Theatre Academy guidelines supplementing the Education Regulations of the University of the Arts Helsinki
Chapter 1 – Overview
Section 1 – Purpose
This guideline supplements Section 1 of the Education Regulations.
The purpose of these guidelines is to supplement the Education Regulations and the implementation of joint decision of Uniarts Helsinki at the Theatre Academy.
The guidelines apply to education leading to a degree provided at the Theatre Academy, non-degree education and, where applicable, entrance examinations.
Section 2 – Definitions
This guideline supplements Section 2 of the Education Regulations.
In this guideline, post-graduate students studying at the Theatre Academy are referred to as doctoral students.
Section 3 – Bodies of the Theatre Academy
This guideline supplements Section 3 of the Education Regulations.
The bodies of the Theatre Academy are the dean and the academy board, the Teaching Council and the Research Council. The tasks of the bodies are defined in the Regulations of the Theatre Academy.
Section 4 – Degrees
This guideline supplements Section 4 of the Education Regulations.
The Theatre Academy awards the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Arts (Theatre and Drama) or Bachelor of Arts (Art and Design). (European Qualifications Framework Level 6)
- Master of Arts (Dance), Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama) or Master of Arts (Art and Design). (European Qualifications Framework Level 7)
- Licentiate of Arts (Dance), Licentiate of Arts (Theatre and Drama), Doctor of Arts (Dance), Doctor of Arts (Art and Design). (European Qualifications Framework Level 8)
Being awarded a doctor’s degree does not require completing a licentiate degree.
The scope of a doctoral degree is 240 ECTS credits and the scope of a licentiate degree is 120 ECTS credits.
Studying full-time, it is possible to obtain a doctoral degree in four years.
A doctoral degree comprises a dissertation (180 ECTS cr) and 60 ECTS credits of studies that support the research.
Section 5 – Theatre Academy degree programmes
This guideline supplements Section 6 of the Education Regulations.
The following programmes lead to both a Bachelor of Arts (Theatre and Drama) degree and a Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama) degree:
- Degree Programme in Acting
- Utbildningsprogrammet i skådespelarkonst
- Degree Programme in Directing
- Degree Programme in Dramaturgy and Playwriting
- Degree Programme in Lighting Design
- Degree Programme in Sound Design
The following programme leads to both a Bachelor of Arts (Art and Design) and Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree:
7. Degree Programme in Scenography in Performing Arts
The following programme leads to a Bachelor of Arts (Art and Design) degree:
8. Degree Programme in Writing
The following programme leads to a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) degree:
9. Degree Programme in Dance
The following programmes lead to a Master of Arts (Theatre and Drama) degree:
10. Master’s Degree Programme in Live Art and Performance Studies
11. Master’s Degree Programme in Theatre Pedagogy
12. Master’s Degree Programme in Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research (double-degree)
The following programmes lead to a Master of Arts (Dance) degree:
13. Master’s Degree Programme in Dance Performance
14. Master’s Degree Programme in Dance Pedagogy
15. Master’s Degree Programme in Choreography
The following programme leads to a Master of Arts (Art and Design) degree:
16. Master’s Degree Programme in Writing
Studies related to a doctor’s degree are completed within the Doctoral Programme of Artistic Research in Performing Arts. The studies lead to a doctoral degree in dance, theatre or art.
Section 6 – Provision of education
This guideline supplements Section 7 of the Education Regulations.
The Theatre Academy’s bachelor’s and master’s studies are organised within degree programmes and master’s programmes.
The Centre for Joint Studies is in charge of the planning and organising of the Theatre Academy’s joint studies.
Doctoral education is provided by the Performing Arts Research Centre.
Section 7 – Decisions on student intake
This guideline supplements Section 11 of the Education Regulations.
According to the Theatre Academy Regulations (section 10), the Theatre Academy’s academy board processes the number of starting places for each degree programme.
The Dean decides on the annual number of admissions to the academy for each degree programme in accordance with the board’s decision, ensuring that the total number of places reserved for the academy is not exceeded.
