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Faculty of Health Sciences - Study guide 2026 - 2027

Last modified: 02.07.2026

Introduction

This is the study guide for English-language education offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences for the academic year 2026–2027. The guide provides general instructions related to studies and studying for students of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

You can find additional study-related instructions in Kamu and Peppi:

In KAMU Student tools and facilities, you will find all the daily tools and current information related to your studies.
In the KAMU Student Databank, you will find all general instructions related to your studies, including information on study rights, registration, international studies, and accessibility.
In KAMU, under New Students, you will find, among other things, UEF Digistart and a checklist for new students, which contains important information for the beginning of your studies.
In Study Communities (login required), you will find subject- or degree programme-specific instructions. Instructions may also be available, for example, in eLearnMoodle. Please make sure to check the practices of your own subject or degree programme at the beginning of your studies.
In Peppi, you will find the structure of your degree programme, course descriptions, and course implementation details (such as schedules).

Faculty of Health Sciences

Welcome to study at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland!

The Faculty of Health Sciences operates on the Kuopio campus of the University of Eastern Finland. Research and education in the field of health sciences represent a strong and long-standing area of expertise at the university. The Faculty of Health Sciences is internationally unique in that it brings together education and research in medicine, dentistry, biomedicine, health sciences, nursing science, nutrition science, and pharmacy under one roof.

The Faculty of Health Sciences educates experts and professionals for several key sectors in healthcare and well-being. We are the largest provider of medical education in Finland, the only university training licensed nutritionists, and we educate approximately half of the country’s pharmacists. There is a constant demand in society for health science professionals. Our students receive education based on the latest research and gain excellent competencies for working life.

The faculty has approximately 2,500 undergraduate students across five degree programmes and five major subjects. Education is provided in the degree programmes in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Master of Science in Pharmacy), and biomedicine, as well as in the major subjects of nursing science, nutrition science, and public health (ergonomics and occupational well-being, health promotion, public health, and sports and exercise medicine). The attractive range of programmes is complemented by a Bachelor’s programme taught in English as well as three Master’s programmes taught in English.

Faculty’s educational offering:

Faculty’s Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes taught in English:

Guidance

Curriculum

Practical Training

Minor Subjects

Completing Studies and Assessment

Faculty of Health Sciences: Examinations

Examinations are organised on campus as supervised on-site exams, paper-based exams, or electronic exams. In addition, some courses may offer the possibility to take exams remotely. Please check the exam practices and registration details in the course description in the Peppi study guide.

Further information on exams is available in Kamu:

General instructions related to exams
Instructions for electronic exams

Instructions for students participating in exams

Students must always check the registration practices and instructions for exams and act in accordance with the instructions given.
Exams usually begin on the hour.
Participants will be admitted for thirty (30) minutes from the start of the exam.
Students may leave the exam no earlier than thirty (30) minutes after it began.
The exam room will be filled starting at the front and the middle of the rows.
The students may take pens, a rubber and an unlabeled drinking bottle to their seat for the duration of the exam, as well as their student card or other official ID. No pencil case, bag, telephone, watch or other smart devices may be taken to the seat.
The phone must be turned off for the duration of the exam. It should be noted that calculators, dictionaries, etc. may not be taken to the exam unless they are specifically allowed in the exam (i.e. marked on the list of participants).
It should be noted that the use of a smart device in an exam automatically results in the rejection of the exam, except for digital exams that are completed on one’s own device in a secure server environment.
Students may leave the examination room to use the bathroom when accompanied by the supervisor. If there is only one supervisor in the exam, bathroom visits will be carried out when the supervision shift changes; the students will be informed of this when the exam begins.
When students return their examination papers, their identity will be verified (student card with a photo, identity card, driver’s license or passport). An electronic student card is not accepted for identification purposes in exams as the use of a phone is prohibited during the exam. The student will confirm their participation in the exam by signing the list of participants.
If the student does not wish their exam answers to be graded, they must specify this in writing when they return the examination papers (not to be graded).
All examination papers must be returned to the supervisor (including blank sheets and sketching sheets).

