Structure and scope of the degree programme

University students complete a first-cycle higher education degree (Bachelor’s) before completing a second-cycle higher education degree (Master’s). Master’s degree holders may apply for doctoral studies. These instructions explain the structures of the undergraduate degrees, or first- and second-cycle higher education degrees, at the University of Helsinki.

Themes

Scope of the degree
What studies are included in my degree?
Structure of your degree programme

Scope of the degree

The scope of the degree is measured in (ECTS) credits. Courses yield credits according to the workload required. One credit represents approximately 27 hours of work. The degrees are designed so that students will complete approximately 60 credits during one academic year. This means 1,600 hours of work per year, indicating full-time studies. The amount of effort is equivalent to approximately nine months of full-time work.

The first-cycle degree is 180 credits in scope, and the second-cycle degree, 120 credits. The maximum scope of the degree is 200 credits and the second-cycle degree 135 credits.

What studies are included in my degree?

The course catalogue of each degree programme explains the structure of each degree available in the programme, i.e., which studies are required for the degree. The course catalogues are posted on WebOodi.

All Bachelor’s degrees completed at the University of Helsinki include:

  • a minimum of 60 credits of studies in the field of the degree programme: basic studies in the relevant field (minimum 25 credits) and intermediate studies in the relevant field (minimum 35 credits) including a thesis (6 credits) and maturity test
  • language and communication studies, minimum 10 credits
  • IT and data management studies, minimum 3 credits
  • a career skills component, components preparing the student for expert positions, minimum 10 credits
  • personal study plan in Sisu
  • national Bachelor’s graduate feedback
  • University of Helsinki student feedback
  • optional studies in the student’s own degree programme or other degree programmes.

The degrees must include career orientation and planning.

All Master’s degrees completed at the University of Helsinki include:

  • advanced studies in the field of the degree programme (min. 60 credits) including a thesis (30 credits) and maturity test. Exception: for medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, the scope of the thesis is 20 credits
  • 60 credits of other studies, which can be studies in the field of the degree from the student’s own degree programme or other degree programmes.
  • personal study plan in Sisu
  • University of Helsinki student feedback

The degrees must include career orientation and planning.