10 - Finland - Branches of study, specialisation

University Education

University education is divided into the following twenty fields of study: Theology, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Economics, Psychology, Educational Sciences, Natural Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Sport Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, Medicine, Dentistry, Health Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Music, Art and Design, Theatre and Dance, as well as Fine Arts.

Institutions in the university sector are either multidisciplinary universities or those specialising in one (or two) field(s). Multidisciplinary universities may also offer instruction in those fields of study (engineering, economics and the arts), in which education is generally provided by specialised institutions. In multidisciplinary universities, education in each field is given by the respective faculty which is usually further divided into departments. Degrees are usually taken according to subject, but in some fields there are also multidisciplinary degree programmes. The lower (Bachelor’s) and the higher (Master’s) academic degrees usually include studies in one main subject and in one or more subsidiary subjects. Some fields may still offer specialisation areas. Universities have agreed between themselves on flexible subsidiary subject rights so that students may improve widely the supply of education in other universities than in the one they are entitled to study in.

Military education is provided at one military academy, the National Defence College run by the Defence Staff. The branches of study available to students are the army, the navy or the air force. The graduation times vary depending on the field of study and university, but the average time for taking a Master’s degree varied between 5 to 7 years in 2006.

Professionally Oriented Higher Education

Polytechnics provide education in the following educational sectors:
Humanities and Education;
Culture;
Social Sciences, Business and Administration;
Natural Sciences;
Technology, Communications and Transport;
Natural Resources and the Environment;
Social Services, Health and Sports;
Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services.

Polytechnics are usually multi-field institutions providing education in several fields. Each polytechnic’s operating licence defines the fields in which the institution is allowed to organise education. In terms of quantity, the largest fields of study are technology and communications, business and administration, as well as health care and social services. The average graduation times in 2007 varied from 3.9 to 4.5 years. After a Bachelor’s level polytechnic degree, the students can after at least three years of work experience, take a polytechnic Master's degree. The scope of these studies is 60-90 ECTS points and they take 1.5-2 years to complete.

Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe


Date: 2009
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