Principles for recognition of prior learning at the University of Jyväskylä

These principles come into effect on 1 August 2025.

1. Legislative background

Principles for recognition of prior learning at the University of Jyväskylä are based on the following regulations:

Universities Act 558/2009

Section 44: When studying for a degree or when completing a professional specialisation programme, the student may, as determined by the university, have studies that he or she has completed in another Finnish or foreign higher education institution or other educational establishment counted towards the degree or specialisation programme; the student may also substitute previous studies for studies in the degree requirements or professional specialisation programme if the prior studies are of an equivalent level. The student may, as determined by the university, have his or her knowledge and skills attested in some other manner and counted towards the degree or specialisation, or substitute studies in the degree requirements or specialisation programme with the knowledge and skills attested.

Section 7a: Universities may arrange tuition other than by virtue of subsection 1 in cooperation with another university or university of applied sciences or procure it from one of these institutions. When tuition is procured from a Finnish university or university of applied sciences that provides the tuition for its own students as well, universities are not obliged to provide such tuition themselves to meet their educational responsibility. A university is obliged to provide a majority of tuition for degrees and disciplines under its educational responsibility.

Degree Regulations of the University of Jyväskylä

Section 33: The study right awarded for a degree includes the right to pursue studies included in the degree in the curriculum. Degrees may also include studies from other faculties and higher education institutions.

Section 37: At the University of Jyväskylä, it is possible to recognise studies completed at Finnish and foreign higher education institutions in compliance with the curriculum as well as competence acquired otherwise when it corresponds to the learning outcomes of the pursued degree or part of it. Learning must always be demonstrated and evaluated. Recognition of prior studies can be made at any point during studies for a student who has registered for attendance and has a study right at the University of Jyväskylä.

From an earlier degree of the same level, only studies that comply with the curriculum of the degree pursued at the University of Jyväskylä can be recognised.

Theses cannot be recognised.

The Rector, or a person designated by the Rector, gives more detailed guidelines for the recognition of studies or competence acquired otherwise. Furthermore, deans and directors of independent institutes may decide on more detailed practices and grounds for recognising prior studies.

The director of the Centre for Multilingual Academic Communication, or a person designated by the director, decides on the recognition of communication and language studies.

2. The purpose and the scope of application

These principles supplement and specify the identification and recognition of prior learning based on the Universities Act and the Degree Regulations of the University of Jyväskylä. The principles are applied to the recognition of prior learning for degree studies and, when applicable, to non-degree studies at the University of Jyväskylä.

3. Key concepts and definitions

The recognition of prior learning (RPL) refers to the process of approving a student’s formal, non-formal or informal learning as part of a degree, study module or study unit. Competence is assessed and acknowledged in the process for the recognition of prior learning. Identification refers to different forms of competence evaluation and accreditation to procedures that lead to the recognition of prior learning.

Recognition takes place as substitution or inclusion. The recognition of prior learning is always based on competence and must be applied for.

Substitution refers to substituting a study unit included in the curriculum fully or partly with studies the student has completed earlier or on the basis of competence acquired outside formal education.

Inclusion refers to adding a study unit or study module completed in a higher education institution as part of a degree or adding a study unit as part of a study module.

In these principles, recognition of prior learning refers to both substitution and inclusion unless otherwise mentioned. Substitution and inclusion are described in more detail in sections 5 and 6.

In these principles, the validation of non-formal and informal learning (opinnollistaminen in Finnish, also the English term studification has been used in some contexts) refers to identifying, assessing and recognising competence demonstrated outside formal education as completed curriculum-based study units. The advance agreement on making competence part of studies is described in Section 7.

4. Background of the recognition of prior learning

The opportunity for the recognition of prior learning derives from competence-based curricula that describe the learning outcomes of study units, study modules, and degree programmes. The recognition of prior learning requires that the competence corresponds to the learning outcomes of the pursued degree or part of it.

