Study Attainments and Assessments

By recognizing, the student parses his/her acquired skills in relation to the learning objectives so that it is possible to describe and demonstrate the skills. The Head of Studies or teacher(s) evaluates the student’s skills in relation to the learning objectives. Accreditation means formal approval of the student’s competence. 

In HOT skills may have been acquired through studies completed elsewhere prior to or during current studies, work experience or leisure-related activities. In HOT, the competence is approved as compulsory, optional or fee-choice studies. 

Substitution means that the course in a student’s PSP will be replaced by another course, which has been completed elsewhere, or previously in Oamk, or by acquired skills during work or leisure. If there is no corresponding course in the PSP, the course or other acquired skills will be added as such (Inclusion). 

Skills acquired through studies are demonstrated with a certificate/transcript of records. If needed, they are complemented in the ways described below. 

Skills acquired during work or leisure can be demonstrated in one or more of the following ways 

• a work certificate that shows personal competences 
• demonstration of skill in a real or simulated situation 
• writing an article 
• written assignment, for example an essay, report 
• video and recording 
• learning portfolio or learning diary 
• expert lecturing 
• interview 
• written or oral exam 
• another way proposed by the student 
• studification 

Studification means that a student utilizes in his/her studies the skills that he/she accumulates during work or leisure. A student and an agreed counsellor make a plan beforehand regarding the studification where the required competence and its scope in credits are written down. 

The process of recognition and accreditation of learning (HOT) is presented in short in the image. The way the acquired skills are demonstrated is agreed between the Head of Studies/teacher(s) and a student. 

The Head of Studies accredits the learning to study modules, individual courses or parts of courses. A teacher can accredit the learning to an individual course or a part of it. The decision can be positive or negative or a request for complement. The schedule of the assessment follows the Assessment Procedure for Study Attainment. After accreditation of learning, the student updates his/her PSP and discusses with a tutor teacher if needed. If a decision is negative, the student acquires the learning by taking part in courses or makes a rectification. 

Previously acquired language and communication skills and those competencies acquired elsewhere can be recognised as part of the degree (HOT). Recognition and accreditation of learning is based on a competence-based approach. What matters is the competence, not how and where the knowledge and skills were acquired. The student has the right to apply for recognition of competence regardless of how they were acquired if the competence corresponds to the course learning objectives of the target degree. 
 
The student can advance in language and communication studies by 

• participating in course implementations. 
• applying for accreditation for language and communication studies completed at another higher education institution. 
• demonstrating competence acquired elsewhere (e.g. work or leisure) and this competence is in line with the Oamk curriculum objectives. 
• utilizing the language and communication skills accumulated at work during studies (studification of work). 

If the student has completed equivalent language and communication studies or equivalent level (European Framework of Reference for Languages ECFR) language and communication studies in a relevant field at a national or foreign higher education institution, and if these studies meet the requirements of the target degree, the studies are recognised as such. 

If the studies completed elsewhere are from a different field or are smaller in scope, they need to be complemented. The requirement of field specificity applies to the second national language and a foreign language but not Finnish communication. 
 
Studies previously assessed at a higher education institution will not be reassessed. If the course was assessed at a previous higher education institution using the scale 1-3 instead of a 1-5 scale, the grade is converted to a scale of 1-5 as follows: 

• satisfactory 1, 1+: Oamk grade 1 
• satisfactory 1,5: Oamk grade 2 
• good 2-, 2, 2+: Oamk grade 3 
• good 2,5 and excellent 3-: Oamk grade 4 
• excellent 3: Oamk grade 5 

A course previously completed at a higher education institution and assessed verbally as satisfactory is marked as grade 2 and excellent as grade 4 at Oamk. 
 
If the student needs to complement the course, additional demonstration of competence will be assessed on the scale pass/to be complemented. The student is awarded the grade based on the previous course grade. The teacher can assess additional demonstration of competence numerically if the student’s competence is higher than the original course grade. In this case the grade is determined by demonstration of competence. 
 
Since the competence of the second national language must be assessed in both oral and written proficiency, it is assessed according to the following principles: 

• If the second national language proficiency is not marked by the previous higher education institution for oral and written proficiency separately, the same grade is awarded for both oral and written proficiency. 
• If the assessment in the second national language proficiency at a previous higher education institution is marked as “passed”, “completed” or equivalent, the student must provide additional demonstration of oral and written competence, which are assessed numerically. 

A Thesis written for a prior degree cannot be accepted as the Thesis required for the current degree. However, a Thesis that is part of a prior degree can be used to compensate for other studies in the current degree in accordance with the learning objectives. 

