Xamk – for the students

Xamk is a university focusing on the students’ learning and professional development. Learning happens in interaction with others in various environments and communities, but also independently. As a student, you will develop your competences actively and responsibly. Teachers work to enable and support your learning. Teachers, together with other staff members and representatives of the world of work, walk with you during your study path.

At Xamk, the student is at the center of the learning process. Teaching at Xamk recognizes the students’ background knowledge, interests, needs and various learning styles. Through flexible learning paths you can complete your studies faster than scheduled or integrate the studies with working. Beside contact lessons, you can also choose online courses offered by Xamk and other Universities of Applied Sciences.

Continuous learning

Open University of Applied Sciences studies are open to all regardless of age or educational background. The Open UAS offers individual courses, open path studies in different fields, studies for vocational school students and diplomas of higher education. These studies are not intended for Xamk degree students.

In our specialization and further education, you update your professional skills through short-term, precise training.

Xamk's strengths

Xamk is Finland’s largest university of applied sciences in terms of Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) activity and in Open University of Applied Sciences. A variety of RDI projects and close collaboration with the working world offers exciting and up-to-date learning environments to develop competences. In addition international networks offer possibilities to study abroad, and you can also internationalize your studies through courses taught in English in Finland.

Basis of Xamk curricula

At Xamk, students can have a significant influence on the content of their studies and at the same time shape their career direction to suit themselves. Xamk organises education leading to bachelor's and master's degrees, continuing education and open university of applied sciences teaching.

The basis for the education leading to a qualification is formed by competence-based curricula, which have been developed for each individual qualification. The curricula are structured around modules consisting of core competences and complementary competences.

The core competences provide the basic vocational skills that lay the foundation for the skills needed in the world of work.
Complementary studies allow you to deepen and broaden your knowledge in line with your career goals and interests.

Complementary studies include free-choice studies (0-15 ECTS credits) and professional free-choice studies (30-90 ECTS credits), the extent of which depends on the degree. The purpose of the professional electives is to develop the student's professional competence in selected areas of specialisation.

A wide range of professional electives is available:

Studies complementary to your own education - studies directly related to your own education.
Complementary studies in a field of study - broader studies within the same field of study.
Xamk common complementary studies - studies open to all students, such as leadership, pre-employment, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

There are also a number of options for developing professional skills:

Through the Cross-Learning Service, where you can study courses offered by other higher education institutions.
Recognition of skills acquired in the workplace.
Through student exchanges to gain international experience and skills.

In the 2025 curricula, the core competences will be seen as a separate entity, while all the complementary competences on offer will be grouped under one heading: Complementary Competences.

Xamk's curricula are competence-based and flexible, allowing for individual study paths. The curricula for each of the programmes are summarised in the Xamk study guide, where students can find out more about the structure and options of their programme.

Student counselling

At Xamk, study guidance supports students at all stages of their studies by providing information, guidance and support in building their own study path. The personal study plan (PSP) is a key tool for planning and progressing your studies. It allows students to tailor their studies to their own goals and career plans, in consultation with their guidance staff.

The PSP is updated annually and includes a review of progression, future studies and the recognition and crediting of prior learning. This allows for a smooth and goal-oriented learning process and supports the student's professional development.

As a student, you are an active player in your own learning process, but Xamk offers a wide range of guidance and advice to help you build a meaningful degree that supports your goals. Guidance is provided by all staff and is tailored to the individual needs of the student.

Assessment of learning

The purpose of assessment is to support the achievement of the competences set as the degree programme objective. The assessment of learning at Xamk is based on the learning outcomes (knowledge-based competence, skills-based competence, teamwork skills/leadership skills/readiness to take responsibility) of the European and National Qualifications Framework (EQF and NQF) as well as on the university’s generic and programme-specific learning outcomes. The assessment criteria applied at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is based on the EQF and NQF frameworks. A completed course is graded on a scale from 1 to 5 or given the mark H (pass), while a failed course is given the mark 0 (zero).

Quality evaluation and enhancement

The quality of education is continuously evaluated and enhanced at Xamk. Development of quality is included in the actions of our personnel and students. Xamk follows a quality management system that is externally audited.

You have an opportunity to give feedback during your studies, from the orientation period until graduation. The personnel and students discuss the feedback on different feedback forums. Course feedback is collected on every course. We encourage our students to take an active part in developing Xamk’s activities. Besides student feedback, Xamk utilizes feedback from companies and other organizations and the results of national evaluations of education to achieve the best quality.