Department of Teacher Education Pedagogical Studies for Teachers

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---Department of Teacher Education – Pedagogical Studies for Teachers

Admission Requirements for the Subject Teacher Education Programme

in English (STEP) in the Academic Year 2016/17

Basic Degree Students

General

According to the Regulations on Degrees and the Protection of Students’ Rights at the University of Helsinki (Section 16) The Faculty of Behavioural Sciences shall provide prospective subject teachers with the

Pedagogical Studies for Teachers, decide on the admissions criteria for such students and grant them the right to study. The rector shall decide on the distribution of student places between the faculties and disciplines. The admission requirements for the Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP) submitted to be ratified by the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences include the general admission criteria, previous studies required to be qualified to apply and selection procedures as described in the two selection groups.

Subject teachers graduate from the University of Helsinki by completing a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (higher university degree), studies of their teaching subject at the subject departments (either part of their degree or separately) and Pedagogical Studies for Teachers (60 credits) in the Department of Teacher

Education. The qualification requirements for teaching personnel are stipulated in Decree No. 986/1998 and the amendment to the previous degree, Decree No. 865/2005.

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---1. Intake quota - Basic degree students

Basic degree students at the University of Helsinki (studying for their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees or studying in a Master’s degree programme; NB! Doctoral students are not basic degree students) in the faculties of Arts, Science, and Social Sciences can apply to the Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP), a programme of 60 credits, at the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences.

A degree student can apply to the Subject Teacher Education Programme in the same year although he/she would be applying to one of the Finnish-medium programmes for Pedagogical Studies for Teachers.

Arts and Science groups together 25 students:

17 basic degree students

8 applicants in separate selection quota

Eight of the total 25 students will be accepted into the programme from the separate selection quota (applicants who already have a Master’s degree and have completed at least 60 credits of basic and intermediate studies of a teaching subject taught in basic or general upper secondary education).

Basic degree students

Arts group

Students to STEP are chosen from the following majors (teaching subjects or study programmes):

· Foreign languages (Faculty of Arts) o English (Philology or Translation) o French (Philology) o German (Philology or Translation) o Italian (Philology) o Spanish (Philology) o Swedish as a Second National Language (Scandinavian languages and translation studies in Swedish)

Science group

Students to STEP are chosen from the following majors (teaching subjects or study programmes):

· Chemistry (Faculty of Science) · Mathematics (Faculty of Science) · Physics (Faculty of Science)

If the quota within one selection group is not filled due to the lack of applicants who meet the set requirements, the quota of the other selection group can be enlarged.

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---2. Application period and application submission

Applications to STEP and attachments are submitted via an electronic E-application form.

The application period for the Subject Teacher Education Programme ends Tuesday, 1 March 2016 at 15:00 o’clock (3:00 pm GMT +2).

Late applications cannot be processed.

Applicants will receive an automatic confirmation email after they have submitted the E-application form.

*) Applicants can supplement their application with proof of language skills (see section 3.1) and prior studies until Friday, 22 April 2016.

The attachments can also be sent to the Office for Study Affairs at the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences by 1 March 2016 at 15:00 o’clock (3:00 pm GMT +2) in paper form, address:

Käyttäytymistieteellinen tiedekunta/opintoasiat PL 9

00014 Helsingin yliopisto

(Office for Study Affairs/Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki).

If the attachments are sent in paper form, add two photocopies of the Background Information Form along with the original form.

Please mark on the envelope “Application to the Subject Teacher Education Programme". Please include copies of possible proof of language documents.

The degree students who are doing both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Helsinki do not need to provide certificates of their studies. The extent of their studies will be checked from the faculties after the application period has ended.

Attachments to the E-application form for basic degree applicants (Selection group 1):

1. Original Background Information Form (photo is mandatory) AND

2. Possible proof of language skills* AND

For applicants who are studying in a Master’s degree programme at the University of Helsinki but have not completed their Bachelor’s degree at the UH, ALSO:

3. Proof or clarification from the applicant’s own faculty that the studies in their Bachelor’s degree (with which the applicant gained admission into the Master’s programme) and the current Master’s degree programme together include at least 60 credits (or 35 study weeks) in the teaching subject taught in basic or general upper secondary education and which are such that are required of a subject teacher in Finland. * An email confirmation or a similar kind of clarification from the Faculty (or Department) will be sufficient.

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---3. Admission requirements for the Subject Teacher Education Programme in English

(STEP)

Basic degree students studying for their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees or in a Master’s degree programme at the University of Helsinki studying one of the following school subjects can apply to the Subject Teacher

Education Programme in English: Arts group

· Foreign languages (Faculty of Arts) o English (Philology or Translation) o French (Philology)

o German (Philology or Translation) o Italian (Philology)

o Spanish (Philology)

o Swedish as a Second National Language(Scandinavian languages and translation studies in Swedish)

Science group

· Chemistry (Faculty of Science) · Mathematics (Faculty of Science) · Physics (Faculty of Science)

In STEP, students complete teaching practice in only one subject. Thus, applicants apply based on their major subject, although they can of course have other minor subjects later as teaching subjects.