Study attainments assessed earlier at an institute of higher education will not be reassessed. If the grade given for an accredited course/study module corresponds with the numerical or verbal grading scale used at Oulu UAS, it will be the grade given to the student. For justified reasons, it is possible to use the “pass” grade even though earlier study periods were graded numerically. 

Example 1. If a student applies for crediting several numerically graded earlier study periods to compensate for one Oamk study period, the grade given may be “pass” (H). Alternatively, the grade can be a numerical average that takes into account the extent of the earlier study periods. 

Example 2. However, if the study period completed elsewhere is clearly more extensive than the study period at Oamk to be credited, a numerical grade will always be given. If the student wishes, they may demonstrate their competence in some other way than a certificate, and receive a higher numerical grade. 

If the course or study module has been graded using another scale than the one used at Oamk, the course will be graded as passed. 

The accreditation of studies completed while studying as an exchange student or as a double degree student as well as for international training, is agreed upon in advance between the student, the home institution and the host institution/placement employer. The studies that incoming double degree students have completed at their home institution are accredited to the degree at Oamk according to the decision of the Head of the Degree Programme. If the PSP of an exchange student changes for reasons not due to the student, the matter is agreed upon during the exchange between the student, the home institution and the host institution. The student must apply for accreditation for the studies immediately after the exchange period has ended. For study attainments achieved in another country the ECTS grades are converted to correspond with the numerical scale according to the conversion table used in the ECTS system. A student provides a certificate of the international training and the training will be registered as international practical training. 

The grade of the accredited course cannot be raised. The accreditation record will not be removed. 

The grading scale determined by the curriculum is followed in demonstrating acquired skills. For justified reasons, it is possible to use the “pass” grade even when the curriculum states otherwise. 

Example 3. If a student applies for crediting work experience or competence acquired from elsewhere than studies to compensate for a study period, it is possible to use the “pass” grade instead of the numerical grading used in the curriculum of Oamk if numerical grading is not appropriate in the situation. 

The registered courses will show in the national database permanently. If needed, the skills are being complemented according to the newest curriculum. 

Studies that lead to a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Applied Sciences include 1) basic and professional studies, 2) free-choice studies, 3) practical training aimed at furthering professional skills and 4) a Bachelor’s thesis. Studies that lead to a Master’s degree at the University of Applied Sciences include 1) advanced professional studies, 2) free-choice studies and 3) a Master’s thesis. Professional teacher education includes 1) basic pedagogical studies, 2) professional pedagogical studies, 3) teaching practice and 4) other courses. (Decree 1129/2014, section 2.) The rector confirms the objectives of the parts that are included in the degree and the professional teacher education (Degree Regulations 16 March 2015, rector of the University of Applied Sciences 2015). 
 
Students must, either through their studies for a degree or another manner, demonstrate that they have attained: 1) the Finnish and Swedish language skills required by the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) for an official post requiring an academic degree in a bilingual district and necessary for practising a profession and developing professionally; and 2) the written and spoken skills in one or two foreign languages necessary for practising a profession and developing professionally (Decree 1129/2014, section 7). 

The knowledge assessment frameworks are confirmed by the vice rector. The course descriptions include proficiency objectives and information regarding the applied assessment. The students demonstrate their proficiency in accordance with the course description and the implementation plan that specifies it further. 
 
Proficiency can be demonstrated in person, in pairs or as a group. The demonstration of proficiency can take place through several assignments (for example, weekly assignments) or a more extensive course work. Examples of assessment practices include exercises and projects, learning portfolios or diaries, supplied-reference exams, oral or supervised written exams, essays, videos, demonstrations of skill, posters, concept maps, mind maps, photos, reports, summaries and questions that are automatically reviewed. The above may include self-evaluation and peer evaluation. 
 
Students are allowed to participate in the assessment of studies for which they have been admitted. Students studying for a degree must be enrolled as an attending student when they participate in the assessment. Students must be prepared to prove their identity when they demonstrate their proficiency. If the demonstration of proficiency is performed under supervision, the teacher will specify what tools and materials can be used. 

The University of Applied Sciences has decided that when studying for a degree or taking specialised studies, students may receive recognition for studies completed at another Finnish or foreign institution of higher education or other educational establishment and compensate for studies included in the degree requirements or specialised studies with other equivalent studies. The University of Applied Sciences has also decided that students may receive recognition for skills and competencies demonstrated in some other way and substitute studies included in the degree requirements or specialised studies with them. (Act 1173/2014, section 37.) Students on the open study path and in the School of Professional Teacher Education may also propose the recognition of prior learning according to the principles mentioned above. The vice rector confirms the policy for the recognition and accreditation of learning outcomes. 

