Higher Education Systems - Finland

Degree programs in Finland are offered by traditional research Universities (yliopisto) and Universities of Applied Sciences (ammattikorkeakoulu, AMK). Universities focus on scientific research and theoretical education and have the right to award doctoral degrees. By contrast, UAS are mainly multidisciplinary and regional higher education institutions that offer a pragmatic education putting the emphasis on applied research and development. In addition, UAS do not offer doctoral programs.

In total, there are fourteen Universities in the Ministry of Education and Culture sector. Two of them are foundations pursuant to the Foundations Act and the others are public corporations. Twenty-three Finnish UAS operate as public limited companies in the Ministry of Education and Culture's administrative branch. In addition to these, the universities include Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu (National Defence University) which is part of the Finnish Defence Forces, Högskolan på Åland (Åland University of Applied Sciences) in the self-governing Province of Åland, and Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu (Police University College) which operates under the mandate of the Ministry of the Interior.

The objectives, extent and overall structure of degrees and specialization studies offered at Universities and UAS are defined by the following government decrees:

• The Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004 with amendments 561/2005, 1136/2009, 967/2010, 351/2011, 421/2012, 1039/2013, 1439/2014)
• University Act (558/2009 with amendments up to 644/2016)
• The Government Decree on UAS (1129/2014).

Within the framework of these regulations, Universities and UAS decide independently on the detailed content and structure of their degrees, as well as on their annual curricula and forms of instruction.
Finland has two official national languages, Finnish and Swedish. In most institutions, the primary national language of instruction is Finnish. However, at Åbo Akademi University, in the Hanken School of Economics, Arcada UAS, Novia UAS, and Åland UAS, the primary national language of instruction is Swedish. The University of Helsinki and the Engineering Schools of Aalto University provide bilingual education. In most research universities, almost all MSc programs are taught in English, and several English-language BSc programs are also available, both in the RU and the UAS.

Admission

In Finland there is restricted entry, "numerus clausus", to all fields of study, as there are more applicants than there are places available, as determined in performance negotiations between the Ministry of Education and Culture and the higher education institutions.

Each higher education institution decides on which students it admits as well as on the criteria on the basis of which students are selected for admission. In general, access to first cycle higher education programs requires a Finnish matriculation examination taken at the end of the General Upper Secondary School. The same eligibility is also provided by the International Baccalaureate (IB), European Baccalaureate (EB) and Reifeprüfung examinations, vocational upper secondary qualification of at least three years or other degree that has been deemed equivalent. Student selection is usually based either on grades, an entrance exam, or both. In addition, some UAS may ask for the proof of a sufficient knowledge and skills for a specific program.

Higher education is free of charge for citizens of European Union member states and those belonging to the European Economic Area. For students from other states, tuition fees are charged as of 1 August 2017.

Degrees

Finland is full member of the Bologna Process since 1999. Higher education studies are measured in credits (opintopiste). One year of full-time studies on average is equivalent to 1600 hours of student work and is defined as 60 credits, complying with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Universities

In Universities, students can complete Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and continue to academic postgraduate degrees. Universities may also provide professional specialization programs, degree modules as open university education or as other non-degree studies, and continuing professional education.

Attainment of the first cycle university degree (Bachelor, kandidaatti) requires at least 180 credits (three years of full-time study), including 6-10 credits for a Bachelor’s thesis.

Second cycle university degrees (Master) are taken after a Bachelor's degree or equivalent studies. Its length is at least 120 credits (two years of full-time study), including 20 – 40 credits for a Master’s thesis. In most fields of studies, the degree title is maisteri, in the field of Technology the title awarded is diplomi-insinööri.

Postgraduate degrees include Doctoral and Licentiate's degrees, which are completed after a Master's degree or equivalent studies. A Doctor’s degree (tohtori) takes approximately four years of full-time study after a second cycle degree. To receive a Doctorate, a student must complete the required postgraduate studies; demonstrate independent and critical thinking in the field of research; and write a doctoral dissertation and defend it in public. A degree of Licentiate (lisensiaatti) may be taken before the Doctor's degree. This degree takes about two years of full-time study to complete, with postgraduate study requirements similar to a Doctorate, but with less stringent requirements on the thesis.

Universities of Applied Sciences

At UAS, students can complete Bachelor's and Master's degrees. UAS may also provide professional specialization programs, degree modules as open university education or as other non-degree studies, and continuing professional education.

The Bachelor’s degree consists of 180 – 270 credits (3 - 4.5 years of full-time study) depending on the field of study. The title is ammattikorkeakoulututkinto (AMK). To apply for Master’s degree studies, students must have completed a Bachelor's degree program at UAS, or some other suitable higher education qualification, and had three years of work experience in the field after completing their Bachelor's degree. The Master’s degree (ylempi ammattikorkeakoulututkinto (AMK)) consists of 60 or 90 credits (1 or 1.5 years of full-time study).

Grades

The typical grading scale at Universities is from 0 to 5 (in integers), with a grade zero meaning a fail, grade one - lowest passing grade and grade five – the highest achieved grade. Some courses do not use number grading, but give only a "pass" or "fail" mark.