NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

The graduates can use two kinds of titles. AMK degrees have ‘general’ names. These are called
ammattikorkeakoulututkinto/yrkeshögskoleexamen (AMK/YH) with a definition of the field of study in front. On the other
hand, since AMK programmes have been developed from the higher vocational programmes, students are, in many cases, able
to use old established titles with an acronym (AMK/YH) after the title, e.g. insinööri (AMK)/ingenjör (YH), etc. There is a list
of AMK degrees in Appendix I; see also Appendix IV.
Vocational institutions
The post-secondary level of vocational education adopted new curricula and a modular degree structure in autumn 1996. The
extent of the new qualifications varies between 80 and 160 credits, the duration of studies is from two to four years. Studies
include on-the-job practice and diploma work must be prepared.
As stated before, the vocational education system is under reform. There is ammattikorkeakoulu reform going on and a new
sequential structure of qualifications has been introduced to all vocational education. The vocational institutions are
developing their education and organisation in order to join the AMK system — gradually, most post-secondary programmes
will be upgraded to AMK education. In this situation no list of qualifications would be valid or exhaustive for long. It must
also be noted that for a period in certain fields, qualifications will be awarded by both vocational institutions and AMK
institutions; even the titles can be the same except for the acronym AMK/YH, e.g. artenomi versus artenomi (AMK).
As for the post-secondary education still offered in vocational institutions in the academic year 1996/97, most shorter
programmes (two to two and a half years, practice included) are either in the field of administration and commerce (e.g.
merkonomi/merkonom (two years, administration and commerce), matkailualan tutkinto/examen inom turism (two and a half
years, tourism) and datanomi/datanom (two and a half years, computing)), or in beauty care (e.g.
erikoiskosmetologi/specialkosmetolog (two years, beauty therapy), erikoisparturi-kampaaja/specialfrisör (two years,
hairdresser)).
In the other fields of study, the majority of programmes take from three to four years to complete, practice included. A few
examples of titles: agrologi/agrolog (agriculture); hortonomi/hortonom (horticulture); sairaanhoitaja/sjukskötare (nurse);
fysioterapeutti/fysioterapeut (physiotherapist); diakoni/diakon (deacon); artenomi/artenom (handicrafts and industrial arts);
tanssinopettaja/danslärare (dance teacher); medianomi/medianom (media studies); nuoriso- ja vapaa-ajanohjaaja/ungdomsoch
fritidslärare (youth work); viittomakielen tulkki/teckenspråkstolk (sign language interpretation);
liikunnanohjaaja/idrottsinstruktör (sports); etc.
In the field of technology and transport, institutions have not offered new higher level (ammatillinen korkea-aste) programmes
since autumn 1996, only post-secondary (opistoaste) programmes. The programmes usually lead to teknikko/tekniker
qualifications. All programmes leading to insinööri/ingenjör or merikapteeni/sjökapten are now provided by AMK institutions.
Nursery school teacher education, i.e. education for the qualification lastentarhanopettaja/barnträdgårdslärare, was
transferred from vocational institutions to universities in autumn 1995. The studies lead to a lower academic degree, i.e.
kasvatustieteen kandidaatti/pedagogie kandidat. Old lastentarhanopettaja qualification can be awarded up to the end of July
1998. Note also that the qualification called farmaseutti/farmaceut used to be a vocational diploma until autumn 1994, when it
was upgraded to a lower university degree; the title remains the same.
II.2.3. Academic recognition of qualifications
in higher education for purposes of
further study
University qualifications