Studies
Job opportunities and working as a Bachelor of Social Services in Early Childhood Education
In this top - up degree, students carry out studies related to Social Services as well as studies in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care. The student has a possibility to obtain a qualification to work as a Bachelor of Social Services in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care in Finland (Varhaiskasvatuksen sosionomi).
With a Bachelor of Social Services degree, one is qualified to work with diverse client groups alongside children in early childhood care. Provision of services and client work is seen through a social pedagogical framework. The work may consist of supporting clients in their home or community settings, co-ordination of services, or supportive guidance and assistance. One may work with people of all ages.
Job opportunities for a Bachelor of Social Services:
- Early childhood education and care
- Child welfare
- Family work
- Guidance and education in youth work
- Social counselling in schools
- Work with adults
- Community work
- Work with the elderly
- Work with people with disabilities
- Work with people with substance abuse issues
- Work with people with mental health issues
- Preventive work against violence
- Multicultural work and work among diverse people
Bachelors of Social Services have also the opportunity to work as self-employed professionals and service providers.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Social Services in Early Childhood Education curriculum is based on a social pedagogical framework, focusing on empowering citizens, preventing marginalization, and promoting inclusion and social pluralism.
In early childhood education and care studies, one will gain the needed knowledge and pedagogical skills in order to work in early childhood education and care settings. One will have the understanding of social pedagogical frame to support children and families in their growth and holistic development and foster their well-being in diverse and inclusive environments.
The curriculum of the degree programme is based on the following competences of the Bachelor of Social Services (pdf, in Finnish only):
- Ethical competence in the social work field
- Competences in social work with clients
- Competences in social service systems
- Critical and inclusive civic competences
- Research, development and innovation skills
The degree consists of
The degree consists of 210 ECTS credits and requires about 2 - 2,5 years intensive studying to complete, depending on one's prior education in the field of Social Work. (Please see more detailed criteria on the studyinfo.fi webpage). Completing the degree requires full-time studying.
The course offering has been planned to enable students to include 30 ECTS credits per term + summer studies 15 credits. At the beginning of the studies, students make a personal study plan with the tutor teacher. Students with previous competencies can apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL).
- theory courses
- internships
- language studies / elective studies
- thesis
Language of the studies and language awareness
Tuition is offered in English with opportunities to gain real-world Finnish as part of internships and theory courses. Finnish language will be built into the courses as the student progresses through the curriculum. Therefore, as part of the studies, graduates have a possibility to gain Finnish skills. Those who already master Finnish at a native level, will have the opportunity to develop their language mentoring skills.
In addition to the language courses offered by the degree, students are asked actively to study the Finnish language independently. To learn more of the language, language courses are offered by a variety of institutions.
To be employed in Finland into the social services and early childhood education and care, professionals generally need to have a sufficiently good level of Finnish language skills.
Studying with us
Learning methods may include individual learning, group work and project learning. Faculty members of the degree programme are pedagogically qualified teachers who have experience in teaching in English with a language aware approach. Teaching is mainly Campus-based, but to be able to study with us, one needs to have a working laptop and access to internet.
Teaching methods include for example:
- lectures
- discussions
- group work
- learning assignments
- projects
- workshops
- e-learning
- independent studies
- Internships
There are job placements/internships during the studies. Job placements will be conducted in early childhood education and care settings.
Prior to any internships, it is the student's responsibility to obtain and prove a criminal record extract as a prerequisite for admission to the internship. At the beginning of the studies, students will be guided to apply their criminal record extract from Finnish authorities.
If one moves to study in Finland from other countries, one needs to obtain an authenticated criminal record extract from the authorities in one’s country of origin. This should be as up to date as possible, issued less than 6 months ago at the beginning of the studies.
Scholarships and tuition fees
Annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants 11 000 €.
This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.
Ask more about the Bachelor of Social Services degree programme from the Head of the Degree Programme
Student study & guidance counsellor
Applying
- Application period1.8.2024 at 08:00 - 2.8.2024 at 15:00Start of studiesspring 2025
- Day-time studies
The Separate Application for International Degree Programmes is aimed at those applying with a foreign qualification for an education leading to a higher education degree in English.
Application period for studies starting in spring 2025 starts on 1 August 2024 08:00 am (local time in Finland). Please note that the application period varies for different degree programmes. Check the individual application closing dates for each degree programme.
