Professional teacher education

When you have accepted your study place, register as present for the first academic year according to the instructions you received during the student selection process.

If you continue your studies to the second or third academic year, you must also register as present for the following academic year. Information about registration practices will be provided to continuing students in May-June.

If you do not register as present for the academic year, you will lose your right to study. If you wish to continue your studies, you must apply for the restoration of the right to study. The right to study can be restored if there is still time left in the original right to study. The decision on restoration is made by the Head of Programme. A processing fee of 50 euros will be charged for the application.

If you want to register as an absent student, please read more from below: Right to study

You must activate your HAMK user ID before starting of your studies. Please note that you cannot activate your HAMK user ID until you have received an HAMK ID activation email.

See the instructions for activating your HAM user ID here.

Attention! We do not send usernames by email.

Problems with HAMK user ID activation?

Contact HAMK IT Services either by email: it@hamk.fi or by phone: Tel. +358 3 646 3000. We serve students by phone on weekdays from 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM.

You can find all IT services and instructions compiled here

You can log in to the various HAMK services with a username in the form etunimi12345@student.hamk.fi. Some services also use a username in the form of first name12345. To log in to Google cloud services, use an email address, which is usually etunimi.sukunimi@student.hamk.fi.

Problems with logging?

Contact HAMK IT Services either by email: it@hamk.fi or by phone: Tel. +358 3 646 3000. We serve students by phone on weekdays from 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM.

You can find all IT services and instructions compiled here

The Student IT Services page includes tips for online studying and instructions on using tools.

If you wish, you can complete Starter Kit of Digital Skills -course, which helps you familiarize yourself with the electronic tools, devices, environments, and procedures needed in your your studies. Completing the Digistart -course is not a mandatory part of your studies; its purpose is to support you in starting your studies in the online environment. Therefore, you decide whether to take advantage of the package or not.

When you start the course first time, you will need Learn’s course access key: “Digistarter-24”

The digital starter kit contains 14 parts. Before starting your studies, we recommend that you complete at least parts 1-6.

When you see this pattern ⬡ it is possible to complete the section with a competency mark. Remember to take the completed marks to use. Below is the table of contents of the digital starter kit and the average time needed to complete each section.

1. Welcome to the Starter Kit of Digital Skills

2. Basic digital services for students (1h)

3. Learn online learning environment ⬡ (0,5-1 h)

4. Study planning | Pakki ⬡ (1h)

5. Microsoft 365 – supporting communal work

6. For internal communication Tuudo and Viva Engage (formerly Yammer) ⬡ (0,5h)

7. Teams – for teamwork ⬡ (1h)

8. Manage documents with OneDrive for Business ⬡ (1h)

9. Online meetings with Zoom ⬡ (1 h)

10. Office software ⬡ (2-5 h)

11. Library and web library HAMK Finna ⬡ (0,5-1 h)

12. Studying and well-being ⬡ (0,5 – 1 h)

13. How do you display your open badges?

14. Feedback on Digital Starter Kit

Take control of the student desktop in Pakki from the start of your studies. The app has a wide range of tools to help you track your progress and update your own information, among other things. Login with your HAMK username and password. You can use the Pakki on your computer browser or on your mobile device.

Via Pakki:

• check and update your changed contact details (link to help video)
• see the timetable for your group (link to the guide)
• browse your grades
• apply for accreditation of your prior learning (credit transfer) and accreditation of work experience (skills demonstration) via the RPL tool
• create digitally signed documents (for example transcript of records)
• download graduation certificate for 28 days from the graduation day
• answer the module feedback questionnaire (Spark feedback service)
• Note! A teacher student doesn’t have to register for courses through the Pakki service. Professional Teacher Education registrations are handled by Student Services.

The curriculum and study guide has been updated for the academic year 2024-2025!

In the study guide below, you can find the curriculum for the academic year 2023-2024, the main principles of studies, and the implementation plan for each study group with their schedules

In case of problems, you can make a service request via the ServiceDesk or by sending an email to IT Services.

You can download digitally signed documents at Student Desktop Pakki

You can order electronically signed documents for yourself from your student’s desktop on Pakki.

