Vaasa, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 10,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* the application period begins from 8 Jan 2025
** for non EU EEA students
Key Summary
Introduction
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.
Admissions
Curriculum
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
- 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
Career Opportunities
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.
Scholarships and Funding
Tuition fee-paying (non-EU/EEA) applicants applying to our master's degree programmes can apply for the Finland scholarship (in connection with applying for studies at Åbo Akademi University).
Finland scholarship/100% Tuition Fee Scholarship (waiver), awarded for 2 years (second year conditional)
- Number of scholarships to be granted: 1/programme
Finland Scholarships awarded by Åbo Akademi University are part of the national Finland Scholarship programme. This scholarship will be awarded to the most merited applicant in each programme.
The Finland scholarship covers 100% of the tuition fee for two years, the second year is conditional and requires that the student has earned at least 55 ECTS during the first year of studies.
In addition, the applicant is awarded a one-time 5000€ relocation grant, which will be paid to the student, to a Finnish bank account, once they have arrived in Turku/Vaasa and enrolled as present for the academic year.
To be considered for the Finland scholarship you must apply for it as part of your application for admission during the application period. Applicants will find, in the application form, a set of questions evaluating motivation and communicative skills, academic goals and general interest in the field. The applicant’s answers will be assessed by the programme and the scholarship committee. The committee decides which applicants will be awarded a Finland scholarship. The decision on the granted scholarship will be included in the admission letter.
Please note that if you are exempted from paying tuition fees, you will no longer be eligible for Finland scholarships.
80% Tuition Fee Scholarship (waiver), awarded for the whole length of the study right
- This scholarship is granted to all admitted applicants liable to pay tuition fees, who have not received a 100% Tuition Fee Scholarship.