The scope and structure of degrees

Credit system

Along with the Bologna process and renewal of the first and second cycle degree system, also a new credit system was launched. The new credits correspond to the European system ECTS (Europan Credit Tranfer System).

In the new system, a student's annual workload is 1600 hours equalling 60 credits per year. The annual student workload is the same as that of the university teachers.

As for the third cycle, i.e. postgraduate degrees, the policy of using credits will be decided upon during the ongoing reform of the degrees.

Degrees, credits and the duration of studies

The scope of the first degree, the Bachelor's degree, is 180 credits. It is normally completed in three years. The Master's degree, 120 credits in its scope, takes two more years to complete. In other words, the Master's degree, which most students intend to take, can be completed in five years of full-time study.

As for the postgraduate degrees, there is no specific credit system in use at present. Ideally, however, a Licentiate (the lower of the postgraduate degrees) degree should be completed in two years and a Doctor's degree in four years of full-time studies (after the Master's degree). Usually, a student's goal is a Doctor's degree, without first getting a Licentiate.

Modules

The basic unit of a degree programme is a study module. One module may contain several types of work: lectures, exercises, set book examination, seminars, etc.

In an effort to ensure overall high quality standards for degrees, the University has set minimum requirements for the scope and for the number of study modules to be included in a degree. The Bachelor's degree consists of studies in the major subject, with a minimum of 60 credits, as well as basic studies in at least one minor subject (25 credits). At the Master's level, the scope of advanced studies is 30 credits or more.

Thesis included in all degrees

The Bachelor's and the Master's degrees both include a thesis. The scope of the thesis in a Bachelor's degree is six credits. The scope of the Master's thesis in most fields is 40 credits while the scope of the thesis required for the higher academic degree (Licentiate) in medicine and veterinary medicine is 20 to 40 credits.

Defining the scope and requirements for the thesis is due to the University's policy to emphasise the research-oriented nature of its degrees. The standardised and extensive scope of theses in all Master's level degrees ensures their eligibility for postgraduate studies. Theses of less extensive scope or of varying scope would jeopardise this goal.

Communication and professional skills required

Basic degrees in all fields include studies in information and communication technology: a minimum of five credits and a minimum of ten credits for language studies. Neither has professional development been neglected in the degree system: a few credits are reserved for studies familiarising the students with professional life.