1 August 2022
I General
Section 1. Scope of application of the Study Regulations
Under Section 14 of the Universities Act (558/2009), the Board of the University of Eastern Finland has, on 14 December 2020, adopted the following Study Regulations which are applied at the university, alongside the provisions laid down in acts, decrees and the university’s rules of procedure.
These Study Regulations apply to degrees completed at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and the studies leading to the degree, and, where applicable, to specialisation studies, other studies not leading to a degree, and studies organised as Open University education and continuing professional education. Where applicable, the Study Regulations also apply to entrance examinations. In these Study Regulations, the term ‘faculty’ refers to the university’s faculties and, where applicable, to the Language Centre, the Library and the Centre for Continuous Learning.
The Rector decides on the general policies for lower university, higher university and postgraduate degrees after consulting the faculties. More detailed provisions concerning degrees, the studies included therein and the contents of the education offered are provided in faculty curricula. Independent institutes and service centres issue more detailed provisions concerning the education they offer.
These Study Regulations serve as the university’s degree regulations referred to in Section 41 of the Universities Act.
Section 2. Definitions
In these Study Regulations,
- ‘student’ refers to a person who has been granted the right to complete a degree or the right to pursue studies at the university
- ‘right to study’ refers to the right to complete a degree and the right to pursue studies
- ‘degree programme’ refers to a study programme, education organised based on a subject and other education entities for which the faculty awards a lower university degree, higher university degree or a postgraduate degree
- ‘faculty curriculum’ (Section 9 of the university’s rules of procedure) refers to a description of the educational mission of the faculty and its departments/schools, defining, inter alia, the degree-awarding education that can be completed in the faculty and the languages in which the degrees can be completed
- ‘degree programme curriculum’ refers to the entity comprising the degree structure, degree requirements, and the learning objectives, contents, assessment methods and modes of teaching for the degree and its components
- ‘syllabus’ refers to teaching offered over the course of an academic year or a longer period of time
- ‘study attainment’ refers to a course or study unit completed by a student, the extent of which is measured in ECTS credits. A study attainment may be an examination, an assignment, an essay, a learning diary, a demonstration of skills or other mode of completion defined in the curriculum, and any combination of these. It may also refer to studies recognised as completed elsewhere or other demonstrations of learning required by the curriculum (e.g. a maturity test, licentiate thesis or doctoral dissertation).
- ‘subject’ refers to an entity which is taught and included in faculty curricula
II Degree education, specialisation studies and education
Section 3. The university’s educational responsibilities
According to Section 7 of the Universities Act, educational responsibilities are enacted by the Ministry of Education and Culture Decrees. After consulting the faculties, the Board decides on proposals on educational responsibilities, for submission to the Ministry. After educational responsibilities have been conferred upon the university by Decree, the Rector determines how these responsibilities are assigned to the faculties.
Section 4. Establishing and discontinuing degree programmes
According to Section 9 of the University Regulations, the Faculty Council makes decisions on the introduction and discontinuation of a major subject within the scope of educational responsibility. Provisions on the discontinuation of education and the related transition period are laid down in Section 7b of the Universities Act.
If a degree programme is discontinued, the faculty shall provide all students who have been granted the right to study in the programme to finish their studies while taking into account the normative duration of the relevant degree studies and the possibility to be granted an extension for completing the degree. If a subject other than a major subject is discontinued, the faculty shall provide all students who have begun studying the subject as a minor subject with the possibility of completing their studies within a reasonable time. In both cases, the Faculty Council shall determine arrangements for the transition period.
During the transition period due to changes to the degree structure or academic subjects affecting Open University or commissioned education, as defined in Section 9 of the Universities Act, students participating in Open University or commissioned education shall be provided with the opportunity to study in accordance with the curriculum and transitional provisions in force.
Section 5. Tuition fees and the scholarship system
The provisions on charging a tuition fee per academic year are laid down in Section 10 of the Universities Act. The Board decides the amount of tuition fee to be charged. The Rector decides on the university’s scholarship system, the related policies and the amount of tuition fee charged per academic year per programme, and makes the decisions to grant scholarships.
