Guidelines on transitional provisions between the old and new curricula
Section 4 of the UEF Degree Regulations defines how degree programmes are introduced and discontinued: According to Section 9 of the university rules of procedure, the Faculty Council makes decisions on the introduction and discontinuation of a major subject within the scope of educational responsibility. If a degree programme is discontinued, the faculty shall provide students who have been granted the right to study the subject with the possibility to complete their degree. When setting time limits, account should be taken of the normative target periods for completing degrees and the possibility to be granted an extension for completing a 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.
When the curriculum changes, the University of Eastern Finland recommends that the following procedures be followed as of 1 August 2018:
The transitional procedures are clearly described in the curriculum. In most cases, it is also necessary to show the correspondence tables between the new and old curricula (e.g. the equivalence between the new and old courses). As a rule, education is not arranged in accordance with the old curricula. The units take care of informing their students.
As a rule, study guidance encourages students to transfer to arranging their studies in accordance with the new curriculum. If such a transfer is not expedient or the student does not transfer to the new curriculum for some other reason, the transitional provisions shall be applied, unless otherwise specified in the curriculum.
Discontinuation of education or a major subject
If the major subject has been discontinued, the transition period for a student completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree is seven years. The period is counted from the date when the last students were selected for the education or major subject. The transition period for a student completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree alone is four years. For justified reasons, the transition period may be shorter if it can be estimated that a shorter transition period would not endanger the student’s right to complete his or her degree within a reasonable time. Such transition periods must also be applied when the structure of a degree has changed considerably.
If the curriculum of discontinued education changes during the transition period, this must be confirmed by the Faculty Council.
Completion of uncompleted study modules in accordance with the old curriculum
The transition period for completing uncompleted basic studies is one academic year, that for subject studies is two academic years, and that for basic and subject studies three academic years. As a rule, the transition period for specialization studies is three academic years.
Completion of courses in accordance with the old curriculum
Courses can no longer be completed in accordance with the old curriculum, but the student completes a course in accordance with the new curriculum in compliance with the correspondence table. Under exceptional circumstances, courses can still be completed by the end of the next autumn semester or a transition period specified in the curriculum. Specific courses are defined in the curriculum.
Integrated degrees
Even if tuition is no longer otherwise arranged in accordance with the old curriculum, for integrated licentiate’s degrees (dentistry and medicine) examinations in accordance with the old structure will be offered for three further years. More detailed instructions are specified in the curriculum.
Open University education
While degree curricula are being changed, the above transitional provisions shall apply to students engaged in open University education, by providing them with the opportunity to complete the studies to which they have currently valid study rights.
For additional information on the decision, please contact Satu Kouki, head of Student Services, satu.kouki@uef.fi, tel. + 358 (0)50 3230 870.
Academic Rector Harri Siiskonen
