Degree Regulations

(Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences 18 January 2010)

Contents:

Introduction
1 § Educational task
2 § Student selection
3 § Enrolment and eligibility to study
4 § Organisation of teaching and studies
5 § Studying
6 § Approval of degrees and degree certificates
7 § Additional directions

Introduction

These degree regulations provide directions and instructions on degrees, degree programmes, curricula, studies, study counselling and tutoring, participation in instruction, credit transfer, practical training, thesis, evaluation of studies and degree certificates (Decree 352/03 § 16). The internal administrative organisation of Oulu University of Applied Sciences consists of the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences, rector and schools. These degree regulations define the tasks and responsibilities of the above parties.

The general legislative foundations for organising university of applied sciences studies are given in the Act (351/03) and Decree (352/03) on Polytechnics and in subsequent amendments to the act and the decree. In order to meet the qualifications of licensed health care and social services professionals the Act (559/94) and Decree (564/94) on Health Care Professionals, as well as subsequent amendments to these are taken into account. In addition to this, the Act (356/03) and Decree (357/03) on Vocational Teacher Training and subsequent amendments to these are also taken into account.

1 § Educational task

The function of the university of applied sciences is to provide higher education founded on the requirements of working life and its development, as well as on research, artistic and cultural principles, which qualifies students for tasks requiring professional expertise, to support the professional growth of individuals and and practice applied research and development as well as artistic activity which serves the purposes of university of applied sciences education, supports the working life and regional development and takes into account the business structure of the region. When carrying out its functions, the university of applied sciences is to promote lifelong learning. (Act 351/03 § 4, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 4.)

Education leading to a degree in Oulu University of Applied Sciences is organised into the following degree programmes confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Culture:

Culture
Social Sciences, Business and Administration
Natural Sciences
Technology, Communication and Transport
Natural Resources and the Environment
Social Services, Health and Sports

In addition Oulu University of Applied Sciences organises vocational teacher training, professional specialisation studies, open university studies and short-term supplementary training (see Act 351/03 § 17, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 17, Decree 352/03 § 12, Amendment to Decree 1045/09 § 12). When needed, also education for immigrants is organised with the purpose to provide the student linguistic and other skills needed for studying at the university of applied sciences (Act 351/03 § 17, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 17).

The function of the university of applied sciences is to ensure the quality standard and continuous development of the education and other activities that it provides. The university of applied sciences is to evaluate the impact of its education and other activities. The university of applied sciences is to take part regularly also in external evaluation of its activities and quality system and to publish the results of the evaluation. (Act 351/03 § 9, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 9.) The quality assurance system is described in the quality assurance handbook, which is confirmed by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences. The purpose of the quality assurance system is to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the activities and to help recognize good practices and development needs. Quality assurance work is being realized through operations steering and processes. The model for operations steering and processes are confirmed by the rector.

2 § Student selection

The agreement between the Oulu University of Applied Sciences, its administrator and the Ministry of Education and Culture determines the number of students. The number of study places for education leading to a degree is confirmed by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences. The allocation of study places for adult education leading to a degree among degree programmes and, if required, among fields of study are confirmed by the rector. The number of study places for adult education which leads to a degree and which is funded by outside sources, as well as for professional specialisation studies is confirmed by the rector. The degree programmes may include options (Decree 352/03 § 6, Amendment to Decree 423/05 § 6).The options which are not included in the Decision on Degree Programmes by the Ministry of Education and Culture are confirmed by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences.

The principles of student selection and the arrangement of entrance examinations are decided by the university of applied sciences (Act 351/03 § 22, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 22). The entrance examinations related to student selection are free of charge for students. From applicants who apply for education carried out in other language than Finnish or Swedish international fee-based tests can be required. (Act 351/03 § 26, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 26.) The general student selection criteria are confirmed by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences and the detailed student selection criteria are confirmed by the rector. Other decisions concerning the carrying out of student selection are made by the rector.

A person who has applied for admission can submit to the board of the university of applied sciences a written rectification request concerning the decision on student admission within 14 days of the publication of the results of student selection (Act 351/03 § 22, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 22, Decree 352/03 § 18, Amendment to Decree 1045/09 § 18).

If ranking and rejection are required for the purposeful implementation of the options of a degree programme, open university studies or transfer student selection, the decision to apply the procedure is made by the School in question.

3 § Enrolment and eligibility to study

A student who has been admitted to the university of applied sciences and who has accepted the student place is to enrol to the university of applied sciences in a way determined by the university of applied sciences, after which he/she is registered as a student. Students must enrol as present or absent each academic year in a way determined by the university of applied sciences. A student can for a justified reason change his/her enrolment for absence/presence during the academic year. (Act 351/03 § 23, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 23.) A student can be absent for a total of two academic years, provided that he/she has supplied a notification of absence to the university of applied sciences. (Act 351/03 § 24.) Decisions on the enrolment procedure and student admission are made by the rector. Students who have enrolled as present are eligible to study.

