Degree Statutes 2017-2021

1 § Degrees

Arcada awards the following degrees:

Bachelor's degrees in culture

• Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Kulturproducent (YH)
• Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Medianom (YH)

Bachelor's degrees in business administration

• Bachelor of Business Administration, Tradenom (YH)

Bachelor's degrees in technology

• Bachelor of Engineering, Ingenjör (YH)

Bachelor's degrees in social services and health care

• Bachelor of Health Care, Sjukskötare (YH)
• Bachelor of Health Care, Hälsovårdare (YH)
• Bachelor of Health Care, Barnmorska (YH)
• Bachelor of Health Care, Förstavårdare (YH)
• Bachelor of Health Care, Ergoterapeut (YH)
• Bachelor of Health Care, Fysioterapeut (YH)
• Bachelor of Social Services, Socionom (YH)

Bachelor's degrees in sports

• Bachelor of Sports Studies, Idrottsinstruktör (YH)

Bachelor's degrees in the tourism and hospitality management

• Bachelor of Hospitality Management, Restonom (YH)*

Arcada has the right to award the following Master's degrees:

Master's degrees in culture

• Master of Culture and Arts, Kulturproducent (högre YH)
• Master of Culture and Arts, Medianom (högre YH)

Master's degrees in business administration

• Master of Business Administration, Tradenom (högre YH)

Master's degrees in technology

• Master of Engineering, Ingenjör (högre YH)

Master's degrees in social service and health care

• Master of Health Care, Sjukskötare (högre YH)
• Master of Health Care, Hälsovårdare (högre YH)
• Master of Health Care, Barnmorska (högre YH)
• Master of Health Care, Förstavårdare (högre YH)
• Master of Health Care, Ergoterapeut (högre YH)
• Master of Health Care, Fysioterapeut (högre YH)
• Master of Social Services, Socionom (högre YH)

Master's degrees in sports

• Master of Sports Studies, Idrottinstruktör (högre YH)

New students are not accepted for degrees marked with *, but registered students have the right to finish their degree.

2 § Degree and tuition language

The tuition and degree language for Arcada's Bachelor's degrees is Swedish. Some Bachelor's degrees may also be taught in English. The tuition and degree language for Arcada's Master's degrees is Swedish or English. Individual courses, with the rector's permission, may also be taught in another language.

3 § The objective for studies leading to Bachelor's and Master's degrees

The objective for studies leading to Bachelor's degrees is for graduates to obtain

1. wide-ranging practical basic knowledge and skills as well as theoretical foundations for work requiring expertise within a specific chosen field,
2. the skills and competence to follow and promote development in their chosen field,
3. the prerequisites for developing their own professional skills and life-long learning,
4. sufficient communication skills and language skills as required in their chosen field and for international activities and international cooperation.

The objective for studies leading to Master's degrees is for graduates to obtain:

1. wide-ranging and in-depth knowledge as well as necessary theoretical knowledge for development in their working life in demanding specialist and managerial posts,
2. in-depth understanding of their chosen field, its position in working life and importance in society as well as the skills and competence to monitor and analyse the development of research data and professional practise in their chosen field,
3. the aptitude for life-long learning and continuous development of their own professional skills,
4. good communication and language skills as required in their chosen field and for international activities and international cooperation.

Arcada complies with applicable Finnish legislation and the European Qualifications Framework, EQF, at level 6 for Bachelor's degrees and level 7 for Master's degrees.

4 § The planning and scope of the studies

The basis for planning the studies is 1600 hours of work, equivalent to 60 credits during one academic year. The credits are allocated evenly to four periods during the academic year.

The scope of the studies leading to Bachelor's degrees at Arcada is 210, 240 or 270 credits.

The scope of the studies leading to Master's degrees at Arcada is 60 or 90 credits.

5 § The structure of the studies

Included in the studies leading to a Bachelor's degree are

1. Basic studies divided into general basic studies and field-specific basic studies amounting to 60 credits.
   1. The general basic studies comprise a language module amounting to 15 credits and a society-oriented module amounting to 15 credits. The language module includes Finnish 5 credits, Swedish 5 credits and English 5 credits. The society-oriented module includes 5 credits introduction to university studies and 10 credits for society-oriented studies.
   2. The field-specific basic studies comprise 30 credits and can consist of two degree-specific modules.
2. Professional studies amounting to at least 90 credits, which include at least 30 credits for practical studies and, in addition to practical studies, consist of at least two and no more than four professional study modules amounting to at least 30 credits each.
3. Elective extension studies amounting to at least 30 credits.
4. Degree thesis and methodology amounting to 30 credits, where the degree thesis comprises 15 credits.

