You can request validation of such competences in your study plan that you have informally/formally acquired before or during your studies.

According to the degree statute at Arcada, you as a student can request validation of such competences in your study plan that you have informally/formally acquired before or during your studies through:

  • work experience
  • active participation in associations or organisations  
  • individual course certificates/diplomas not awarded by a higher education institution
  • a competence that is based on several different courses
  • studies abroad (often outside the EU) where conversion to ECTS is not possible  
  • competences acquired by other means.

Even in situations where you, as a student, have not completed a study unit/module you can validate already completed parts of the study unit/module.

The initiative for validation of competence is taken by you as a student. It is your responsibility as a student to be able to demonstrate your competence by providing sufficient documentation (certificates, transcript of records, portfolio, etc.) for the assessment of your competence. The request is approved by the Degree Programme Director or Principal Lecturer. For language studies, the Head of the Language Department approves the request.

Instructions for student:

  1. Carefully read your study plan and identify the study unit(s) or module(s) that correspond to the competence you wish to validate
  2. Review the learning outcomes and compare them with the competences you wish to validate, how do the learning outcomes correspond to those competences?
  3. Your task as a student is to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes corresponding to the study unit or module you wish to validate. You therefore need to be able to answer the following questions:
    1. How did you acquire this competence?
    2. In what different contexts have you used the competence?
    3. How has this competence changed your professional approach?
    4. How does this competence support your professional development?
  4. Gather all the background information and documentation you have to demonstrate your competences. Prepare the appendices you wish to attach to your application via e-lomake
  5. Make an application via e-lomake  
  6. Prepare yourself for the possibility of having to demonstrate your skills by oral, written or practical demonstration.