Teaching arrangements for academic year 2024-2025

On this page you will find a summary of the plans for contact teaching (face-to-face teaching on campus) and online teaching. You can view the plans by degree programme in the menu below. There is also a glossary of the terms used when referring to contact and online teaching.

Contact and online teaching in University of Vaasa degree programmes

The first two years of University of Vaasa Bachelor's programmes are taught primarily on campus as contact teaching. The proportion of teaching provided as blended and hybrid teaching increases in the third year.

In Master's programmes, the first year is generally taught on campus as contact teaching. The proportion of teaching provided as blended and hybrid teaching increases in the second year.

The university’s teaching activities emphasise the role of the learner in the learning experience. We make use of high-quality teaching methods that foster student motivation, and our campus offers students a modern learning environment located by the sea. Contact teaching supports the students’ experience of community and fosters the building of important relationships and becoming part of the academic community. Towards the end of their studies, students will be offered more options in terms of how they can complete their studies. 

The following Master’s programmes can be completed online in their entirety: Technical Communication and Social and Health Management (both taught primarily in Finnish).

More information about the plans for each degree programme is provided below. See the Study Guide for more detailed information about courses and their implementations and the structure of the degree programmes. You can use the course implementation information to plan your own schedule for each semester. Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes also include language and communication studies, as well as other studies. Please note that when you take these courses as part of your studies, their mode of teaching (on campus or online) may differ from the general plan for your degree programme.

The details of degree programmes, degree structures and course descriptions are published in the Study guide in May. The confirmed course implementation details and teaching schedules are published in August at the latest.  

Minor changes are possible; for up-to-date information, please refer to the Study Guide or Lukkarikone (for teaching schedules).

Concepts and terminology used when referring to contact and online teaching

  • Contact teaching 
    • Teaching where the teacher and learner are located in the same physical space. Also called face-to-face teaching, on-campus teaching.   
  • Distance teaching; remote teaching 
    • Teaching where the teacher and learner are located in different physical spaces but in contact with each other using information and communication technology. The term blended teaching/learning refers to a mix of contact and distance teaching/learning. 
       
  • Blended teaching
    • Teaching using a mixture of contact teaching, distance teaching and students working independently.  
       
  • Online teaching; web-based teaching; ~ e-teaching; ~ computer-aided teaching 
    • Teaching within or through a computer network. Online teaching is usually carried out on the Internet.  

Classification of course implementations in Peppi

  • On-campus courses / Lähiopetuspainotus vahva
  • Blended learning courses: online learning & on-campus sessions / Monimuoto-opetus: verkko-opintoja ja lähitapaamisia
  • Hybrid courses: students choose either on-campus or online learning / Hybridiopetus: opiskelija voi valita joko lähi- tai verkko-opetuksen
  • Guided online courses / Verkko-opinnot: suoritetaan ohjatusti
  • Independent online courses / Verkko-opinnot: suoritetaan itsenäisesti
  • Exam/other equivalent assessment only / Kirjatentti tai vastaava itsenäinen suoritus
  • Work experience, project or equivalent (scheduled by student) / Työharjoittelu, projekti tai muu vastaava (opiskelija itse aikatauluttaa)
  • Non-stop courses / Non-stop opinnot [used esp. by Open University]
  • Open University Courses / Avoin YO [used alongside other classifications, needed for the OU registration system]

Bachelor's Programme in International Business

The Bachelor’s programme in International Business has an emphasis on face-to-face, on-campus teaching. The first two years of the programme, in particular, will be delivered as face-to-face teaching on the University of Vaasa campus. The third year of the programme will involve more blended and online learning, but some of the teaching each week will be delivered on campus. In the third year, students are highly encouraged to do a double-degree or go for exchange period abroad. The mode of study during the study abroad period is defined by the hosting institution. The degree programme also includes communication and language studies, and other studies. Their mode of delivery (on campus vs. online) may be different from that stated above. 

The first year of the Master’s programme in Finance will be delivered as face-to-face teaching on the University of Vaasa campus. The second year involves more online teaching but also some faceto- face teaching, which will take place on focused campus days. The degree programme also includes  communication and language studies, and other studies. Their mode of delivery (on campus vs. online) may be different from that stated above. 

As per University of Vaasa’s decision, the first year of all master’s programmes is implemented mainly on-campus. During the 2nd year of studies, the programme is implemented mainly on-campus as well as via blended learning.

Industrial Systems Analytics is a full-time on-campus programme involving a mixture of on-campus and online teaching. The first year of the studies will be delivered as face-to-face teaching on the University of Vaasa campus. The second year involves more online teaching but also some face-to-face teaching, which will take place on campus. The courses running on spring semester of the second year are planned to be hybrid teaching with a possibility to distance learning. The degree also includes communication and language studies, and other studies. Their mode of delivery (on campus vs. online) may be different from that stated above. 

Strategic Project Management is an on-campus programme involving a mixture of on-campus and online teaching. The major studies are taking place in the city of Seinäjoki and other supporting studies are streamed to classroom from Vaasa campus. It is a blended learning programme involving a mixture of face-to-face and online teaching. The degree also includes communication and language studies, and other studies. Their mode of delivery (on campus vs. online) may be different from that stated above. 

The SAS programme typically offers courses through a combination of online and onsite instruction. Given its joint collaboration between the University of Vaasa and Oulu University, it is essential that all major courses provide an online option to ensure accessibility for students across both locations. 

The first year of the Master’s programme in International Business will be delivered as face-to-face teaching on the University of Vaasa campus. The spring semester of the first year includes blended learning, which is possible to complete remotely. The second year is carried out fully as distance learning. The degree programme also includes communication and language studies, and other studies. Their mode of delivery (on campus vs. online) may be different from that stated above. 

Smart Grids (Smart Energy) is a blended learning programme involving a mixture of on-campus and online teaching. Main part of the teaching is delivered face-to-face on the University of Vaasa campus and some of the courses include also the possibility of online participation. The degree also includes communication and language studies, and other studies. Their mode of delivery can be either on campus and/or online. 

Robotics is a blended learning programme involving a mixture of on-campus, online and multilocation teaching. The degree is organised in the cities of Vaasa (University of Vaasa campus) and Pori (Satakunta University of Applied Sciences campus). During the application phase, the students have applied to either Vaasa or Pori. Each location hosts a group of students commencing their studies in the autumn semester. Despite the geographical distinction, both cohorts follow an identical curriculum. However, individual study modules leverage local industry connections, providing students with diverse learning experiences tailored to their respective regions. The degree also includes communication and language studies, and other studies. Their mode of delivery can be either on campus and/or online. 

Strategic Business Development is a full-time, two-year programme. The first year of the programme and its core courses include some contact teaching and activities (e.g. interactive sessions/lectures, presentation days, case/simulation briefings and debriefings) on campus while the second year of the programme can be done 100% online. However, the programme also includes communication and language courses as well as a selection of elective courses. Some of these courses are delivered on campus while others can be completed online.