University Education
University students progress in their studies by completing individual courses and study modules. The
study modules, which are made up of courses, include basic studies, 25 ECTS, intermediate studies,
60 ECTS, and advanced studies, 120 ECTS.
The freedom of choice concerning the order of studies varies between different subjects: in some
fields, students are free to plan the sequence of their studies, while the order of courses is defined in
more detail in other fields. For some courses, the student may be required to have completed certain
preliminary studies or received, for example, the grade "good" from earlier studies. The universities
themselves define how many times a student can resit an exam.
University students may take studies included in the degree programme or other possible studies
offered by the university, or complete studies at other Finnish or foreign universities and institutions of
higher education. Universities have separate agreements on the right to study at these institutions.
Postgraduate programmes, i.e. those leading to Licentiate and Doctor’s degrees, are available for
students with a higher academic degree or a corresponding foreign degree. The prerequisite is usually
a "good" grade in the main subject. The university may also accept a degree taken in another field, if
the person is found to have the knowledge and ability required for doctoral studies. If the institution
regards a degree or study record to be deficient in some respects, the student may have to take
complementary studies before starting the programme.
In an amendment to the Law on universities (556/2005) the target times for university degrees were
defined. The target time for a Bachelor’s degree is 2-3 years and 2-3 years for a Master’s degree. The
universities are urged to organise the studies so that a full-time student can take the degrees within the
target times. The students can exceed the target times with two years. Acceptable reasons such as
parental leave or military service are not included in the two years. After the two years the students can
be granted the right to complete their studies after the acceptance of a feasible plan for the completion
of the degree.
Professionally Oriented Higher Education
Polytechnic students progress in their studies by completing courses. Each degree programme
consists of core studies (90 ECTS credits) and professional studies (75 ECTS credits), elective
studies, practical training to promote professional skills (at least 30 ECTS credits) and a final project
(15 ECTS credits), which also includes a maturity test. Studies are compulsory, optional (alternative) or
elective (free-choice). After completion of a polytechnic or another appropriate higher education degree
and at least three years of work experience in their field, students may apply for the right to complete a
polytechnic Master’s degree. The scopes postgraduate degree programmes vary between 60–90
ECTS credits.
Failed courses tend to prolong the duration of studies, which will make it more difficult to complete
studies in the required period of time. Some polytechnics allow students to retake a failed course twice,
unless otherwise agreed in special circumstances. Failed courses should, as far as possible, be
retaken during the same term. In order to obtain a degree, compulsory courses must be completed to
an acceptable standard.
Studies must be completed within the period of right to study, i.e. within no more than one year over
and above the standard duration of studies. The standard duration of studies in years is the total scope
of credits determined in the curriculum divided by 40 credits. Periods of absence will prolong the period
of right to study by a period equivalent to the absence with a maximum permissible period of absence
of four terms, i.e. two academic years, however.
Once a student exceeds the standard duration of studies, the student will have one year to conclude
his/her studies. If a student fails to graduate within the standard period of study but wants to conclude
his/her studies within the right-to-study period, s/he will have to draw up a personal study plan together
with a teacher tutor or a co-ordinating teacher and send two copies of it to the Head of the Degree
Programme for approval. Such students may apply for continuation of the period of right to study and
this may be granted in special cases, based on an application, for one time for a maximum period of
one year, in order for the student to conclude his/her studies. If the student fails to graduate during the
continuation period granted and wants to conclude his/her studies, s/he will need to reapply as a
student, using the normal application procedure.
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