Supplementing pedagogical studies for person's with a degree recognition decision from the Finnish National Agency for Education
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If you have completed a higher education degree abroad, you can apply to the Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus) for recognition of your degree, see recognition of qualifications. If the decision by the Finnish National Agency for Education states that the completed studies are equivalent to the teacher’s pedagogical studies (60 ECTS credits) completed in Finland, provided you have complete the necessary supplementary studies, you may apply for these pedagogical studies at the University of Jyväskylä. The application takes place during the admission process for teacher’s pedagogical studies at the beginning of the year.
To be eligible to apply, you must have completed a Master’s degree and have sufficient amount of studies in a subject taught in basic education. The language of instruction in these studies is Finnish, and therefore you must also demonstrate a sufficient level Finnish proficiency.
The application must include a translation of your prior education certificates, a copy of the decision from the Finnish National Agency for Education, and a certificate of Finnish language proficiency. Eligible applicants will be invited to participate in an aptitude test for the teacher’s pedagogical studies. You must pass this test in order to be granted the right to study.
Applicants whose language of education is other than Finnish are required to demonstrate their knowledge of Finnish, for example, by one of the following language proficiency tests:
- The Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency of the Finnish National Agency for Education at level 4 in all test components (speaking, writing, listening and reading comprehension), OR
- The Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate with good skills in all test components (speaking, writing and reading comprehension).
More information about language proficiency requirements can be found (in Finnish) on this website.
Applications are submitted through the Studyinfo.fi service at the beginning of each year. More information about applying and admission criteria is available here.
The application must be attached with the following appendices:
- a copy of prior education certificate as well as an official translation of the certificate (see below for more specific information),
- the recognition decision by the Finnish National Agency for Education, and
- a copy of a certificate of Finnish language proficiency if the applicant has completed their school education in a language other than Finnish.
If the official degree certificate or transcript of records is issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, an official translation into one of these languages is required. An official translation can be either
- a translation issued by the educational institution that issued the diploma,
- an officially certified copy of a translation issued by the educational institution (a copy can only be officially certified by a notary public at the registry office),
- a translation made by an official translator, or
- an officially certified copy of a translation made by an official translator.
We recommend that you contact the University of Jyväskylä well in advance of the application period to ensure that we can offer you the studies you need. Contacts via HelpJYU (for education, choose pedagogical studies for subject teachers).
The supplementing of pedagogical studies for teachers is accomplished in one academic year. The studies require presence in Jyväskylä.
The study right for teacher’s pedagogical subject studies is granted for one academic year. The study place must be accepted by the date stated in the letter of admission. However, a postponement can be granted on grounds approved by the Faculty of Education and Psychology. These grounds include illness, pregnancy, parental leave, military or non-military service and studies abroad. A postponement can only be granted once.