Study Guide

Descriptions

The curriculum offers immigrant students a learning path, which enables a flexible study process. The curriculum also serves as a source of information for the working environment and our international partners. In addition to learning the nursing profession, the curriculum centers round language awareness, learning the Finnish language and cultural sensitivity.

The provision of studies consists of study units providing a minimum of 5 ECTS credits, except concerning practices where the extent of course unit may vary. Of the studies, 40 ECTS are open for all degree programmes in the field of Social Services and Health Care and the rest are included in the provision of individual degree programmes. In the beginning, the studies will mostly be conducted in English. Towards the end of the studies, the teaching language will switch to Finnish. Finnish language teaching is integrated into different course units, and language studies are also offered as separate course units. The student’s language proficiency is evaluated throughout the studies, and each student will have a personal study plan regarding learning the Finnish language. Learning the language is emphasized in the program, so that by the time of graduation students will have reached the sufficient language proficiency to work as a nurse. Instead of Finnish language courses, elective studies may be chosen for example from the Metropolia's Elective Modules or CampusOnline courses, in case the student has sufficient Finnish language skills. The provision of studies enables students to complete an average of 30 ECTS in the term.

As a starting point for learning, the focus is on situations and problems arising from professional practices, and the learning process aims to find evidence-based solutions for them. Project work including development work and projects of the student’s field of study is employed as the main learning method. Various learning environments supporting learning are used to deepen and develop competence, for example in the learning environment of simulation centre and through our Innovation Hub's well-being and therapy services provided for clients. Students from different fields and degree programmes provide these services in the multidisciplinary learning environments under teacher's supervision. In addition the learning environments of independent study offer students the opportunity to practise clinical skills.

The teaching methods have been diversified by increasing the possibilities for digital learning. Throughout the learning process, students assume the responsibility for their learning, both professionally and in terms of the Finnish language. Their competence in studies is evaluated by an evaluation framework, which consists of competence areas including professional knowledge base, professional skills and actions as well as ethics, cooperation and development, and the Finnish language. Students become proficient in continuous development of their competence and further studies.

The curriculum meets the demands of degree requirements, competence and development needs of the working environment as well as the requirements for the national and international cooperation. It also reflects a student-oriented and learning- and competence-based foundation. Learning objectives convey students of the competence level required of them and help them evaluate their own learning. The objectives of competence have been determined in cooperation with representatives of both the workplace and Helsinki Metropolia UAS and therefore convey information of students’ competence levels and readiness for work tasks to the workplace. Competence-based curriculum enables student mobility within and between other UAS. In addition, it makes the recognition and credit transfer for previously acquired competence (AHOT) easier as well as enables the comparison of degrees obtained in different countries.

International studies are part of the learning path of each learner in the form of international exchange, practice placement or international studies within home institution, such as common core requirement studies in English or Finnish degree programmes or open studies in international network learning environments.

The Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle) is a profession-oriented degree. It meets the national criteria set for a UAS degree and the European framework regarding degrees and competences. The Bachelor’s Degree meets the requirements of the European Union directive (2013/55/EU) recognizing the professional qualification for nurses.
The completion of the degree provides eligibility to Master’s degree programmes at UAS, or Master’s degree programmes at universities or other institutes of higher education. Nursing graduates have good employment prospects in primary health care, specialized health care, and the private sector.
Clients and patients include children, adults and elderly persons.
The places of employment may include hospital wards, outpatient clinics, surgical and intensive care units, home health care, primary health care, various rehabilitation and nursing homes or medical centres. The nursing degree also enables work in expert and consultant tasks, work with non-profit organizations or in international duties.