If you have been granted individual study arrangements in examinations (e.g., extra time to complete the exam), you must inform the study secretary/official responsible for the examination in question of this no later than 10 days before the examination.

Regulations Concerning Studies

Applying for a degree

Faculty of Health Sciences: Applying for a degree

The Dean awards the degree certificate to a student of the faculty who has completed all studies required for the degree and has had these recorded in the study register. When applying for the degree, the student must be registered as present at the university.

The digital degree certificate includes a Finnish and an English title page, a Finnish and an English transcript of records, and an English Diploma Supplement.

Applying for a degree certificate

You may submit the application only after you have completed all studies required for the degree and they have been recorded in the study register.

Before submitting the application, check your personal study plan (PSP) and ensure that all required studies have been completed and correctly placed within the degree structure. Follow the instructions of your subject regarding the review of your PSP (for example, contact your PSP counsellor in advance if instructed to do so).
Transfer any excess studies to studies outside the degree. For example, it is recommended that a Bachelor’s degree be completed at the minimum scope. Studies exceeding the required scope of the degree should be left outside the degree, as they may later be utilised in other degrees if needed. Studies left outside the degree are transferred to a separate study right at the latest when the degree is compiled.
If your degree includes minor subjects, request their completion before submitting the application. Minor subject modules are completed in the department/institute/school in which the minor was studied; contact details for the person responsible for compiling the module are available in Peppi under the minor subject information.

Complete the electronic application form for the degree certificate in the UEF eServices (> Student Services > Applying for diplomas) and attach the required documents to your application.

Processing of the application

The application is first forwarded to the department/institute/school for review by your PSP counsellor. Incomplete application will be returned back to you.
Once approved by the PSP advisor, the application is forwarded to the faculty for the preparation of the degree certificate.

Delivery of the degree certificate

The digital degree certificate is the official proof of the degree. You can download your digital degree certificate from Peppi once it has been issued. You will receive a notification to your UEF email when the certificate is ready.

Faculty degree certificates

Academic Affairs Secretary Jonna Loikkanen
Email: [email protected]
Office: Medistudia building, Floor 4, Faculty of Health Sciences Academic Affairs Office

How can I ensure that I receive my certificate by the end of the semester?

The processing time for a degree certificate is three weeks from the date on which the application has been submitted. During peak periods, such as at the end of a calendar year or academic year, the processing time may be longer.

To ensure that you receive your certificate by the end of the semester, please observe the following deadlines:

Spring semester: submit your application by 31 May
Autumn semester: submit your application by 30 November

Applications received after these deadlines will be processed in order of arrival. Please note that for applications submitted after the deadlines, it cannot be guaranteed that the certificate will be issued before the end of the semester. Degree certificates are dated either on the date the application is received or on the date the final study attainment (e.g. Master’s thesis) has been assessed and recorded in the study register.

For general instructions on applying for a degree, please see Kamu.

Theses: Bachelor’s thesis and Master’s thesis

These guidelines compile general instructions concerning the Bachelor’s thesis, Master’s thesis and the advanced studies thesis. More detailed thesis-related instructions are provided in the curricula of the degree programmes as well as in separate guidelines. Students are advised to consult the practices and instructions of their own degree programme and to follow them accordingly.

Faculty of Health Sciences: Bachelor’s thesis and Master’s thesis

Thesis in a lower university degree (Bachelor’s thesis)

The Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy includes a thesis (Bachelor’s thesis in Pharmacy) with a scope of eight (8) ECTS credits. The Bachelor’s degrees in Science and Health Sciences include a Bachelor’s thesis with a scope of 6–10 ECTS, as specified in the curriculum.

The Bachelor’s degrees in Dentistry and Medicine include a thesis with a scope of six (6) ECTS.

