Section 1 Educational mission 

The mission of the LAB University of Applied Sciences under the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014) is to provide higher education for professional expert jobs, support the professional growth of students, carry out applied research, development and innovation activities and artistic activities that serve education in universities of applied sciences, and promote industry, business and regional development and take the industrial structure of the region into account. In carrying out their mission, universities of applied sciences shall promote lifelong learning and provide and develop adult education to maintain and promote transferable skills.  

Section 2 Degrees 

In accordance with the operating licence issued by the Finnish government on 24 October 2019, the following degrees can be completed at the LAB University of Applied Sciences:  

Bachelor's degrees

Master’s degrees

The Ministry of Education and Culture has also granted the LAB University of Applied Sciences educational responsibilities related to the degree of laboratory analyst in the field of technology. 

Students who have started their studies before 1 January 2014 may finish their studies at the LAB University of Applied Sciences even if LAB is no longer obligated to teach the student’s subject area. In accordance with LAB’s operating licence, students may complete and receive their degree pursuant to the legislation in force prior to the current operating licence.  

Section 3 Degree programmes  

Studies leading to a degree are arranged as degree programmes. Degree programmes designed and executed by the university of applied sciences focus on duties requiring practical professional expertise and the development of those duties.  

Degree programmes may also be organised in collaboration with domestic or international universities based on agreements.

Section 4 Objectives of bachelor’s studies 

Bachelor’s studies aim to provide graduates with the following in accordance with the Government decree on universities of applied sciences (1129/2014, section 4): 

• 1)    wide-ranging basic knowledge and practical skills and theory that enable working in professional expert positions 
  2)    the ability to follow and promote the development of one's own field 
  3)    the ability for lifelong learning and continuous professional development 
  4)    sufficient communication and language skills for working, operating and collaborating internationally in one's field 

Section 5 Objectives of master’s studies 

Master’s studies aim to provide graduates with the following in accordance with the Government decree on universities of applied sciences (1129/2014, section 5): 

• 1)    extensive and deep knowledge and necessary theoretical knowledge to act as a developer in demanding professional expert and management duties 
  2)    a profound view of one’s own profession, its societal importance and situation in the working world, and the ability to follow and analyse the development of research data and professional practices 
  3)    the ability for lifelong learning and continuous professional development 
  4)    good communication and language skills for working, operating and collaborating internationally in one's field 

Section 6 Scope of studies 

The bachelor’s degrees at the LAB University of Applied Sciences require 210 or 240 ECTS credits. The master's degrees require 60 or 90 ECTS credits. Bachelor's studies include a practical training that promotes professional skills and is worth at least 30 ECTS credits. 

The scope of studies is measured in ECTS credits. One credit refers to an average input of 27 hours of work by a student regardless of the teaching methods or arrangements. Full-time studies for one academic year, without significant credit substitutions, amount to 60 ECTS credits, corresponding to 1600 hours of work. 

Section 7 Other education 

The LAB University of Applied Sciences may arrange professional specialisation programmes, open university of applied sciences instruction, and other continuing education in the form of individual courses or integrated into basic education based on a decision by the president or a person assigned by the president.  

The university of applied sciences may arrange free-of-charge education providing immigrants with the language and other skills needed for degree studies at the university of applied sciences. The university of applied sciences may also provide student groups tailored education leading to a higher education degree and subject to a fee.  

Section 8 Language of instruction and degrees  

The language of instruction and degrees at the LAB University of Applied Sciences is Finnish. In addition, the university of applied sciences teaches certain degree programmes in English. Finnish-language degree programmes may contain courses or modules taught in English if it is relevant to the field and supports the student’s internationalisation. Correspondingly, English-language degree programmes may include courses or modules taught in Finnish if they support the student’s integration into the Finnish working world.  

Each degree programme curriculum defines the language of instruction for the programme. Assignments are primarily completed in the language of the course or module. 

Section 9 Student admissions 

The board of directors of the university of applied sciences decides on the annual student intake.  The vice president for education annually decides on the admission procedures and criteria after hearing each faculty and approves the admission of new degree students.  

Students are admitted to complete a bachelor's or master's degree or professional specialisation programmes. 

Students are admitted to bachelor’s or master's studies in a joint application system for higher education institutions. 

