This study examines students’ perceptions, as revealed in prior studies, about the motivation for applying for admission to class teacher education in Finland. Collected data consist of students’ answers (N = 104 in 2018 and N = 102 in 2019) to the open-ended question ‘What has led you to teacher studies?’ Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis using a separate individual analysis process by researchers and the Atlas.ti program. The analyses revealed three categories: ‘teachers’ work in general’, ‘application as a process’ and ‘learning and studying’. Each category included several main meanings identified from students’ perceptions. Students regard teaching as an opportunity to bring about educational change and to influence society. The teaching profession is considered varied, with multiple career possibilities and considered an ambition for many students. The ‘application as a process’ could be interpreted as providing the possibility for an authentic understanding of teaching and the profession before formal studies begin. These allow students to be more engaged in their studies and, ultimately, to remain in the profession. This referred to the organization of sustainable teacher education as part of a sustainable society.