Included in the studies leading to a Master's degree are

1. Advanced studies amounting to at least 30 credits, including 5 credits elective studies.
2. Master's thesis amounting to 30 credits.

6 § Degree requirements and curricula

The Board adopts the degree requirements for each degree. The degree requirements are based on the structure of the studies pursuant to § 5 and include the module names and the core competences specific to the modules.

The heads of department annually establish curricula for the degree programmes based on the degree requirements. The curriculum consists of study modules and courses and it constitutes a plan for in which stage of the studies courses and other elements of study are placed in accordance with the degree requirements.

When the student applies the curriculum individually, the student draws up an individual study plan as determined and informed by Arcada.

A student, who has been absent, shall draw up an individual study plan prior to resuming his/her studies.

7 § Study modules and courses

For each course the curriculum stipulates a name, the study module of which the course comprises a part, starting level for the studies, the competency aims, the learning outcome, content, the examination requirements and the course literature. Likewise, the period during which the course is offered, how the assessment is performed and for how long the study attainments remains valid, as well as who is/are the responsible lecturer(s) and examiner are stated.

A course comprises at least 5 credits. Individual courses can be replaced or cancelled by the decision of the head of department, and study modules by the decision of he rector.

8 § Registration for and participation in courses

In order to have the right to participate in an individual course, the student should enrol and be accepted for participation. Course enrolments are made via Arcada's study administration system and at the time and date stated in the system. The examiner confirms if the enrolled student has the right to participate or not.

If the number of students who enrol in advance is not sufficient, the course may be cancelled by the decision of the head of department.

In exceptional cases, courses may have a limited number of participants. If the number of course participants is limited, the limit and the reason for this should be clear from the adopted course description.

When the participation in a course is limited, priority is given to students for whom the course comprises a mandatory part of their studies.

9 § Examination

The examination requirements for a course shall be clearly expressed in the course description. The examination requirements shall be compatible with the learning outcomes for the course.

The forms of examination at Arcada are demonstrations and presentations, reports and productions, independent essays and examinations.

The results of an assessed study attainment shall be communicated to the student within four (4) weeks of the examination date. The assessed study attainments shall be saved in the original for twelve (12) months from when the results were communicated to the student.

A failed course, which is assessed by written examination, can be retaken within one year from the end of the course. During this period, two re-examinations are arranged.

For other forms of examination, failed courses are retested and supplemented in the way laid down by the examiner.

Partly fulfilled study attainments become unvalid when the course finishes, unless otherwise notified.

An approved study attainment is assessed with the grades excellent (5), good (3-4) or satisfactory (1-2).

On special grounds, certain study attainments can be assessed with the grades accomplished or pass.

A student has the right to attempt to improve the grade once for an approved study attainmentt that is assessed by written examination, within the time frame stated in cl. 4. An attempt to improve the grade cannot lower the grade. A student cannot take a passed course again.

10 § Credit transfer for completed courses and validation of competences

With the framework for the degree programmes at Arcada, a student can request an accreditation of studies completed at another university or at another educational institution at the same level, or with equivalent practical training or work experience. Also, such competence that has been acquired previously or is acquired during the time of study informally from working or organisational life can be included, by validation, in the degree.

The initiative for accreditation of completed studies or validation of competence is taken by the student, who is also responsible for presenting sufficient documentation for the assessment of the completed studies or competence. The request has to be approved by the degree programme director. For language studies, the head of the language department approves the request. When the degree programme director or the head of the language department is the examiner, the head of department makes the decision.

A decision on the request for accreditation of studies or validation of competence shall be communicated to the student within three (3) weeks from the date when the complete request was submitted.

In order for a student to be able to include studies that he/she intends to take in another way than via studies provided by Arcada, an individual study plan should be drawn up in advance.

11 § Practical training

Practical training, amounting to at least 30 credits, is included in the studies for Bachelor's degrees.

The objective of the practical studies is to provide the student with the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge and skills in working life and to become familiar with central issues in the professional field. The practical training should be at the level of professional studies. More detailed information about the practical training is given in the course description.

12 § Degree thesis and Master's thesis

At Arcada, final projects are called degree thesis for Bachelor's degrees and Master's thesis for Master's degrees.

