Study practices
The Finnish system of academic education gives students a lot of freedom to plan and schedule their studies. This means that planning the schedule for the academic year, i.e. choosing the subjects and study modules, matching the times of lectures and keeping the schedule intensive throughout the studies, requires a lot of activity and responsibility on the part of the student. More independence is given also by the free choice of minor subjects and courses from other Departments and Faculties. If the students meet the prerequisites or pass an initial language test, they are usually free to attend any course they might want.
Both the Bachelor’s and Master’s level programmes have many different ways for completing the study modules. In some of the modules the attendance is compulsory, as in BA/MA thesis seminars, some modules are to be completed by doing independent work, such as book examinations, and some modules are evaluated by final exams, essays or lecture diaries. The list below aims at explaining the most common study practices at the University of Tampere.
For more extensive guidance on various types of academic texts, please see the Instructions for Writing Research Papers (pdf)
Lectures
Seminars
Essays
Lecture diaries
Book examinations
General examination days
Electronic exams
Bachelor's thesis
Master's thesis
Maturity test
Plagiarism
Providing constructive feedback
Grading scale
Lectures
Lectures are a common method of study at the University of Tampere. They are public, which means that anyone may attend. Lecture courses normally include 2-4 hours of lectures per week. Usually there is no registration required for the lectures. In order to get credits for the lecture course, students must usually either take an examination based on the lectures or write a lecture diary.
Seminars
A seminar consists of a small group of students who usually meet once a week for one or two terms. Seminars normally require active participation in class, in the form of writing an essay and/or giving a presentation and participating in discussions. Size of the group is usually limited, and therefore students need to register for seminars.
Essays
In many courses, the student is required to write an essay on a topic defined by the lecturer in order to receive credits. An essay is a scientific text, and its aim is to survey literature and other material and present the student’s own views on a given topic. Thus, it is not a summary of the source literature. An essay consists of an introduction, main content, conclusion and a list of references. It is important to notice that the main content should already contain references to the reference list. The topic of an essay must always be clearly defined. The length and layout of an essay are defined by the department and lecturer in question. Sometimes it is also possible to complete the whole course by writing an essay on a given topic, but this needs to be negotiated with the teacher in charge of the course.
Lecture diaries
A lecture diary is a written paper on the contents of the lectures. However, it is not only a review of the lectures. A lecture diary is a way of reflecting on what the student has learned through the lectures, and its aim is to summarize, comment on and analyse the content of the lectures. The length and other details of the lecture diary are determined by the lecturer in question, normally during the first lecture.
Instructions for writing a lecture diary
Translated and edited by Pekka Rantanen from Finnish instructions at Department of Social Research, University of Tampere
Lecture diary is not just writing down what you have heard during the lecture or set of lectures. It means more that you think about what you have heard and written down during the lecture. The main idea in writing a lecture diary after the lecture is to reflect on what you have heard, what thoughts and insights the lecture provided about its subject matter and what questions and ideas the lecture has given to you. It is always good to relate the lecture to the knowledge you have learned elsewhere during your previous studies.
The lecture diary can be organized in several ways. You can write a short account on every separate lecture where you highlight the most important information and key insights of the lecture. You can also take as a starting point the topics of lectures, or problems that were presented, or write about the different views that were presented during the lectures. Your lecture diary presents a condensed and well-organized account of your notes that you wrote down during the lecture. It is good if you are able write down your own reasoned insights and critique about the lecture's subject matter.
A lecture diary may be based on one lecture only, but it is often a case that a student is asked to write a longer lecture diary that is based on a complete course. Please ask the course coordinator for further information about the format and length of the lecture diary. The coordinator of a course usually provides necessary technical information about the lecture diary during the first session of the course.
Book Examinations
Some courses may be completed by independent reading of literature included in the course module requirements, followed by an exam on these set books. There are two ways to take the book exams: either on Faculty general examination days or as electronic exams. The book exam questions are usually essay questions, one or two on each book the student is taking.
Exams on general examination days
The student has to sign up for the examination 7 days beforehand in Internet through NettiOpsu or by filling in a sign-up envelope and returning it to the department in question. Book examinations are taken on specific faculty examination days usually arranged once a month. The time to complete the test is four hours. Book examinations may also be taken during the summer time (June-August).
If the course module requirements include literature in Finnish, feel free to contact the teacher in charge of the course module to find out if Finnish books could be replaced. Note, that special arrangements must be announced upon enrolment.