In addition to a literature-based component, the thesis may include an experimental part. The experimental component may be completed as part of a research project, in which the student’s independent contribution must be clearly demonstrated and assessed. The thesis is completed independently by the student.

The Bachelor’s thesis is assessed by at least one person who holds a higher university degree (i.e. a Master’s degree).

Thesis in a higher university degree (Master’s thesis)

The advanced studies of a major subject in a higher university degree, or a corresponding entity or degree programme, include a thesis with a scope of at least 20 and no more than 40 ECTS credits, as defined in the curriculum. The purpose of the Master’s thesis is to demonstrate the student’s ability in scientific thinking, mastery of research methods, familiarity with the thesis topic, and skills in scientific communication.

Master’s theses and advanced studies theses are public documents. They are published in the university library according to the publication method chosen by the student—either as open access or as a restricted-access thesis available only at campus libraries.

The thesis typically includes, in addition to a literature-based component, an experimental part. The experimental component may be completed as part of a research project, in which the student’s independent contribution must be clearly demonstrated and assessed. The thesis is completed independently by the student.

In accordance with a decision by the head of department/institute/school, the thesis is assessed by the supervisor together with at least one person who holds a higher university degree. Any deviation from this procedure must be justified and confirmed by the person responsible for the academic subject.

Faculty of Health Sciences: Double Master’s thesis

At the Faculty of Health Sciences, it is possible to complete a so-called double Master’s thesis.

A double Master’s thesis refers to a single thesis submitted simultaneously for two different Master’s degrees—either within the same faculty, across two faculties, or between two Finnish universities.

At the Faculty of Health Sciences, a double thesis is permitted if both general and formal requirements are met. It may serve as a Master’s thesis, an advanced studies thesis in dentistry, or a licentiate thesis in medicine.

General requirements:

The faculty has approved the possibility of completing a double thesis within its degree programmes.
The collaboration must bring significant added value, quality and impact to the thesis.
The regulations of both institutions (universities, faculties, or degree programmes) must allow for a double thesis and be sufficiently compatible.
Both institutions must have necessary supervision resources and committed supervisors for joint supervision.

Formal requirements for the preparation and approval of a double thesis:

A double thesis has only one author (co-authored theses are not permitted).
The student and the supervisors must carefully assess the feasibility of a double thesis, considering available resources and the topic’s suitability.
The thesis must meet the ECTS and academic requirements of both degree programmes.
Supervisors must inform the student that the workload is significantly higher than for a single-discipline thesis.
The double thesis must demonstrate the student’s mastery of methods of both disciplines. The topic and material must be theoretically and conceptually sufficient in both.
Supervision practices must be agreed upon in advance, including the schedule, discipline-specific requirements and assessment procedures.
A supervision agreement must be prepared, detailing:
- the language of the thesis and maturity test,
- the schedule and examination process,
- the originality check procedure, and
- available supervision resources and duration of supervision.
By signing the agreement, the student, supervisors and representatives of both degree programmes commit to the terms of the double thesis.
An electronic originality check must be completed and approved by both supervisors before assessment.
The thesis is assessed according to the assessment practices of both institutions, each its own process.
The names of both institutions must appear on the thesis cover page, indicating it is a double thesis.
The thesis must be submitted simultaneously to both institutions.
The maturity test must be completed separately for each institution.
The thesis is public and published according to the practices of both institutions.
The student may request rectification of the assessment in accordance with the relevant university’s procedures.

Starting the thesis process

You may develop a thesis topic or idea based on lectures, discipline-specific literature, scientific publications, or your own experiences. Academic subjects introduce potential research topics, for example, in information sessions, dedicated courses, research group presentations, and on their websites.

