Nursing top-up degree

Study objectives

The purpose of the Nursing degree programme is to train nursing experts. The students will receive a theoretical basis, learn professional clinical  skills and establish an ethical foundation that is necessary for nurses.

The studies will prepare the students for the following: customer-oriented nursing, management and entrepreneurship, clinical nursing, social welfare and health care operating environment, evidence-based operation and decision-making, guidance and teaching expertise, promoting health and an ability to cope with daily situations, and the quality and safety of social welfare and health care services.

Nursing graduates will be able to guide, support, treat  and rehabilitate people with different illnesses in cooperation with their next of kin and other professionals.  They will also know how to take care of the persons close to the customer,  as guiding them is an important part of their work.

Evidence-based nursing expertise is enhanced in a variety of learning and operating environments.

Nursing degree graduates will be able to work with customers of different ages, promoting their health and wellbeing and treating their illnesses. The students will also learn to participate in and coordinate various multidisciplinary working groups and networks and to develop their own work practices.

Language of instruction

The programme is conducted in English. Students may also participate in Finnish-language nursing courses. Some courses can combine Finnish-language and English-language groups.

Study contents

The training consists of 210 ECTS credits and takes about 1.5 - 2 years to complete, depending on one's prior education in the field of Nursing. The studies consist of core requirement studies, language studies, practical training that supports professionalism, final project, innovation studies and multidisciplinary elective studies.

Students whose native language is not Finnish will have Finnish lessons as part of their curriculum.

Completing the degree requires full-time study.  Lectures are mainly held during the daytime. Supervised training follows the work hours of the unit in question, which may be in three shifts.

The course offering has been planned to enable students to include 30 credit points per term.

The starting point for learning consist of situations and problems arising from professional practices, and of trying to find evidence-based solutions for them. Some courses are provided, when applicable, as projects that develop the student's field of study. The students get a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of their subject in learning environments that support their learning, such as Drug Treatment, Health Promotion and Simulation Learning Environments.

Learning environments for independent study, on the other hand, enable students to improve their clinical skills. Education has been developed by improving opportunities for digital learning, enabling students to complete some courses independently or in groups or online.

Choosing a main subject or field of specialization

Students who have previous competencies can decide to apply for accreditation of prior learning (APL).

At the beginning of their studies, students make an individual study plan (ISP) which they will follow. A lecturer will act as a tutor on the student's learning track.

Structure of studies

The degree consists of the following:

• core requirement studies 25 ECTS credits
• professional studies  155 cr., of which 90 are practical training
• elective studies  15 cr.
• final project 15 cr.

Final project

The degree includes a final project (15 credits), which is usually carried out with a partner in one of Metropolia's workplace-oriented projects.

Once students have completed their final project, they will be able to put in practice what they have learned, to search and utilise evidence-based information to ensure that patients and customers get the best treatment, that develop practices and the work community and that better care is provided.

The final project is linked to Metropolia projects, and may be completed in teams.

The final project is written in English, including the summary.

Internationalization

Internationalism is part of studies in the form of student exchange, practical training, intensive courses or internationalism at home studies, such as joint studies between English- and Finnish-language degree programmes or studies in open international online environments.

Students may also apply for  international exchange programmes. Metropolia has partner institutions in Asia, the US, Africa and various countries in Europe, where nursing students may go for their practical training, projects or theory studies.

Co-operation with other parties

Practical training is generally carried out in public hospitals either in primary health care or specialised nursing.

Some courses are organised in cooperation with working life also in the private and third sectors, for example in organisations.

Qualification

Only certified professionals who have completed the appropriate degree may work as a nurse.

Once students have completed their degree, they apply to Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, for the right to practice their profession.

Career opportunities

Graduates may find employment in primary health care, specialised nursing units in either public or private health care.

The job may be in a hospital ward, at a clinic or in an operating room. You may also find a job in home nursing, various rehabilitation and care homes or a medical centre. In addition to these, the nurse’s degree will enable you to work as an expert or consultant, for a non-profit organisation or in international duties.

A nurse's degree will also provide  students with excellent opportunities  to work abroad. You will complete a university of applied sciences degree comparable with similar international and European qualifications. The training provides graduates nursing qualifications conforming to EU directives, enabling you to seek interesting and challenging jobs also outside Finland.

Scholarships and tuition fees

Annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants 11 000 €.

This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.

Read more on tuition fees and scholarships