The university of applied sciences may opt to apply a separate application system when admitting: 

students to programmes for a limited target group where the eligibility of applicants has been defined separately by the university of applied sciences and where the application process cannot be organised within the timeframe of the joint application procedure; 

students to programmes in a foreign language; 

students to programmes in Finnish or Swedish, the application process for which is organised in connection with the application process for an equivalent foreign-language programme; 

transfer students; students based on their previous open higher education studies; students to student places that remain unfilled after the joint application process. 

Section 10 Revocation of admission 

Admission decisions are contingent upon the receipt and verification of the applicant’s study attainments in the national database or required original documents related to the previous degree or copies thereof certified in a country-specifically defined manner, or upon the conclusion of the SORA procedure. The university of applied sciences may revoke the right to study if the applicant has not submitted the required documents within the timeframe and in the form set by the university of applied sciences or if the applicant’s application contained false information.

The decision to revoke the right to study is made by the president or a person assigned by the president. 

Section 11 Admission of transfer students 

A student of another university of applied sciences may apply for transfer to a programme in the same or a similar field at the LAB University of Applied Sciences. The vice president for education decides annually on the admission procedures and criteria for transfer students after hearing the faculties and decides on the admission of transfer students.  

Section 12 Transfers between degree programmes  

Students may apply for transfer from one degree programme to another within the university of applied sciences. The vice president for education decides annually on the transfer procedures and criteria after hearing the faculties. Decisions regarding transfers between programmes are made by the faculty director in question.  

Section 13 Administrative review of an admission decision  

Applicants dissatisfied with an admission or transfer decision may request an administrative review from the president of the LAB University of Applied Sciences within 14 days of the publication of the admission decisions. When decisions are released, applicants must be provided information on how the admission or transfer criteria were applied to them and how they can appeal the decision. 

Decisions regarding administrative reviews may be brought before the Administrative Court of Eastern Finland in accordance with the Administrative Judicial Procedure Act (808/2019). No appeals may be made against the administrative court ruling. 

Decisions on administrative reviews shall not prejudice any student accepted to the university. 

The autumn semester of the university of applied sciences starts on 1 August and ends on 31 December. The spring semester starts on 1 January and ends on 31 July. 

Studies leading to a degree are designed as follows: the normative duration of bachelor's degrees worth 210 ECTS credits is 3.5 years, and that of bachelor's degrees worth 240 ECTS credits is 4 years.  

The normative duration of master’s studies of 60 ECTS credits is two years, and that of master’s studies of 90 ECTS credits is 2.5 years. The normative duration of master’s programmes arranged fully online may be 2 years. 

Full-time students have the right to exceed the normative duration of their studies by one year. For other students, the grounds for the maximum duration are provided for in the degree regulations of the university of applied sciences. 

Students who are unable to complete their bachelor’s degree within the normal duration may continue their studies for one more year (+1 year). Students discuss the completion of the studies with their tutor teacher and prepare a study plan and schedule for the courses missing from their degree. The plan is approved by the tutor teacher. Students who have not completed their master’s studies within their normative duration may continue their studies for one more semester. 

The duration of the studies starts when the student first enrols for studies at the university of applied sciences. 

Absences due to service under the Conscription Act, the Non-Military Service Act or the Women’s Voluntary Military Service Act or to leave due to the birth of a child or adoption are excluded from the normative duration of studies. However, such leaves will be included in the duration of the studies if students register as attending during them. Other absences of no more than two semesters will not be included in the total duration of the studies if the student registers as non-attending for the duration of the absence. 

To maintain their right to study, students must register each academic year as attending or non-attending in a way defined by the university of applied sciences.  

Students who have started their studies before 1 August 2015 may register as non-attending for a maximum of two academic years, but only for one academic year at a time. 

Students who have not completed their studies in the time specified in the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (normative duration + 1 year) may apply for a discretionary extension from the degree manager. Students must apply for the extension before the maximum duration of their studies elapses. Granting an extension requires that students present a realistic plan, including a schedule and goals, for the completion of their studies. The student's situation in life will be taken into account in granting an extension. As a general rule, the right to study can be extended by up to one academic year. The student may not register as non-attending during the extension. 

The application for an extension is subject to a processing fee of 50 euros in accordance with the government decree 1440/2014, section 3. 

Students whose right to study has expired or who have relinquished their right to study may, in order to complete their degree, apply for a fixed-term right to study to the same programme in which they had their previous right to study or to an equivalent programme. 