Section 6. Organisation of specialisation studies and commissioned education
Specialisation studies are governed by Section 7a of the Universities Act, and commissioned education by Section 9. The Faculty Council decides on the specialisation studies and commissioned education organised at each faculty, the curricula and admissions criteria for these studies, and the maximum number of students for the taught courses. The Dean accepts the students for the taught courses.
Section 7. Higher education cooperation
According to Section 7a of the Universities Act, universities may organise education in cooperation with another university or university of applied sciences or procure it from one of these institutions to meet their educational responsibility. Higher education cooperation may be arranged with both Finnish and foreign higher education institutions (HEIs). Higher education cooperation (including joint degree programmes) is subject to separate agreements between the universities involved. Students participating in education organised through higher education cooperation are subject to the administrative authority of the HEI that offers the education.
Section 8. Open University studies and continuing professional education
The university shall organise Open University education for the degree components specified in the faculty curricula. The university shall also organise continuing professional education. Unless prohibited by law, fees may be charged for Open University studies and continuing professional education.
Section 9. Summer School
The university has a Summer School, which is tasked with promoting the university’s internationalisation, international mobility, and the provision of summer courses to degree students. The Summer School’s courses are offered in English, and they are comprised of teaching offered by the university’s academic units. The Summer School has a steering committee, whose task it is to compile the teaching offered at the Summer School together with the academic units and to issue general guidelines concerning the Summer School’s operations. Decisions about the Summer School’s fees and student admissions are made by the Rector.
Right to study
Section 10. Right to study
Students must have the appropriate right to study required for the study attainment.
Section 11. Changing to another degree programme or faculty
As part of the admission criteria, the Faculty Council shall define the principles based on which students may change to another degree programme within the faculty, and the principles based on which students from other faculties may be admitted to pursue a degree at the faculty.
Section 12. Separate right to study for the faculties and the Language Centre
For a justified reason, the faculties and the Language Centre may grant a separate right to study for their taught courses. A separate right to study shall only be granted for a specific course or programme and it shall be in force for a limited time. Unless prohibited by law, a separate right to study may be subject to a fee.
With the exception of the Summer School, a separate right to study is granted by the faculty’s Dean or the Director of the Language Centre. The Faculty Council shall confirm the admission criteria concerning a separate right to study, except in cases where the right to study is based on an agreement for higher education cooperation or the arrangement of education, on a student exchange agreement, or in cases of complementing a completed degree in accordance with the principles set out by the Faculty Council. A separate right to study granted for the Language Centre’s taught courses shall be based on the agreement for higher education cooperation.
Where applicable, the provisions of the Study Regulations shall apply to persons who have been granted a separate right to study.
Studies may only be pursued by students who have been registered as attending students in the university’s student register, and who have been granted the right to study required for the study attainment.
Section 13. Pedagogical studies for teachers
The Philosophical Faculty shall organise pedagogical studies leading to a teacher’s qualification, decide on the student admission criteria for these studies and grant the right to pursue these studies.
The Faculty of Health Sciences shall organise teacher training in health sciences for students majoring in nursing science. The Faculty Council of the faculty that organises the training shall decide on the distribution of study places after hearing the other faculties.
Section 14. Right to pursue minor subject studies
Minor subject studies at the university are open to students without any limitations, with the exception of fields in which the student admission procedure involves an aptitude test or an entrance examination, or if there is some other justifiable reason to limit the right to pursue minor subject studies. Possible limits to the right to pursue minor subject studies are defined in the curriculum. Minor subject studies may also be offered in the form of cooperation between academic subjects, or as separate minor subject modules tailored for certain major subjects.
Section 15. Limiting the right to study
A student may only hold one right to study at a time, leading to the same lower or higher university degree within the same major subject, or to an academic or professional postgraduate degree of the same level, at the University of Eastern Finland.
A new study right with a similar content shall not be granted to an applicant for the same or similar degree programme or other academic education referred to above which the applicant in question has already completed, unless otherwise set forth in the admission criteria of the faculty.
Section 16. Termination of the right to study
The right to complete a degree terminates when the degree for which the right has been granted has been completed. A student, who has completed a Licentiate or Doctoral degree, Master’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree with no right to complete a Master’s degree at the University of Eastern Finland has the right to complement their studies free of charge during the academic year in which the degree was completed and the following two academic years by enrolling as a student (continued right to study).
