University of Eastern Finland to introduce digital degree certificates – what will change and why?

The University of Eastern Finland will introduce digital degree certificates as of 1 August 2022. From that date on, traditional degree certificates printed out on paper will no longer be routinely issued.

The digital format makes it faster for students to get their certificate, easier to keep it safe, and better supports modern job-seeking. The digital format also makes it easier to manage and archive degree certificates at the university.

What changes from the perspective of students, staff members and job-seeking?

Overall, the degree certificate process will become faster, thanks to the workflow being digitalised for students and Student and Learning Services alike.

The digital format will also make it easier to keep the document safe, as a copy of the official digital certificate can be stored in multiple places. For the university, the digital format will facilitate the management and archiving of the degree certificates. At the same time, the challenges associated with sending degree certificates abroad by traditional mail will also be eliminated.

For students, job-seeking will become easier, thanks to a readily available digital degree certificate that can easily be used in modern, digital job-seeking processes.  

Digital degree certificates will be taken into use at the University of Eastern Finland as of 1 August 2022. The university is also preparing new, collective ways to celebrate students’ graduation each academic semester.

How can I get a digital degree certificate?

Just like before, students will continue to apply for their degree certificate via an electronic form available in e-Services. Guidelines on graduation and applying for the degree certificate are available to students in Kamu. Staff members, on the other hand, can find guidelines on the digital degree certificate in the Peppi manual.

The digital degree certificate includes a cover sheet in Finnish and in English, a transcript of the academic record in Finnish and in English, as well as a Diploma Supplement in English. The English-language degree certificate is a translation of the Finnish original. If a student so wishes, they can still request a black-and-white printed copy of their degree certificate.

Once their degree certificate is ready, students will get an email notification from the university, accompanied by instructions on where the degree certificate can be downloaded and how it should be stored. In the same email, students will receive some graduation-related images (with the hashtag #madeinuef on them), which can be shared on social media. More information on the social media images will be posted on the UEF Students group on Yammer.

If a student loses their digital degree certificate, they can request a new one from the university’s Registry Office (kirjaamo@uef.fi).

For further information, please contact:

Miia Turtiainen, Director of Student and Learning Services, miia.turtiainen@uef.fi