In such cases, no more than 60 ECTS credits may be missing from an incomplete bachelor's degree and no more than 30 ECTS credits from an incomplete master's degree. Also, open university of applied sciences courses and other prior learning may be included.  

The fixed-term right to study is awarded from the beginning of a semester and may span no more than two semesters. Students with a fixed-term right to study may not register as nonattending. No discretionary extensions to the right to study will be granted without an especially important reason. Students who are unable to graduate while their fixed-term right to study is valid must reapply to the university of applied sciences through regular admission channels. 

Decisions on fixed-term rights to study are made by the vice president for education. 

The study right application is subject to a processing fee of 50 euros in accordance with the government decree 1440/2014, section 3.  

In the first year of studies, students may register as non-attending only if compulsory or voluntary military service, the birth or adoption of their child, or their own illness or disability prevents them from starting their studies. 
Degree students must register as attending or non-attending every academic year between 1 May and 31 August. Students can register as non-attending for only the autumn semester by 31 August and for only the spring semester by 31 December. Registration as non-attending can be changed to attending at any time during the academic year in question.  

Only attending students may complete studies, have study attainments entered into their student file, and graduate. The insurance policies of the university of applied sciences only cover attending students. 

Non-attending students must take into consideration how their absence affects their studyrelated benefits. Students registered as attending have access to a LAB University of Applied Sciences username and email account.  

Students who neglect their registration for the academic year or register as non-attending for the first academic year without a statutory reason forfeit their right to study. 

Students who subsequently wish to start or continue their studies submit a written application to be reinstated as a student and pay a statutory re-enrolment fee. The degree manager may grant the right to study if the student is able to complete the courses missing from the degree during that right to study.  

Universities charge a tuition fee from students coming from outside the EU/EEA countries to complete a degree in a language other than Finnish or Swedish. The payment of the tuition fee is a requirement for registration as attending and for a right to study. If students obligated to pay a tuition fee do not pay the fee in the manner declared by the university or by the deadline, they forfeit their right to study. If such students later wish to restart or continue their studies, they must apply for the reinstatement of their study right in writing after paying the tuition fee. The degree manager may grant the right to study if the student is able to complete the courses missing from the degree during that right to study.  

The right to study of students who have not completed their studies within the normative duration under the Universities of Applied Sciences Act and who have not received an extension to complete their studies will be considered terminated, and the students will be deemed to have discontinued their studies.  

Nevertheless, these students are entitled to apply for a fixed-term right to complete their studies in accordance with section 17 or complete the studies in open higher education. After having completed their studies through open higher education, the students may apply for the reinstatement of their right to study in order to graduate.  

Transfer students who accept a new right to study forfeit the right to study based on which the transfer was made. 

Degree students’ right to study ends when they have completed the degree based on which the right was granted.  

The application for the reinstatement of the right to study is subject to a processing fee of 50 euros in accordance with the government decree 1440/2014, section 3. If a student proves that the need to reinstate the right to study is the result of being on a sickness allowance with a limited ability to study, the university of applied sciences may, at its own discretion, waive the processing fee.  

Students may submit a written request to the president of the university of applied sciences for an administrative review of a decision concerning the forfeiture of their right to study within 14 days of having received the decision. 

Decisions regarding administrative reviews may be brought before the Administrative Court of Eastern Finland in accordance with the Administrative Judicial Procedure Act (808/2019). 

The university of applied sciences may revoke a health care and social services student’s right to study when the student has, by endangering the health or safety of others, proven unfit for professional duties or practical training related to the studies.  

A student’s right to study may also be revoked if the student during the application stage concealed a previous revocation decision or the student has been sentenced for crimes that pose an obstacle to working with minors, or it is evident that the student's health or operating capacity do not meet the requirements of the studies. 

Decisions to revoke or reinstate a right to study are made by the board of directors of the LAB University of Applied Sciences. Before making the decision to revoke a right to study, the matter must be investigated sufficiently, and the student must be given the opportunity to be heard in the matter. The university of applied sciences must together with the student explore possibilities to start in or transfer to other programmes. 

The university of applied sciences is obligated to inform the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira of decisions to revoke rights to study and grounds for them. 

A revoked right to study may, upon the student's application, be reinstated if the revocation was based on the student's health or operating capacity and the student is able to prove that those reasons no longer exist. 