Students who have the right to study in a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programme at the University of Jyväskylä, and who have registered for attendance for the right to study, can apply for recognition of prior learning. Students, for whom the University of Jyväskylä has granted a study right that does not lead to a degree and that has a limited duration and content, are also entitled to apply for recognition of prior learning. The student applying for recognition of prior learning must have a valid study right for the substituted studies. Open University students can apply for substitution before acquiring the study right for the study unit to be substituted.

The student is responsible for starting the process and applying for recognition of prior learning. The student must be able to demonstrate the competence so that it is possible to evaluate it. The recognition of prior learning may require additional evidence. As part of creating and updating the personal study plan, the student has the responsibility to clarify, in cooperation with the supervisor, if the student has competence suitable to be recognised for the degree or studies. Recognised prior studies must be included in the degree, or in case of a non-degree student, in the studies for which the student has the study right.

According to Section 34 of the Degree Regulations of the University of Jyväskylä, the faculty council decides on the principles for the expiry of completed study units and study modules, excluding communication and language studies, which are decided on by the board of the Centre for Multilingual Academic Communication (Movi). The communication and language studies of students who have started their studies on 1 August 2020 or later will expire in ten years. This also applies to accredited studies (RPL). Faculties provide instructions that include more information on the principles and decisions relating to the expiry of studies.

5. Recognition of studies completed in formal education

Studies completed at a Finnish or foreign higher education institution can be recognised through substitution as part of a degree pursued at the University of Jyväskylä. Substituting a study unit completely or partially requires similarity in content, the fulfilment of learning outcomes, and that the studies are at the same or higher EQF/NQF level as the substituted studies. The Open University does not award partial substitutions.

Studies completed at a Finnish or foreign higher education institution can also be recognised through inclusion as part of a degree pursued at the University of Jyväskylä. Inclusion does not require contentual similarity, but the studies must always be part of a curriculum at a higher education institution and official study attainments of the institution. Studies in compliance with the definition above also include studies completed in the scope of the University’s cooperation agreements (e.g., summer school studies and studies completed during short mobility periods). Study modules included in degrees must be approved by a Finnish or foreign higher education institution.

When completing a study module under a separate study right at the University of Jyväskylä, study units can be recognised for the study module through inclusion if the curriculum so allows.

If a student has already completed a degree at the University of Jyväskylä or is pursuing several degrees at the same time and wants to use the same studies for more than one degree, the student must apply for recognition for the studies. Completed studies are originally part of the curriculum of one degree or a completed degree. The limitations discussed in Section 9 must be considered when planning the recognition of prior learning between degrees internally at JYU.

6. Recognition of non-formal and informal learning

Competence acquired in non-formal and informal learning outside formal education may be created in, for example, self-motivated studies, continuing education, positions of trust, hobbies or the world of work. From the perspective of recognition of prior learning, the knowledge and skills acquired through experience are central, not experience as such. Competence acquired in non-formal and informal learning can be recognised by substituting it to curriculum-based study units. The student must demonstrate the competence and prove that it corresponds to the content of the study unit and meets all or part of the learning outcomes of the study unit. The competence can be demonstrated using certificates, exams, portfolios, essays, interviews or other applicable demonstration and supplementation methods. The person making a decision on the substitution defines
more detailed procedures for demonstrating competence.

The inclusion of competence acquired in non-formal and informal learning is possible based on a separate decision made at the University, faculty or independent institute (see the Degree Regulations of the University of Jyväskylä, Section 37). The University of Jyväskylä has made a separate decision on the inclusion of leadership and instructor training during military service in the degree.

A student of the University of Jyväskylä can apply for the recognition of competence acquired in non-formal or informal learning. A student studying under a study right of the Open University cannot apply for the recognition of competence acquired in non-formal or informal learning.