Section 17. Waiver or forfeiture of the right to study
A student may waive his or her right to study by submitting a written notice to the university. In such a case, the right to study shall be recorded as having terminated on the date on which notice was sent, and the right to study cannot be restored.
According to Section 43 of the Universities Act, students forfeit their right to study if they neglect to enrol with the university after accepting a study place, neglect to register as attending or absent at the beginning of each academic year, fail to complete the degree within the time or extended period of time specified in the Universities Act, or have not been granted an extension to the duration of their studies.
Students may apply for an extension to the duration of studies for completing the degree in accordance with Section 42 of the Universities Act. An updated study plan and a statement on the reasons for the delay in completing the degree must be attached to the application for an extension to the duration of studies.
If a student who has lost their right to study due to neglecting to register as attending or absent later wishes to start or resume their studies, they must reapply for admission to study at the university with Student and Learning Services. Reinstating the right to study does not require participation in the student admissions procedure. If a year or longer has passed since the student’s previous registration as attending or absent, Student and Learning Services shall consult the faculty before reinstating the student’s right to study. The student is required to present an updated study plan.
III Teaching and studies
18 § Application of the regulations on teaching and studies
The following provisions apply to the right to complete a degree and the right to pursue studies referred to in these Study Regulations.
Section 19. Student enrolment
The Rector shall decide on the enrolment of students who have been admitted to the university and on their registration as attending or absent for each academic year.
Organisation of teaching and planning of studies
Section 20. Curricula and syllabus
The faculty curriculum defines the degrees that can be completed at the faculty and the languages in which the degree programmes are offered. The faculty curriculum comprises the curricula for each degree programme and common provisions that apply to all degree programmes.
A curriculum shall be prepared for each degree programme, and these curricula shall be evaluated and developed regularly. Statistical data and feedback on teaching, studies, guidance and degrees are utilised in the development work.
The degree programme curriculum shall include the following information:
- the task of education
- the academic and professional goals of education
- the degree structure (i.e. courses and their extents), the degree requirements, and the learning objectives, contents, assessment methods and modes of teaching for the degree and its components
- the names of the degrees, study modules and courses in Finnish and in English
- the course descriptions in Finnish and in English
- a plan for major and minor subject student guidance and the organisation of student guidance
- the provisions concerning studies and degrees, such as the principles of recognising studies completed elsewhere, and the provisions on the expiration of studies, the number of completion attempts per study attainment and exams conducted for distance education
- Transitional provisions, if any.
Every year, by the end of October, the Rector will issue instructions regarding the curricula and syllabi, including common guidelines and regulations on studies. The Rector shall confirm the curricula of the faculties’ jointly offered education for the coming academic year by the end of February.
Faculty Councils shall confirm the coming year’s curricula and syllabi for the faculties in accordance with a schedule determined by the Rector. The curriculum, or part thereof, may be confirmed for more than one academic year at a time.
On the basis of faculty decisions, the Centre for Continuous Learning, shall confirm the Open University’s action plan for the coming academic year. The action plan shall include all Open University education organised by the university, either independently or in cooperation with partner institutions.
Where applicable, the above provisions shall also apply to education not leading to a degree.
Section 21. Organisation of teaching
The faculties shall organise teaching and study guidance so that full-time students are able to complete each degree in the normative time laid down in the Universities Act, in an appropriate order and without interruption. Teaching shall be organised in line with the approved curricula. The teacher in charge of the course, in an individual case, may give permission to deviate from the method of completion described in the curriculum for a very compelling reason. However, even then, the learning objectives set for the course concerned must be attained. A student may be granted individual arrangements upon application.
The university’s academic year shall be divided into four teaching periods. Teaching may also be organised in the summer.
If all the students who have signed up for a teaching group cannot be admitted to the group, the students must be admitted based on uniform criteria. When deciding who to admit to the group, priority shall be given to students for whom participation in the course is compulsory on the basis of their right to study and the related curriculum. If all the students falling into this category still cannot be admitted to the teaching group, the students must be admitted based on uniform criteria. Faculties and academic units may issue more detailed provisions on the admission criteria for teaching groups and other relevant signup practices.
Section 22. Courses
The university organises education in the form of taught courses. Continuing professional education curricula shall always be structured in the appropriate manner.