Students may lodge an appeal against a revocation decision in the national board for students’ legal protection within 14 days of the receipt of the decision, and after that in the Helsinki Administrative Court. A revocation decision may be enforced despite appeals unless the national board for students’ legal protection or the Helsinki Administrative Court expressly forbids it. 

The process of revoking a right to study is described in the LAB University of Applied Sciences’ guidelines on the application of SORA legislation.  

Students may waive their right to study by submitting a written notification. The notification is binding. The right to study ends on the receipt date of the notification. An entry thereof will be made to the university of applied sciences’ records.  

Under the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014, section 13 a), universities of applied sciences must charge a minimum tuition fee of EUR 1,500 per academic year from students admitted to a bachelor’s or master’s degree programme taught in a language other than Finnish or Swedish.

The amount of the tuition fee is decided by the president of the university of applied sciences. The university of applied sciences has separate guidelines concerning tuition fees. 

The university of applied sciences has a statutory scholarship system to aid students participating in fee-charging degree programmes. The rules of the scholarship system are defined in separate guidelines issued by the president of the university of applied sciences.  

The curriculum is steered by LAB’s strategy, anticipating the future, development and needs of the working world, and the strategy of LUT Universities. A competence-based curriculum enables an entity that is sufficiently flexible and agile in its reactions to societal changes and phenomena. 

Curricula and their changes are approved by the vice president for education. 

Teaching is carried out as modules or courses in accordance with the curriculum. The curriculum is divided into core competencies and a work placement that promotes them, a final thesis, and supplementary studies. 

The master's degree includes core studies, supplementary studies and a final thesis. 

Intended learning outcomes and the scope of studies are defined in the curriculum, and more detailed information on modes of completion, assessment, and study materials are available in the organisation plan for studies.  

Students use the curriculum as the basis for their personal study plan. Degree programmes include core studies that must be completed to fulfil the learning outcomes of the degree. In addition, students may choose studies based on their own interests from the range of supplementary courses available or from the courses of LAB or another higher education institution in Finland or abroad. 

Students completing a degree may, based on a decision given by the university of applied sciences, transfer credits from studies they have carried out in another higher education institution in Finland or abroad and thus substitute studies in the degree with other studies of the same level. The accredited studies must be higher education level.

The university of applied sciences also allows students to transfer credits or substitute courses included in their degree by otherwise demonstrating their knowledge. In such cases, the student’s knowledge may be demonstrated orally or in writing or, for example, with a portfolio based on which the student's performance can be evaluated. 

Students must submit a related application to the teacher tutor before the course starts. The teacher tutor decides what content is recognised and how many ECTS credits are transferred. The teacher tutor may also consult the specialist teacher of the course in question, who will assess the student's skills in relation to the learning outcomes of the course. 

The assessment of the application takes the level, credits, content, and completion date of the transfer studies into consideration as well as the requirements of the degree the student is completing. Students may also be given the chance to demonstrate that they have the skills required in studies at the university of applied sciences. The recognition of language skills acquired in a context other than formal education is decided by a representative of the Language Centre.  

Studies that date back no more than ten years may be included in the degree. The ten-year period starts from the completion date of the study attainment. As a rule, studies that exceed the required credit limit will not be included in the degree.  

Double degrees produced in collaboration with foreign universities must include at least 60 ECTS credits of studies carried out at the LAB University of Applied Sciences.  

If credits for a course have been transferred to a LAB University of Applied Sciences degree, the course cannot be completed again at the LAB University of Applied Sciences nor can credits for the course be transferred again. A course completed at the LAB University of Applied Sciences cannot be substituted by transferring credits from a course completed at another educational institution. 

Students who are dissatisfied with a credit transfer decision may orally or in writing request an administrative review from the person who made the decision. The request must be presented within 14 days of the date on which the student received the decision.  

Students dissatisfied with the decision regarding the administrative review request may request a review from the degree board of the LAB University of Applied Sciences within 14 days of the date the decision was made known. No appeals may be made against the final administrative review decision. 

All students are entitled to study guidance.  

Study guidance at the university of applied sciences aims to help students to plan and complete their studies and support students in career planning and finding employment.  

Higher education studies require self-regulation and taking responsibility for the progress of one's studies. In addition to autonomous studies, students can take advantage of different study support services.  

The vice president for education provides more detailed instructions on the content and execution of study guidance. 

