Recognition of Prior Learning and Other Competence

• Refers to the procedure through which your competence can be assessed and accepted as part of your studies or degree.
• Identification of prior learning refers to the assessment of competence in its various forms.
• Recognition refers to the procedure whereby the identified prior learning or experience is validated and then accredited as a credit transfer.
• The recognition of students’ competence is based on the learning outcomes of the degree and its parts (study modules or study units).

Competence may be earned through

• formal learning (formal education)
• non-formal learning (continuing education, liberal adult education, etc.) or
• informal learning (e.g. work experience, positions of trust, hobbies).

• The approval, confirmation and validation of your previously completed studies, practical training, internships, work experience or other competence as part of your degree, study module or study unit.
• Studies completed at higher education institutions either in Finland or abroad and also competence gained through other means can be accredited.
• Accreditation can take the form of either inclusion or substitution.
• Only study units completed with a passing grade may be accredited.
• Studies completed or competence gained through other means more than 10 years ago cannot be accredited.  
• The studies to be accredited can be part of an incomplete degree, or e.g. Open University studies.
• It is also possible to accredit studies that are part of a previously completed degree in cases where the studies to be accredited will substitute for compulsory studies that are part of the degree you are currently studying for.
• Compulsory studies refer to the studies that are defined in your degree programme curriculum at the level of study units and that must be completed to earn the degree.
• Credits included in the degree that gave eligibility for admission to a Master’s programme can only be counted towards compulsory studies.
• It is not possible for credits included in a first-cycle degree to contribute towards a second-cycle degree when those degrees are included in the same combined education programme.
  • Example: A student has a study right in communications studies. No credits included in their Bachelor of Humanities degree can be counted towards their Master of Philosophy degree if the degree is completed in the Multidisciplinary Master’s Programme in Communication or Master’s Programme in Technical Communication (communication studies as the major).
• Studies with the minimum scope of 15 credits completed at a Finnish or foreign university as part of a study module can be accredited in your degree as a module (e.g. core or basic studies).
• Credits earned by completing a thesis or a maturity test cannot be transferred.

• There are no specific deadlines, but it is good to apply for the recognition and accreditation of your prior learning at the beginning of your studies.
• The Schools are not obliged to assess an applicant’s prior learning before the application process. An RPL decision can only be made after a study right has been granted and the student has enrolled as present at the University of Vaasa.
• Apply for the recognition and accreditation of your previously completed studies (either substitution or inclusion) using the Application for credit transfer form
• For the recognition and accreditation of competence gained through other means, there is a separate application form Recognition of competence gained through means other than formal education.
• The RPL decisions and their attachments will be archived until you graduate.
• If you have any questions about the recognition and accreditation of prior learning, your study counsellor can advise you.

• Inclusion refers to the acceptance of a study unit or module completed elsewhere as part of a student’s degree as it is.
• Studies to be accredited must correspond to the level of study of your degree programme and the learning outcomes set for the degree.
• In a Bachelor’s degree, it is possible to include a study module completed at a university of applied sciences (e.g. teacher’s pedagogical studies).
• In a Master’s degree, it is possible to include a specialisation studies-level study module that has been completed as part of a Master’s degree at a university of applied sciences.
• Study attainments that have been completed previously or elsewhere and that will be included in the student’s degree are registered in the student’s study register in accordance with the original scope of the course in ECTS credits.

• Substitution refers to the awarding of the credits for a study module, study unit or part thereof that is included in the curriculum based on the student’s previous studies or other competence.
• The previously completed studies or other competence must correspond to the learning outcomes of the study unit to be substituted.
• The substitution will be recorded in the study register in accordance with the scope (ECTS credit value) of the study unit to be substituted.
• If the scope (ECTS credit value) of your previously completed study unit is less than the scope of the study unit you are applying to be substituted, but the difference is no more than one credit, you will not be required to do more work to make up the difference. This is provided that the learning outcomes of your previous study attainment and the study unit to be substituted correspond to one another.
• The scope of a credit transfer in cases of substitution cannot be greater than the number of credits defined for the substituted study unit in the curriculum.
• A study unit may also be substituted partially based on your prior learning. In such cases, the teacher determines how you can complement your prior learning to complete the study unit and have the full number of credits recorded for you.

All substituted study units are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, in accordance with the original assessment, unless there is a justifiable reason to do otherwise. Such justifiable reasons include:

• The previously completed study unit was graded on a scale of ‘pass’/’fail’. The grade will be recorded as ‘pass’.
• The previously completed study unit was graded on a scale other than 1 to 5. The grade will be recorded as ‘pass’.
• The University of Vaasa study unit is graded on a scale of ‘pass’/’fail’. The grade will be recorded as ‘pass’.
• Competence gained through means other than formal education is always graded on a scale of ‘pass’/’fail’.
• For any studies completed overseas, the grade will be recorded as ‘pass’.

You as the student are responsible for initiating the recognition and accreditation of prior learning process.

• Do not apply for recognition and accreditation of prior learning if you do not intend to include the study units in question in your degree.
• You are obliged to submit all the documents required for the processing of the application.
• To have your competence gained through means other than formal education recognised, you will need to demonstrate your competence in the manner determined by the teacher (e.g. exam, essay, interview).
• Your application will be rejected if the learning outcomes of your previously completed studies do not correspond to the learning outcomes of the study unit you are applying to be substituted.
• You can appeal against an RPL decision by requesting rectification from the teacher (either verbally or in writing) within 14 days of receiving notification of the decision. You must justify why you are appealing against the decision.
• If you are dissatisfied with the teacher’s decision and written justification on your request for rectification, you may bring the matter to the Education Council within 14 days of the date you were informed of the decision. Your appeal to the Education Council must specify the changes you are requesting and the justifications for the request.

Applications for substitution or inclusion will be processed within one month of you submitting the application and providing all the relevant documentation.

• This deadline only applies to applications based on competence gained through formal education.
• The processing of applications may take longer during the summer or the break between the autumn and spring semesters. See the supplement to the degree regulations  Completion and assessment of studies.