Degree certificate

When you graduate, you will receive an electronic certificate. The electronic degree certificate is an official original certificate with an electronic signature of the rector or vice rector. The change will begin on 1 August 2023.

The Degree certificate is automatically downloaded with the transcript of records (appendix) and DS (Diploma supplement).

An electronic certificate is reliable because it is much more difficult to forge than a paper certificate.

You should upload your official Degree Certificate to a location where it won't easily get lost or fall into the wrong hands. You can upload your certificate:

To your own files, for example to a cloud service, computer, external hard drive or memory stick.
You should save your certificate in several places so that you have a back-up copy.
Each unedited, saved copy is an official certificate.
The location where the file is saved should also be such that the certificate can be easily attached to the job application.

Please note, if the certificate is modified after it has been signed, the electronic signature will be broken, and the certificate will no longer be authentic. You should therefore never open an electronic certificate, for example in Word in editing mode, as the electronic signature will be immediately broken.

Delivery and archiving of the electronic certificate

You will receive a link to your email. With this link you are able to download the certificate within 30 days of receiving the message. If you do not download the certificate within this time, the link will expire and you will have to request a new electronic certificate with links from LAB at an additional cost. The authenticity of the certificate can be verified using the identification services of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency or through the LAB's website: Verifying Electronic Documents

The LAB University of Applied Sciences archives electronic certificates. If the electronic certificate you have uploaded is lost, you can request a certificate from Student Services. A fee of 40€ is charged for sending a new certificate link. We do not provide paper copies as they are not official certificates.

Degree certificate and its annexes from 1 August 2023

Degree certificate shows the structure of the degree and the studies included in it, the assessment of the credits, the duration of the degree, the approval of the internship, the subject of the thesis and the indication of the skill of the Finnish and Swedish language required by state officials. Please note that the Degree certificate contains personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.

Certificate on Finnish degrees includes

Certificate on English degrees includes

Diploma Supplement (DS)

Degree certificate until 31 July 2023

Degree certificate, its annexes and delivery, graduation date 31 July 2023 (or earlier)

When you graduate you will receive degree certificate with attachments.

You can only get an original certificate once. A lost or destroyed certificate will be replaced by an official copy from the archives. A new certificate will also not made if the graduate has changed his/her name or if the personal identity number of the graduate has been completed (not changed).  

Degree certificate and its annexes

Certificate on Finnish degrees includes:

Finnish degree certificate
an English translation that is not an official certificate
Transcript of records in Finnish and in English
Diploma Supplement in English
The certificate will only be delivered in paper form (not electronically)

Certificate on English degrees includes:

Two degree certificates, both in Finnish and in English
Transcript of records in Finnish and in English
Diploma Supplement in English
The certificate will only be delivered in paper form (not electronically)

Diploma Supplement (DS)

Diploma Supplement is for international use. It provides, in accordance with Section 10 of the Decree on Polytechnics (1129/2014), sufficient information about the polytechnic, as well as the level of studies and credits, and their level and status in the education system. Read more about Diploma Supplement here.

Inform in graduation application how you want to get the certificate submitted

Pick up it from the student services
Delivered by post in Finland (by registered letter)
- Note! LAB is not responsible for lost mail.
- If you want mailing to an address other than your own, enter your name and c/o the name and address of the homeowner as the recipient.
At the graduation ceremony which will be organized two times during the academic year in May and in December. By participating, it is possible for to student to receive the certificate during the ceremony
Delivery to abroad
- If the certificate needs to be delivered abroad, we use normal Finnish postal service (without tracking number)
- If the student wants to use courier service, he/she must order a delivery themselves through a courier service (eg. DHL) and organize a certificate pickup from Student Services (Mukkulankatu 19, 15210 Lahti or Yliopistonkatu 36, 53850 Lappeenranta).

Reordering your Degree certificate

If you have graduated before 1.8.2023 and you need a copy of your original certificate, you will need to order a new one from LAB University of Applied Sciences. See further instructions from here.