Students prepare a personal study plan at the early stages of their studies and review and update it. The personal study plan supports goal-oriented studies and graduation within the target time. The personal study plan contains core studies and supplementary studies in accordance with the curriculum degree structure. 

Students register for courses in accordance with a schedule decided and announced by the vice president for education. The teacher in charge of the course announces possible exceptions to the registration dates.  As a rule, precedence is given to students whose compulsory studies include the course in question. In degree programme studies, precedence is given to those who have been admitted to the programme in question.  

When instruction starts, the teacher may accept the confirmed maximum number of students to a course. Students accept their seat by attending the initial lesson or in another way agreed with the teacher, such as by submitting the first learning assignment.

Students unable to take part in the start of instruction due to illness or another hindrance may also confirm their place in the course by informing the teacher of their absence in advance. Admission to a course is contingent on whether the student has been verified to meet the prerequisites for the course. 

Students may not re-register for a course they have already completed and passed or had transferred. 

The university of applied sciences uses continuous assessment and a variety of other ways to evaluate learning. A course may also be completed by taking midterm examinations or completing partial study attainments if the option is mentioned in the course description or at the start of the course. Teachers define the assessment requirements and related examination practices for their courses before the course begins. Students receive a failing grade for their examination if they do not fulfil the requirements for passing or if they fail to attend the examination for no valid reason.

LAB's guidelines for special examination arrangements apply for students in need of special arrangements to complete examinations.

The bachelor's and master's degrees may contain courses that date back no more than ten years. Also, language and communication studies included in the degree expire in ten years with the exception of the public administration language examination (other official language of Finland), which does not expire. For justified reasons, the validity period of courses may be extended by the vice president for education.  

The course instructor is responsible for course assessments (incl. final theses). The instructor assesses the student’s competences in relation to the intended learning outcomes of the course. Students have the right to obtain information on the assessment criteria applied to them. Students must have the opportunity to review their assessed written or otherwise stored assignments and examinations. 

Teachers must keep examination scripts and other equivalent material and participant lists for examinations for at least six months after the grades are published. 

An electronic plagiarism detector can be applied to the supervision and evaluation of students' work. If the plagiarism detector (e.g., Turnitin) is a part of the evaluation or supervision process of a course, students cannot deny its use in the evaluation of the course if they wish to have their work assessed. Teachers always have the right to demand the use of a plagiarism detector if there is reason to suspect cheating. 

In written course assignments, students are responsible for referencing in accordance with good scientific practice. Teachers must have the opportunity to examine the original sources when assessing students’ assignments. Students who cite artificial intelligence as a source in coursework are responsible for saving the original materials and their later availability.   

Teachers are to inform students of the results of examinations or other study attainments within 30 days. The final grade for a course will be entered into student files within 30 days of the final study attainment related to the course. The day on which the student has completed all required study attainments for the course and the course has been graded is the completion date of the course.  

Teachers must communicate the results of examinations or other study attainments scheduled for June or July to students within two months, but no later than by the end of August. Teachers must provide students with the results of examinations or other study attainments completed in December within 45 days. 

No changes will be made to results in the student data file unless there is an error in the data. For instance, completed courses will not be removed and grading scales will not be changed.   

The passing grades for study attainments are excellent (5), very good (4), good (3), satisfactory (2) and passable (1). Failed courses receive a failing grade (0). A course may also be assessed on the scale pass/fail. Final theses are assessed on the same grading scale as other studies. 

The possible coursework affects the final grade of the course together with the possible examination. The teacher determines how much the coursework is emphasised in the evaluation. If a student admitted to a course does not complete the related coursework, the student receives a failing grade for the course. Students cannot cancel their course registration after receiving an assessment for any part of the coursework.  

The requirements for passing are in force for a year after the course ends.  

Students must register for examination retakes 14 days before the examination through the online registration system of the university of applied sciences or in another way specified by the teacher. Students can cancel registrations for examinations six days before the examination date. Students who register for an examination but fail to take part without a valid reason receive a failing grade. 

Students may attempt to improve failing grades twice within one year of the date the course ended.  

Students may attempt to improve a passing grade once within a year of the date the grade was entered into the student's records. If the grade of the examination retake is lower than the original grade, the original grade will remain in force.  

The right to attempt improving a grade only applies to the final examination of a course. Students may attempt to improve their grade only if the overall grade of the course can be improved by retaking the final examination. Continuous assessment tests or other assignments cannot be completed more than once.

