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.