Planning to become a subject teacher?

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Subject teacher education provides you with a wide-ranging subject teacher qualification for teaching in comprehensive and general upper secondary schools, as well as teaching general education subjects at other educational institutions.

Qualification of a subject teacher
Eligibility and application process for pedagogical studies
Näin haet aineenopettajaksi

Qualification of a subject teacher

The qualification of a subject teacher can be attained by completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree, as well as the following studies:

  • Pedagogical studies for teachers
  • Studies in the teaching subject

As a degree student, you will usually include your studies as part of your degree, but this is not required for attaining the qualification. Check the page about obtaining teacher qualification after graduation.

Eligibility and application process for pedagogical studies

The Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP) is a 60 cr programme for students who want qualify as subject teachers in Finland. There are no tuition fees in STEP programme.

The programme includes 15 cr of studies in education, 25 cr of studies in subject didactics (=how to teach your own teaching subject) and 20 cr of teaching practices.

  • The studies are available for both degree students and non-degree students.
  • Degree students at the University of Helsinki apply for STEP during their bachelor level but complete studies during their Master’s. It is not possible to apply for the pedagogical studies during the Master level studies.
  • Non-degree students’ study right is automatically valid for two years. And it is possible to apply for an extension for one more year.

Näin haet aineenopettajaksi

Helsingin yliopisto tarjoaa selkeät polut aineenopettajaksi pätevöitymiseen. Tutustu tarkemmin:

  1. Pedagogisiin opintoihin hakeminen: lisätietoa siitä, missä ja milloin voit hakea pedagogisiin opintoihin ja mitä hakuprosessissa tulee huomioida.
  2. Opettajan pedagogisten opintojen ohjesivu: Tutustu pedagogisten opintojen sisältöön ja siihen, miten ne valmistavat sinut käytännön opetustyöhön.
  3. Opetettavan aineen opinnot: Opetettavalla aineella tarkoitetaan perusopetukseen tai lukion opetukseen kuuluvaa oppiainetta. Tarkista, mitä aineita voit opiskella ja millaiset vaatimukset liittyvät yhden tai kahden opetettavan aineen pätevyyteen.