For justified reasons and if resources allow, a teacher may allow students to attempt to raise their grade by other means than an examination. This right must then apply to all students on the course.  

Students who have received the top grade of the assessment scale cannot retake an examination. Students may not attempt to raise a passing grade for their final thesis.  

Grades of courses completed at the LAB University of Applied Sciences cannot be raised by transferring credits from courses completed at other institutions. 

Course descriptions provide further details on the assessment criteria of courses. 

If students are not satisfied with their grades, they may either orally or in writing request an administrative review of their grade from the teacher who gave the grade. According to law, students must make the request within 14 days of the day the grade was made known. They also have the right to find out why they were given the grade. 

Students dissatisfied with the teacher's decision may submit a written request for an administrative review to the degree board of the university of applied sciences within 14 days of the receipt of the decision. 

No appeals may be made against the final degree board decision. 

The university of applied sciences has a degree board, which handles appeals concerning study attainments. The board of directors of the university of applied sciences appoints the chair and members of the degree board. 

The final thesis of the bachelor's degree is a study module involving a design or research assignment, which aims to develop and demonstrate the students’ abilities to apply their knowledge and skills to a practical expert task connected to their professional studies. The final thesis is a public document. Its scope is defined in the curriculum and is at least 15 ECTS credits. The final thesis for the degree of Bachelor of Construction Management is at least 10 ECTS credits. 

The final thesis for the master's degree is to develop and demonstrate the capacity for demanding expert jobs and the ability to apply research-based knowledge and apply selected methods to analyse and solve professional problems. The thesis is worth 30 ECTS credits. 

Students write the thesis in Finnish or English.  

The student and teacher together agree on a thesis topic relevant to the working world. The final thesis can also be a group project of two or more students. However, in such cases, the parts of the thesis prepared independently by each student should be distinguishable. These parts should be evaluated separately. 

Students write a written report on their final thesis project in accordance with the instructions in the curriculum. Students upload the report to the Theseus online library and define its user rights. All final theses of the LAB University of Applied Sciences are reviewed with the Turnitin plagiarism checker. Students do the checking themselves and are informed of this practice in advance. 

To complete their degree, students take a maturity test on the topic of their final thesis, demonstrating their knowledge of the topic area and their Finnish or Swedish skills. Students take the maturity test in the language in which they have received their compulsory education in Finland. For students who have received their basic education abroad, the degree manager decides the language of the thesis. Students take the maturity test individually even if the final thesis was written in collaboration with another student.    

The vice president for education decides on issuing general instructions concerning final theses at the university of applied sciences. Degree programmes may give more detailed instructions.  

Students must in studies related to their university of applied sciences degree or in another manner demonstrate 

1. a proficiency in Finnish and Swedish required of state personnel in bilingual authorities under the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003), section 6, subsection 1, and that is necessary in one’s professional duties and development;
2. writing and speaking skills in at least one foreign language necessary in one's professional duties and development. 

Students who have obtained their compulsory education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or who have received their compulsory education abroad shall, in connection with their bachelor's or master’s degree or in another way, demonstrate only the language skills referred to in paragraph 2 above. 

The Language Centre director may, for a special reason, also exempt a student from the language requirements either fully or partly.

The grounds for the decision must be given in writing.  

The university of applied sciences gives graduates a degree certificate attesting to the completion of the degree. The certificate displays all of the courses completed by the student for the degree and the grades of the courses. The degree certificate templates are confirmed by the president of the university of applied sciences. 

The certificate includes the degree and degree title, the key content and scope of the degree, the degree programme and possible professional major subject or specialisation, and the title of the final thesis. The degree certificate also mentions the completion of practical training. 

The student’s skills in Finnish and Swedish are also mentioned in the degree certificate. The certificate mentions the language of the graduate’s compulsory education and maturity test if it is either Finnish or Swedish, and grades for speaking and writing skills in the other official language of Finland. 

The university of applied sciences attaches a Diploma Supplement in English to its degree certificates. The supplement is targeted especially for use in an international context. The supplement includes information on the university of applied sciences, the studies and completed courses referred to in the degree certificate and their level and how they compare to other studies within the education system. 

The Diploma Supplement is signed by the president of the university of applied sciences or a person assigned by the president. 

During their studies, students are entitled to request a transcript of their study records as proof of studies they have completed. 

With the exception of July and the end of December, degree certificates are awarded within three weeks of the submission of the student’s graduation application. A degree certificate can be awarded only when the student has completed the studies included in the degree. 

