Reform of the degree structure at the University of Helsinki

Transition period

Guidelines for the transition period

In its meeting on 24 March 2004 , the Senate of the University of Helsinki made a decision on general guidelines for a transition period during the reform of the degree structure.

According to this decision, the transition to the new degree structure must be organised as flexibly as possible for all students. The University must ensure that when guidelines for the transition period are determined and when decisions concerning individual students are being made, the transition must not unduly complicate or prolong studies. For example, studies completed in accordance with the old degree system will be fully recognised in the new system. The faculties will be responsible for the practices and procedures of the transition.

During the transition period students may choose whether to finish their degrees according to the credit system of the former degree system or whether to transfer to the credit system of the reformed degree system. Once a student has chosen to complete studies in accordance with the new degree system, he or she cannot return to the old system.

The faculties will disseminate information about the reform of the degree structure to their own students and potential applicants both in Finland and abroad. The University Communications will inform a wider range of interest groups about the reform.

• Conversion of old credits into ECTS credits
• Provision of information during the transition period

Conversion of old credits into ECTS credits

The starting point of the degree reform was that the scope of the degree programmes in the new degree system should be determined on the basis of a careful analysis of their content and on an assessment of the student workload. This should be done using such methods as academic curriculum core analysis, not by multiplying credits by a specific coefficient. However, the conversion of the old credits into ECTS credits using coefficient is necessary when a student transfers from the old degree system into the new system and the previous studies are to be incorporated into the degree programme as ECTS credits.

Courses completed at the University before 1 August 2005 are converted into ECTS credits by multiplying them with the coefficient 2. If the course workload is significantly heavier than the result thus obtained, the faculty and the department must ensure that a more appropriate coefficient is used. Exceptions to this general rule include the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Pharmacy, where studies completed before 1 August 2005 are converted into ECTS credits using the coefficient 1.5 because of the extensive nature of the degree programmes in these fields, the national cohesion of the fields and the small number of minor subject students. During the transition period, the Student Register will provide information about courses completed before 1 August 2005 in both old credits and ECTS credits.

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Provision of information during the transition period

The faculties will disseminate information about the degree reform to their own students and potential applicants both in Finland and abroad. University Communications will inform a wide range of interest groups about the reform.

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