Students have the right to receive feedback on their proficiency either orally or in writing. The assessment of proficiency measures the attainment of the learning outcomes determined for each course. The assessment is equal, reliable, instructive and encouraging. 

An incomplete course is completed and assessed according to the latest curriculum. If the scope of the course has changed, the personal study plan will be updated so that the studies included in its scope and proficiency objectives are sufficient for the degree. 
 
If the student has completed parts of a course which will no longer be held, the student’s partial studies are recorded as a course with a scope expressed as a whole number. The personal study plan will be updated so that the studies included in its scope and proficiency objectives are sufficient for the degree. 
 
Students taking Open UAS studies or studying parts of a degree as separate studies must complete the course along with all the required tasks by the given deadline. 
 
The licence of the University of Applied Sciences determines the language of tuition and degree as Finnish or Swedish. The University of Applied Sciences may decide that an additional language is used for tuition and degrees. (Act 932/2014, section 8.) The tuition and degree language of the Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk) is Finnish. The Finnish degree programmes may include courses or study modules implemented in English when it is appropriate from the point of view of the study field and supports the internationalisation of the student. Correspondingly, the English degree programmes may include courses or study modules in Finnish when they support the student’s integration into the Finnish working life. The rector decides on the language proficiency required of the students, exemptions from the language proficiency requirements and the maturity test (Degree Regulations 16 March 2015, rector of the University of Applied Sciences 2015). In the Finnish degree programmes the thesis is written in Finnish, and in the English degree programmes in English. Students who have completed their schooling in Finnish or Swedish write their maturity test in the language of their schooling. For them, the language of the degree programme does not affect the language of the maturity test. Students who have completed their schooling abroad or in a language other than Finnish or Swedish write their maturity test in English. If the student has grounds for any deviation from the above policy, the student must apply for a change to the language of the thesis or the maturity test. The decision will be made by the director of school for students of their school on the recommendation of the head of studies. Otherwise, the director of school, on the recommendation of the head of studies, makes any decisions regarding the students’ right to use a language that is not a tuition language at the University of Applied Sciences to demonstrate their proficiency for students of their school. 
 
The implementation of the assessment may be further specified by instructions given by the vice rector.

Courses are graded on a numerical scale from 0 to 5: 

• fail (0) 
• sufficient (1) 
• satisfactory (2) 
• good (3) 
• very good (4) 
• excellent (5) 

or verbally as either Pass or Fail. The verbal Pass level is at least equal to the numerical level Pass (1). 
 
The course description defines the assessment scale to be used. The course can be evaluated as several parts. Each part must have the scope of at least one credit. However, a single grade is given for the course. The parts are assessed on the above numerical or verbal scale. If parts of a course have been assessed using both scales, the assessment scale applied to the course is determined based on which scale has been used for more than half of the scope of the course. The implementation plan defines the weight of the individual parts of the implementation. The numerical grade of a course is the weighted average of the grades given for the parts, rounded off to the nearest whole number (e.g. 2.4 -> 2 and 2.5 -> 3). 
 

Example 1. The scope of the model course is 5 credits and the numerical scale of 0–5 is used. In the model course, the weighting of the parts is determined by their scope. 

Part I, 1 credit, verbal grade Pass -> The existence of the Pass assessment is verified, but it is not taken into account when determining the numerical grade for the course. 

Part II, 1 credit, numerical grade 5 -> weighting = 1 credit / (1 credit + 3 credits) 

Part III, 3 credits, numerical grade 2 -> weighting = 3 credits / (1 credit + 3 credits) 

¼ × 5 + ¾ × 2 = 2.75 -> The grade given for the course is 3. 
 
In the Diploma Supplement appended to the diploma in English, the grades are indicated as follows: 

• 0 = Fail 
• 1 = Sufficient 
• 2 = Satisfactory 
• 3 = Good 
• 4 = Very good 
• 5 = Excellent 

• P = Pass 

The language skills mentioned in the relevant decree (Decree 1129/2014, section 7) are assessed on a numerical scale of 0–5 (see the rector’s decision on the language proficiency required of students according to the degree regulations). 
 