• Log in to Pakki with your HAMK username and password.
• Select Documents from the desktop and then New order.
• The list includes all the documents available in digitally signed format.
• Select the right document type, language of the document and Order.
• Select the tab called Documents. The newest document is the first one on the list.
• Just select the document name to download or open it.
• You can either
  • open it with your browser,
  • open it from the Downloads file on your computer, or
  • open it with a default PDF reader on your computer.
• Save the document on your computer and forward it for example attached to an email.
• The recipient may validate the authenticity of the document by following the instructions at the end of the digitally signed document.

If you notice some errors in some of your documents (for example Transcript of Records), please contact our Student Services: aokk-opintotoimisto@hamk.fi.

If you need documents for Public employment and business services or an Insurance company, please contact our Student Services.

Ordering copies or re-send of certificates

Pricing:

• Certificates issued before 10/2021: The price to order a copy of the paper certificate is EUR 50. Place the order via HAMK Shop. Delivery takes about a week. 
• Certificates issued from 10/2021: We can re-send digitally issued certificates free of charge. Place the order via: aokk-opintotoimisto@hamk.fi 

Right to study

Studies that progress according to the programme for multiform and online studies are considered to be part-time studies. Part-time students must complete their studies within three years (Act on Universities of Applied Sciences 932/2014). The right-to-study period begins when the student enrolls as present for the first time. A student who has not completed their studies during the period of study loses the right to study.

Right of absence

You can enrol for non-attendance for the first academic year for the following reasons only and prove the legal grounds for your non-attendance with the given documents:

1. Completing military service, civilian service or voluntary military service for women in Finland, service under the Conscription Act (1438/2007), Non-Military Service Act (1446/2007), or Act on Women’s Voluntary Military Service (194/1995)
   • required document: Call-up order or a conscript card
     Note! ONLY the military service of the Finnish army
2. You need leave from studies to care for child in connection with the child’s birth or adoption
   • required document: Kela’s certificate regarding maternity, paternity or parental allowance period or, if the certificate has not yet been received, a medical certificate regarding the pregnancy or
   • corresponding certificates from the authorities of other countries regarding statutory parental leave
3. Personal illness or injury that prevents you from studying
   • Sickness allowance decision or, if no decision exists, a medical certificate. The medical certificate must state which illness or injury the student suffers from, and that this condition prevents the student from beginning their studies on 1 January / 1 August.
   • Obstacles caused by the practical arrangements required by the illness or injury: an adequate clarification, e.g. a certificate from the student housing foundation that the student is on the waiting list for an apartment required by his or her injury.

The documents proving the legal grounds for your non-attendance must be delivered by 31st August. Documents must be submitted in Finnish, Swedish or English.

Submit the documents here: https://hamk.e-lomake.fi/lomakkeet/449/lomake.html?rinnakkaislomake=Absence_sfi_en[k]

A second or third-year student may enroll as absent for a maximum of one (1) year, which is not counted against their study right period. Similarly, absences caused by the above-mentioned reasons 1 or 2 are not deducted from the study right period. To report absences for the entire semester, students must inform Student Services by 10th January for the spring semester and 31st August for the autumn semester.

Enrolment for the academic year

The students will have to enroll as present or absent every year according to the deadlines set by HAMK. Practicalities of this will be advised for students at the beginning of the studies.

Once students have accepted a study place, they register as present for the first academic year in the manner described in the admissions guide. If a student continues studying into 2nd or 3rd academic year, they must also register as present. Continuing students will be informed of the registration process during the spring (May-June).

A student who has not enrolled will lose their right to study. If a student who has lost right to study wants to continue studying, they must apply for the reinstatement of their student status. The student status can be readmitted if the study period (3 years max) is still running. The Head of Degree Programme makes the decision to reinstate the student status. A handling fee of EUR 50 is invoiced from the student. The fee is paid through HAMK Shop.

Studying after the end of the admission group’s programme

If a student does not graduate according to the admission group’s programme, they continue under the guidance of the same tutor teacher until the end of the second year.

Extension period

Application for extension period (word document)

The Head of Degree Programme may grant a discretionary extension period to students in order to complete their studies. This extension is dependent on the student submitting a realistic plan for the achievement of this goal. The extension must be requested during the right to study period. An extension may only be granted for a maximum of six months. The application for an extension period is subject to EUR 50 administration fee. The fee is paid through HAMK Shop.