Chapter 2 – Degree education
Section 8 – Admissions criteria and the organisation of the admissions process
This guideline supplements Section 14 of the Education Regulations.
The Teaching Council approves the admissions criteria for Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and appoints the admission committees (Theatre Academy Regulations, Section 12).
The Research Council approves the admissions criteria for doctoral education and gives the necessary provisions and instructions concerning the admissions procedure and appoints the admission committee (Theatre Academy Regulations, Section 13).
Section 9 – Admission of students
This guideline supplements Section 15 of the Education Regulations.
The Teaching Council approves the new Bachelor’s degree students based on proposals from student selection boards (Theatre Academy regulations, Section 12).
The Research Council approves the admission of doctoral students and their research plans (Theatre Academy regulations, Section 13).
In double-degree programmes, the dean confirms the study rights of students arriving from partner universities.
Section 10 – Accepting a study place
This guideline supplements Section 16 of the Education Regulations.
A student may register as absent only for the first academic year for reasons specified in the Universities Act (section 39).
In these cases, the student must notify the Theatre Academy on the deferral of the start of studies within the same date as the deadline for notification of accepting a place offered.
Section 11 – Right to complete studies
This guideline supplements Section 17 of the Education Regulations.
Students who are admitted to study in the degree programmes in acting (in Finnish or Swedish), directing, dramaturgy and playwriting, lighting design, sound design, and design for the performing arts are granted the right to pursue both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree.
Students admitted to other programmes are granted the right to study according to the target degree.
The bachelor’s degree must be completed before starting master’s studies. The dean may accept a deviation from this rule only on special grounds in situations where the student has had no control over the matter (force majeure).
Doctoral students are granted the right to study a degree for a Doctor of Arts in Theatre and Drama, Dance, or Art and Design. The target degree is determined on the basis of the research plan approved by the Research Council.
Doctoral students have the option of completing a licentiate degree before a doctoral degree only in Theatre and Drama or Dance. The prerequisite is that the Research Council approves changing the student’s research plan from a doctoral degree research plan to a licentiate degree research plan.
Section 12 – Change of degree programme and internal transfer
This guideline supplements Section 18 of the Education Regulations.
A Bachelor’s or Master’s student who has registered for attendance at the University of the Arts Helsinki has the right to apply for a transfer of the right to study within the academy or between academies.
The same eligibility and assessment criteria apply to students changing the right to study as to those applying for undergraduate education.
If the title of the target degree stays the same, the student has requested for a change of degree programme.
If the title of the target degree changes (transfers between academies, or transfers between Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in dance, theatre and drama or art and design), the student has applied for an internal transfer.
People who are changing the right to study are not included in the starting places specified by the Uniarts Helsinki Board.
A student changing the right to study loses their right to study in the previous degree programme. Students who change their study track will be credited for all their applicable prior studies as extensively as possible. This will not change the maximum duration of completing a degree.
If a student completing bachelor-level studies has completed a university degree or a sufficient amount of studies outside the University of the Arts Helsinki qualifying the student to pursue master’s studies according to the academy’s admissions criteria, it is possible to apply for a change of right to study to pursue master’s studies directly. In this case, the student loses the previous right to study towards a bachelor’s degree.
If a student changes from bachelor-level studies directly to master-level studies based on a degree completed at another university, the maximum duration of studies to achieve a master’s degree cannot be longer than that of students who have been admitted to study solely for a master’s degree.
Section 13 – Termination of the rights to complete studies
This guideline supplements Section 20 of the Education Regulations.
Applying for extension to the maximum duration of studies concerns students who have begun their studies after 1 August 2005. In the case of students who have started their studies before the aforementioned date and who have retained their right to study, the academic progress is monitored in the degree programme.
Chapter 3 – Non-degree education
Section 14 – Non-degree studies
This guideline supplements Section 23 of the Education Regulations.