7. Validation of non-formal and informal learning

It is also possible to make an advance agreement on validating non-formal and informal learning as part of a degree or non-degree studies. The validation of non-formal and informal learning is closely linked to the recognition of prior learning, but the agreement is usually made before acquiring the competence and does not require submitting an application for the recognition of prior studies. The validation of non-formal and informal learning can be made for a curriculum-based study unit, which has such content that enables the agreement on making the competence part of studies. The University of Jyväskylä also has some generally agreed opportunities for making advance agreements on the validation of non-formal and informal learning (e.g., a position of trust at the University and a tutorship at the University).

8. Recognition of studies completed in partner networks for degree students

Degree students who have registered for attendance can include suitable studies from a Finnish higher education institution or a foreign partner university in their degrees, depending on the stipulations of the curriculum and partnership agreements between the higher education institutions. Studies completed at another institution should be included in the student’s personal study plan.

The principles of studies in international joint degree programmes are decided in related agreements and curricula. In international double and joint degree programmes, studies that are completed at another university or higher education institution, and that comply with the curriculum of the degree programme, may constitute more than half of the degree, depending on what has been agreed between the universities.

9. Limitations of recognition of prior learning

The competence to be recognised cannot overlap with study units already completed for the degree or other recognised competence. Only studies completed with a passing grade can be recognised. Any previously recognised performance is not used for recognition, but the fulfilment of the learning outcomes is assessed on the basis of the student’s original performance.

The following limitations apply to the recognition of studies included in a completed higher education degree:

No studies can be recognised from a bachelor’s degree to the master’s degree if they are part of the same programme. The student must complete both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree in their entirety.
Similar to the previous item, studies from a degree that has provided eligibility to apply cannot be recognised for a higher level degree. This limitation applies to all levels of degrees. If the studies included in the degree that has provided eligibility to apply are compulsory according to the curriculum related to the student’s study right, the competence can be identified, but the actual accreditation with ECTS credits cannot be made. Compulsory studies are studies that are defined in the curriculum of the degree programme as studies at the study unit level that are necessary to complete in the degree.
- If the student has already attached a study unit or study module, which is a compulsory part of the curriculum of a higher degree, to the lower degree that has provided the eligibility to apply, it is necessary to agree on complementary study attainments with the student to achieve the minimum extent of the degree.
- When necessary, a study unit that is part of a lower degree that provided the eligibility to apply can be recognised for a higher degree as zero ECTS credits, if there is a need to prove in the study information system that compulsory content in compliance with a curriculum of the University of Jyväskylä has been completed. If it is necessary to grant also ECTS credits for the higher degree to prove eligibility or qualification, it must be ensured that the studies with the ECTS credits are such studies that have been completed outside the minimum extent of the degree.
If the degree creating the eligibility to apply for a master’s degree is a master’s degree that also includes the studies of the bachelor’s degree, only master’s level studies can be recognised.
Only studies that correspond to curriculum-based studies required for a degree at the University of Jyväskylä can be recognised from a previously completed degree of the same level or a degree other than the one that has provided the eligibility to apply.

A student can use a study unit or module only once for the same degree. If one study unit is part of several study modules in compliance with JYU curricula, the curriculum specifies how a student who has completed the study unit earlier can complete the study module. It is not possible to register doubled credits within a degree, but the situation must be resolved through curriculum work. If the curriculum does not give options or a procedure, the completion should be agreed in the personal study plan.

There is no maximum for recognised ECTS credits, provided that the recognised studies are not included in a higher education degree. However, if at least the minimum extent of approvable studies for completing a degree have already been completed and recorded for the degree in the University of Jyväskylä’s Sisu system, it is no longer possible to recognise studies, excluding studies compulsory for the degree, studies completed at a student exchange destination of the University of Jyväskylä or studies necessary to demonstrate eligibility or qualification.

If the studies the student suggests for recognition are already included in a higher education degree, the recognition of prior learning for a degree pursued at the University of Jyväskylä has been limited as follows:

For a bachelor’s degree, it is possible to recognise studies included in another higher education degree in total at the most 90 ECTS credits.
For a master’s degree, it is possible to recognise studies included in another higher education degree in total at the most 60 ECTS credits (in the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology 75 ECST credits).
For a doctoral degree, it is possible to recognise doctoral studies included in another doctoral degree without limitation.

