Degree Structure

The Faculty of Social Sciences offers students a variety of study options ranging from an undergraduate, Bachelor’s degree right through to a postgraduate degree.

In the left hand side-bar of this page you may find all the relevant information you need about the major subjects and International Master's programmes offered at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The minimum number of credits in a Bachelor´s degree is 180 credits (180 ECTS) and the Master´s degree comprises of 120 credits (120 ECTS).

The Bachelor´s degree studies can be divided into three main blocks: General studies, Major subject studies and Minor subject studies. Major subject studies can be divided into basic and intermediate studies.

More information about the degree structure terminology can be found here.

Although the Faculty offers some undergraduate level courses in English, completing the Bachelor's degree requires an excellent knowledge of Finnish or Swedish. The main language of instruction at the undergraduate level is Finnish, whereas Swedish can be used in most degree programmes and major subjects.

International applicants can apply for undergraduate studies only by taking the entrance examination held in Finnish or Swedish.

The Master´s Degree studies include studies in major subject and elective studies. Some disciplines also require compulsory minor subject studies.

The postgraduate degrees are the Licentiate and the Doctoral degrees. Both require independent research and a thesis. The doctoral thesis has traditionally been published and then defended in a public debate. It should be possible to complete a Licentiate in two or three years and a Doctoral degree in four.

All courses and teaching of the different major subjects/programmes of the Faculty of Social Sciences are listed in WebOodi and can be found in the left hand side-bar.

If you browse other study guides than Courses in English or the catalogues of the International Master's Degree Programmes in the WebOodi system, you will most likely find information on courses taught in Finnish and Swedish. Although some of the information is provided in English, it does not mean that the courses are necessarily taught in English.

In order to make sure that the courses you are searching for are in fact taught in English, only use the Courses in English study guides/ Master's Programme study guides. Otherwise, please remember to check the language of instruction on the right corner of the course page.