Non-degree studies at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki are available for:
- exchange students
- students of the open university
- students studying under the right to study as a continuous learner
- students studying on the basis of the teaching cooperation agreement, separate studies will be completed
Section 15 – Right to study
This guideline supplements Section 24 of the Education Regulations.
More detailed terms on the right to study may be specified in the cooperation agreements.
For studying as an exchange student, see section 28 of the Degree Regulation.
Section 16 – Studying as an exchange student
This guideline supplements Section 28 of the Education Regulations.
Exchange students are admitted by the head of the degree programme.
Chapter 4 – Teaching
Section 17 Annual planning
This guideline supplements Section 33 of the Education Regulations.
Each year, the Teaching Council approves the annual planning guidelines of the Sörnäinen campus on The Theatre Academy’s part. The guidelines define the teaching periods, prioritisation of teaching facilities, general timetable, and the coordination of artistic activities and other teaching in accordance with the decision on the total teaching time issued by the rector.
Section 18 – Languages of instruction and degrees
This guideline supplements Section 35 of the Education Regulations.
In connection with the approval of the curriculum, the Teaching Council and the Research Council decide on the degree programme language(s).
As a rule, the language of the degree is used in the theses. At the student’s request, the director of the degree programme may, for a justified reason, decide on the use of another language as the thesis language.
Section 19 – Curriculum and course offering
This guideline supplements Section 36 of the Education Regulations.
The Teaching Council approves the curriculum for the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and the course offering of joint teaching and Open University instruction at the Academy (section 12 of the Theatre Academy’s Regulations).
The head of the degree programme approves the annual teaching programme (section 15 of the Theatre Academy regulations). The teaching programme must correspond to the valid curricula, and it includes information on the timetables, teaching methods, contents, methods of completion, prerequisites if any, and the teachers for each course.
In accordance with the cooperation agreement concluded with the Faculty of Education and Culture of the University of Tampere, the University of Tampere approves the curricula for the Master’s Degree Programme in Dance and Theatre Pedagogy for the pedagogical studies included in them.
The Research Council approves the Academy’s curricula for doctoral education (Theatre Academy of Finland Regulations, Section 13).
Chapter 5 – Studies
Section 20 – Completion of studies
This guideline supplements Section 40 of the Education Regulations.
Studies are completed in a manner defined in the curriculum and the annual teaching programme, or in some other manner as agreed upon separately with the teacher.
Section 21 – Study planning and guidance
This guideline supplements Section 41 of the Education Regulations.
The head of the degree programme appoints a course director/supervising teacher for each student, and the responsibility of the course directors/supervising teachers is to support and guide students in their studies and monitor their academic progress. Students have the right to receive study counselling both during their studies and in planning their thesis project.
Together with the study services, the programmes and units that provide tuition are in charge of making sure that students’ academic progress is monitored in a systematic manner. Delays in reaching the target times defined in the Universities Act should be intervened with the means of guidance and counselling.
The study plan indicates the compulsory courses that the student has the right to complete and that are included in the degree requirements of the degree programme or master’s degree programme, as well as the preliminary schedule for completing the studies.
Students who leave for a student exchange on the basis of a university agreement shall include the studies that they will complete during the student exchange in their individual study plan. The individual study plan must be approved before leaving for a student exchange.
Students who have not had their individual study plans approved cannot participate in instruction or earn credits.
Doctoral students:
In the doctoral programme, the Director of the Performing Arts Research Centre confirms the professor responsible for the student’s doctoral studies and appoints supervisors for the doctoral candidate. The student draws up an individual study plan, which is reviewed on a yearly basis. The plan is approved by the supervising professor of the doctoral student. Dissertation supervisors are informed when a student’s study plan is approved.
Section 22 – Registration and participation in instruction
This guideline supplements Section 42 of the Education Regulations.
Instructions concerning registration for instruction are issued on a yearly basis. Requirements concerning participation in instruction are stated in the study guide.
Chapter 6 – Completed studies and certificates
Section 23 – Thesis projects
This guideline supplements Section 43 of the Education Regulations.
