International Teacher Education for the Digital Era

Our Professional Teacher Education programme consists of 60 credits (corresponding to one year of full-time study) and includes:

• basic studies in educational sciences
• vocational pedagogy studies
• teaching practice
• other studies.

The curriculum of the programme is based on interconnected competence areas: facilitating learning, creating future and developing the teacher identity.

More information about the main elements and aims of our programme is available at

Study Guide

• Part-time, multimodal studying while working with a possibility to full-time studies.
• Studies require a good level of English, both spoken and written.
• Length of studies varies from 1 to 2 academic years depending on the student’s background and personal competence development plan.
• Studies include working in learning circles (4-6 students in a group), hybrid-learning sessions, e-learning activities, independent work and teaching practice.

The group will gather initially face-to-face for a one to two day orientation session in Jyväskylä at the end of August early September 2018. Subsequent sessions will be one-day hybrid learning sessions in Jyväskylä and online, approximately 6-8 times per semester. 

In compliance with the law, the students have the right to study for three years. These standard times are normally sufficient to include the eventuality of any unscheduled interruptions in the studies.

In most cases the eligibility to apply for teacher education studies can be obtained with:

• a relevant university or polytechnic degree and
• a minimum of three years' work experience in a field corresponding to the degree.

In the field of social services and health, either a relevant master's degree plus three years' work experience or a relevant polytechnic degree plus five years' work experience corresponding to the degree are required.

Please note!

You have to attach a copy of the decision on the recognition of your degree made by the Finnish National Board of Education/Finnish National Agency for Education to your application if you:

• have not completed your degree in the Nordic Countries
• represent the educational field of social services and health and you have not completed your degree in Finland.

Without copy of the decision, your application will not be considered. For further information, please visit www.oph.fi/recognition.

The student selection procedure is based on a national admission point scoring system. The criteria which will be taken into consideration in the admission point scoring system in 2018 are:

• teaching experience acquired since 1.1.2010
• other completed degrees in addition to the degree with which you will apply (max. 2 degrees)
• basic studies in educational sciences (completed according to the requirements of a Finnish university or UAS)
• further professional and/or pedagogical education completed since 1.1.2013

The admission criteria in short will provide you with a summarised overview of the admission points:

• Vocational Teacher Education Admission criteria 2018 in short

From the wider version of the criteria you are able to find deeper explanations of the criteria and application process. You'll find these in Study Info service, on the Admission and Entrance Exams -tab.

• Study Info, Vocational Teacher Education Admission criteria 2018 

The admission point scoring system is updated annually, which means that the acceptance scores are not comparable year-to-year.

Lowest acceptance scores 2018

If you already have teacher qualifications, you can apply to our further education programmes for teachers. The extent of both of these specialisation study programmes is 60 credits.

• Vocational Special Needs Teacher
  (offered in Finnish or in English)
• Study Counsellor
  (offered in Finnish).

We provide a wide range of professional development services meeting the needs of working life and individuals. In Finland we provide a wide range of skills development courses both in Finnish and in English. Some of these courses for individuals are funded by Finnish National Board of Education.

Furthermore we tailor various educational services for organisations in national and international context.

Read more.

Do you have some questions of the application or the studies? Please, don't hesitate to contact us.

You can contact our Student Services via email opiskelijapalvelut.aokk(at)jamk.fi or ask questions and follow us on Facebook.