Methods of completing studies

The instruction belongs to the following themes

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content.

Choice of completion method

When determining course completion methods, the aim is to achieve an appropriate alignment between the relevant learning outcomes and the assessment criteria. Other aims include supporting students in developing their generic and expert skills (e.g., academic, professional and interaction skills), and promoting interactive and student-oriented teaching.

When choosing course completion methods, the scope of the course and the student workload should be taken into account. For further information, check the page on student workload and credits.

For courses including teaching, information on the method of completion includes information on the form of teaching; whether teaching is provided on site, remotely or a combination of both; or whether teaching is available online, for example, as recordings. Forms of teaching are described in more detail in a section listing potential completion methods and forms of teaching on this page. As of 1 August 2024, information on teaching forms for courses that include teaching will be added in Sisu by academic administration staff. As of autumn 2024, teaching forms will affect, for example, the results of the course search in the Studies Service and the search for open university studies on the helsinki.fi website. For students to get accurate information on teaching forms, it is extremely important that you provide the planning officers with the correct information on your teaching in connection with teaching programme design, and that you inform them if the form of your teaching changes. For the contact details of timetabling officers, see the teaching programme page.

Read more about the attendance requirements associated with certain completion methods on the page for class attendance. During planning, it is good to keep in mind that completion methods should be diverse and that they should be planned comprehensively at the degree programme level so that the methods for completing study modules and the degree are appropriately aligned. You should collaborate with other teachers in your degree programme when planning and deciding on the methods. Methods of completion are defined comprehensively in the three-year curriculum, which the faculty council approves on the proposal of degree programme steering groups. The curriculum content is elaborated upon (for example, in terms of whether teaching is given as contact or distance teaching) in teaching programmes annually approved by degree programme steering groups. Read more in the sections on curricula and teaching programmes.

Shared guidelines

For students’ study planning, it is very important that you add further details on the teaching and any participation options and completion methods, including time limits (e.g., deadlines for returning assignments), of your courses on the course pages before registration starts, preferably already in connection with the publication of the teaching programme. For instructions on updating course pages, see the section on course pages.

In accordance with the guidelines for degrees and studies, students must comply with the deadlines for study-related tasks and assignments. As the teacher, you must notify students of these guidelines no later than when the course begins. The deadlines must be reasonable for students to be able to complete their studies and also for you in terms of scheduling your work. You must also provide instructions regarding the format in which tasks and assignments should be returned.

As the teacher, you are not obliged to accept tasks or assignments returned after the deadline. Instead, you may require that the student attend the relevant teaching again.

If no other deadline has been set, students must complete all the components required for a course within one year of completing the first component. It can be determined in the curriculum that students can complete missing components within a longer period if the next opportunity to complete the component is not offered sooner. The course may also be integrated so that students complete it over several academic years as set out in the curriculum and further elaborated on in the teaching programme.

Support for planning completion methods

Student feedback helps you determine how effectively various completion methods promote learning. You can collect feedback during or after courses.  Read more about the methods and means of collecting feedback.

The University of Helsinki Centre for University Teaching and Learning (HYPE) offers training in university teaching and learning which may provide you with insights for developing methods that suit your own teaching.

Methods of completion and forms of teaching (as of 1 August 2024)

You can choose, for example, the following course completion methods:

  • Essays
  • Traineeships
  • Assignments
  • Field exercises
  • Examinations
  • Laboratory work
  • Lectures and final examinations
  • Learning journals
  • Portfolios
  • Projects
  • Groupwork
  • Seminars
  • Visits and excursions

Definition of teaching forms: contact, distance, blended and online teaching (only applies to courses given from 1 August 2024 onwards that include teaching or teaching recordings):

Contact teaching

  • Form of teaching where all teaching sessions tied to a specific time are given with the teacher and students physically present in the same space

Distance teaching (also known as remote teaching)

  • Form of teaching where all teaching sessions tied to a specific time are given with the teacher and students in person in different locations, but connected over remote connections. Teachers can teach, for example, from their home, office or a teaching facility equipped with distance teaching equipment booked for them.

Blended teaching (includes contact and distance teaching)

  • Form of teaching where some of the teaching sessions tied to a specific time are given as contact teaching (teacher and students in person in the same space) and others as distance teaching (teacher and students in person in different locations).
  • All or some of the teaching sessions can be given as hybrid teaching (teacher and students both in person in the same space and attending over remote connections). In hybrid teaching, participation in distance and contact teaching can be defined in advance, or the form of participation can be freely chosen.
  • Examples:
    • An introductory or final session for the entire group as contact teaching, other scheduled teaching sessions as distance teaching. In addition, students must watch the teaching recordings on Moodle by the deadline given by the teacher.
    • Every other teaching session as contact teaching, every other as distance teaching
    • Hybrid teaching, with students choosing whether to attend teaching (all or individual teaching sessions) remotely or at contact sessions

Online teaching

  • No teaching sessions tied to a specific time. Instead, teaching is offered, for example, in the form of recordings. The viewing of recordings and other activities may be subject to deadlines or, for example, a weekly schedule. 

It should be noted that courses including any of these forms of teaching may also include

  • Independent study, which usually has to be completed by certain deadlines or according to, for example, a weekly schedule. Independent study can include reading literature, writing a learning journal or watching educational recordings.
  • Groupwork, which can be conducted according to, for example, a weekly schedule, with the meetings typically scheduled independently by the student group. Students can independently agree on whether the meetings are held on site or over remote connections.
  • Examinations that can be scheduled and that can be completed remotely or on site. There may be one examination or more.

See also the Instructions for Students

You will find related content for students in the Studies Service.