Academic units shall define the way of completing studies (individual courses and theses) in their curricula. Students may complete studies on their own or in groups orally and in writing in the form of, inter alia, lectures taken during a course or based on reading materials, essays, seminar work, work carried out during an internship or in a laboratory, e-learning, or work placement, and as various combinations of these.
With the exception of the maturity test, the extent of each course shall be at least one ECTS credit. Each course may comprise smaller partial attainments. Learning objectives and a designated person in charge shall be determined and recorded for each course. Each course description shall indicate the language of instruction. If the language of instruction is other than Finnish, the course description shall indicate in which language the student can take an exam or complete other study attainments included in the course. With the exception of the maturity test, doctoral dissertation and licentiate thesis, the extent of each course shall be expressed in the form of ECTS credits.
Section 23. Internship included in studies
The faculties shall prepare their curricula in a way which allows an internship to be included in Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, as a compulsory or an optional part of the studies. An internship included in a degree may be completed according to the curriculum, either in Finland or abroad.
Students from the UEF’s international partner universities, who are completing their internship at the UEF may also be enrolled at the UEF.
Section 24. Study guidance for lower and higher university degree students
Students must be provided with study guidance at all stages of their studies. The Faculty Council shall decide on the principles of study guidance, including the rights and obligations of teachers and supervisors, and the instructions for the drafting, approval and updating of personal study plans. The principles of study guidance may constitute part of the curriculum or a university-level overall guidance plan approved by the Rector.
Personal study plans shall be drafted in accordance with the curriculum so that the plan matches the scope of the degree.
Section 25. Study guidance for postgraduate degree students
Postgraduate degree students shall be provided with guidance for both their research work and their postgraduate degree studies. At least two supervisors, one of whom is the main supervisor, shall be appointed for each postgraduate student.
Section 26. Academic postgraduate degree education
The university has a Doctoral School, the task of which is to provide transferable skills studies to all of the university’s doctoral students and to prepare common operating principles for the doctoral programmes. Academic postgraduate degree education shall be organised in the form of doctoral programmes. The faculties may organise doctoral programmes independently, or joint national or international doctoral programmes in cooperation with other faculties. Each doctoral programme shall have a director and a steering committee. The task of the doctoral programmes is to arrange discipline-specific scientific doctoral studies at the university and to ensure that a main supervisor in charge of study guidance is appointed for each postgraduate student.
Steering Committee of Doctoral Programme
- is responsible for the organisation of studies in its discipline and field of research and for developing postgraduate education within its sector
- handles the preparation of the doctoral programme’s student admission criteria and curricula for the Faculty Council
- evaluates the applications for the doctoral programme and drafts a proposal on the eligible candidates to the faculty
Monitoring the progress of studies
Section 27. Monitoring the progress of studies
The study progress of a student pursuing a lower university degree, and a higher university degree or a postgraduate degree shall be monitored at predefined stages, or at different stages of the studies. The Rector shall define how the progress of studies is monitored.
Language of instruction and studies
Section 28. Language of instruction and degrees
The language of instruction and degrees at the University of Eastern Finland is Finnish. The Faculty Council may decide on the use of an additional language for degrees when approving the curriculum, while taking into account the duty to fulfil its educational responsibility in Finnish. Otherwise, students are mainly required to be able to complete their studies leading to a degree in Finnish.
Section 29. Language of studies
Students shall have the right to pursue their studies, both orally and in writing, in Finnish or in some other language specified in the curriculum, unless the purpose of the study unit requires otherwise.
Theses shall be written in the language specified in the curriculum. The head of the unit in charge of the studies concerned decides whether the student has the right to use a language other than the one specified in the curriculum.
IV Assessment of learning outcomes and grading scales
Section 30. Storage of study attainments
Study attainments must be stored for at least six months from the date on which the results are made public. In systems for electronic exams (e.g. EXAM), study attainments shall be stored for eight months from the date of taking the exam. Documents related to studies are stored in accordance with the university’s regulations on document management.
Section 31. Opportunities for completion
Students shall be provided with sufficient opportunities to successfully complete a study unit while taking into account the normative duration of degree studies. The number of attempts that students are given to complete a study unit or raise grades may be limited in the curricula.
