various sectors and innovation is supported by a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem producing some of the world’s most successful companies.
Studying at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
Xamk is among the top universities of applied sciences in terms of number of degree programs, amount of continuous learning credits and external research funding, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture’s comparison of various indicators. By joining Xamk, you have the possibilities to explore multitude of interests in various in-house development projects and study programs.
You will be studying in the picturesque Finnish lake district, in the town of Savonlinna.
Content of the Programme
The content of the one year programme is as follows:
Tourism and Service Business Development
- Hospitality business environment analysis
- Future insights in the field of tourism and hospitality
- Research and development of customer experience
- Development of e-business and e-services
- Sustainable growth
International Working Environments
- Academic writing for the post-graduate students
- Multi-cultural teamwork and communications
- Research-based development
Management and Leadership
- Management of experience services
- Marketing management
- Financial management and planning of service business
- Service processes and developing of processes
Elective studies
- Finnish 1
In the programme, we focus on applied knowledge on tourism and service business. Our pedagogical focus is on learning by doing – utilizing project and problem-based learning. During the studies, students actively participate in conducting projects for local companies. Students generate ideas for new ventures, develop and test them in simulated environments with continuous feedback from relevant stakeholders during their study period. The primary role of the instructors is to facilitate learning and to be in dialogue with the stakeholders. Students are expected to be proactive in their learning.
Master’s Degree in Tourism
The diploma programme in Tourism and Service Business is a one-year diploma programme with additional possibilities to transfer credits and continue in our Master’s Degree in Tourism. Many of our graduates continue their residence and are gainfully employed in their specialized area after graduation from the Master’s degree in Finland.
The students who have successfully accomplished the PGD programme will be eligible to apply for a Master’s degree in Tourism and Service Business at Xamk. To apply for the Master’s degree, the students will have to submit an online application during the application window. After that they will be conditionally accepted to the degree programme.
The conditions to enter the master studies are:
- 60 ects obtained from the PGD
- paid tuition fee for one semester (Degree students will be entitled to scholarships. Please note that the scholarship scheme is revised annually)
- Average grade 3
- Applying through the joint application system and completing the entrance exam (interview or written assignment)
The students must meet the following entry requirements:
- 2 years of work experience from the sector of tourism, food, hospitality and/or business
- a relevant education background.
How to apply
The applicants may choose to apply individually by submitting the online application and all the required documents via the online application form, or with the help of our authorized partners who will also provide extensive guidance on the application procedure, entry requirements, preparation for relocation to Finland etc.
- If you apply on your own (not via an authorized partner), please, be prepared to submit the following documents together with the online application: copy of the passport and a copy of the relevant degree certificate
- if you apply via an authorized partner, be in touch with the partner and follow their instructions.
The students will be selected by using a rolling admission method. This means that the applications are handled shortly after they have arrived. Qualified students will be admitted to the programme until the quota for the intake has been reached. The applicants will confirm their study place by paying the tuition fee.
Please, note that Xamk does not charge any application fee, however, if you apply with one of our agents you maybe charged counselling fee for additional services such as, but not limited to immigration consultation and visa application assistance. Please, be in touch with an individual agent to find our more about the related fees and processes. The fees charged by an agent are not in any way controlled, influenced or related to Xamk.
Language requirements
The applicants have to prove their English language skills either by an internationally recognized language test or by previous studies. When using previous studies as a proof of proficiency in English language, the acceptable studies are either a higher education degree or an upper secondary degree completed in one of the following countries: an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or the United States. Please note that your degree must have been taught and assessed entirely in English in that country. Online degrees and degrees completed in English in other countries than the ones listed are not accepted as proof of English language skills.
Minimum requirement: total score of 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
IELTS Academic UKVI and IELTS Online are also accepted.
Required documents: The official IELTS score report must be uploaded to the application form. The test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the test organiser until 15 September 2025. IELTS scores are valid for three years.
Minimum requirement: total score of 60 (Test sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing)
TOEFL iBT Home Edition is also accepted.
Required documents: The TOEFL score report must be uploaded to the application form. In addition, the test results must be delivered to Xamk from the test organiser. TOEFL scores are valid for two years.
Order your TOEFL result to be delivered to Xamk before you submit the application in Rolling admission!
Xamk Designated Institution (DI) code: 0179
Minimum requirement: total score of 55 (Test sections: Speaking and Writing, Reading, and Listening)
PTE Academic Online and PTE Academic UKVI are also accepted.
Required documents: The PTE score report must be uploaded to the application form. The test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the test organiser until 15 September 2025. PTE scores are valid for two years.
Minimum requirement: total score of 169 (Test sections: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking)
Required documents: The relevant certificate must be uploaded to the application form. The Statement of Results number must be provided. The test results must be verifiable from the online verification service of the test organiser until 15 September 2025.
