Master's Degree Programme in Teaching and Learning
Vaasa, Finland
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
21 Jan 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* application period: 7-21 Jan 2027
** for non EU EEA students
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
For those students passionate about pursuing their master’s studies in teaching and learning, this two-year master’s degree course which is based at the Vasa campus of Åbo Akademi University, leads to a Finnish Teacher’s Certificate (one of several requirements needed to qualify as a teacher in Finland). The programme will prepare and enable students to become fully capable of independently analyzing and solving problems in education and teaching, whilst developing their skills through research.
Taking a largely research-based approach, studies in this course are combined with research in some way. With an emphasis on didactics, this programme aims to provide students with the pedagogical capabilities required for teaching assignments in primary and secondary education. Preparing students to be able to teach the relevant curriculum subjects for their chosen age range, the students will carry out a series of school-based tasks which link theory with practice and allow time for reflection. Students of this program can look forward to learning the core values of Finnish teacher’s education, including understanding the holistic development of children, positive teacher/learner interaction, as well as the importance of synergizing the relationship between theory and practice.
Orientated towards teaching assignments in primary and secondary education, this program also provides general pedagogical qualifications to teach at any level of education as well as attend to their student’s academic and socio-economic growth. Skills learned throughout this course also include qualities to be reflective teachers who understand research-based evidence and thinking and its relation to education. Successful completion of this programme will result in students being awarded a Finnish Teacher’s Certificate. This is one of several requirements needed to qualify as a teacher in Finland. The other requirements depend on the level of education you wish to teach.
Advanced Studies in Education, Teacher Training
- School Development and Cooperation
- Planning and Evaluating Teaching and Learning
- A Didactic Focus on Foreign Languages
- Integrated Science
- Communication and Group Processes
- TLearn Teaching Practice I
- TLearn Teaching Practice II
- Teacherhood and Working Community
- The Philosophical Basis of Teacher's Work
- Select one:
- Qualitative Method
- Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
Other Studies
- Swedish as a Foreign Language Level 1
- Scientific Writing
- Research Methods I
- Educational Crafts
- Linguistically and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
Scientific Specialisation
- Project Planning Stage
- Project Working Stage I
- Project Working Stage II
- Project Finalisation and Evaluation
- Language Response for Master's Thesis
Elective Courses
- Foundations of Multiculturalism
- Foundations of Social Justice Education
- Nordic Perspectives on Migration, Citizenship, and Inclusion
- Climate Change Education – Challenges and Opportunities
- The Nordic Model of Welfare
- Freedom of Religion and Belief in the Educational Space
- Craft in Natural Materials
- E-craft
- Decorative Expressions
This programme aims to prepare students to become experts in the areas of teaching and learning, in diverse educational environments with a specific focus on primary and secondary education.
After completion of this programme, students can pursue postgraduate studies for the Doctorate of Philosophy at Åbo Akademi. The Master graduates are eligible to apply for a position in the University’s Graduate School as well as other doctoral programmes within Finnish Higher Education Institutions.
Graduates of this master’s program may also choose to pursue work as educators (primary and secondary), education experts, education consultants as well as other education-related jobs. If graduates wish to remain in Finland to teach, they will need to meet all of the requirements for the level of education they wish to teach. The general teaching certificate that the graduates will receive is one of several requirements needed to qualify as a teacher in Finland; the other requirements relate to language and previous education.
For example, if a graduate would like to become a class teacher (primary school), they would also need to have 60 credits of multidisciplinary studies in subjects and cross-curricular themes taught in basic education. If they wish to become a subject teacher, they would need at least 60 credits in the teaching subject. In both cases, the graduate would also need to prove their Finnish or Swedish proficiency through a national language test. Exceptions may apply to those who teach in a gymnasium (upper secondary school), in a bilingual school, and for those who wish to teach a foreign language.
Åbo Akademi University grants an early commitment offer for students liable to pay tuition fees and who are admitted for studies starting in the autumn of 2026. The early commitment offer is a discount of 4000 €, i.e. the remaining annual tuition fee is 8000 €. Admitted students can claim the offer by accepting their study place and paying the tuition fee within a deadline specified in their admissions letter. Admitted students who do not accept their study place and do not pay the tuition fee within the deadline for the early commitment offer need to pay the full amount of 12000 €.
For the second year, all admitted students are awarded a tuition fee waiver of 4000 €, leaving the remaining annual tuition fee at 8000 €.
Applicants do not need to apply separately for this scholarship.