The spoken and written language skills in the second national language (Swedish) required in the civil service are assessed as either Good or Satisfactory (Decree 481/2003, sections 16–17 and 19). The grade Good corresponds to the numerical grades 4 and 5, and Satisfactory to the numerical grades 1, 2 and 3. If the studies consist of several courses or parts and their weighting has not been defined, the grade for the studies will be the average of the courses or parts weighted according to their credits. The average is rounded off to the nearest whole number (e.g. 2.4 -> 2 and 2.5 -> 3). Attaining Excellent language proficiency requires that the student’s language of schooling and the language used in the maturity test is Swedish (Decree 481/2003, section 15). 
 
The thesis is assessed on a numerical scale of 0–5 and the maturity test verbally as either Pass or Fail. The instructions for the thesis and the maturity test, which include the assessment criteria, are confirmed by the vice rector. 

The results of the assessment of a course or part of a course are announced and registered within three working weeks of the assessment event or the designated return date of the study assignment. If a student fails to submit their study assignments by the designated due date, the results of the assessment are announced and registered within six working weeks. If the results of the assessment cannot be announced for a valid reason by the designated time, this, together with the new announcement date, will be announced before the time limit expires. Students may inform the Academic Affairs, Oamk Service Team (study.oamk@oulu.fi) if they have not received the assessment or been informed of the new announcement date by the designated time. The procedure for announcing the results of the assessment takes into consideration the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999). 

Students have the right to obtain information on the application of the assessment criteria to their study attainment (Act 932/2014, section 37). The teacher who performed the assessment will provide the information on the application of the assessment criteria. Students must have the opportunity to review the written or otherwise recorded assessed study attainment. They must be kept for at least six months from the date of announcing the results. (Act 932/2014, section 37.) 

The assessor records the data regarding each student’s completed courses and parts of courses in the student administration program. The data to be recorded include the name of the course or part of a course, the scope, the grade, the date of completion and the name of the assessor. 

If the course consists of several parts, their combined scope must correspond to the total scope of the course. The data will be recorded for each part of a course. The teacher responsible for the implementation of the course is responsible for the total grade for the course. 

When granting the degree, studies completed at Oulu University of Applied Sciences will not be removed from the student administration program. A record for recognised studies may be removed from the student administration program if the student completes the course in question at a later stage of their studies. A numerical grade entered in the register cannot be converted into a verbal grade. 

The student has the right to attempt to improve their grade for a failed course. The possibility to improve the grade is available during the next two terms from the first failed grade. If necessary, the head of studies will update the personal study plan with the student if the student fails to get an approved grade within the deadline. 

The student has the right to attempt to improve their grade for an approved course once. The possibility to improve the grade is available during the next two terms. The best of the grades will remain in force. 

A student who is not satisfied with the assessment of their study attainment or the recognition of studies completed elsewhere or skills and competencies demonstrated in some other way may request rectification either verbally or in writing from the teacher who has carried out the assessment or from the person who made the decision regarding recognition of the studies or skills and competencies. A request for the rectification of study attainment assessment must be made within 14 days of the date when the results of the assessment and the information on the application of the assessment criteria in their case were made available to the student. A request for the rectification of the recognition of studies or skills and competencies must be made within 14 days of receiving the notification of the decision. A student who is not satisfied with the above-mentioned decision can submit a written rectification request to the Board of Examiners of the University of Applied Sciences within 14 days of receiving the notification of the decision. (See Act 257/2015, section 57 and the Rules of Procedure of 16 March 2015, updated 1 January 2023.) The activity of the Board of Examiners is governed by regulations (Board of the University of Applied Sciences on 9 February 2015, section 13). 

Plagiarism, fabrication, falsification and are considered cheating. Plagiarism refers to, for example, the copying of the ideas, thoughts, text, video, software code or its part, visual expression, translation or inventions of another person without giving due credit to the original source and/or presenting them as one’s own. Plagiarism is an unethical and/or criminal act, in which good scientific practices are ignored.

• Using notes, source literature or other aids (e.g. a phone) during an exam when such use has not been agreed 
• Copying another student’s answer in an exam 
• Discussing or attempting to discuss with another student during an exam 
• Copying another student’s essay or exercise and using it as one’s own for credit 
• Purchasing of a course work from another student or some other party 
• Completing a course, e.g. by taking part in an exam or preparing an exercise on behalf of another student 
• Making one’s own exercise or equivalent available to another student knowing that they will present it as their own performance 

It is the responsibility of the teacher or exam invigilator to intervene if cheating is detected. They have two options for action to consider, depending on the situation: 1) issuing an oral caution or 2) documenting the case of cheating and submitting it for investigation. An oral caution may be issued, for example: 

• For attempting to discuss with another student during an exam. In this case, the student is told to end the discussion and is informed that the student must follow the rules for the exam. 
• Omitting a source reference. In this case, the student is instructed to work in accordance with the principles of good scientific practice. 