The available teaching subjects in the Subject Teacher Education Programme are restricted because a practice place in a field school where teaching is conducted in English cannot be guaranteed for all subjects or because in some subjects it is not possible for international students to complement their studies from a University outside of Finland in English-medium courses at the University of Helsinki to match what is required of teachers’ subject studies in Finland.

3.1. Language requirements

Applicants applying to the Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP) must have a high level of English skills in order to study efficiently and be involved in group discussions and exercises.

Students can prove their level of English skills by, for example, one of the following ways:

· English as a compulsory foreign language in a Finnish higher education degree (English Academic and Professional Skills, EAPS)

· The Faculty of Behavioural Sciences approves as adequate proof of proficiency in English an applicant’s degree completed in a Finnish university or university of applied sciences which includes foreign language studies in English as defined by the Government Decree on University or Polytechnic Degrees

· study rights of English Philology or Translation of English at the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Helsinki

· University of Helsinki Language Services test, Average: skills level 5

http://www.helsinki.fi/kksc/language.services/english/kielitestit_kv_hakijoille.html

· Upper-secondary school education in English in one of the Nordic Countries, Great Britain, Ireland, the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand

· Equivalency certificate for the studies in English as a teaching subject given by the Finnish National Board of Education or a Faculty of Arts at a Finnish university

· For the other acceptable ways of indicating English skill level, see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/english-language-requirements

NB! Admission into this programme does not guarantee necessary language skills to teach in an international or Finnish school as the matter is governed by the same decrees as for the general qualifications (Decree No. 986/1998, Decree No. 865/2005).

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---3.2. Previous studies

Basic degree applicants (Selection group 1):

Basic degree applicants must have completed the basic and intermediate studies in their teaching subject or an equivalent of them (not including Proseminar and Bachelor’s thesis), and must have at least a total of 120 credits.

This requirement is in place so that students are able to complete the whole Subject Teacher Education

Programme in one year, including the practices (Basic, Applied, and Advanced). (Questions regarding studies of teaching subjects can be directed to the faculty office of the subject in question.)

Applicants can supplement their studies until Friday, 22 April 2016.

Students of Translation must have supplemented their studies so that they correspond to the studies of the language as a teaching subject.

For Chemistry students, the previous studies must include 25 credits of basic studies and 40 credits of intermediate studies, including the following course Tutkimuksellinen kemian opetus I/ Inquiry-based chemistry teaching I.

For Mathematics students, the previous studies must include 80 credits of basic and intermediate studies and 10 credits of advanced studies in Mathematics.

For Physics students, the previous studies must include 71 credits of basic and intermediate studies and 10 credits of advanced studies in Physics, including the following course Opettajien pääainefysiikan

laboratoriokurssi I / Experimentation in school laboratory for physics major I (or half of the course “Opettajien syventävä laboratoriokurssi”).

3.3. Selection procedures

The selection of students into the Subject Teacher Education Programme is based on an entrance exam that consists of a text-based interview. The names of the applicants invited to the entrance exam will be published on 1 April 2016. The applicants invited to the entrance exam will receive an invitation by mail.

The interviews will be held on 11 and 12 May 2016.

Applicants are given a text (related to teaching in general or the subject to be taught) to read about 20 minutes prior to the interview. The interview takes about 15 minutes, and it is based on the before-mentioned text and the information given by the applicant on the Background Information form. Applicants are not, however, granted points on the information given on the form but it will be used as support during the entrance exam interview.

The maximum number of students to be invited to an interview is about 38 (maximum 1.5 times the number of students to be admitted to the programme). If there are more than 38 applicants, the selection of the students to be invited to the interview is based on previous studies. Invitations will be sent to the applicants who meet the application requirements and are the furthest in their studies. More detailed information of the date, time and place of the entrance exam will be given in the invitation.

The interview is assessed by one or two interviewers. The purpose of the interview is to evaluate the applicant’s suitability to work as a teacher.

The applicant’s motivation and interaction skills and the feasibility

of his/her plans are evaluated in the interview.

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---In case of even points, the order of applicants is determined in the following way:

1. Priority will be given to the applicant who is furthest in his/her studies in the major (first teaching subject), counted as credits of the mandatory studies that are part of the degree;

2. If the points are still even, priority will be given to the applicant who is furthest in his/her studies of the second teaching subject, counted as credits of the studies belonging to the degree requirements; 3. If the points are still even, priority will be given to the applicant who is furthest in his/her studies overall,

counted as total credits.

4. Publishing of results and appeals procedure

The names of all applicants admitted to the Subject Teacher Education Programme will be published on Tuesday, 31 May 2016. The accepted applicants will be sent a letter of acceptance that includes information about the start of the studies. All applicants who attended the entrance exam will be sent information of the entrance exam results.

