The mission of universities is to conduct scientific research and provide education based on it. Universities of applied sciences (UAS) provide more practical education that aims to respond to the needs of the labor market. 

Universities, offering higher scientific and artistic education, award Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as well as postgraduate degrees, i.e. licentiate and doctoral degrees. Universities of applied sciences award UAS Bachelor’s degrees and UAS Master’s degrees. 

The target completion time for a Bachelor’s degree at a university is three years and for a Master’s degree two years on top of that. The completion of a UAS degree takes usually between 3.5 and 4.5 years. The requirement for Master’s studies at a university of applied sciences is a UAS Bachelors’ degree or another suitable degree and at least two years of work experience after the completion of the previous degree.