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Graduation

Congratulations! Your studies at HAMK are coming to an end and it’s time to take the final steps.

Graduation from professional teacher training

Graduation of a degree student

You can start the graduation process in the VALO service in Pakki once you have completed at least 80% of your bachelor’s degree or 50% of your master’s degree. Please note that time must be allowed for the different stages of the application process and that holidays may delay the processing of your application.

Below is a checklist for the final steps of the graduation process.

When can I graduate?

The graduation date on your diploma is the date you submit your completed application.
NOTE! Applications submitted during the summer break will be processed in August, and you will receive your diploma during August.

When timing your graduation, please take into account the provisions on student support, for more information: kela.fi/opintotuki. Please also note that if your graduation application is submitted even one day into the next semester (1 August/1 January), you will be required to be registered as present that semester, too.

The deadline for delivery of the diploma is up to three weeks after the date of graduation. Information about the completion of the degree will appear in the StudyInfo service on completion day, when the graduation information is entered in the student register.

Students obligated to pay tuition fees

If you prepare to graduate at the end of a semester, please ensure that all your coursework has been completed by the end of the semester, and that your graduation application (VALO) has been submitted by 31 July for the spring semester, or by 31 December for the autumn semester. Please note that if your graduation application is submitted even one day into the next semester (1 August/1 January), you will be required to pay the tuition fee for that semester. Contact your guidance counsellor well before 31 July/31 December if you have any questions.

Electronic diploma

Häme University of Applied Sciences has issued electronic degree certificates since October 2021. You can download the diploma from the link that will be emailed to you when the diploma is ready. The link is valid for 28 days from the date of sending. The sender of the email is noreply.documents(at)hamk.fi (see also spam).

A printout of the diploma is not sent separately.

For Finnish-language education, students receive a Finnish-language diploma. For English-language education, students receive a diploma in both Finnish and English.

HAMK does not provide translations. If you need an official translation, you must get your diploma translated yourself by an authorized translator.

The diploma includes a Diploma Supplement, which is an English-language supplement to the diploma for international use. The Diploma Supplement is designed to increase the international comparability of qualifications and to facilitate studying and job search abroad after graduation.

An e-diploma is an official certificate that does not need to be certified separately. It can be sent as an attachment to the authorities or to the employer. You can print out a hard copy of the e-diploma, but the official diploma is only available in electronic format.

Note! Save your e-diploma carefully in several places for yourself, including a backup copy.

Graduation ceremony

We celebrate all graduates at Hämeenlinna University Centre twice a year.

The next graduation ceremony will take place 12 June 2026 at 2pm at the Hämeenlinna University Centre auditorium. The event is free of charge.

Link to the registration

Graduate checklist

Log in to Pakki and make sure that you have completed all the necessary studies and that they are recorded in Pakki.

Log in to Pakki and select VALO – graduation service

  • if you have already answered the AVOP questionnaire or cannot do so for any other reason, please contact your adviser.
  • please note that you must complete the AVOP questionnaire in one go – the system will redirect you back to the Valo graduation Service after completing the questionnaire and an automatic message will be sent to your guidance counsellor about your application.
  • note that the survey link will take you outside the system – expect to be redirected back to the graduation system once you have answered the survey.

Problems with the AVOP questionnaire or the Graduation Service VALO

Solving problems related to the use of the VALO graduation service:

The VALO service works best in Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox or Edge browsers.

The VALO works in the language in which you are using Pakki. You can change the language selection by changing the language used by Pakki.

If the system does not work, try logging out, closing the browser and logging back in. Try another browser. If this does not help – send a message to koulutuksentukipalvelut@hamk.fi

If you have multiple study rights, check that you are using the right one for the right study right.

if your study rights do not lead to a degree, you cannot create a graduation application

Problems in answering the AVOP questionnaire:

  • The link to the AVOP survey is not active – check if you have enough credits (bachelor’s degrees, at least 80% and master’s degrees, at least 50% of studies). Your achievements must be recorded at least on the previous day. Please note that the assessments are not updated in the VIRTA higher education achievement register in real time – there is a delay in the data transfer. Please wait patiently for the link to become active.
  • You have already answered the questionnaire: contact your personal adviser
  • You did not complete the AVOP questionnaire, and you can no longer finish it: contact koulutuksentukipalvelut@hamk.fi
    In your message, explain the situation and include your name and the degree program you are graduating from.
  • If you are unable to respond for any other reason, please contact your guidance counsellor. 
  • If your study right does not lead to a degree, you will not see the AVOP survey link in the graduation system, and you will not be able to create a graduation application. 

