Studies at Xamk

Studies at a university of applied sciences (UAS) focus on professional and practical know-how and skills. The practical experience provided by UAS studies is highly appreciated in many jobs and duties. UAS Bachelor’s level studies also provide the opportunity to apply for further studies, such as completing a UAS master’s level degree and continuing as far as a doctoral degree.

UAS bachelor’s degrees always include supervised practical training that give the students the opportunity to apply the knowledge learnt in theory into practice. Students become familiar with the duties of their own field in real working environments.

Practical training can be carried out in a Finnish or foreign company, public organisation or in other organisations, such as associations and societies. Also working as an entrepreneur is possible as long as the other terms of the practical training are met.

Research, development and innovation, ie RDI activities, are a part of the key obligations of universities of applied sciences. They carry out new research, produce new methods and develop products and services based on the needs of their own operating area.

Participation in RDI brings new dimensions to studies. Students can gain experience in real research projects, challenge themselves to work like professionals and learn to identify what development requires.

Projects with working life orientation give a chance for networking. Students can already contact their possible future employers.

South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences offers a plenty of possibilities and alternatives for planning studies. Studies can follow different tracks depending on students’ situations in life and take place through learning environments that are independent of time and place, such as the browser-based Moodle online learning environment used at Xamk. There are three different tracks for the studies: scheduled track, independent track and blended track

SCHEDULED TRACK

Students following this track attend instruction and counselling according to the timetable. Studies follow the timetable of contact classes and assignments are completed independently.

INDEPENDENT TRACK

This track is for students who want to complete their studies quicker by choosing independent methods of study, eg. online courses, or courses from the timetables of student groups of the same degree programme. Completing assignments through this track involves more independent work and learning compared to the scheduled track. Following the independent track is also possible at the same time with the scheduled track courses. This makes it possible for students to attend contact classes according to their interests and needs. The learning assignments, however, are completed based on the instructions given for the independent track.

Prior learning matching the learning outcomes of the course or corresponding work experience can be recognised either fully or partially. Without a certificate of formal education, this may require further demonstration of the competence. In cases of partial recognition students must independently complete the parts of the course that cannot be recognised.

BLENDED TRACK

Students that work for companies or organisations of their future professional field, or in projects, can complete courses or modules fully or partly through working. In such cases students must contact the teacher of the course before it starts to agree on the development assignments to be done for the company or project. Learning this way requires that the assignments at work match the themes and topics of the corresponding course, and that students master them both in theory and in practice. The learning outcomes of the course define how the competence gained at work is demonstrated.