NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

New degrees — kandidaatti and maisteri
The biggest difference between the old and the new degree system is the existence of the lower degrees (Bachelor’s degrees):
in the old system, there were only a few lower degrees, now they have been introduced into nearly all fields of study.
The studies for new lower degrees last three years (minimum). The degree is generally called kandidaatti/kandidat. The extent
of the degree is usually 120 credits. Degree programmes consist of basic and intermediate studies in a major subject, a
Bachelor’s thesis, studies in one or more minor subjects, communication and language studies, and possible other studies. It
sould be noted that in the field of law, kandidaatti is a higher degree even in the new system. In the old degree system
kandidaatti used to be a higher academic degree.
The new higher degrees (Master’s degrees) are usually called maisteri/magister. The total time of studies for maisteri is five
years (minimum) or two years after kandidaatti; the extent is generally 160 credits (120 plus 40). In addition to the
kandidaatti; curriculum, students take advanced studies in the major and write a Master’s thesis. Practical training may be
compulsory or optional.
Old lower and higher academic degrees
Only a few lower academic degrees existed in the old degree system, and they were, in most cases, professionally oriented
qualifications. There were lower degrees in law, in social sciences (in a few specific disciplines at two universities), as well as
the degrees called ‘orthodox’ and ‘opera singer’s degree’.
In the old system studies usually led to higher academic degrees, which were generally called kandidaatti/kandidat. This old
Master’s level degree must not be confused with the new kandidaatti, which is a Bachelor’s degree.
The structural reform of university degrees does not cover the degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. The
first degree in these fields is a Master’s level degree (no lower degree exists) called lisensiaatti/licentiat, which for its part
should not be confused with the lisensiaatti in the other fields of study, i.e. the lisensiaatti as a pre-doctoral postgraduate
degree.
The extent of the old lower degrees is around 120 credits, while that of the higher is 160 to 180 credits, or from 200 to 250
credits in the fields of medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. It normally takes three years to study for a lower degree
and five to six years of full-time study for a higher degree (although, the average study time has been six and a half years).
Practical training is compulsory for some degrees, and optional in many others. All students have to prepare a thesis at least
for the higher degree.
Doctoral or postgraduate degrees
Even if a completed maisteri degree is the general prerequisite for doctoral studies in certain cases in some fields (e.g. in the
natural sciences) it is possible to start the studies directly after kandidaatti. In most fields of study students can choose to take
a lisensiaatti/licentiat degree before the Doctor’s degree (tohtori/doktor). In medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine,
however, lisensiaatti is a Master’s level degree (see above), after which students can continue directly to the Doctor’s degree.
In the field of art and design, lisensiaatti was abolished when the new qualifications came into use in autumn 1994.
Research and the preparation of a substantial thesis are essential parts of the studies for both lisensiaatti and tohtori. The
Doctor’s thesis is published and must be defended in a public debate. In addition to research, both lisensiaatti and tohtori
programmes include studies in the discipline and studies in the student’s specific field of research.
It is possible for a full-time student to complete a lisensiaatti in two years and a tohtori in four years after maisteri, but, in
practice, the time spent is often longer. No time limit is set.