Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP)

The STEP Programme welcomes applicants who meet the following criteria:

• Non-Degree Applicants:
  • Completion of a suitable Master's degree from a Finnish university or abroad.
  • Adequate studies in at least one teaching subject covered by the Programme.
• Degree Applicants:
  • Enrolment as degree students at specific faculties of the University of Helsinki.

The STEP programme provides pedagogical studies for the following school subjects:

• English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish (as the other domestic or foreign language).
• Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.

For more information on how to apply to pedagogical studies in English (STEP), please visit the Admission Services website.

Degree students at the University of Helsinki can apply for pedagogical studies during their Bachelor's degree. However, they must complete the 60 ECTS of pedagogical studies during their Master's degree. Application for pedagogical studies at the Master's level is not possible.

Non-degree students: If you are applying to STEP as a non-degree student (ie. you have already completed a Master's degree in Finland or abroad), you need to submit an Equivalency Certificate (=vastaavuustodistus in Finnish) by the end of the application period. This certificate confirms that you have completed sufficient and appropriate studies in the school subject you intend to teach. Learn more about obtaining an equivalency certificate. Please note that it may take several weeks to obtain the certificate, so act promptly.

NB. If you have received a decision on the recognition of a degree or studies from the Finnish National Agency for Education (=Opetushallitus in Finnish), please contact Siltavuori Student Services (siltavuori-student@helsinki.fi) as soon as you obtain a study right for STEP studies.

Basic Degree Students

The study right for the STEP program remains valid as long as the student's study right for their Master's degree program is active. Degree students should apply for possible extension on their study rights through their respective faculties. For more information on degree students' study rights, please refer to the "If Your Right to Study Expires" page.

Non-Degree Students

For non-degree students (i.e., students who have already obtained a Master's degree), the study right for STEP is limited to two years. For students selected in 2024, the study right is valid from August 1, 2024, until July 31, 2026. Non-degree students can also apply for a one-year extension of their study right if they have made sufficient progress in their studies. For more information on this, please contact the Siltavuori Student Services: siltavuori-student@helsinki.fi. 

If your pedagogical studies are not completed during the first academic year, you must register yourself for the following academic year using the Oili enrollment and registration service. If, for any reason, you are unable to register with Oili, please contact Kaisa House student services (studentinfo@helsinki.fi). Please be aware that registration for the academic year is required in order to enrol and participate in your studies.

If you have a statutory reason for absence (such as parental leave), you do not need to apply for an extension on study right. Instead, you need to arrange the validity of your study right at the Kaisa House Student Services. Remember to register as a non-attending student for those terms for which you have a statutory reason and to submit a certificate verifying the reasons for your non-attendance to Student Services. Further information on statutory reasons for non-attendance.

Info Sessions During the Summer 2024:

• Info session about STEP studies was held on on Tuesday 11th of June at 16:00-17:30. Please see the info session's slides here.
• Sisu workshop: How to Create a Study Plan and Register for Courses on Zoom on Wednesday 21st of August at 16:00-17:30. Join the Sisu workshop here.

The STEP programme for the academic year 2024-2025 starts with a mandatory orientation on Thursday 29 August 2024 at 10:00-11:45 in Minerva building (Room K232) in Siltavuorenpenger 5 A. Kindly note that participation in the orientation is a compulsory.

Other important dates to consider: 

• Getting Aquainted with School (part of the Basic Practice): Wed-Fri, 4-6 September 2024 (8 am – 4 pm): further information will be provided in June's info session.
• Basic Practice 21 October – 14 December 2024
• Advanced Practice 3 March – 2 May 2025

The Subject Teacher Education Programme (STEP) consists of 60 ECTS credits of pedagogical studies for teachers. The programme includes studies in education, subject didactics and teaching practices. While the entire STEP program can be completed in one academic year, it is also possible to spread the courses over a two-year period.

STEP programme has two tracks: Arts and Science. Arts and Science students primarily study together. However, in subject didactics, STEP students may be divided into separate groups based on their teaching subjects.

Key points to note about the studies:

• Full-Time Studying: The studies require full-time commitment, and attendance is mandatory during contact teaching sessions.
• Attendance Requirement: Students are expected to attend a minimum of 85% of group sessions. Any potential absences must be communicated and agreed upon with the responsible teacher, who may provide alternative tasks.
• Schedule: The STEP studies run from last day of August until the end of May.

The University of Helsinki uses a study information system called Sisu, where your study rights and completed courses are recorded. In Sisu, you must plan your studies before registering for teaching. In practice, you must first add a course to your study plan and then register for the course.

Please follow these steps to create a Study Plan and register for courses in Sisu. We also strongly recommend attending all the provided information sessions to ensure you're correctly registered.

1) Activate University of Helsinki User Account

In order to use the IT services at the University of Helsinki (including email, Sisu, Moodle etc.), you must first activate your user account: Instructions on how to activate a new account.

2) Create a STEP Study Plan in Sisu

As a new STEP student, you must make a study plan in Sisu before you can register to STEP courses. Kindly follow the instructions on How to make a study plan and register for courses in Sisu.