The degree thesis is a professionally orientated, independently conducted final project, which is 15 credits in scope. The aim of the degree thesis is to deepen the student's knowledge and skills in a professional area deemed to be of central importance for the degree programme and demonstrate that he/she has developed a capacity for independent analytical thought.

The degree thesis is a scientific and vocationally-oriented thesis, which may comprise part of a larger research and development work or project, the individual student's independent contribution shall always be documented and possible to evaluate.

The Master's thesis is 30 credits in scope. It addresses specific developmental issues with relevance to working life and it is based on specific areas of interest in Arcada's research projects.

A supervisor and an assessor, who are employed by Arcada, are appointed for both the degree and the Master's thesis. In the case of a thesis written on commission for an external organisation, there can also be an expert instructor representing the commissioning party.

The degree thesis and Master's thesis shall be in the language of the degree programme, Swedish or English. Norwegian and Danish students in a Swedish degree programme may write the degree thesis in Norwegian or Danish. Degree and Master's theses in another language than English always include a short summary in English.

Students who have received permission by the head of department for the respective Swedish Bachelor's degree to deviate from the norm and write in another language than the degree language, write a longer summary of the thesis in Swedish. The language in the degree thesis is not assessed separately, but the supervisor shall guide the student to make use of the language support offered and to take personal responsibility for the language in the work.

After the degree thesis or the Master's thesis has been submitted for review, the student takes a maturity test and presents the thesis in a public forum.

An assessor together with the supervisor for the thesis performs the assessment of the degree thesis and Master's thesis. The assessor draws up the written statement that comprises a comprehensive review of the thesis and the statement is also signed by the supervisor.

The degree thesis and the Master's thesis are assessed with the grades excellent (5), good (3-4) or satisfactory (1-2). The grade is justified in the statement and established based on the thesis, maturity test and the presentation.

An approved grade for the degree thesis cannot be raised.

13 § Confidentiality for parts of the degree thesis and Master's thesis

Degree and Master's theses are official and public documents. For special reasons, the head of department of an institution, in consultation with the administrative director, can classify parts of the degree thesis as confidential, based on the presentation by the student and supervisor.

Confidentiality for parts of the degree thesis is possible in the following cases:

1. If the degree thesis contains information on inventions, new facilities, procedures or developments that can have commercial significance;
2. If the degree thesis contains information on documents of authorities classified as confidential as defined in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999); or
3. If the degree thesis contains business secrets.

14 § Maturity test

Anyone taking a degree at Arcada takes a written maturity test. The maturity test shall show that the student is familiar with the subject area of the degree thesis or Master's thesis and has adequate knowledge of Finnish or Swedish. The maturity test consists of an essay prepared under supervision on a theme that is connected to the degree thesis or Master's thesis.

Based on the maturity test, the student attains formal proficiency in Swedish or Finnish for government posts on the condition that he/she takes the maturity test in the same language in which he/she received his/her education. A person is considered to have received education in the language, Finnish or Swedish, that is stated as his or her mother tongue on the leaving certificate for studies according to the Basic Education Act (628/1998) or the Upper Secondary Schools Act (629/1998) or equivalent studies, if he/she received pass marks in mother tongue studies on the leaving certificate.

Students who have received their education in another language than Finnish or Swedish, or have received their education overseas, take the maturity test in the degree language. If the maturity test is taken in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, the maturity test is reviewed solely on the basis of the content. In specific cases the rector can decide otherwise.

If the maturity test has been approved for a Bachelor's or Master's degree from a university of applied sciences or a university, the student does not need once again to demonstrate proficiency in Swedish or Finnish in the maturity test. However, a written test, whose factual content is reviewed, is required. The language in the test should also in this case meet the requirements that are set for factual prose.

15 § Language skills

A student shall within the framework of studies leading to the Bachelor's degree, or in some other way, gain

1. such knowledge of Finnish and Swedish that, pursuant to the Language Act (424/2003), are required by civil servants for a position in a bilingual administrative area for which a tertiary degree is a requirement and which is necessary considering the profession exercised by the student and his/her professional development,
2. such written and oral skills in one or two foreign languages that is necessary considering the profession exercised by the student and his/her professional development.

The provisions in clause 1 do not apply to those students who have received their education in a language other than Swedish or Finnish or those students who received their education overseas.