Minimum requirement: a minimum total score of 6.0 (Test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)
The Oxford ELLT (English Language Level Test) is accepted if it is completed on or after 1 July 2023.
Required documents: The Oxford ELLT certificate must be uploaded to the application form. The Test taker number and Certificate reference number must be provided.
Minimum requirement: GMAT test total score of 450 points
The result for GMAT Focus Edition and GRE test results must be equivalent to the GMAT result. These results are converted to the GMAT result with a relevant tool. Further information on the conversion
Required documents: The relevant score report must be uploaded to the application form. In addition, the test results must be delivered to Xamk from the test organiser.
Order your test result to be delivered to Xamk before you submit the application in Rolling admission!
The higher education degree must be completed in English in one of the following countries:
- any EU/EEA country,
- Australia,
- Canada,
- New Zealand,
- Switzerland,
- United Kingdom, or
- the United States.
A doctoral thesis completed in English in any country is also accepted as proof of English language skills.
The degree/programme must be taught and assessed entirely in English in the country in question. Online degrees and degrees completed in English in other countries than the ones listed above are not accepted as proof of English language skills.
The member countries of the European Union (EU) are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
European Economic Area (EEA) consists of the member countries of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Required documents: The relevant degree certificate, transcript of records and Diploma Supplement (if available), an additional certificate on the language of the degree (if applicable)
If the language of the degree and the country of studies are not clearly stated on the degree certificate, transcript of records and/or the Diploma Supplement, an official certificate/letter issued by the educational institution or awarding body that shows the language of the degree and the country of studies is required.
For doctoral thesis in English, the evaluation of the thesis is required.
Welcome to Savonlinna
Savonlinna is a small town in eastern Finland with approximately 36,000 inhabitants. The population of the entire region is about 55,000. The Savonlinna region is situated at the heart of Europe’s most extensive lake district. The town itself is built on a chain of islands; around 40 % of the surface area of Savonlinna is covered with lakes and ponds.
Olavinlinna Castle, founded in 1475, serves as a reminder of Savonlinna’s colourful, though often brutal past. Nowadays, Olavinlinna Castle is a venue for the world-famous Savonlinna Opera Festival.
Savonlinna is an ideal place for enjoying peace and the beauty of nature but it also offers various opportunities for spending active leisure time.
Get to know Savonlinna
Check out the location of Savonlinna‘s student apartments on the map
MORE INFORMATION
Xamk
Xamk
Finland
Finland
Savonlinna Campus
Savonlinna Campus
Frequently asked questions
Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD) is a master-level education programme, designed to enable a transparent and straightforward recruitment process of international talents and their further relocation to Xamk campus towns to join the full-time studies on-site. Our PGD programmes consist of 60 ECTS of professional courses, which are meant to prepare the students for multi-faceted working environment in Finland and to ensure their competitiveness in the employment market.
Students who successfully accomplish our PGD programme and who meet the eligibility requirements of the related Master’s degree, can get their acquired 60 ECTS transferred directly to the Master’s program at Xamk. This setup provides the participants with an opportunity to graduate with a Master’s degree from Xamk after submitting their final thesis and thus does not extend the study time unlike similar setups in other HEIs worldwide.
Students accepted to a PGD and who meet the eligibility requirements for further Master’s degree programme enrollment are granted a conditional acceptance letter to one of our Master’s degrees. An unconditional letter of acceptance to Master’s degree programme will be handed out after the successful graduation from the PGD and fulfillment of the admission requirements for the relevant Master’s program. The detailed requirements for enrolling in a Master’s programme are explained above in the main section of the web-page.
You can apply to the programme by yourself or via an educational agent. You will find the detailed requirements and application information from this site. Please check that your prior education, work experience and language level meet the requirements.
The seats will be filled through a rolling admission system.
After being accepted to the programme, Xamk’s Education Export team will send you the invoice via the DreamApply system.
We will send an acceptance letter to all accepted students. We recommend to start the visa application process as soon as your study place has been confirmed, because the process can take a long time to be completed.
We will also organise an online orientation session, where you will get all the necessary information to start preparing for your arrival to Finland.
In addition to that, you will receive a thorough info package with plenty of advice and guidance to make your relocation as smooth as possible. There are also informational videos that you can watch prior to your arrival.
We strongly recommend to arrive to Finland only a few weeks before the programme starts. This will give you plenty of time to settle to Mikkeli and find your way around the town before your studies start.
In case you arrive with your family, please read our guide very thoroughly and make the necessary preparations for their arrival as well.
For any questions related to Post-graduate Diploma in Tourism and Service Business,
please contact:
pgd@xamk.fi