Reform of the degree structure at the University of Helsinki

Admission principles

• General principles
• Supplementary studies

General principles

The objective of student selection is to ensure that admitted students are as motivated and talented as possible. Student admission may be arranged as a joint application to several uni19 versities. The University of Helsinki aims to raise the number of young students, who have passed their matriculation examination or other upper-secondary qualifi cation in the same spring or the previous autumn, admitted to pursue a degree at the University.

Persons who have achieved eligibility for higher education by completing the required education may apply for the right to pursue a degree at the University of Helsinki. Under the Universities Act, a person shall be eligible for studies leading only to a lower or a higher university degree, or to both a lower and a higher university degree. In general, applicants are granted the right to pursue both a lower and a higher university degree (180+120 ECTS credits).

Under the new degree system, students may apply to a Master’s degree programme in a different discipline from that of their Bachelor’s degree. An application to a Master’s degree programme may also be made after completing a polytechnic degree or on the basis of studies corresponding to a Bachelor’s degree taken at other Finnish or foreign universities. After the Bachelor’s degree, students will also be free to pursue their careers before later returning to take a Master’s degree. Students wishing to complete only a Master’s degree (120 ECTS credits) may pursue studies leading to a Master’s degree or enrol in a separate Master’s programme.

Universities may restrict the number of admitted students. The Universities Act provides for the universities’ right to decide upon admission criteria. A university shall apply consistent admission criteria to all applicants whenever it is impossible for the university to admit all the applicants owing to a need to restrict the number of students. The faculties decide on admission to a degree programme.

The universities have specifi ed the general principles of international student admissions by harmonising, for example, the language skill requirements of international applicants.

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Supplementary studies

In order to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills, a student admitted to a Master’s degree programme may be required to complete supplementary studies equalling a maximum of one’s year studies. The maximum scope of these supplementary studies is 60 ECTS credits. The supplementary studies are not usually included in the Master’s degree (120 ECTS credits).