More detailed provisions on the theses are laid down in the curricula and the thesis guidelines for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
The bachelor’s thesis project (portfolio) is approved by the head of the degree programme.
The Teaching Council gives the master’s thesis project a grade of pass or fail based on examiners’ statements (section 12 of the Theatre Academy Regulations).
The Research Council gives the licentiate or doctoral demonstrations of learning and skills the grade of pass or fail based on the examiners’ statements.
Further regulations regarding the licentiate and doctoral demonstrations of learning and skills, pre-examiners, examiners and opponents are provided in separate instructions.
Section 24 – Maturity essay
This guideline supplements Section 44 of the Education Regulations.
The maturity essay is taken before the approval of the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree thesis.
Section 25 – Language skills
This guideline supplements Section 45 of the Education Regulations.
If a student has been educated in Finland in Finnish or Swedish or abroad in Finnish and has not completed the language studies (8 ECTS cr) required for the degree, the studies must be completed in the master’s degree as supplementary studies.
The University of the Arts Helsinki follows decisions of the vice rector on common policies for the accreditation of language and communication studies and exemption from studies in the second national language.
Section 26 – Assessment of completed studies
This guideline supplements Section 46 of the Education Regulations.
Only degree students who have registered for attendance and had their individual study plans approved can complete studies, and they must have the right to complete the course in question. Studies can also be completed by those open university students and students pursuing non-degree studies who have a valid right to complete the studies in question.
The grading scale is pass – fail for courses included in the degree requirements. If the grading scale is numerical, the completed studies are assessed using a scale of whole numbers from 0 to 5.
Studies are assessed by the teacher in charge of the course in question.
The possible grades for master’s thesis projects are fail, pass, and pass with distinction. In the international double-degree programme, the master’s thesis is assessed using a scale of 0 to 5.
The provisions in the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003, Section 27) on disqualification apply to the persons in charge of grading the completed studies.
According to the decision of the Dean of the Theatre Academy, a member of the Teaching Council may participate in the assessment of a thesis even if they do not have completed a degree of the same level. (Universities Act, Section 29: With the exception of the University of the Arts Helsinki, a study attainment may be assessed only by those members or deputy members who have a degree or completed study attainments of an equivalent level or who have been appointed professors.)
Section 27 – Recognition and validation of prior learning
This guideline supplements Section 48 of the Education Regulations.
For an individual course, the decision is made by the teacher-in-charge; for a study module, the decision is made by the head of degree programme. In terms of doctoral education, the decision is made by the supervising professor of the doctoral programme.
At the Theatre Academy, transferred credits may account for no more than one half of the studies of the normative scope of a degree.
Section 28 – Expiry of completed studies
This guideline supplements Section 50 of the Education Regulations.
At the Theatre Academy, completed courses are valid for 10 years to be included in the degree.
The inclusion of obsolete studies into a degree may require supplementing or retaking them. The head of the degree programme decides on the inclusion of expired completed courses.
Thesis plans expire in two years.
Research plans expire in ten years.
Section 29 – Degree certificates
This guideline supplements Section 53 of the Education Regulations.
Students shall apply for the degree certificate in writing, and the certificates will be made available and confirmed by the study services on the graduation date.
Chapter 8 – Appeals to decisions concerning students
Section 30 – Request for rectification and appeals
This guideline supplements Section 56 of the Education Regulations.
Appeals of decisions subject to rectification proceedings are submitted to the university within 14 days of the notification of the decision.
Appealable decisions are appealed to the Administrative Court within thirty (30) days of receiving notification of the decision.
The appeal instructions attached to the decision indicate where the appeal request must be addressed.
A student dissatisfied with the grading of a completed course other than a thesis must first request for rectification orally or in writing from the teacher who carried out the assessment.
Decisions on the assessment of completed courses cannot be appealed to the Administrative Court.
Entry into force
This guideline replaces the prior Theatre Academy general regulations on studies and will enter into force on 14 December 2022.