Section 40 Equality between students  

All students of and applicants to the LAB University of Applied Sciences will be treated equally and following the same principles. The student admission process of the university of applied sciences is open and transparent.  

Section 41 Accessible learning and operating environment    

The LAB University of Applied Sciences commits to promoting accessible higher education in accordance with the Non-discrimination Act and LAB’s own accessibility guidelines. Education and guidance are arranged in a way that, to the extent possible, takes the student’s individual background and capacity for studies into consideration.  

Section 42 Communication 

Student Services informs students of general matters related to studies. Matters related to individual courses and projects are communicated through a channel agreed on with the instructor of the course. Students are obligated to follow these communication channels throughout their studies. 

Students must also see to it that their contact information is up to date in the university of applied science’s files. In email correspondence, Student Services always sends mail to the email address issued to the student by the university of applied sciences. The student must send all mail to the university of applied sciences from the address issued by the university of applied sciences. 

Section 43 Student feedback and complaints 

Students are expected to contribute to the development of the instruction and other operations of the university of applied sciences by, for example, giving feedback through the feedback channels which are part of the quality management system of the university of applied sciences. Feedback is collected on individual courses and at certain stages of studies, such as at the beginning and upon graduation.  

Students may give informal feedback on education for example to faculty directors, degree managers, Student Services staff or the vice president for education.  

Individual students or student groups dissatisfied with instruction, guidance, teaching arrangements or other teaching-related matters at the university of applied sciences may submit a free-form, written complaint to the university of applied sciences. Complaints are submitted through the suggestion and feedback channel in eLAB. All feedback will be handled following the practices of the feedback channel. 

Section 44 Misconduct and disciplinary measures  

Students are expected to know and observe the ethical principles of studies at the university of applied sciences. In ethically problematic situations, students will be assisted and guided to make ethically sound choices. All cases of suspected misconduct will be investigated, and any misconduct observed will lead to disciplinary measures.  

In accordance with section 38 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014), students may be issued a written caution if they 

• disrupt teaching;
• behave violently or threateningly;
• act under false pretences or otherwise cause disorder at the university of applied sciences;
• refuse to present the drug test certificate referred to in section 36; or
• according to the account referred to in section 36 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, have used narcotics for purposes other than medical treatment in a way which undermines their functional capacity. 

If the act or neglect is serous or if the student carries on the inappropriate behaviour referred to in subsection 2 after having been cautioned, the student can be suspended from the university of applied sciences for a fixed period of no more than one year. 

A student who disrupts teaching, behaves violently or threateningly, or threatens another person's life or well-being can be removed from the teaching space or event at the university of applied sciences. A student may be banned from attending teaching for a maximum of three days where there is danger that the safety of another student or a person working at the university of applied sciences or in some other teaching facility is threatened as a result of the student's violent or threatening behaviour or where the disrupting conduct of the student makes teaching and associated activities unreasonably difficult. 

The decision in regard of a written caution to a student shall be made by the president of the university of applied sciences, and in regard of a suspension by the board of directors of the university of applied sciences. 

Before the decision is taken, the deed or neglect causing the disciplinary measure must be specified, the necessary investigation be made and the student be given an opportunity to be heard in the matter. 

The president and a member of the teaching and research staff and the student’s practical training supervisor may work together or separately in matters referred to above. The measures must be recorded. 

The decision on the enforcement of an appealable decision and on the date on which the implementation commences shall be made at the same time as the decision to revoke the student's right to study, to dismiss the student or to ban the student from studies. 

Also, assistance in an offence is considered an offence. 

The vice president for education gives more detailed guidelines for cases of misconduct at the university of applied sciences. 

Section 45 Misconduct in an examination  

Students take examinations individually unless otherwise instructed. 

The invigilator of an examination must remove students suspected of an offence from the examination hall immediately, and their examination must be failed. Invigilators have been given instructions on what to do in an alleged case of misconduct. 

If the offence is noticed after the examination is over (e.g., electronic exams), the teacher who grades the examination must fail the student.  

If a final thesis submitted for evaluation includes plagiarised text, the thesis must be failed or given a failing grade.  

Disciplinary measures shall be applied pursuant to section 43 above. Suspected offences are handled according to the policy of the university of applied sciences.  

These degree regulations will enter into force on 1 August 2025.