Further Vocational Qualification in Tourism Services
The programme is designed for qualified and experienced tourism and hospitality professionals who want to further develop their skills and expertise in customer service and tourism activities.
You can choose the study option that best matches your interests:
- Take your customer service and sales skills to the next level. Gain the expertise needed to succeed in the tourism and hospitality industry. Learn to understand customer needs, develop and market customer-focused tourism products and services, and create memorable experiences in accordance with responsible tourism practices.
- Start creating unforgettable tourism experiences. Gain the expertise to plan, organize, and deliver engaging activities while ensuring outstanding customer service and safety. Learn how to design unique and memorable experiences for diverse customer groups and become a skilled tourism activity planning and coordination professional.
The programme builds on the student’s existing professional hospitality competence and focuses on customer service, marketing and sales, tourism activities, customer-oriented development, professional growth, and Finnish working life.
Who can apply?
You may apply for this programme if you meet the requirements regarding previous studies and work experience in the tourism industry and are motivated to study in an international group in Savonlinna.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- At least 18 years of age
- Previous professional qualification: a vocational qualification in tourism or an equivalent international qualification
- Professional experience: a minimum of two years of relevant work experience in customer service and tourism
- English language skills: A minimum score of 85 in Duolingo English Test or 5.0 in IELTS General Training Test (other language tests, such as TOEFL, are not accepted)
- Motivation to work in Finland: the applicant must demonstrate a genuine interest in working in the Finnish hospitality and tourism sector
- Good IT skills
- Good physical and mental health to study and work in the tourism industry.
Applications that do not meet the requirements cannot proceed to the next stage of the selection process. Please read the application introductions below.
Description of the Education
Further Vocational Qualification in Tourism Services provides you with the skills needed to work in a variety of roles within the tourism industry.
Holders of a further vocational qualification in tourism services are able to:
- plan, productise, sell, and implement different customer-centric tourism services
- work in different customer advice and sales tasks in the tourism sector, in marketing or tourism service tasks, at a hotel reception, or in event production
- work in a sales-minded, customer service oriented, and quality conscious manner and profitably, productively, and responsibly as well as operate in compliance with sustainable operating practices
- see to customer safety
- serve customers in different languages
- assess and develop their work.
Graduates may seek employment, for example, in tourism companies and organisations, meeting and conference services, hotels, tourism service companies, and companies organising events and conferences.
Content of the Education
The scope of the Further Vocational Qualification in Tourism Services is 155 competence points. The qualification consists of a compulsory unit, Working in customer service in tourism industry (50 competence points), and optional units (105 competence points). The duration of the programme is 1 to 1.5 years.
Vocational units 155 cp
Choose between two study options based on your interests:
Specialist in Customer Service and Sales
- Working in customer service in tourism industry 50 cp
- Working in marketing and sales tasks in tourism industry 45 cp
- Customer-oriented development of products and services 30 cp
- Utilisation of artificial intelligence in the work process 15 cp
- Promoting the green transition 15 cp
Customer-oriented development of products and services, 30 cp, is part of the Further Vocational Qualification in Entrepreneurship education programme, OPH-3615-2026.
Professional Tourism Activity Planner and Coordinator
- Working in customer service in tourism industry 50 cp
- Working in marketing and sales tasks in tourism industry 45 cp
- Organising tourism activities 45 cp
- Utilisation of artificial intelligence in the work process 15 cp
OR
- Promoting the green transition 15 cp
A personal competence development plan will be created for each student based on their previous experience and studies.
Form of Instruction, Teaching Time and Language
Studies are mainly delivered through daytime contact teaching at Samiedu’s Paviljonki Campus in Savonlinna. Contact teaching includes classroom instruction, online learning, and practical training. During your studies, you will develop work-related skills through workplace learning periods with local employers under training agreements. The language of instruction is English.
Price
The tuition fee is EUR 9,500 per year. If the student completes the qualification within the duration of year and a half, the total tuition fee is EUR 14,250.
Students are responsible for covering the costs of the Duolingo or IELTS test certificate, well as their housing, travel, personal computer, and living expenses.
Students are entitled to a free lunch on days when they have on-campus instruction. Samiedu does not offer scholarships or other financial aid options.
For the resident permit, applicants must provide evidence to the Finnish Immigration Service that they have sufficient funds in their bank account to cover living expenses. More information is available on the Finnish Immigration Service website (opens in a new tab).
Application Information
The application period is from 15th October 2026 to 15th January 2027. Interviews of applicants are held during Calendar Weeks 3 and 4 in 2027.
A supplementary application round may be organized if the number of applicants is low.
Student admissions will be made by 31st January 2027. *)
A maximum of 25 students will be selected for the education based on sufficient language skills and interviews. A minimum of 12 students must be selected for the education to start.
The education is scheduled to start on 4th of October 2027.
If you have questions related to the education or the application, please contact us by email at admissions@samiedu.fi. We kindly ask that you refrain from making phone calls regarding this matter.
*) Attention: If you do not live in Finland and are admitted as a student to Samiedu, the Finnish Immigration Service will make the final decision on your residence permit.
Application Procedure:
- Take the Duolingo or IELTS General Training English Test.
Every applicant must attach a Duolingo English test score certificate (minimum score of 85) or an IELTS certificate (minimum score of 5.0) to the application.
The Duolingo English Test is an online exam that assesses reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills and takes less than an hour to complete. Official results are available within 48 hours after completing the test. This link opens the Duolingo English Test in a new tab.
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) General Training test is a widely accepted English language test that assesses reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The test takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete, and official results are typically available within 6–8 days. Both test centre–based IELTS and IELTS Online are accepted. More information is available on the official IELTS website.
Please note that the language certificate must be valid. For Duolingo, the certificate is valid for two years from the date the results are certified, and for IELTS, it is valid for two years from the test date.
- Attach previous certificates of your education and work experience of the field, as well as a Duolingo or IELTS English test certificate to the application.
Applicants who have submitted all required documents and meet the eligibility criteria will proceed in the selection process. Applicants are ranked based on their scores (e.g. Duolingo or IELTS), and the top 50 applicants will be invited to an interview.
Interview invitations will be sent by email. The interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. More detailed information about the interviews will be provided after the application period has ended.
