Recognition of prior learning (communication and language studies)

Course of equal level, content, learning outcomes and ECTS completed at another university / higher education institution can substitute a communication and language course in a degree of equal  / lower level. Lower level courses cannot substitute higher level courses, i.e. Bachelor level courses cannot substitute Master level courses. Courses done at high school or at education institutions leading to eligibility into higher education are not eligible for recognition.

Courses done at the universities of applied sciences can substitute some preparatory, elementary and basic language and communication courses at Movi, not applicable to English and Finnish written communication courses. Recognition depends on the content of the courses, learning outcomes and goals, number of ECTS credits and the demand level of the course.

Courses included into a Bachelor's degree cannot be re-recognised into a Master's degree. 

Mandatory Finnish courses in English-taught and bilingual degree programmes cannot be substituted by Finnish courses already included into a different degree of a lower level. Finnish courses on the same level degrees or contact teaching courses done separately at universities and universities of applied sciences and not part of degree can substitute an equivalent Finnish course in the JYU degree (if same learning outcomes, level, ECTS) if the course completion is not older than 3 years and there is active use of Finnish in the mean time. 

Also official Finnish YKI certificates (intermediate and advanced YKI levels) can substitute a Finnish course, if the certificate is not older than 3 years and there is active use of Finnish in the meantime:

• Intermediate level grade 3 and grade 4 substitute XSUX1002 Everyday Finnish.
• Advanced level grade 5 and 6 substitute XSUX1004 Finnish in the society.

Students are strongly encouraged to develop their Finnish skills further with a more advanced Finnish course in their personal study plans instead of replacing a Finnish course with a prior course. 

If student refuses to develop their Finnish skills, please consult the teachers regarding an demonstration exam of the current Finnish level with a copy of the degree certificate/transcript and necessary background information on the use of Finnish and certificates achieved: s2-movi@jyu.fi.

Finnish courses done at other Finnish HEIs that cannot substitute a JYU Finnish course and/or that are not similar in content and learning outcomes to courses already completed at JYU can be included into your degree as optional/elective communication and language courses.

Also various online and self-study Finnish courses at universities of applied sciences and universities will not be recognised as language and communication courses by Movi. The content and the pedagogy of these in course is not in line with the standards and viewpoints on academic teaching and accountability towards the language progression and development of the student. Recognition of contact teaching Finnish courses will be decided on individual basis.

Based on the discipline courses done at a HEI abroad, a maximum number of 8 ECTS of mandatory/optional language courses can be recognized if the language of tuition has been the official language of the country (e.g. courses conducted in English in U.K, Ireland USA, Australia, etc.), the gained ECTS-amount is divided by 2 (16 ECTS / 2 = 8 ECTS). If the courses are completed in another language than the official language of the country, a maximum number of 4 ECTS of optional language courses can be recognised in the language of tuition, the gained ECTS-amount is divided by 4 (16 ECTS / 4 = 4 ECTS). If language courses are completed at the host university, they can be recognized separately from this based on the content of the courses, learning outcomes and goals, number of ECTS-credits and the demand level of the course.

NB.! If you are applying for a credit transfer for the optional language course based on the courses done during the exchange in that particular language (XEN0099, XRA0099, XSA0099, etc.), make a substitution request in Sisu for the particular language instead of a inclusion request).

Credits can be recognized through international internships, case-by-case. Students must contact the teacher of that language beforehand and negotiate how to report the internship and how to verify, document and reflect on the use of language and the development of language skill during the internship as evidence of competence acquired.

JYU degree students can apply for the recognition of prior learning by other means than formal HEI education if the prior learning meets the learning goals. The skills acquired by other means are compared to the learning goals of the course or module and if deemed equivalent, they can be recognised. Verified documents, essays, exams, portfolios, interviews and other applicable methods and assignments can be used in the verification and assessment of the prior learning.

This method of recognition applies only to language and communication courses which are mandatory in the degree on the level of course unit code and title, i.e. not including elective studies and courses. The prior learning by other means than formal HEI education cannot be older than 10 years, just as in the recognition of communication and language courses.

The process for the recognition of communication and language skills acquired through other means:

1. Include with your Sisu substitution application a statement explaining how the skills acquired by other means correspond to the learning outcomes and content of the course to be recognised. Also include evidence of the competence acquired by other means (e.g. a certificate of employment). A 10-year expiry rule also applies to competence acquired through other means.
2. The responsible teacher for the course will assess whether the competence acquired by other means corresponds to the course content and will determine the specific method of verifying that competence.

A student dissatisfied with the recognition decision can ask for a rectification within 14 days from the decision. Rectification is asked from the person responsible for the original decision. The request must address the specific point in the decision and the grounds for it.

Written decision to the request for rectification of a recognition decision will be made within a month. A student dissatisfied with this written recognition decision can ask for a rectification from the Appeal Committee of the University of Jyväskylä within 14 days from the decision. The written request rectification of a recognition decision must be delivered to the Registry office.