If the any obvious cheating or attempt at cheating is detected during an exam, the student’s exam is interrupted. Interruption of the exam and the reason for it are reported the lead specialist (Academic Affairs, Oamk Service Team). Cheating detected after an exam or suspected cheating in any other demonstration of proficiency together with the grounds are reported to the lead specialist. The case of suspected cheating will be submitted for investigation within one week of receiving the information on the suspicion. The teacher or exam invigilator will not investigate the matter further with the student. 

If a student notices or suspects that another student has cheated, they can report the matter within a week to the teacher responsible for the course, the exam invigilator or the lead specialist. Report anonymously is not possible, but the report is always handled confidentially. Anonymous reports will not be investigated. If necessary, the student is asked for a more detailed explanation of the cheating by another student they have noticed. 
 
The suspicion of cheating raised by another person is directed to the lead specialist. The suspicion of cheating must be specified. For example, if plagiarism is suspected in an approved thesis, it must be shown which source was plagiarised, and the connections between the text of the thesis and the source must be indicated. 

Suspicions of cheating are always investigated. The lead specialist immediately reports the suspicion of cheating to the director of the school. The investigation takes place in the school offering the education which the suspected cheating concerns. 
 
The assessment of the student’s study attainment and the potential process of applying for a degree are suspended until the suspicion of cheating has been investigated. Investigation of cheating can also be initiated after a decision has already been made on the approval of a study attainment if the suspicion of cheating only arises at this stage. 
 
In the case of a student who has graduated, any suspicions of cheating related to their thesis are investigated. Suspicions concerning theses for a Master’s degree at the University of Applied Sciences are investigated in accordance with the RCR procedure of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity. Suspicions concerning theses for a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Applied Sciences are investigated in accordance with this decision. 

The lead specialist informs the student/graduate of the suspicion of cheating and asks them for a written response. The response will be discussed at a meeting to which the student/graduate, teacher and director of school are invited by the lead specialist. The meeting will take place within two weeks after the suspicion of cheating has been submitted for investigation. The time limit may be longer if necessary to investigate the suspicion of cheating, to reach the persons concerned, to take the leave of the teacher into account or to find the contact details of the graduated student. Invitations to the meeting will be sent in writing at least five working days before the meeting. 
 
If during the investigation of a suspicion of cheating there is reason to suspect that several students have been involved in cheating together, for example, one student has used the work of another student as their own with the other student’s permission, or a personal study assignment has been performed as group work in violation of the instructions, the matter is investigated as suspected cheating by all the students. 

The absence of a written response from the student and the non-attendance of the student at the meeting are considered an admission of cheating. After investigating the suspicion of fraud, the director of school makes a decision on established cheating or dropping the suspicion of cheating. The student has the right to request rectification of the above-mentioned decision from the Board of Examiners. 

The origin and processing of the suspected cheating and statements made during the hearing are documented in the decision of the director of the school. The student’s written response, if it has been available, is attached to the decision. The decision is announced to the parties concerned. The decision of the director of the school is archived. 
 
If the director of the school considers the cheating to be particularly serious, they will refer the matter to the rector. 

Before the matter is resolved, the act or neglect giving rise to the disciplinary action must be specified, the necessary account of the matter must be obtained and the student in question must be granted an opportunity to be heard on the matter (Act 932/2014, section 39). 
 
The rector can give the student a written warning if the student acts deceitfully (Act 932/2014, sections 38–39). 
 
If the act or omission is serious or if the student continues to behave inappropriately after receiving a written warning, the Board of the University of Applied Sciences may suspend them from the University of Applied Sciences for a fixed period, one year at maximum (Act 932/2014, sections 38–39). 
 
A decision on a written warning or suspension for a fixed period can be appealed to the administrative court within whose jurisdiction the University of Applied Sciences has its main office as provided for in the Administrative Judicial Procedure Act, unless otherwise provided by law. The appeal is to be processed as a matter of urgency. (Act 932/2014, section 58.) The decision to suspend a student for a fixed period can be enforced regardless of an appeal lodged against it, unless the court of appeal decrees otherwise (Act 932/2014, section 59). A decision of the administrative court concerning disciplinary action cannot be appealed (Act 932/2014, section 60).