Readmission to complete studies

Application for readmission (word document)

If, upon conclusion of the right to study period, a student wishes to continue their previously interrupted studies, they may apply for a new right to study. The Head of Degree Programme may, on the basis of an application, grant a former teacher student the right to study so that the student in question can complete their teacher education if no more than one half of the entire scope of the programme is to be completed. A new right to study can be granted for a maximum of one year. Applications for a new right to study are subject to a EUR 50 administration fee. The fee is paid through HAMK Shop.

Teacher education learning assignments use the referencing technology used at HAMK.

Citation guide part 1: Theory, pdf

Citation guide part 2: Examples, pdf

Committing plagiarism

Copying content produced by another person and presenting it as your own work is prohibited and will result in the rejection of your coursework. The teacher will check students’ written assignments for plagiarism.

The International Professional Teacher Education programme has no tuition fee.

If you need funds to support yourself while studying Professional Teacher Education, you can apply for adult education allowance from the Employment Fund, support for independent study from the Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office) or Kela’s financial aid for the vocational teacher education studies. Studying is essentially part-time, but it can be changed to full-time with a personal study plan if the sponsor of the studies requires it. NOTE! Students living abroad are usually not covered by Finnish study support.

More info on the adult education allowance can be found on the Employment Fund website. The allowance requires that the student gains at least 4 ECTS a month. Studying in the 13-month program fulfils the criterion.

More info on the support for independent study can be found on the TE Services website. Receiving this benefit requires gaining at least 5 ECTS a month. Studying according to the group program does not fulfil the criterion, but a personal study plan can be made for the student to shorten the study time.

More info on financial aid for students can be found on the Kela (Social Insurance Institution) website. Receiving this benefit requires gaining at least 5 ECTS a month. Studying according to the group program does not fulfil the criterion, but a personal study plan can be made for the student to shorten the study time.

If you need a personal study plan to meet the criterion for funding, please contact the guidance counsellor.

Study feedback should be given by the student at the end of each module (excluding Practical Teacher Training and Development of Pedagogical Expertise) via HAMK’s feedback system. Students may give feedback seven days before the module ends, at the earliest. The system picks the exact end date from the implementation plan in the Pakki service. The feedback survey opens seven days before the module ends and it stays open for a fortnight after the module end date.

Students may give feedback via the Spark feedback service in Pakki. The feedback service recognises the modules or courses for which the student has been accepted in Pakki. Students can give feedback for each module only once and when the feedback questionnaire is available.

Student instructions for giving feedback on modules

HAMK’s student welfare services are staffed by a student psychologist, a special needs education teacher and a sports planner. Their task is to support and promote student well-being and to implement and develop well-being-enhancing activities throughout the institution.

You can contact a student psychologist if you have problems with studying, stress, coping, time management or motivation, for example. You can talk to the psychologist, take stock of your situation and, if necessary, arrange around 1-5 support, guidance and counselling visits.

The psychologist can refer you to further services if you need to seek treatment or therapy, for example.

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Maija Partanen

Student Psychologist

maija.partanen@hamk.fi

+358504063124

More information

The special needs education teacher can be contacted, for example, if there are difficulties with your studies, a decision is needed on the need for individual arrangements, or there is a need to clarify possible learning/reading difficulties. The special needs education teacher can identify reading difficulties using a reading screen and an individual test.

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Samu Toivonen

Senior Lecturer

samu.toivonen@hamk.fi

+358505776312

More information

HAMK strives to provide its students with the most comprehensive and high-quality sports opportunities possible. Student and staff sports are coordinated and developed by Hamk Moves. The sports planner can be contacted for all sports-related matters, and feedback and suggestions for improvements are more than welcome.

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Jari Virtanen

Sports Services Planner

jari.virtanen@hamk.fi

+358407355653

More information

Students of the School of Professional Teacher Training are not covered by the Student Health Service (YTHS). So if you fall ill, please contact the health services in the area where you live or the occupational health services at your workplace.

Teacher education students can complete studies at the HAMK Open University of Applied Sciences. There is a fee for the student (15 euros/credit point). However, the studies cannot be included in the teacher education programme, but must be completed separately. Students must enrol for the studies through the Open University of Applied Sciences enrolment system, not through the student’s Pakki service.