Final theses cannot be recognised; in other words, a final thesis for a degree to be completed at JYU must always be completed at JYU. A maturity essay cannot be recognised, excluding language assessment, which can be recognised if the student’s school language has been Finnish or Swedish and they have completed a Finnish higher education degree in the same language.

10. Applying for the recognition of prior learning, processing applications and recording recognised studies

The students of the University of Jyväskylä must apply for recognition of prior learning in the Sisu system. Students studying under a study right of the Open University must apply for recognition of prior learning using an online form. In the form, the student must add the attachments and information needed for the assessment of recognition of prior learning, including the transcript of records or a certificate of completed studies or competence acquired outside formal education, and the description of the content of the completed studies from a curriculum or similar document. When necessary, the student must describe, based on the presented evidence, what competence relates to the learning outcomes of the study programme. For studies completed abroad, the student must provide the application with information on the grading scale used and the extent of
the studies in ECTS credits at JYU, if such information is available. The student can be requested to supplement the application, when necessary. If the student does not supplement an incomplete application within a month from the request, the application is rejected.

As a rule, a recognition decision is made within a month from the date the application is received. The time limit does not include periods during which, upon the decision by the Rector, teaching is not arranged.

Only studies completed with a passing grade can be recognised.

The substitution is entered in the Sisu system with the extent of ECTS credits of the substituted study unit. If the completed study unit is more extensive than the one it has substituted, the additional ECTS credits can be included as a separate study unit in the optional studies of the degree, provided the student submits a separate application.

In case of inclusion, the original extent of studies is recorded.

The completion date recorded for recognised studies is the date they were originally completed.

Recognised studies are graded with the grading scale defined in the curriculum of the University of Jyväskylä. In certain cases, a numeric grade in compliance with the curriculum can be replaced with the grade Pass (e.g. in case of competence acquired outside formal education or if the original performance is graded with Pass/Fail or if it is not possible to convert the original grade to the grading scale 0–5 of the University of Jyväskylä).

For studies recognised through inclusion, the original grade is given if the completed studies have been graded using the same grading scales as at the University of Jyväskylä. If the studies recognised through inclusion have been graded using different grading scales than at JYU or they have been completed abroad, the given grade is Pass.

A negative recognition decision must include justifications and instructions for the appeal procedure. A student can also be granted partial substitution when the completed studies or competence acquired otherwise do not cover the whole study unit. In this case, the student must supplement the competence and/or complete missing competence areas as requested. The decision on partial substitution must include a justification and give instructions for the appeal procedure as well as instructions and a deadline for providing further evidence.

Student and Academic Services provides more detailed instructions on applying for recognition of prior learning and on registering the recognised studies.

Applications for substitutions are processed in the faculties and departments according to the unit responsible for the study unit. Applications for inclusion are processed in Student and Academic Services, excluding separate decisions on the inclusion of competence acquired in non-formal and informal learning. Applications for the recognition of communication and language studies are processed at the Centre for Multilingual Academic Communication. For students studying under a study right of the Open University, applications for substitutions are processed at the Open University.

11. Appeal procedure against a decision on the recognition of prior learning

A student dissatisfied with a recognition decision can appeal for a re-assessment verbally or in writing. The request for re-assessment must be made within 14 days from receiving information on the decision. Rectification is requested from the person who made the decision. A request for rectification must specify the part of the decision and the grounds on which the request is based.

Decision on the request for rectification must be made within a month from the date the request for rectification was submitted. The decision must be given in writing. A student dissatisfied with this decision may apply for rectification from the Appeals Board of the University. The student may apply for rectification within 14 days from being informed of the decision. The rectification request is submitted to the University’s Registry Office. The decision of the Appeals Board may not be appealed.

12. Validity