Recognition of Prior Learning and Other Competence

Previously completed studies or studies completed outside the University of Vaasa can be included in your studies through recognition of prior learning. Recognition of prior learning can be done through either substitution or inclusion. Only studies you have completed with a passing grade can be recognised. The studies can also be completed during your studies at the University of Vaasa.

The studies to be recognised can be a part of an incomplete degree or, for example, open university studies. You can also have studies recognised that are part of a previously completed degree if they will substitute for compulsory studies.

If you are currently studying in a master’s degree programme and you have completed a bachelor’s degree in the same combined programme, you can’t transfer the studies from the bachelor’s degree to your master’s degree.

• Example: A student has completed a bachelor’s degree in communications studies. They are now studying in the Multidisciplinary Master’s Programme in Communication or Master’s Programme in Technical Communication (with communication studies as their major). The studies included in their bachelor’s degree cannot be recognised to their master’s degree.

Studies with a minimum of 15 credits completed at a Finnish or foreign university as a part of a study module can be recognised in your degree as a module.

ECTS credits you have earned by completing a thesis or a maturity test cannot be transferred.

Inclusion means accepting a course or study module you have completed elsewhere as part of your degree as it is. This doesn’t apply to competence gained through other means. You will receive the ECTS credits according to the study unit you have completed. 

Studies to be recognised must correspond to the level of study of your degree programme and the learning outcomes set for the degree.

• In a bachelor’s degree, it is possible to include a study module completed at a university of applied sciences (e.g. teacher’s pedagogical studies).
• In a master’s degree, it is possible to include an advanced-level study module that has been completed as part of a master’s degree at a university of applied sciences.

Substitution means you will receive the credits for a course, study unit or part of a study unit that is included in your curriculum based on your previous studies or other competence. The previously completed studies or other competence must correspond to the learning outcomes of the study unit you want to substitute.

You will receive ECTS credits according to the study unit you want to substitute.

• If the scope (number of ECTS credits) of your previously completed study unit is less than the scope of the study unit you want to substitute, but the difference is no more than one credit, you don’t need to make up the difference as long as the learning outcomes correspond to each other.
• If the scope of your previously completed study unit is more than the scope of the study unit you want to substitute, you will receive the ECTS credits according to the study unit in the curriculum (e. g. the study unit you have completed is 6 ECTS, but the study unit you want to substitute is 5 ECTS, you will receive 5 ECTS).

A study unit may also be substituted partially based on your prior learning. In these cases, the teacher determines how you can complement your prior learning to complete the study unit and have the full number of credits recorded for you.

There are no specific deadlines, but we recommend applying for the recognition of prior learning at the beginning of your studies.

Applications at Jolla >> Studies >> Completion and assessment of studies >> Recognition of prior learning and other competence >> Applying for recognition of prior learning. 

If you have any questions about recognition of prior learning, contact your study counsellor.

The language studies included in previous and other university studies compensate all or some of the compulsory language studies included in your degree programme.

The Language Centre processes applications concerning compulsory language and communication studies. The Schools may recognise language and communication studies that belong to optional studies.

The credit transfer is registered according to the curriculum of the University of Vaasa. As a rule, partial recognition is not granted.

You don’t have to complete the second national language (Swedish or Finnish) study unit included in the degree if you have completed basic studies in Swedish or Scandinavian languages or, correspondingly, in Finnish. Basic studies can demonstrate satisfactory proficiency, and intermediate studies good proficiency in the second national language, regardless of the final grade of the study module (Government Decree on the Demonstration of Proficiency in the Finnish and Swedish Languages in Civil Service (481/2003).