A student who has not enrolled to the university of applied sciences in the aforementioned manner forfeits his/her eligibility to study. If the student wishes to start or continue his/her studies at a later stage, he/she must reapply for eligibility to study from the university of applied sciences (Act 351/03 § 25). The eligibility can be restored on application in a way determined by the rector. If a student has failed to enrol and the prescribed duration of studies has been exceeded, he/she is considered to have resigned.

Full-time students must complete their studies leading to a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree within a period that exceeds the extent of the degree programme by no more than a year. A student who has not completed his/her studies in the prescribed time, forfeits his/her eligibility to study, unless the university of applied sciences has for a specific reason granted him/her an extension period to complete his/her studies (Act 351/03 § 24-25, Amendment to Act 411/05 § 24.) Instructions on the procedure of granting a student an extension period to complete his/her studies are given by the rector.

The period of eligibility to study for other than full-time students is determined in an approved personal study plan (see Act 351/03 § 24).

A student who has failed to complete his/her studies in the prescribed time will be registered as resigned. The day following the expiry date of his/her eligibility to study will be entered into the register as the resignation day. A student is considered to have resigned from the day he/she has submitted a dated and undersigned resignation notice to the Study Affairs Office of Oulu University of Applied Sciences or to the student affairs office of the school. If a student who has been registered as resigned or who has resigned wishes to continue his/her studies at a later stage, he/she must reapply for eligibility to study by taking part in the normal admission procedure.

A student can submit to the board of the university of applied sciences a written rectification request concerning a decision on losing his/her eligibility to study within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision (Act 351/03 § 25).

Professional specialisation studies may be carried out only once. The duration of eligibility to study professional specialisation studies is decided by the School in question. For open university studies a student is given a restricted eligibility to study (Decree 352/03 § 12, Amendment to Decree 1045/09 § 12). The duration of eligibility to complete open university studies is determined in the assessment regulations.

4 § Organisation of teaching and studies

Each School is responsible for the organisation of teaching and studies as well as for their resource allocation and development according to the strategy and teaching and learning -development plan. The teaching and learning -development plan specifying the implementation of the strategy is confirmed by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences (see Decree 352/03 § 16).

Studies leading to degrees are organised as degree programmes, the scope of which is confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The degree programmes are study blocks designed and organised by the university of applied sciences (Act 351/03 § 18-19, Amendments to Act 411/05 § 18-19 and Act 564/09 § 18, Decree 352/03 § 4-11 and 13-14, Amendments to Decree 497/04 § 5-6, 8-9, Decree 423/05 § 4-7, 10, 13 and Decree 1045/09 § 14 ), in which the policy of the strategy and teaching and learning -development plan is taken into account. As parts of the degree structure the scope of the practical training is confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the scope of other studies by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences. The curricula and descriptions of education leading to a degree are confirmed by the rector. Curricula and descriptions of studies other than those leading to a degree are confirmed by the School in question.

Education leading to a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree is tuition free. Fees may be required for other education and made-to-order education leading to a higher education degree. (Act 351/03 § 26, Amendments to Act 1505/07 § 26a and Act 564/09 § 26.) In a special case fees may be required also for International Degree Programmes leading to a Master’s Degree (see Act 564/09 § 26b). Decisions on the fees required for International Degree Programmes leading to a Master’s Degree, made-to-order education leading to a higher education degree, professional specialisation studies and open university studies are made by the rector. Decisions on the fees required for short-term supplementary training are made by the School in question.

5 § Studying

The academic year begins on 1 August and ends on 31 July. Instruction is given during the periods specified by the university of applied sciences. (Decree 352/03 §17.) The academic year consists of an autumn term and a spring term. The Schools decide on the dates for the teaching periods for every academic year.

The procedure for the approval of personal study plans is determined by the School in question.

The assessment regulations are confirmed by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences (see Decree 352/03 § 14, 16, 19, Amendment to Decree 1045/09 § 14). The university of applied sciences has a Degree Board of Examiners for the handling of rectification requests concerning study attainments (Act 351/03 § 27, Amendment 564/09 § 27, Decree 352/03 § 20). The regulations governing the Degree Board of Examiners are ratified by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences.

6 § Approval of degrees and degree certificates

The university of applied sciences awards the student a certificate of the degree that he/she has taken. Information about the student's language proficiency is included in the degree certificate. (Act 351/03 § 18, Amendments to Act 411/05 § 18 and Act 564/09 § 18, Decree 352/03 § 3, 8, 15, Amendments to Decree 497/04 § 8, 15, Decree 423/05 § 3 and Decree 981/06 § 3.) The approval procedure of degrees, and the form and signing of degree certificates and its appendices are confirmed by the Board of Oulu University of Applied Sciences.

Decisions concerning the form and signing of degree certificates and their appendices awarded for professional specialisation studies and open university studies are made by the rector. Decisions concerning the signing and form of certificates awarded for other education are made by the School in question.

7 § Additional directions

Universities of applied sciences are to ensure continuity of their functions free from disturbance also in unusual conditions as well as in fault and special situations by preparedness plans, preparations for unusual conditions and other actions. (Act 351/03 § 43, Amendment to Act 564/09 § 43a) Operations in unusual conditions as well as in fault and special situations are guided by the precautionary plans of the administrator.

These degree regulations take effect on 19.1.2010.

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