The Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004, Section 26) stipulates that ”a university where a study attainment can be completed that forms part of the teacher education studies referred to in Section 19 may issue a certificate on request indicating that the applicant has demonstrated acquisition of knowledge and skills corresponding to the study attainment otherwise than by means of the studies prescribed in statutory eligibility requirements. The university may require the applicant to complete supplementary studies as a condition of issuing the certificate.” The University of Eastern Finland does not offer supplementary studies in all cases.
According to the Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004, Section 19), teacher education comprises:
1) studies conferring professional competence for positions in early childhood education and care and pre-primary education;
2) multidisciplinary studies in the subjects and cross-curricular themes taught in basic education, conferring professional competence for teaching the common core subjects included in the basic education syllabus under section 11 of the Basic Education Act (628/1998);
3) studies conferring professional competence for positions in special needs education;
4) studies conferring professional competence for positions in student guidance and study guidance;
5) pedagogical teacher education studies, which are didactically-oriented studies in educational science including guided teaching practice, and allow specialisation particularly in basic education, general upper secondary education, vocational education and training, or adult education duties; and
6) studies in the teaching subject of subject teacher education, which are studies furthering mastery of a subject included in basic education, general upper secondary education or other education.
The minimum scope of the studies referred to in paragraphs 1–5 of subsection 1
is 60 credits, arranged by universities with an educational responsibility in educational science. The teaching practice referred to in paragraph 5 of the said subsection shall be completed in a teacher training school, in another educational institution approved by the university , or in some other manner approved by the university.
How to apply for the equivalency certificate?
The University of Eastern Finland grants equivalency certificates within the scope of
its educational responsibility. As a rule, the latest study module must have been completed at the University of Eastern Finland.
The equivalency certificate is applied for with a free-form application indicating the field of equivalence applied for and, in addition to personal data, the applicant’s personal identity code and postal address. All documents on the basis of which equivalence is requested to be assessed must be submitted as an attachment.
The documents must indicate the content of the studies so that equivalence can
be assessed. Any necessary translations shall be arranged by the applicant.
Contact the Faculty where such studies are offered.
Contact details:
Philosophical Faculty, Riikka Myllys, Academic Affairs Specialist, riikka.myllys@uef.fi, 050 3714 330
Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Maarit Merimaa-Piirainen, Head of Academic Affairs, maarit.merimaa-piirainen@uef.fi, 050 349 6311
Faculty of Health Sciences, Susanna Järvelin-Pasanen, Head of Academic Affairs, susanna.jarvelin@uef.fi, 040 355 31111
Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, Anne Korhonen, Academic Affairs Specialist, anne.m.korhonen@uef.fi, 050 442 2686
Certificate fee
A fee of 126 euros is charged for an equivalency certificate or for a decision rejecting an application for it, as stipulated in Section 26(5) of the Government Decree on University Degrees. An invoice will be sent to the applicant for the equivalency certificate.