  • Wait to hear from your adviser: arrange a date for a graduation interview. The advisor will contact you within a week or so.
  • Please note that there will be no separate email about the date of the graduation interview relevant to VALO. You can see the debate time by logging into VALO.

Follow the checklist for the completion application, and mark the steps as completed.

  • you can tick things off your own checklist before the graduation interview – remember to save your notes.
  • make sure that all entries are correct before proceeding to the next step. After that, answers can no longer be edited or deleted.

You will receive confirmation of your completion by email and see it on the Valo service. You can see your graduation date and the date of your ceremony at the top of this page.

Need career guidance? Check out the career services offered by HAMK.

You can join our Alumni network straight from the VALO-service. However, if for some reason you have not yet joined, now is a good time. Read more about our Alumni activities and join!

Join HAMK’s Alumni Network!

Go through the electronic materials and download the things that are important to you on your own computer.

Please make sure to take your personal belongings with you when leaving the campus. If you have a separate access tag, remember to return it. Unreturned access tags will result in a charge. For more information on how to return your access tag, please contact the campus-specific contact persons listed on this page (see the section How to get a key card).

Library website. Your library card and information will be automatically deleted after you graduate. If you wish to continue to use HAMK library or if you are still studying for another degree in HAMK, let the library know.

Certified copies

This instruction applies to requests for certified copies and requests to have an electronic degree certificate resent for degree certificates awarded by HAMK (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees). Please read the detailed ordering instructions below.

Please note:

  • Since October 2021, HAMK has issued only electronic degree certificates. An electronic degree certificate is an official document that does not require separate certification. The certificate can be submitted as an attachment to authorities or an employer. Printouts of an electronic degree certificate are copies.
  • If you graduated from a social or health care programme and apply for registration with the Finnish Supervisory Agency online on their website, you do not need officially certified copies of your degree certificate.
  • Copies of degree certificate from pre-HAMK institutions can be obtained from the municipal or provincial archives in the locality concerned.

  • If you have lost your electronic degree certificate
    Submit a request to have the electronic certificate resent by email to opintopalvelut@hamk.fi.

    You will receive an email containing a link (delivery time approximately two weeks) from which you can download your degree certificate. The link is valid for 28 days from the date of sending. The sender of the email is noreply.documents@hamk.fi (please also check your spam folder).

    Resending the electronic certificate is free of charge.

  • If you need certified printed copies of the electronic degree certificate
    Since October 2021 HAMK has issued only electronic degree certificates. The electronic degree certificate is an official document and does not require separate certification. The certificate can be submitted as an attachment to authorities or an employer. Printed copies of the electronic certificate are copies.

    If, however, you need a certified paper copy (a printed and certified copy) of the electronic certificate, you can order it from HAMK Shop.

  • If you have lost your original paper degree certificate (issued before October 2021)
    Order a certified copy of the certificate from the HAMK Shop.

  • If you have lost a degree certificate issued by institutions preceding HAMK
    We only supply copies of certificates issued by HAMK. If you need a copy of a certificate from an institution that preceded HAMK, you can request it from the relevant municipal archive or regional archive.

Copies are printed on standard copy paper and do not include separate covers. Paper copies are delivered by registered mail. Electronic certified copies (PDF) are primarily delivered by encrypted email.

Fees for certificate copies from 1 Oct 2023:

  1. Certified paper copy of a degree certificate: €50 per copy (graduation before 1 October 2021, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
  2. Certified paper copy printed from an electronic degree certificate: €50 per copy
  3. Resending an electronic degree certificate is free of charge.

If you choose postal delivery for the paper copy, please remember to also pay the postage in HAMK Shop.

Postage fees from 1 Apr 2026:

The price includes a service fee and a tracking code.

1. Registered letter within Finland €25
2. Registered letter to EU countries €35
3. Registered letter outside the EU €45

Terms of Delivery and Liability

Once the shipment has been handed over to the carrier (Posti or DHL), responsibility for the shipment is transferred to them. The carrier is responsible for delivering the shipment in accordance with its own terms and conditions. Any loss or damage must be reported directly to the respective carrier. HAMK recommends using electronic documents to avoid postal delivery risks

The certificate copy will be sent no later than two weeks after the order. Delivery times are longer during the summer holiday period. For more information, please contact koulutuksentukipalvelut@hamk.fi

Please note! If you have a Finnish personal identity code, you can also view your completed studies and share your study records in the Opintopolku.fi / Oma opintopolku service.

Every giant leap starts with a small step

Congratulations on your graduation! Remember to join our alumni network so that we can keep in touch better.

Join HAMK’s alumni network