Once you have identified a topic that you consider suitable, contact your personal study plan (PSP) counsellor or another designated contact person in accordance with the practices of your degree programme. Discuss your thesis topic and potential supervisors. As a rule, two supervisors are appointed for a thesis, at least one of whom must be a member of the UEF staff. Thesis supervisors are required to hold at least a higher university degree (i.e. Master’s degree).

After identifying suitable supervisors, you should discuss your research topic in more detail (selection of topic, scope, and implementation), agree on supervision arrangements and a schedule, and complete a supervision agreement.

Before commencing the thesis, it is important to prepare a research plan, which will guide the progress of the thesis process. In addition, determine whether a separate research permit is required for your thesis.

The above instructions are general in nature. You must always check the specific practices and guidelines of your own degree programme and act in accordance with them.

UEF Library to support your thesis process:

UEF Library offers the course Information Skills (1 ECTS), which is recommended for students working on their thesis. The course can be included in elective studies if it is not a compulsory course in the curriculum of the degree programme.

The course covers, among other topics: the basics of research data management, information retrieval from discipline-specific databases and data archives, the use of open science in working life, the basic use of the Zotero reference management software, citing different types of sources, thesauri, and the use of artificial intelligence in assigning keywords for one’s own thesis.

For more detailed information, see the discipline-specific course description in the study guide and register for the course in Peppi (link opens in a new tab).

Students are also encouraged to explore the library’s materials on data management and to take advantage of the opportunity for personal guidance in the use of information resources and databases. Further information is available on the library’s website (link opens in a new tab).

Faculty of Health Sciences: Assessment Criteria / Good (3)

Background of the Study (Planning)

The purpose and goals of the study are clearly and precisely defined.
The research problem is well formulated and clearly presented.
The research questions are clearly defined, well justified, and logically connected to previous research.
The student demonstrates an active and independent approach while making appropriate use of supervision.

Literature Review (Background and Starting Point)

The literature review is sufficiently extensive, relevant to the topic, and used appropriately to support the study.
The selected literature supports the research objectives and is addressed critically and objectively.

III. Material and Methods

The material is used appropriately and effectively.
The choice of research method is well justified and suitable for addressing the research question.
The reliability of the material and methods (data collection, measurement, and analysis) is assessed thoroughly.

Results

The results are presented clearly and meaningfully, and they answer the research question.
The results are logically structured and based on a careful analysis of the material.
Visual representations (tables, figures, quotations) are clear, logical, and support the findings effectively.

Discussion

The discussion provides a well-reasoned comparison of the study’s results with previous research.
The reliability and ethical aspects of the research are assessed appropriately.
The conclusions are clear, coherent, and aligned with the study’s objectives.

Language, Layout, and Scientific Presentation

The language is fluent, clear, and scientifically appropriate.
The study is well-polished and consistent in terms of language, formatting, and referencing.
The structure of the study is balanced and supports scientific communication.

Faculty of Health Sciences: Assessment Criteria: Excellent (5)

Background of the Study (Planning)

The scientific and societal justifications of the study are comprehensive and well structured.
The study is innovative and introduces new perspectives on the topic.
The student demonstrates a high degree of independent planning and execution.

Literature Review (Background and Starting Point)

The literature review is extensive, well structured, and includes the most recent and relevant research related to the research question.
The review is critical, in-depth, and demonstrates the author’s independent thinking and insight.

III. Material and Methods

The material is utilized in an exemplary and effective manner.
The selection of research methods (data collection, measurement, and analysis) is thoroughly justified and reflects critical thinking. The methods are exceptionally well suited to the research question.

Results

The results provide a comprehensive and insightful answer to the research question.
The results are presented clearly, consistently, and logically.
The study offers new perspectives and contributes original insights to the topic.
Visual representations (tables, figures, quotations) are exceptionally clear and enhance the presentation of the results.

Discussion

The discussion critically and consistently evaluates the results in relation to previous research.
The reliability and ethical aspects of the research are assessed thoroughly and thoughtfully.
The conclusions are well justified, critically presented, and provide an excellent response to the research questions.