If the opportunity to complete a study defined in the curriculum is cancelled due to an unforeseen event, students must be guaranteed the opportunity to complete the study unit in another appropriate and non-discriminating manner.
Section 32. Examinations and their organisation
The time and duration of exams shall be determined in the curricula.
Written or other corresponding exams related to instruction shall be held at least twice within the period of one year after the instruction was given. Written and other corresponding exams shall be organised in a way which allows students sufficient preparation time.
If, for compelling reasons, the time of the exam needs to be changed, the exam must be postponed until a later date, and all students who have signed up for the exam shall be notified of the postponement two weeks before the exam, if possible.
Students may only leave the exam after thirty (30) minutes, after which students arriving late will no longer be allowed to take the exam. Students may only bring the equipment and supplies needed to take the exam. When a system for electronic exams is used, students may leave after they have completed the exam.
Electronic exam systems have real-time, recording camera surveillance. Students taking an electronic exam are obligated to prove their identity if requested to do so in the manner specified.
Students must request the individual arrangements granted to them to be implemented no later than 10 days before the teaching/study attainment.
Students taking an exam must be able to prove their identity, if necessary. When an exam is held, a list of the participants shall be compiled. The identity of students who took an electronic exam can be verified by comparing access control, camera surveillance and exam system data.
The faculties shall issue more detailed provisions on the organisation of exams for distance education courses in their curricula.
Students shall sign up for exams included in the curriculum ten days before the exam date. Deviating or clarifying provisions may be issued in the curriculum while taking into account the best interests of the students. Sign-up for electronic exams shall take place in the electronic exam system, and the deadlines are dependent on the system.
Section 33. Grading scales and grades used in the assessment of study attainments
Study attainments, including Bachelor’s and Master’s degree theses and theses included in minor subject studies, are assessed using a 0–5 scale, which includes the following grades: 5 = excellent, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = satisfactory, 1 = sufficient and 0 = fail. When it is not appropriate to use the numerical grading scale, the study attainment may be graded pass or fail. Grade 1 equals pass. The minimum requirements for passing are defined in the curriculum.
Approved licentiate theses and doctoral dissertations can also be assessed using the following seven grades: approbatur, lubenter approbatur, non sine laude approbatur, cum laude approbatur, magna cum laude approbatur, eximia cum laude approbatur and laudatur, or on the scale pass–pass with distinction.
The assessment of language skills in the second domestic language uses the scale satisfactory–good, as laid down in the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (Laki julkisyhteisöjen henkilöstöltä vaadittavasta kielitaidosta 424/2003) and the Government Decree on the Demonstration of Proficiency in the Finnish and Swedish Languages in the Civil Service (Valtioneuvoston asetus suomen ja ruotsin kielen taidon osoittamisesta valtionhallinnossa 481/2003).
Section 34. Assessment of study attainments
The assessment of study attainments is based on the course description confirmed in the curriculum. Study attainments or parts thereof must be completed and submitted by the deadlines specified.
If a student has retaken a study attainment and received a different grade or a different number of ECTS credits for the one and the same study attainment, the study attainment with the most ECTS credits shall be the final one, regardless of the grade. If the number of ECTS credits are the same, the study attainment with the highest grade shall be the final one, unless otherwise requested by the student. If both the ECTS credits and the grade are the same, the latest study attainment shall be the final one.
Section 35. Publication of exam results
The results of a study attainment shall be published no later than three (3) weeks after the exam, in the university’s electronic student and study register. For a special reason, the teacher defined in the syllabus as the teacher responsible for the course may extend the publication of the results by one (1) week. The extension of the deadline and the grounds for extending the deadline shall be communicated to the students enrolled on the course as soon as the need for extension is discovered, no later than within three (3) weeks of the exam date.
The Dean or the director of the unit responsible for the teaching may still grant an extension to the publication deadline, when there are particularly weighty reasons for doing so. However, the result shall be published no later than five (5) weeks after the exam date. The extension of the deadline and the grounds for extending the deadline shall be communicated to the students enrolled on the course as soon as the need for extension is discovered, no later than within four (4) weeks of the exam date.
As regards electronic exams (e.g. EXAM), more detailed information about deadlines is available in the procedural instructions for electronic exams.
