Teaching arrangements for academic year 2026-2027
Contact and online teaching in University of Vaasa degree programmes
Teaching in Bachelor’s programmes is campus-based-focused. In the first and second year, courses are organised mainly on campus. The proportion of teaching provided as blended and hybrid teaching increases in the third year. Teaching in Bachelor’s programmes is campus-based-focused. In the first and second year, courses are organised mainly on campus.
In Master's programmes, the aim is to enable campus-based study at least for the first year or the first three semesters. 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: Social and Health Management (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.
Automation and Robotics (Pori), MSc in Technology
Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering is a full-time, two year degree. The first year mainly consists of in-person teaching. In the second year, the amount of blended and hybrid teaching is increased. 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.
Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering, MSc in Technology
Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering is a full-time, two year degree. The first year mainly consists of in-person teaching. In the second year, the amount of blended and hybrid teaching is increased. 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.
Finance, MSc in Economics and Business Administration
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.
Industrial Engineering and Management, Industrial Management, MSc in Economics and Business Administration
The first year of the programme and its core courses include mandatory teaching and activities (lectures, group works, labs) on campus while the spring semester of the second year of the programme can be done on hybrid.
Industrial Engineering and Management, Industrial Systems Analytics, MSc in Technology
The first year of the programme and its core courses include mandatory teaching and activities (lectures, group works, labs) on campus while the spring semester of the second year of the programme can be done on hybrid.
International Business, MSc in Economics and Business Administration
TThe 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.
Sustainable and Autonomous Systems, MSc in Technology
Sustainable and Autonomous Systems typically offers courses through a combination of online and on-campus 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.
Strategic Business Development, MSc in Economics and Business Administration
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.
Industrial Engineering and Management, Strategic Project Management (Seinäjoki), MSc in Technology
The first year of the programme and its core courses include mandatory teaching and activities (lectures, group works, labs) on campus while the spring semester of the second year of the programme can be done on hybrid. The studies are taught in Seinäjoki.
Energy Engineering, MSc in Technology
Energy Engineering is a full-time, two year degree. The first year mainly consists of in-person teaching. In the second year, the amount of blended and hybrid teaching is increased. 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.
Electrical Engineering, MSc in Technology
Energy Engineering is a full-time, two year degree. The first year mainly consists of in-person teaching. In the second year, the amount of blended and hybrid teaching is increased. 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.
Preparedness and Resilience, Master of Administrative Sciences
All new study units of the degree program are built around intensive on-campus periods (2-3 intensive days at a time) implemented on campus. Hybrid implementations of joint advanced studies in administrative sciences are also integrated into these contact teaching periods. The seminar related to the Master's thesis work will also be implemented on campus, allowing students to maintain a strong connection to the university and their own group throughout the study period.