An applicant who is dissatisfied with the selection results or the entrance exam can submit a written appeal within 14 days of the publication of the results.

Appeals against the assessment of the entrance exam will be decided by the Student Selection Board of the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences. Appeals for a rectification to the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences must be addressed to: Käyttäytymistieteellinen tiedekunta, PL 9, 00014 Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki). If brought in person, the address is

Siltavuorenpenger 5 A.

The appeals period for the decisions in the selection of applicants to the entrance exam (Phase I) in the application to the Subject Teacher Education Programme ends on Friday, 15 April 2016 at 15:00 o’clock (3:00 pm GMT +2). The appeals period for the final decisions on the admitted applicants (Phase II) ends on Tuesday, 14 June 2016 at 15:00 o’clock (3:00 pm GMT +2). The appeal against the assessment of the entrance exam must clearly state for what point and on what grounds a rectification is sought.

5. Starting and completing studies

The Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP) is organized by the Department of Teacher Education at the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences. The Subject Teacher Education Programme consists of 60 credits (the basic and intermediate studies of education) that are divided into four periods and can be completed in one academic year.

More detailed information about the content and courses of the STEP are found on WebOodi or the STEPWeb (see contact information at the end of this document). The course information will be updated during the summer 2016. The degree requirements and curricula will not be published in print.

5.1. Starting of the studies

Applicants admitted to the Subject Teacher Education Programme in English (STEP) are strongly encouraged to start their studies the same year that they apply, i.e. the autumn of 2016.

The basic degree students must have completed the basic and intermediate studies in their teaching subject or an equivalent of them (not including Proseminar and Bachelor’s thesis), and must have at least a total of 120 credits. Applicants can supplement their studies until Friday, 22 April 2016.

These requirements are in place so that students are able to complete the whole Subject Teacher Education Programme in one year, including the practices (Basic, Applied, and Advanced). Please note that the studies include a great deal of contact teaching, i.e. attendance and participation are required. Since the programme admits a total of only 25 students, the groups are small and in case a student delays the start of his/her studies, place in the groups later cannot be guaranteed. The places in the groups are prioritized in such a way, that the admitted students in the current year have priority. Also, since the number of admitted students is small, there are no set book examinations to replace the lectures and courses.

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---Study rights for Basic degree students

The study right for the Subject Teacher Education Programme is valid as long as an admitted applicant’s study right for his/her basic degree studies (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees or Master’s degree programme) is valid.

5.2. Signing up for studies

Students need to sign up for all the different courses of the Subject Teacher Education Programme. Sign-ups are done in WebOodi, www.helsinki.fi/weboodi, using the user ID issued by the University IT Department. Sign-ups for the autumn courses (Periods 1 and 2) are done in the summer, and sign-Sign-ups for the spring courses (Periods 3 and 4) are done in the autumn. More detailed information can be found on the STEP Flamma pages (Intranet for the University of Helsinki).

6. Teacher qualification requirements

The Pedagogical Studies for Teachers give general teacher qualifications to teach children, young people and adults in educational institutions offering general, vocational and adult education (basic education, upper secondary school, vocational education, polytechnics, and adult education centres).The other qualification requirements for a subject teacher may vary according to different educational institutions.

For a degree student who completes the Pedagogical Studies for Teachers as a minor, the teacher

qualifications and studies of the teaching subject are included in the Master’s degree diploma and no separate certificate is issued by the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences.

6.1. Teachers’ language requirements

In order to be qualified to teach in a Finnish comprehensive school, teachers need to possess excellent competence of the teaching language of the school, usually Finnish or Swedish. (The decree regulating language skills in Finnish or Swedish in public administration is Decree No. 481/2003.) In upper secondary schools the language skill requirement for teachers is to master the teaching language. (The regulations are stipulated in the same decrees as for the general qualifications (Decree No. 986/1998, Decree No. 865/2005). Students partaking in the Subject Teacher Education Programme in English need to possess a high level of English skills (as determined in the Application Requirements, section 3.1) in order to study efficiently and be involved in group discussions and exercises. Admission into this programme, however, does not guarantee necessary language skills to teach in an international or Finnish school as the matter is governed by the above-mentioned decrees and/or international schools’ own policies.

7. Contact information and study guidance

Information about the Subject Teacher Education Programme on STEPWeb: http://www.helsinki.fi/teachereducation/step/

STEP courses in WebOodi https://weboodi.helsinki.fi/

Study guidance related to the Subject Teacher Education Programme and studying in the programme: step-info (at) helsinki.fi (email received by the STEP Coordinator).

Information about the application process can also be obtained from: Office for Study Affairs at the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences kaytt-neuvonta (at) helsinki.fi (email received by Study Counsellor).

Department of Teacher Education Pedagogical Studies for Teachers