Students who have received their education abroad in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian or Danish and study for a degree other than a Bachelor of Health Care (Nursing in English) shall take 10 credits in Swedish and 5 credits in English. In addition, these students shall be offered at least 15 credits in Finnish within the framework for the alternatives for extension studies. Students studying for the Bachelor of Health Care degree (Nursing in English) shall take, in contrast, 5 credits in Swedish, 5 credits in Finnish and 5 credits in English.

For special reasons, a student may be exempt wholly or partly from the language skills requirements, as provided for in clauses 1 and 3. The student submits the application for exemption to the language department, which decides on the same in routine cases, or forwards it to the rector. The head of the language department is responsible for ensuring that the institution's amanuensis and Student Services are informed of the decision.

16 § Degree certificates

When all study attainments required for the Bachelor's degree or Master's degree have been completes, a request for a degree certificate can be made as determined and informed by Arcada. An appendix intended for international use is attached to the degree certificate, giving information on the university of applied sciences, the studies and academic attainments referred to on the degree certificate as well as their level and their position in the educational system.

17 § Double Degree

Double Degree refers to a degree where a student at Arcada at one or more foreign partner universities, or a student at a foreign partner university at Arcada, takes at least 60 credits for the Bachelor's degree and at least 30 credits for the Master's degree. The criteria for the degree, such as the scope of the studies, level and content are agreed separately with the partner university.

Arcada only awards certificates for double degrees to students who obtain a degree certificate from the partner university. On the degree certificate, it is specified that the student studied within the framework of a double degree.

Students at Arcada apply to the double degree programme through the student exchange selection.

18 § Joint Degree

Joint Degree refers to a degree that Arcada offers jointly with one or more partner universities. The partner universities jointly develop a curriculum for the degree.

A degree certificate is awarded only by the university that accepted the student.

Students apply to Joint Degree programmes through the joint application or a separate application.

19 § Right to study

The right to study for Bachelor's as well as Master's degrees is awarded by the rector. A student who has been admitted to Arcada obtains the right to study by confirming that the study place has been accepted. To maintain the right to study, the student shall register for the academic year annually. A student may, after accepting the offered study place, register as absent if he/she during the first academic year fulfills service under the Conscription Act, Non-Military Service Act or Act on Women's Voluntary Military Service; is on maternity, paternity or parental leave; or is incapable of commencing his/her studies due to personal illness or injury.

The studies shall be completed within a time that is no more than one year longer than assumed by the scope of the degree. After this, the right to study ceases. In the study time is not included absence due to service under the Conscription Act, Non-Military Service Act or Act on Women's Voluntary Military Service; maternity, paternity or parental leave; nor any other absence for no more than two terms for which the student has registered as being absent.

20 § Tuition fee

A student who is required to pay a tuition fee for studies leading to a degree, according to the Finnish Polytechnics Act 13 a §, pays the tuition fee when accepting his/her study place and thereafter receives the right to study. The student cannot register as present during the annual registration period before he/she has paid the tuition fee. No tuition fee is collected for the time for which the student has registered as being absent.

21 § Registration and registration for the academic year

The right to pursue studies requires a valid registration of attendance at Arcada.

Each student shall register as attending or absent from Arcada by no later than 15 September annually.

A student may, without givning a reason, change the registration of attendance to notice of absence during the academic year for the periods 3 and 4 by submitting a notification of change to Student Services, by no later than 15 January.

A student, with the support of a medical certificate, can change a registration of attendance retroactively to absence by separate request.

22 § Loss of the right to study

A student who has not registered in the way set out in 19 § cl. 1, or who has not completed his or studies within the time stated in 19 § cl. 2, or who has not paid the tuition fee as stipulated in 20 §, loses the right to study.

A student who loses the right to study because he or she has not registered, may during the same academic year apply for re-enrollment as determined and informed by Arcada.

22 a § Extended right to study

A student who has not completed his or her studies within the time stated in 19 § cl. 2, may apply for extra time to complete the studies. The application shall be made before the right to study expires. A target-oriented and viable plan is a prerequisite for granting an extended right to study. In the plan, the student shall specify the studies that will be completed and provide a timetable for his or her graduation.

A processing fee will be charged pursuant to the government decree on fees charged for the activities of polytechnics (1440/2014).

22 b § Renewed right to study

Students who has lost their right to study because it has expired according to 19 §, or who has terminated their studies themselves and want to begin or resume them later, may apply for renewed right to study. Renewed right to study can be granted more than once only in exceptional cases.