Application instructions have been published on Studyinfo.fi
Useful links
More information
For more information on the application process please contact
Metropolia's Student and Admission Services:
+358 40 712 5100
admissions [at] metropolia.fi (admissions[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
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Starting studies
How to start your studies in Metropolia
Welcome to study for a degree at Metropolia!
Congratulations! You have been admitted to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and we are delighted to have you as a new member of our vibrant community of more than 16 000 students!
You have made an excellent choice - Metropolia offers you unique multidisciplinary opportunities throughout your studies with its strong connections to working life and active role in innovations built around socially significant phenomena.
We are happy to have you with us and help you with any questions you might have. Welcome to Metropolia!
The below information applies to students who have been accepted to study for a full degree at Metropolia. Make sure to complete all the steps in order to secure your study place.
Confirming a place of study requires certain formalities to be completed by the deadline. More detailed instructions below:
Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. You can begin the student residence permit application online at Enterfinland.fi. Remember that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate as part of this process. Start your residence permit process as soon as possible, carefully following the immigration authorities' instructions and regulations, so that you can receive your permit in good time before your studies begin! You can find detailed information and advice on the residence permit requirements and procedures on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website.
Note that participating online programmes does not entitle you receiving residence permit. See more about the topic in Finnish Immigration Service websites.
All Metropolia's students who do not have a Finnish personal identity code, have to apply for it before their arrival or register at the local registry office after their arrival to Finland to apply for one.
Students who have to apply for residence permit (i.e. non-EU/non-EEA citizens) before their arrival to Finland should ask to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System when they apply for their first residence permit. This way they will receive a Finnish personal identity code at the same time as they are issued with the permit. More information on this for residence permit applicants
Other students have to apply for the personal identity code from the local registry office of the city where you are living in.
More information on Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).
More information on registration to the Finnish Population Information System
After you have received the personal identification code, remember to inform it to the Student and Admission Services.
Metropolia does not have housing services to offer. Thus, it is the student's responsibility to find an accommodation for the period of their studies. There is a lot of competition in affordable housing, so it is important to start searching for a room many months prior to arrival. More information on accommodation
All foreign students (who are not EU citizens or citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) who come to Finland for the purposes of studying are required to have a health insurance, if the studies endure longer than three months.
More information on insurances
Student financial aid is for Finnish citizens. Foreign citizens are entitled to student financial aid if they live in Finland on a permanent basis for the purpose other than studying and they have registered as permanent residents in the Finnish population register system.
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- If you have a smart phone you can download the Tuudo mobile app for free to get your digital student ID and student discounts (ID and discounts are available from the first day of the studies onwards)
- Information on student life and well-being, costs and finance, study environment etc.
When you start as a new student you need to activate your user account. Activation is possible when the right to study begins. For joint application, activation is possible from 1 August.
The purpose of the activation is that you personally accept the rules of the account usage policy and start using your account. Activate your user account primarily using Mobile Certificate and Netbank User ID. Please read first the instructions in IT Services wiki.
Tuudo is a mobile app with which you can use various Metropolia web services easily on your smart phone. With Tuudo you can get VR, HSL, Matkahuolto and Kela student discounts immediately. The benefits are free for all Metropolia students.
In Tuudo you can check Metropolia, Admission Services, and student union METKA announcements, your schedule, study attainments, and cafeteria menus.
Get Tuudo on your phone from the app store for free and start using it!
During your studies, your support of well-being and health is Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS). The specialist in student health care offers you general, mental and oral health services and supports the well-being of study communities.
Our services can be used by students completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a university or a university of applied sciences who have registered as attending for the semester.
Master the facts! Familiarize yourself with our services and user instructions on the address fshs.fi, and the Health information resource on the address yths.fi/en/health-information-resource. You can also find information about appointments as well as current information about your service unit on the address yths.fi/en/service-units.
Start using Self! Self is the student’s own online service for health care issues at FSHS. In Self, you can manage appointment bookings, communicate via SelfChat and start a remote consultation. Log in to Self as a user immediately from the beginning of the semester and keep your contact details up to date for as long as you are a student. Read more: yths.fi/en/self-info.
The health care fee for students in higher education will be paid to Kela on your initiative (kela.fi/web/en/healthcare-fee-for-students-in-higher-education).
If you have social security coverage in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you do not have to pay the healthcare fee. However, you can to use the FSHS’s services.
Already excited about starting your studies in Metropolia and meeting new people? On this page you will find welcome letters for each degree program.
Welcome letters are information packages prepared by your future tutors. They include, for example, important dates as well as information about studying, student benefits, or student life.
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