The purpose of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, ECTS is to improve the transparency and recognition of credits and grades between different educational systems. The system facilitates the transfer of learning outcomes, exchange programmes, and the creation of joint degrees.

ECTS was originally developed to facilitate the transfer of credits when students completed studies at foreign institutions of higher education (transnational and international student mobility). Nowadays, ECTS is a student-oriented accumulation and transfer system for completed studies and grades. The system is based on the amount of work a student has to complete, i.e. the academic workload, in relation to the objectives to be achieved. The objectives are indicated as learning outcomes and competences.

The ECTS system is described in the ECTS Users’ Guide, the updated version of which was published in 2015. The document is available online at http://ec.europa.eu/education/library/publications/2015/ects-users-guide_en.pdf.

Workload and ECTS Credits

Studies are measured in credit points. One academic year of full-time study is equivalent to 60 credits points. This amount of work includes all of the work required of students, such as lectures, seminars, independent study, projects, preparation for exams, etc. To earn one credit point, a student must work for an average of 27 hours.

Grading System

Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, in common with the other Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences, uses the following Finnish grading scale:

5 = Excellent
4 and 3 = Good
2 and 1 = Satisfactory
H = Passed
S = Completed

Grades awarded according to other grading systems can be converted in accordance with the principles set out in the ECTS Users’ Guide.

Study Guide

Seinäjoki University of Applied Science publishes annually a Study Guide (course catalogue) with descriptions of the Degree Programmes, study modules and courses, as instructed by the ECTS Users’ Guide. The Study Guide also includes information on SeAMK and general information for students.

ECTS and Student Mobility

Students who wish to participate in student mobility must first fill out the Student Application Form. Once a student has been accepted for the mobility period, they must make a Learning Agreement for Studies/ Learning Agreement for Traineeships and in some cases separate Agreement on Practical Training and discuss their studies with the Faculty ECTS/International Coordinator and the Head of Degree Programme. The Learning Agreement for Studies /Traineeships and the Transcript of Records are sent to the receiving institution/organisation, which confirms the plan with their signatures. The Learning Agreement can be modified e.g. in case of a change in the courses offered.

The start date of the mobility period is the first day that the participant needs to be present at the receiving organisation (e.g. orientation day, language course). The end date of the period abroad is the last day the participant needs to be present at the receiving institution (e.g. the last day of an examination period). Travel days or other extra days spent in the locality are not calculated as part of the study / traineeship mobility period. The Transcript of Records must show the completed courses, grades and credits earned in accordance with the receiving institute and in the European High Education Institutions also in accordance with the ECTS system. When the student returns from their period abroad, they give their Transcript of Records to the International Coordinator / Head of Degree Programme of their Faculty for the crediting of the studies. The study attainments are entered in the Study Register of SeAMK observing the ECTS scale.

In their bilateral agreement, the higher education institutions have agreed on the language competence required of incoming students in the principal language of their studies or practical training. In case the student’s language skills need improvement, the student can attend language courses provided by the sending or the receiving institution, or utilize the online language training courses of the Erasmus+ programme.

In European mobility implemented within the Erasmus+ programme, students’ language skills are tested with an online tool (OLS) both once the student has been accepted for the studies/practical training abroad, as well as after their period abroad has been completed.

ECTS Coordinators of SeAMK

Päivö Laine, Head of Programme, and Tapio Pihlajaniemi, Manager of International Affairs, are the Institutional ECTS Coordinators of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. Together with the Departmental ECTS Coordinators, they also provide more detailed information about the ECTS system and the related forms.

Diploma Supplement

The Diploma Supplement is a document that provides a standardized description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies completed. The Diploma Supplement, which is based on a European template and issued in English, is attached to the Degree Certificate. It also contains an overview of the educational system in Finland. The purpose of the Diploma Supplement is to enhance transparency and to facilitate academic and professional recognition of qualifications. All students who complete a degree at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences obtain a Diploma Supplement, which includes Transcript of Records – in the English language and free of charge – automatically on their graduation.

In 2010, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences was awarded with a Diploma Supplement Label for good compliance with the Diploma Supplement practices. The Diploma Supplement Label was renewed in 2013.