The study process

18 § The eligibility and admission of students to the polytechnic Bachelor´s and Master´s degree programmes

Pursuant to the Act on polytechnics 351/2003, section 20, a person who meets the criteria for eligibility for study at a polytechnic can be admitted to the polytechnic. The admission of students is carried out in accordance with the Decree on Common Application to Polytechnics (353/2003).

A student may accept only one place of study on a programme leading to a tertiary degree in any academic year.

Persons who have a Bachelor´s or another suitable Master´s degree and at least three years working experience within the area of interest can be admitted to programmes leading to a polytechnic Master´s degree. In the field of the Arts, substantiated artistic activities of equivalent scope may be accepted instead of the stipulated work experience.

19 § Registration and enrolment for the academic year

The right to pursue studies requires a current registration of attendance at the polytechnic.

Each year every student shall register as attending the polytechnic or as on leave of absence not later than 15 September or for spring by 15 January.

A student who intends during the academic year to pursue studies (including exchange studies), work on a Bachelor´s or Master´s thesis, or undertake practical training shall register as being in attendance. A student on leave of absence shall not have the right to participate in tuition, examinations, or be supervised in for example degree thesis work. A student on leave of absence can, however, pursue studies at the open polytechnic.

A student shall be entitled to take two years leave of absence in total while studying. Registered leave of absence is not included in the calculated period of study.

20 § Loss of right to study

A student who has neglected to enroll within the prescribed time shall forfeit his/her right to study at the polytechnic. The President can reinstate the right to study, provided an application for such is made within one year of the forfeiture of the right to study. Such a decision can come into force at the beginning of the following period at the earliest.

21§ Deviation from the prescribed curriculum

If a student wishes to deviate from the prescribed curriculum, he/she should in collaboration with the Programme Director make a study plan which shall be approved by the Head of Department. An individual study plan shall also be made if a student intends to pursue studies in addition to those prescribed in the curriculum. A student who has been absent shall make an individual study plan which shall be approved by the Programme Director before resuming the studies.

The degree can include an individual profile module of at most 30 ECTS credits in scope. The individual profile module can either constitute 

a) an extension study alternative and/or form
b) a study module to replace other compulsory or optional studies in the degree programme at a foundation, professional or in-depth level.

The denotation of the module is individual but the name shall reflect the degree programme’s competence profile.

The individual profile module can include previously acquired skills that have been attained through formal studies, in working or everyday life and/or attainments that have been completed during study time in the form of projects, commissions and so called trainee studies for the polytechnic, student body or an external commissioning party.

If the student wants to have formally, non-formally or informally acquired skills included, application can be made according to laid down procedures. The onus is on the student to show that he/she has the claimed skills. If documentation is lacking, the student shall be able to demonstrate in another way the possession of the acquired skills. 

22 § Change of degree programme

A student at Arcada may twice a year, by the end of November and April, apply to change degree programmes if the area of study remains the same and the degree as well as the admission criteria remain the same. The transfer application shall be submitted to the President in accordance with the instructions published on www.arcada.fi.

23 § External transferring students

A student who has been admitted to another polytechnic in Finland may be admitted to Arcada as a transferring student if

1) the right to study relates to the same degree programme or a comparable programme.

2) the applicant has on average completed at least 45 credits/academic year thereby demonstrating such progress as to permit graduation in the prescribed period of study.

The application may be done twice a year, by the end of November and April. The application is to be submitted to the President in accordance with the instructions published on www.arcada.fi.