Both passed and failed study attainments are recorded in the electronic student and study register. Information on the breakdown of grades and the number of study attainments graded fail shall be posted on an electronic platform. Students will receive notification of their study attainment being recorded in the electronic student and study register to their email account provided by the university.
The grounds for the assessment of study attainments are public information. Students shall have the right to review their assessed study attainments and the grounds for the assessment. To do so, they must contact the teacher who assessed the study unit concerned. Students must be given the opportunity to review their study attainment after it has been assessed. The assessment shall be in writing or recorded by other means. Students are entitled to a copy of their answers or other results of studies free of charge.
The above deadlines do not apply to times when teaching is not organised in accordance with the Rector’s decisions, or to the period from 15 June to 15 August.
If an exam has been assessed by several teachers and they have not done so collaboratively, the names of the teachers who participated in the assessment shall be indicated.
Section 36. Examination and assessment of thesis included in advanced studies
Students may complete the thesis included in advanced studies independently, in pairs or by participating in a broader research project. This shall be decided by the main supervisor of the thesis within the limits specified in the curriculum. In the case of collaborative theses and research projects among two or more students, the input of each student must be distinguishable, so that it can be assessed.
A thesis included in advanced studies may be accepted as the final thesis for two different major subjects (“double thesis”). The prerequisites for a double thesis shall be decided by the Faculty Council as part of the curriculum.
Theses included in advanced studies are public final theses and they shall be published with the student’s permission in the Library’s electronic publication system.
Two examiners shall be appointed for theses included in advanced studies. As a rule, the thesis supervisor should be one of them. If the thesis supervisor is disqualified under Section 28 of the Administrative Procedure Act, the director of the unit shall appoint another examiner in their place.
Examiners shall be appointed as soon as the student has submitted the final version of their thesis for examination. The examiners for theses included in advanced studies shall draw up a written statement on the thesis, and in the case of a Master’s thesis, propose a grade within one month of the examiners’ appointment.
The student shall be given the opportunity to write a rejoinder before a decision on the assessment of the thesis is made. Enough time shall be reserved between proposing the grade and submitting the rejoinder so that the student can properly review the grounds for the assessment. The decision shall be delivered to the student electronically.
The originality of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses shall be tested by using an electronic plagiarism detection system selected by the university. The student shall answer for the originality of their final thesis.
Section 37. Examination and grading of licentiate theses and doctoral dissertations
The faculty’s Dean shall appoint two examiners for the examination of a licentiate thesis.
The faculty’s Dean shall appoint two examiners for the preliminary examination of a doctoral dissertation.
The preliminary examiners of licentiate theses and doctoral dissertations shall make their statements within two months of the final thesis’ being sent to them. The Dean may extend this time, if necessary.
Licentiate theses and doctoral dissertations are public final theses. Doctoral dissertations shall be made available for public viewing at the university’s Library as an electronic or paper version no later than 10 days before the public examination.
Each doctoral dissertation shall be submitted for a public examination. The faculty’s Dean shall appoint at least one opponent from outside the University of Eastern Finland, who should hold at least a docent’s qualification or a corresponding academic qualification. The faculty’s Dean shall appoint a custos to represent the university at the public examination.
Within two weeks of the public examination, the opponent(s) appointed by the faculty shall issue a written statement to the faculty on the doctoral dissertation and its defence. Any remarks presented in the public examination shall be delivered in writing to the faculty, within two weeks of the public examination. Faculties may issues more detailed instructions on any other statements required.
The opponent or a member of the Faculty Council who is entitled to make decisions concerning the doctoral dissertation in question may make a written, justified proposal for rejecting the dissertation.
The originality of licentiate theses and doctoral dissertations shall be tested by using an electronic plagiarism detection system selected by the university. The student shall answer for the originality of their final thesis.
Section 38. Interrupting the thesis assessment process
When the student receives notification of the examiners’ statement and proposed grade, they have the opportunity to interrupt the thesis assessment process (not applicable to Bachelor’s thesis). by submitting a request in writing. The process shall then be halted.
A student may halt the assessment process for their final thesis only once.
The student may resubmit their final thesis for assessment, provided that it has been at least partly rewritten. The extent of the rewritten section shall be assessed by the thesis supervisor.