Book examination rules
-Before the exam, wait outside the lecture hall. The supervisor of the exam (not necessarily the teacher of your course) will come outside the lecture hall and call students by their name. When you hear your name, take the question papers or envelope from the supervisor and go into the lecture hall. Paper for your answers will be available at the ends of the rows, you can take as many as you think you will need.
- Find a seat in the lecture hall. Do not sit next to anyone if there is room in the lecture hall but leave an empty seat in between. Leave your bag and coat on the floor at the end of the row. Take with you to your seat only the things you need to write the exam, for instance a pen or a pencil and an eraser. Water bottles are also allowed.
- Do not open the question envelope or look at your questions before the supervisor gives permission to do so. You need to wait until everyone is seated and when everyone is ready, the supervisor will give permission to start.
- During the exam, please do not talk and do not leave the lecture room without permission. If you need anything, go to the supervisors of the exam to ask for help.
- You will have four hours to complete your exam. The exact time when you must finish will be given when the exam starts. You will be allowed to leave the exam at the earliest 20 minutes after the start of the exam. After the first 20 minutes, you can leave anytime, as soon as you have finished the exam.
- When you are finished, return your answers as well as the question papers to the supervisor. You need to return the question paper even if you have not answered any of the questions. When you hand in your papers, you need to show the supervisor of the exam some ID, such as your UTA student ID or passport. Remember to write your name on all of your answer papers!
More and more exams are offered in the electronic exam service, where students register for the exam on the day and time of their choice, then take the exam on a computer. There are two rooms reserved for electronic exams, one in Linna and another in Pinni B.
You may not take anything with you into the examination room. Before entering the examination room please leave your outdoor clothing and bag on the pegs and in the lockers. In an electronic exam you need no writing materials or paper and you need not prove your identity. All you need is your passcard, which will gain you admission to the examination room, where there is recorded video surveillance. Always use your passcard even if you enter the room when other examinees open the door. The information left from your passcard will be collated with your work in the examination and the video recording to confirm your identity.
When you make your reservation you will be given the number of the machine on which you are to take your examination. The number of the computer will be on the upper edge of the monitor. Don't worry if you cannot remember the number, if you try to log in on the wrong machine it will tell you the number of the machine on which you are to take your exam.
A list of available exams can be found on the exam service pages.
For more information, visit the electronic exam service.
Bachelor’s thesis
Bachelor’s thesis is a small independent research project carried out by the student during the thesis seminar. The work is guided by the supervisor of the seminar group. The required length of the thesis varies between departments, but usually it is between 20 and 30 pages long. In connection to the thesis seminar, students take the maturity test. The Bachelor’s thesis and seminar are graded on the scale 1-5.
The thesis process usually starts with the student choosing the topic and familiarising themselves with relevant scientific discussion on it. The next step is to write a more detailed research plan. Based on their knowledge on relevant research literature, students will be able to formulate a specific research question and relate it to existing research. Students will also have to determine what kind of research material is best suited to address their question and make decisions as to how to compile that material.
The actual analysis will be based on a limited set of research material. After having gone through that material, all the time keeping in mind their main research question, students will be able to reach conclusions of their own. The thesis has to be outlined from a certain perspective, thought and analysed independently. In addition it must fulfil the terms of academic writing.
More precise information on the requirements in each major subject will be given in the thesis seminar.
Master´s Thesis
The Master´s thesis is an independent piece of work by the student. Its meaning is to train the student to scientific work in the field of her/his programme and major subject. The thesis should show familiarity with the subject matter, mastery of appropriate research methods and capability for scientific expression. The extent of the Master´s thesis is 40 ECTS credits. The thesis must be a minimum of 60 pages in length.
The topic of the thesis is usually decided at latest during the seminar studies. Usually a Professor or an Associate professor from the major subject Department acts as a supervisor of the thesis writing. The work-in-progress is presented and discussed in obligatory thesis seminars. After the submission of the thesis, the student is required to take a maturity test before the thesis can be assessed.
For more information, please see: Instructions for writing a master's thesis and completing a Master's Degree -pdf
Maturity test
After you have submitted your thesis, you are required to take a maturity test before the thesis can be assessed. The maturity test is a written examination, which is taken on the general examination day or as an electronic exam of the department concerned. Registration is at least 10 days beforehand, using a normal registration envelope; or with electronic exams, in the electronic exam service. Registration is not possible before the thesis has been handed in. The maturity test questions are given by the main examiner of the thesis.