1. Log in to Sisu 
2. Start drawing up your study plan by opening the Structure of studies -page from the navigation pane. 
3. Click on the button “New study plan” at the top of the page. 
4. Select “My educations” from the pop-up window. Select the study plan template for “Extended Studies in Education for Subject Teachers”. If you have other study rights, they may also be displayed here. 
5. In the “Curriculum period” drop-down menu, select the current curriculum period 2023-2024. If you wish, you can rename your study plan. Finally, click on the button “Create a plan”. 
6. In the study plan, click on the heading Programme, which will open a selection assistant on the right side of the view. Select PED300 Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP) 60 cr. 
7. Your study plan is now done. You do not need to save your study plan, as Sisu does this automatically. 

3) Register for STEP Courses on Sisu by August 25th, 2024

The schedules for autumn 2024 courses can be found in Sisu and on the course pages from 21 June 2024. 

Registration for autumn courses in Sisu takes place from 7 to 25 August 2024. Please note that the registration for the spring semester 2025 takes place in December.

Please register for the following STEP courses by 25th of August:

• PED0061 Didactics, 2 cr
• PED002 Introduction to Educational Psychology, 5 cr
• PED004 Support for Learning and Well-being 5 cr
• PED0032 Subject Didactics I: Curriculum and Teaching, 10 cr
• PED311 Basic Practice, 10 cr
• PED0066 Teacher as a Researcher, 8 cr

You will find your personal timetables after course registration on My Studies page or in the SISU Study Calendar. 

Please see more detailed Sisu instructions on the "Sisu Instructions for Students" page.

STEP has two teaching practices:

• Basic Practice 10 cr
• Advanced Practice 10 cr

Teaching practices are carried out either in the University of Helsinki teaching practice schools or in a school that is part of the university's field school network in the Greater Helsinki area. The decision for placements is made by the Faculty of Educational Sciences.

During the practice periods, students familiarize themselves with the school community, observe and analyze lessons run by others, and plan and teach their own lessons. Students also participate in group guidance and get reflection guidance for their development as a teacher at the Faculty of Educational Sciences.

Students complete their practices in only one subject, but they can be qualified to teach other subjects if they have (or later acquire) an equivalency certificate for the subjects in question.

Criminal Records Extract

According to the Universities Act, the university must check the criminal records extract from students completing teaching practice and on-the-job learning with under 18-year-olds. This applies to students who have received their study right or separate study right after 1.1.2012.

For STEP students, the extract is checked once during their studies, i.e. before the Basic Practice.

The extract must be presented to the Practice Coordinator. The students will be notified of the date after the studies start. The students can not begin their practice if they have not presented the extract.

Students who have, after turning 18, lived in other EEA-countries, must deliver the extract from the countries in question. The Faculty of Educational Sciences does not have an obligation to check extracts granted from outside the EEA-countries. The extracts can be ordered and more information of the process received from the Legal Register Centre ("Application for a criminal records extract: students practical training").

An extract obtained for the studies is free of charge. The time of delivery is about 7 working days and the extract cannot be ordered over the phone. The extract on criminal background must not be older than six months when presented. 

Degree Student: Once a degree student has successfully completed the pedagogical studies (60 cr), a clause indicating the completion of Pedagogical Studies for Teachers will be added to their Master's degree certificate. A separate certificate will not be issued to degree students. Instead, the completed studies will be marked on the official study transcript, which can be ordered through this link.

Non-Degree Student: Non-degree students who have completed the Pedagogical Studies for Teachers (60 cr) will receive a separate certificate. The certificate will be issued in English. Please note that the Faculty does not provide STEP certificates in Finnish or Swedish.

After successfully completing the Pedagogical Studies for Teachers (60 cr), you need to submit a study module registration request. Please be aware that the assessment request for the study module cannot be processed until you have finalised your Sisu study plan.

Once you have submitted the study module's assessment request, please send an email to siltavuori-student@helsinki.fi with the subject line "Graduating non-degree student, STEP." The Student Services will then mail your official certificate. The delivery time for the certificate by post is 2-3 weeks from the submission of the study module's assessment request. You will receive further information about the certificate via email.

Equivalency Certificate for Teaching Subjects

If you have completed the pedagogical studies separately after obtaining a Master's degree, you must provide an equivalency certificate (vastaavuustodistus in Finnish) from the relevant faculty to verify your qualifications in the subjects taught in basic education or upper secondary school.

The equivalency certificate is required when applying for a teaching position in a comprehensive or upper secondary school if the Pedagogical Studies for Teachers or studies in a new teaching subject have been completed separately. Instructions for obtaining the equivalency certificate.

If you are planning to apply to STEP, and have questions about the application process and eligibility criteria, please contact the Admission Services: admissions@helsinki.fi.

If you have questions related to STEP studies (regarding study rights, planning of studies, graduation etc.), send an email to Siltavuori Student Services: siltavuori-student@helsinki.fi. Please mention "STEP" as the subject heading of your email.

IT-Helpdesk can assist you if you have problems related to information technology, such as your user account, Office 365 etc. Further information can be found on the Students’ IT services page.