Language, Layout, and Scientific Presentation

The language is stylistically excellent, fluent, and engaging.
Referencing is systematic and fully aligned with disciplinary standards; the use of sources demonstrates scientific precision.
The thesis is a coherent, well-structured, and professionally presented whole.

Faculty of Health Sciences: Maturity test

Purpose of the maturity test

The maturity test demonstrates the student’s mastery of the thesis topic—how well the topic has matured in their thinking. The student writes an essay based on 1–3 topics provided by the supervisor, choosing one. The essay should be reflective, critical, and structured, examining the thesis topic from one or several justified perspectives.

The Faculty of Health Sciences requires that the maturity test be completed in a way that generative artificial intelligence cannot be used. Therefore, the test must be taken as a supervised exam. Detailed instructions are provided in the curriculum.

Demonstrating language proficiency

According to the Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004), students must demonstrate:

Familiarity with the thesis topic, and
Proficiency in Finnish or Swedish (in the language of school education).

For the Bachelor’s degree, the maturity essay must demonstrate both.
For the Master’s degree, language proficiency does not need to be demonstrated again if it was already shown in the Bachelor’s degree. In such cases, the Master’s degree certificate will state that language proficiency was demonstrated earlier.

If the student has not demonstrated language proficiency in the Bachelor’s degree, they must do so in the Master’s degree. The language of education, the maturity essay, and the degree are recorded in the certificate.

Language of the maturity test

The maturity essay is written in the language of the student’s school education (Finnish or Swedish).
Students with two school education languages (Finnish and Swedish) must write the essay in both languages.
In English-language Master’s degree programmes, the essay is written in English—unless the student’s school education was in Finnish or Swedish and they have not completed a maturity test earlier. In that case, the essay is written in the school education language.
If the student’s school education was in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, or completed abroad, the language of the maturity test is determined separately. The student must apply for a decision at the beginning of their studies by submitting a free-form application and supporting documents (e.g. school certificates) to the Faculty’s Head of Academic Affairs.

Practical instructions for the maturity test

A student may complete the maturity test once the supervisor has granted permission. The maturity test is taken under supervision, either electronically or handwritten. The student agrees on the mode of completion and the schedule of the maturity test with their supervisor.

A total of four (4) hours is reserved for completing the maturity test (235 minutes when taken as an EXAM examination). Any additional time granted to the student as an individual study arrangement must also be taken into account in the completion of the maturity test.

The thesis supervisor prepares the title options for the maturity test and assesses the maturity test.

Practical instructions for students

Before the maturity test:
Agree with your supervisor on the method and time of the maturity test.
Find out the maturity test policy of your degree programme and act accordingly.
Register in Peppi for the maturity test of your degree programme.
If necessary, book a time in the EXAM system (select 235 minutes).
When writing on the computer or by hand in an exam hall, four (4) hours must be reserved.
Notify your supervisor of the individual study arrangements granted to you no later than ten (10) days before taking the maturity test.
During the maturity test:
Choose one of the given topics. Type the title to appear.
Imagine that your readers are fellow students who are familiar with the general mindset of your field and who have not read your thesis and to whom you offer something new in your essay.
The maturity essay is an independent text so write without any subheadings, images, figures, etc. and do bear in mind that the reader has not read your thesis.
When writing on a computer:
Paragraph division is indicated by a blank line.
The length of the text is 500–700 words.
When writing by hand:
Write down your name (incl. clarification) and your degree programme.
Write in your own handwriting. Make sure the handwriting is legible and do not write in capital letters.
Indicate the paragraph division with an indentation of about 3 cm.
Do not write from edge to edge but leave margins, also at the bottom.
The length of the essay is about four (4) pages.

Updating the Study Guide in the Faculty of Health Sciences

Susanna Järvelin-Pasanen

Head of Academic Affairs

[email protected]