Recognition of credits from another institution to a degree at the Computer Science Department
New degree system (from Aug. 2005 on): New rules
Credits earned at another institution may be transferred by special permission to augment the requirements for a degree at the Computer Science Department. Earlier studies may replace compulsory courses, or they may be accepted as optional courses.
The general principles for transferral have been set by the Science Faculty Council in its regulation on 14 December 2000 (clause 15 in the current degree requirements; please see www page http://www.helsinki.fi/ml/tdk/opinnot/hyvaksiluku.html (in Finnish) for more information).
The purpose of these instructions is to clarify the most common transferral situations for CS major students. Where applicable, the instructions also apply to students minoring in computer science.
The Computer Science Department decides on transferral of credits. The CS Department may also accept studies that can be ordered under the heading "other studies" in the degree requirements (except language studies); the Language Centre decides on the recognition of language studies.The recognition of minor subject credits is decided by the department teaching the discipline in question. However, the CS Department can accept a minor subject study module as such to be included in the degree. .
To apply for credit transferral, use the form that is available at the department's administrative office (room D236), at Student Counselling (room A232), and at the department secretary's (room D239). The form may also be found on the web page http://www.helsinki.fi/facultyofscience/forms/reccredit.pdf. Please append the following to the application.
certified copies of diplomas or certificates
descriptions of the contents of the courses taken at other institutions
the applicant's view of which courses his or her earlier studies could substitute
an excerpt from the study register at the University of Helsinki
The application and its appendixes should be delivered in person to the department's administrative office (room D236), where the data is checked and prepared for processing. The applicant is informed about the decision by mail.
The transferred credits are recorded in the study register. Usually, grades are recorded if the studies have taken place in an institution for higher education (i.e. university level). To be transferrable, credits should not be older than ten years.
1. Credits from other universities and institutions of higher education
No more than 80 credits already included in a corresponding degree on the university level may be transferred as major and/or minor subject credits to the CS Department (50 credits at the most for major studies, for minor studies please read on). In addition, so-called compulsory other studies (such as language studies) may be transferred. The BSc or MSc thesis can not be substituted, and neither can the maturity test.
Computer science studies from other universities are usually transferred as such, along with their grades. If a study module that has been completed at another university does not contain the studies required for the degree in Helsinki, those studies will have to be completed here.
Minor subject studies completed at other universities are accepted in the same way as minor subjects completed at Helsinki University. A minor subject module of 15-30 credits can be formed out of non-curricular studies, mainly from studies in subjects that are not taught at the University of Helsinki, such as technology and business administration. Subjects that are taught at Helsinki University are transferred through the appropriate department for that subject, and study modules should be completed at those departments.
In transferring credits from abroad, the norms for the ECTS about the workload of credits is taken into consideration.
2. Credits from polytechnics
A student who has completed a degree in a computer science-related subject (e.g. data processing, computer engineering, software engineering) may usually have 35 credits transferred into the cum laude approbatur study module, replacing the courses that coincide the closest with the CS Department's requirements, as well as 10 credits into the optional studies. Approximate grades are given for the transferred credits. Typically, some of the transferred credits replace compulsory courses, and some of them are accepted as optional courses. In addition, for students with an Engineer's degree, a minor subject of 15 credits is acknowledged.
Students with a degree in any other subject get a minor subject of 15-30 credits transferred and 10 credits of optional studies.
Unfinished degrees at a polytechnic are processed individually (number of credits and which courses they may replace).
3. Vocational studies
Students with a degree in computing (in Finland the so-called Datanomi degree) from a vocational school will have 20 credits transferred into the cum laude approbatur study module. Which courses they will replace are chosen individually, and they are registered as passed without grades.
Students who have completed any other degree in computing (e.g. in a commercial institute) are usually given 10 credits into the cum laude approbatur study module (chosen individually, no grades) and 10 credits of optional studies.
Students who have completed another degree (e.g. Engineer, Technician) may have 20 credits for an optional minor subject. .
Individual courses are generally not transferred to replace study modules at the CS Department.
These guidelines are valid for all applications submitted after 2nd April, 2001.
Helsinki 29 March 2001
Timo Alanko
Chairman of the Department