If the thesis is not accepted for assessment, the related decision shall be open to appeal.
Section 39. Recognition of studies completed elsewhere or prior learning demonstrated in some other manner
Studies completed elsewhere or prior learning demonstrated in some other manner may be counted towards a university degree. This shall require that the studies completed elsewhere or prior learning correspond to the learning objectives set for the degree and its components.
V Quality and quality management
Section 40. Quality management responsibilities in education
The university shall be responsible for the overall quality of its education and for the resources allocated to it. Each faculty shall be responsible for the quality of the degrees it confers, for ensuring that the agreed objectives are met and
for appropriately focusing and prioritising the funds allocated to the faculty. Each academic unit shall be responsible for the quality of the education it provides. Each academic unit and its director shall be responsible for the quality of the education the unit provides and the related study attainments.
Each academic subject shall have a person in charge of the quality of the subject’s teaching and the coordination and development of the quality of teaching, in particular. Each teacher shall be responsible for the quality of teaching situations, the development of teaching methods and the assessment of learning. Each student shall be responsible for their own learning and advancing their own studies.
Section 41. Management of teaching activities and expert bodies
The Rector shall be in charge of the development and evaluation of teaching and guidance. The Rector may set up committees for development and evaluation purposes.
Teaching activities shall be managed at university level, in the faculties, departments, schools and other units offering education. The university has a Council for Teaching and Guidance appointed by the Rector, which is tasked with the preparation and particularly the follow-up of strategic policies concerning teaching at the university, dealing with the university’s policies concerning studies and teaching, and the promotion and monitoring of the quality of teaching, guidance and learning. Each faculty, independent institute and service centre has one or more committees appointed by the Dean or the director. The committees are tasked with the preparation of matters related to teaching and guidance in the said faculty. The Dean responsible for education shall lead the faculty’s committee for the development of education. The Council for Teaching and Guidance and committees shall include representatives of the student body. The Dean responsible for education shall lead the faculty’s committee for the development of education.
Section 42. Assessment of education
The university’s education shall be assessed periodically, in pre-determined years. The Rector shall decide on the execution of the assessment.
VI Revocation of the right to study and ethical principles
Section 43. Revocation of the right to study and requesting an extract of a student’s criminal record
The revocation of the right to study is regulated by Section 43a, revocation-related access to information by Section 43b and the return of the right to study in Section 43c of the Universities Act. Section 2 of the Government Decree on Universities (valtioneuvoston asetus yliopistoista, 770/2009) defines the degrees which shall be subject to the sections regulating the revocation of the right to study.
The Rector shall issue separate procedural guidelines for revoking the right to study and requesting a criminal record extract.
Section 44. Ethical guidelines for teaching and studying
The Ethical guidelines for teaching and studying shall be confirmed by the university’s Committee on Research Ethics. The faculties shall ensure that the ethical principles of teaching, studying and research are known.
Cheating in studies
Section 45. Procedures in cases of cheating and disturbance
A study attainment may be rejected if a student is guilty of study-related or research-related misconduct, while completing the study attainment in question. The exam’s supervisor shall have the right immediately to remove from the exam any student who is suspected of cheating or otherwise disturbs the exam. The study attainment shall also be failed in cases where cheating is only discovered after the exam. If cheating is suspected when an electronic exam system (e.g. EXAM) is used, the suspected cheating shall be evaluated by reviewing the video recording of the exam. If the exam supervisor has interrupted a student’s exam due to disturbance or suspected cheating, the supervisor shall enter the reason for the interruption into the student’s exam papers, and also whether the student admits or denies making the disturbance or cheating.
In a case where a student is suspected of cheating or disturbing an exam, they must be offered the opportunity to be heard. If proven, the student’s misconduct shall be reported in writing to the Dean or the director of the academic unit concerned, who shall decide whether any further measures need to be taken.
The Dean or the director of the academic unit may, at their discretion, report the cheating to the Rector, who may take the disciplinary measure(s) referred to in Section 45 of the Universities Act.
VII Certificates and registration of study attainments
Section 46. Degree certificates
When a student completes their degree, the faculty shall issue a digital degree certificate to the student. Upon request, the student shall have the right to obtain a printed-out degree certificate. A Diploma Supplement for international use shall be automatically enclosed with all degree certificates. The Diploma Supplement includes all the necessary information on the university issuing the certificate, the content and results of the studies referred to in the degree certificate, and the status of the studies completed by the holder.