Studies in a Professional Teacher Education programme may include work with minors and different client groups, which places ethical requirements and the requirements on client safety at the core. Students must be capable, in terms of their state of health and functional capacity, to perform the practical tasks and training related to the studies. The studies and acting in the profession require sufficient physical, mental and social functional capacity. Suitability is evaluated throughout the studies.

A limitation related to the state of health or functional capacity is not an obstacle for admitting the applicant as a student, if the impacts can be removed with reasonable measures, for example with special arrangements. The purpose is not to otherwise unnecessarily impede the access of an applicant to education based on their disability or physical, mental or social limitations. The limitations are applied only in situations where it is clear that the applicant’s state of health or functional capacity may endanger the safety of minors or client safety. (University of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014, sections 26, 27, 33 and 34; Universities of Applied Sciences Decree 1129/2014, section 11. in Finnish)

Obstacles to student selection may include the following:

• a mental illness or a serious mental disorder
• substance or drug addiction, or drug abuse during the past two years
• limitations in the social functional capacity, which impairs working with people
• long-term illness or physical disability, which limits participation in the studies.

During the studies, the University of Applied Sciences may request the student to present an extract from the criminal record, if future learning situations and practical trainings substantially involve working with minors.

The University of Applied Sciences may obligate the student to present a drug test certificate if there is a justified reason to suspect that the student is under the influence of drugs in study-related practical training or that the student has a drug addiction.

Cancellation of admission or revocation of study right

A University of Applied Sciences may cancel conditional admission for the following reasons:

• an applicant fails to submit certificates regarding their state of health and functional capacity by the deadline specified by the University of Applied Sciences; or
• an applicant has provided false information or has left out essential information; or
• it is obvious that the student, in terms of their state of health and functional capacity, does not meet the prerequisites for student admission (Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014, sections 26, 27, 33 and 34; Universities of Applied Sciences Decree 1129/2014, section 11).

The University of Applied Sciences may later revoke the study right in the following cases:

• a student, by repeatedly or seriously endangering the health or safety of another person, has proven to be manifestly unsuitable to perform practical assignments or practical training relating to studies;
• it is obvious that the student, in terms of their state of health and functional capacity, does not meet the prerequisites for student admission set in section 26, subsection 1, of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014;
• at the application stage, the student has concealed a decision to revoke the right to study referred to in section 26, subsection 2, which could have prevented their admission as a student. (Please note: If you have cancelled your study place yourself or if your study right has been cancelled for other reasons, such as incorrectly entered grades or missing attachments, you can take part in the application process.); or
• where the studies or practical training relating to studies substantially require work with minors, the University of Applied Sciences may revoke the study right where necessary in order to protect minors or if the student has been sentenced for a crime referred to in the Criminal Code (39/1889), chapter 17, sections 18, 18a or 19, chapter 20, chapter 21, sections 1 to 3 or 6, chapter 31, section 2, or chapter 50, sections 1, 2, 3, 4 or 4a. (Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014, sections 26, 27, 33 and 34; Universities of Applied Sciences Decree 1129/2014, section 11.)

What should you do if you have a limitation related to state of health or functional capacity?

Upon applying in the Studyinfo service you will be asked the following questions:

• Has an educational institution revoked your study right because health or functioning ability issues have impeded your studies or you have endangered other people’s health or safety?
• Are there any such factors in your state of health or ability to function that could be an obstacle to studying in the programme?

If you answer ”yes” to one or both of the questions on the application form and if you receive a study place, the admission is conditional. The University of Applied Sciences processes and evaluates the information regarding the applicant’s state of health and functional capacity in terms of the prerequisites for admission. You may still be admitted to the programme if the obstacle related to your state of health or functional capacity can be removed with reasonable measures.

If you receive a study place, you will receive a request by email to fill in a clarification on your state of health and functional capacity, and to submit a doctor’s certificate and, if necessary, a clarification on the revocation of study right.

You must submit the requested documents with the attachments to the University of Applied Sciences which has made you the conditional offer of a study place. If the clarification you have provided is insufficient, the person processing your case may contact you and ask for additional clarifications. The documents are confidential.

The University of Applied Sciences to which you are conditionally accepted will make the decision regarding state of health and functional capacity.

The Degree Regulations contain guidelines for the whole HAMK, including instructions on the right to study, the completion of studies and a safe study environment.