A processing fee will be charged pursuant to the government decree on fees charged for the activities of polytechnics (1440/2014).

23 § Revoking the right to study

Arcada can revoke the right to study for students studying for degrees in the fields of social services and health care or sport, if

1. the student has repeatedly or seriously endangered the health or safety of another person during the studies, thereby demonstrating his/her ineptitude for practical tasks or training linked to the studies,
2. it is obvious that the student's state of health or functional ability does not meet the requirements for admission according to the Finnish Polytechnics Act 26 § cl. 1, or
3. the student, when applying for admission, has withheld a previous decision on revokation of the right to study as set out in the Finnish Polytechnics Act 26 § cl. 2, and which could have constituted an obstacle for admission as a student.

When the studies or study-related practical training require work with minors to a considerable extent, Arcada can revoke the right to study if it is necessary to protect minors and if the student has been sentenced for a crime as specified in chapter 17 18, 18 a or 19 §; chapter 20; chapter 21 1–3 or 6 §, chapter 31 2 § or chapter 50 1, 2, 3, 4 or 4 a § of the Penal Code (39/1889).

Before the right to study is revoked, Arcada shall examine the possibilities for applying to another degree programme in consultation with the student. The student can, with his/her consent, be transferred to another degree programme at Arcada, for which the student meets the requirements for admission.

24 § Reinstatement of the right to study

A student whose right to study has been revoked with the support of 23 §, can apply to Arcada for reinstatement of the right to study. The right to study shall be reinstated if the applicant shows that the reasons for revoking the right to study no longer exist. The student shall submit a statement on his or her state of health to Arcada. The decision on reinstating the right to study is taken by the Board.

25 § Transfer from another university

A student who is studying at another university in Finland may be admitted to Arcada as a transfer student if:

1. the right to study concerns the same educational area or is comparable therewith,
2. the applicant has taken 50 credits/academic years on average and thus demonstrates such academic achievement that graduation is possible within the study time, and
3. there is an individual study plan that includes all earlier studies in the degree

Application can be made twice a year. The study time is counted from the date when the studies started at the first university. The application is to be addressed to the rector in accordance with the instructions published on www.arcada.fi External link.

26 § Ethical guidelines and penalties for cheating

Arcada complies with the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrityäs guidelines for conduct of research and procedures for handling violations of it, as well as Arcada's internal regulations "Good scientific practice in education and research at Arcada" and "Responsible conduct of research in studies at Arcada". The ethical guidelines that apply at Arcada can be found on Arcada's website.

A student guilty of cheating or otherwise in breach of Arcada's regulations can be punished with a warning or suspension from Arcada for a limited time of no more than one year in accordance with the provisions in "Good scientific practice in education and research at Arcada" and "Responsible conduct of research in studies at Arcada. Before the matter is decided, the student shall be given the opportunity to be heard on the question. The rector decides on warnings and the Board on suspension.

27 § Discipline

A student can be given a written warning if he/she

1. disrupts the teaching,
2. behaves violently or threateningly,
3. is guilty of cheating or otherwise in breach of the order at Arcada,
4. refuses to present a drugs test certificate, accordng to the Finnish Polytechnics Act 36 §, or
5. according to an investigation, with reference to the Finnish Polytechnics Act 36 §, has used drugs for other than medical purposes thus weakening his or her physical and mental ability.

If the action or negligence is serious or if the student continues to behave inappropriately, as intended in clause 1 the student can be suspended after a written warning from Arcada for a given time, at the most one year.

Decisions on written warnings are made by the rector; decisions on suspension for a given time are made by the Board.

28 § Correction procedures

A student dissatisfied with a decision regarding loss of the right to study can apply to Arcada's Board of Review for rectification of the decision within 14 days from receiving notice of the decision.

A student has the right to know how the assessment criteria have been applied. The student shall be given the opportunity to acquaint him/herself with the assessed examination. A student who is dissatisfied with the assessment of his/her academic performance according to 9 §, or the way in which studies completed elsewhere have been accredited or competences have been validated according to 10 §, may request, orally or in writin, that a correction be made by the examiner making the assessment, accrediting the study attainment or validating the competences. Request for correction shall be made within 14 days of the date when the student had the opportunity to find out the assessment and the way the criteria had been applied. The examiner shall within 14 days provide an explanation on which bases the assessment was done.

A student who after this remains dissatisfied with the decision may seek correction of it by Arcada's Board of Review within 14 days of being informed of the examiner's decision.