The maturity test requires an essay-type answer. Two or three alternative questions (which are used as the title of the essay) are given on the general theme of your thesis - you choose one of them. When writing the answer it should be kept in mind that the reader is a person familiar with the scientific discipline in general but not necessarily the specific subject of the thesis work. The maturity test answer must be an independent entity which can be understood without any previous knowledge of the actual thesis. The maturity test is examined by the examiner(s) of the thesis.
You should pay special attention to the language as the maturity test is also examined by an English language examiner. The students in the programme with Finnish/Swedish as the language of their elementary school education will write the test in Finnish/Swedish, and it will be examined by a Finnish/Swedish language examiner.
The maturity test must meet the following minimum requirements (adapted from the instructions given by the maturity test examiners from the University Language Center).
1. Select one of the given topics. Write an essay with clear handwriting, the length should be approximately four pages. Remember to leave margins on the page. Do not forget the title.
2. Writing should be well structured and form a coherent whole. Division of chapters must be indicted clearly. Do not use subtitles, pictures or charts.
3. Stylistically the maturity test should be written according to the standards of academic writing. Pay attention to the legibility and clarity of the text.
4. Write your maturity test to an expert reader who is not familiar with your thesis. Give enough information for the text to be understandable, but avoid unnecessary repetition. Writing is not a memory test: do not just list the things you remember but contemplate on your subject matter. Remember that the command of both the entity and the language is evaluated.
5. Proofread your text.
Plagiarism policy
Plagiarism is a serious academic offence! Plagiarism means using direct or paraphrased quotations or ideas from other sources, including both print references and the internet, in your own writing without specifically citing these in a way consistent with good academic practice. Please note the following procedures if plagiarism is detected:
University of Tampere - Regulations for Evaluation of Studies (http://www.uta.fi/studies/legislation/evaluation_regulations.html):
16 § Procedure if cheating is detected
A student who is guilty of cheating in an examination may be expelled immediately from the examination room by the invigilator and his/her performance will be disqualified. The performance shall also be rejected when the cheating is detected only after the examination. Other performance may also be rejected if the student can be proven to have cheated at the time. Cheating may lead to other disciplinary measures under the legislation (Universities Act 645/97) 19 § and Universities Decree (115/98).
Universities Act 645/97 (http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/):
Section 19
Disciplinary action
(1) A student who has committed an offence against teaching or research at the university may, as a disciplinary measure, be given a caution or be suspended for a maximum of one year. Provisions concerning the procedure shall be enacted by decree.
Universities Decree 115/98 (no official English version available, only in Finnish or Swedish)
The rector of the university will decide on the caution given for the offense against teaching or research at the university referred to in the section 19 of the Universities Act. The suspension mentioned in the same section of the Act will be decided by the University Council. Before the matter is handled, the student will demonstrably be provided with the information on what offense s/he is charged with and offered an opportunity to be heard on the matter.
Providing constructive feedback
- Focus on the contents of the essay, NOT on its author!
- Start with the strengths, not the weaknesses, of the work! Tell the writer what is valuable in the essay and give her/him ideas on how to make it even better!
- Your feedback should be specific and well-grounded; avoid unnecessary appraisal and generalisation.
- Give feedback on issues that can be changed or improved. Offer solutions.
- Be as neutral as possible. Keep in mind that the feedback you give is not the sole truth!
- You may focus on the following issues
- Does the paper include a clearly stated research question?
- Does it attempt to provide answers to that question?
- Is the use of the source material critical, or does the text only paraphrase its sources? Are the sources cited correctly?
- Is the text coherent? Are the paragraphs unified?
- Does the language meet the standards of academic writing?
Grading scale
The grading scale for courses and study modules is the following
| ECTS grade | UTA grade | definition |
| A | 5 | excellent (erinomainen / ET) |
| B | 4 | very good (kiitettävä / KT) |
| C | 3 | good (hyvä / HT) |
| D | 2 | satisfactory (tyydyttävä / TT) |
| E | 1 | sufficient (välttävä / VT) |
In the case of master’s and licentiates’ thesis and doctoral dissertations, the 7-tier grading scale in Latin (approbatur - laudatur) is usually used.
A L, laudatur; E, eximia
B M, magna cum laude approbatur
C C, cum laude approbatur
D N, non sine laude approbatur
E B, lubenter approbatur; A, approbatur