Section 47. Registration of study attainments
The exam date or the date of submitting a written assignment for examination shall be the completion date of the study attainment. The completion date of theses (excluding Bachelor’s theses) shall be the date of the decision on the grading of the thesis. If a study attainment has several parts, the date of the final part shall be the completion date of the study attainment.
Section 48. Rectification of study attainment data
The provisions of Section 29 of the Personal Data Act (523/1999) shall apply to situations where a controller of a register, on its own initiative, rectifies study attainment data. Students shall request that the unit that graded their study attainment rectify a flaw or defect, which the student has noticed. The request for rectification shall be made in writing. The request shall be handled without undue delay. If the student is not satisfied with the rectification decision, they may apply for a rectification from the Board of Appeal.
VIII Rectification procedures
Section 49. Rectification procedure in a case of forfeiture of right to complete a degree
According to Section 82(2) of the Universities Act, a student may apply to the university in writing for a rectification of a decision concerning the forfeiture of the right to study within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision. The request for rectification must be made to the university’s Board of Appeal. The student may lodge an appeal to the Administrative Court against a rectification decision made by the Board of Appeal within 30 days of receiving notification of the decision. The Administrative Court’s decision is not subject to appeal.
Section 50. Rectification procedure in a case of study attainment assessment
According to Section 82(4) of the Universities Act, a student dissatisfied with the assessment of a study attainment other than a doctoral dissertation, a licentiate thesis, a thesis included in advanced studies or a corresponding study attainment, may make a request for rectification of the assessment orally or in writing from the teacher who made the assessment.
The student must make the request for rectification within 14 days after having been given access to the results of the assessment and the grounds on which the assessment was made.
If the teacher who made the assessment is not available when the request for rectification is made, the request for rectification shall be submitted in writing to the university’s Registry Office. A decision concerning the request for rectification must be made within 14 days of submitting the request.
If the student says they are not satisfied with the decision made on the request for rectification, the teacher who made the assessment must put the decision in writing. During the rectification procedure, the student is entitled to receive a copy of all the papers related to their completed studies or any other corresponding documents free of charge.
A student dissatisfied with the decision made on a request for rectification may apply to the university’s Board of Appeal for rectification within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision. Requests for rectification addressed to the Board of Appeal shall be submitted to the Registry Office.
A student dissatisfied with the assessment of a doctoral dissertation, licentiate thesis or a thesis included in advanced studies may apply to the Board of Appeal for a rectification within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision.
The Board of Appeal’s decision is not subject to appeal.
Section 51. Appeals on decisions concerning the recognition of studies completed elsewhere
According to Section 82, subsection 4 of the Universities Act, a student dissatisfied with the recognition of studies completed elsewhere or of prior knowledge demonstrated in some other manner as part of their completed degree or studies may lodge a request for rectification of the decision orally or in writing. The request for rectification shall be submitted to whoever made the decision within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision.
The student may apply to the university’s Board of Appeal for a rectification of a decision made concerning the original request for rectification within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision. The Board of Appeal’s decision is not subject to appeal.
Section 52. Appeals on decisions concerning the choice of a major subject or specialisation
A student dissatisfied with a decision, made during their studies with respect to the subject which the student has applied to study and concerning their choice of a major subject or specialisation, may apply to the Board of Appeal for a rectification within 14 days of the decision being issued.
Section 53. Appeals on university decisions concerning a revocation of the right to study
A student may apply to the Students’ Legal Protection Board for a rectification of a decision concerning a revocation of the right to study referred to in Section 43a of the Universities Act within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision.
Section 54. Leave to appeal
According to Section 84 of the Universities Act, appeals against decisions made in a rectification procedure shall be lodged with an administrative court. However, leave to appeal shall not be granted for decisions on the assessment and recognition of study attainments made by the Board of Appeal in a rectification procedure.
IX Entry into force
Section 55. Provisions on the entry into force
These Study Regulations enter into force on 1 August 2022. These Study Regulations repeal the Degree Regulations adopted by the university’s Board on 1 January 2021.
