Recognition and Accreditation

Degree students may, in accordance with a decision by Oulu University of Applied Sciences, be credited for studies completed at another domestic or foreign institution of higher education or other educational institution and may use other equivalent studies to compensate for studies required for the completion of the degree. Degree students may also be credited and compensated for expertise demonstrated in other ways. (Act 1045/2009 § 14.)

In this context, crediting denotes sufficient equivalency of study courses taken or otherwise proven sufficient equivalency of the content, scope and standards of gained competence. Compensation denotes that the student's competence gained in study courses, training, working experience or otherwise must be applicable to the objective of the degree for which he/she is currently studying. Crediting and compensation may be applied for a single part of a study attainment, a study module or a study programme. In addition, the following applies:

For exchange students, crediting or compensation of their studies should be agreed upon in advance by the home institution and the host institution.
Any thesis included in the student's previous degrees will not be credited.
Secondary level studies will not be credited, and they cannot compensate any higher education studies.

According to the Examination Regulation (18 January 2010), the language competence of students who have been instructed abroad or who have been instructed in a language other than Finnish or Swedish and related non-appliance of language skills requirements will be decided by the rector. The guidelines concerning crediting previous studies in Swedish for the civil servant examination in the Swedish language will be confirmed by the rector. Otherwise, the decisions on detailed crediting and compensation procedures are the responsibility of individual schools.

Any possible requests for rectification regarding crediting and compensation decisions are to be submitted to the lecturer/teacher and to the Board of Examiners, if necessary.