Instructions Concerning Studies and Degrees at Hanken School of Economics In accordance with the Degree Regulations of Hanken School of Economics, approved by the Board 2005 and last revised 10 December 2014, the Rector has approved these Instructions concerning studies and degrees at Hanken School of Economics on 27 February 2015. The Instructions come into force on 1 March 2015. Chapter 1 Right to Study and Attendance Registration 1 Attendance Registration The academic year begins on 1 August and ends on 31 July. Teaching and examination dates are established annually. The right to pursue degree studies at Hanken or at a partner university requires an attendance registration at Hanken. Students must be registered as present in order to register for courses and examinations, complete courses, apply for credits to be transferred or receive a certificate. Students who are on exchange through Hanken s exchange agreements must also be registered as present at Hanken for the duration of their studies abroad. In order to be able to study at other universities within the agreement for flexible study rights (the JOO-agreement), a student must be registered as present at the home institution. Non-degree students are given the right to study for specific courses during a limited period. During this period, non-degree students enjoy in the main the same rights and responsibilities as degree students. Students shall annually register as present or absent latest on 31 August for the autumn term and 15 January for the spring term. A student who has failed to register must apply for a renewed right to study if he or she wishes to continue studying at a later stage. A re-matriculation fee will be charged. 2 Right to use Hanken s Computer System Both degree students and non-degree students at Hanken have the right to use Hanken s computer system. 3 Right to Participate in Courses Degree students have the right to participate in courses according to the curriculum, with reservations concerning compliance with pre-requisites for any given course. Specific reasons must be given for limitations on the number of participants on a course; e.g. that the course is held as part of project in co-operation with a company or another university. The Academic Council must approve such limitations.
The course description must specify any limitations on the number of participants and make clear how the right to take part in the course is determined. During an academic year, degree students shall always be given the opportunity to participate in the compulsory courses in their study plan, be they general or included in the student s major subject. Non-degree students have the right to participate in the courses covered by their right to study. Separate quotas for non-degree students can be established for each course. Students are required to register for courses before the course starts or within the period specified by the examiner. Course registration confirmed by the examiner may be a condition for the right to participate in and complete the course in question. Registrations for courses and examinations are accepted from 1 August for the autumn term and from 1 December for the spring term. Registrations are normally accepted up to a week after the course has started. Courses with less than five participants can be cancelled. 4 Change of the Right to Study Students with a right to study for the Bachelor s or Master s Degree at Hanken can, outside the admission procedure, apply for a change of their right to study: 1. A change of a student s major within the Bachelor s Degree Programme can be done at any time subject to a new approved study plan. 2. A limited number of students within the Bachelor s Degree Programme can apply for a change of study location in accordance with a special procedure and on the basis of achieved study credits. 3. Students with at least 30 credits within a subject other than the major of their Bachelor s Degree at Hanken may at any time and on the basis of a new study plan choose this subject as their major in their Master s Degree Programme. 4. Students who have completed another Bachelor s Degree and have the right to study for the Bachelor s and Master s Degrees in Economics at Hanken may at any time apply to change their right to study to the Master s Degree alone. Change of the right to study is approved on the same grounds as external applications to the programme in question, and the students applying for a change must have completed studies at Hanken with good results. 5. Students with the right to study for a Master s Degree can at any time apply to change to another Master s Degree Programme. The change is approved on the same grounds as external applications to the programme in question, and the students must have completed studies at Hanken with good results. Subjects or programmes to which students wish to transfer may limit the number of new students accepted.
Chapter 2 Completed Courses 5 Compulsory Basic Courses and the studies in the Major Subject The Bachelor s Degree includes compulsory basic courses in economic sciences comprising a total of 53 credits and a compulsory introductory course, which includes study planning, comprising a total of 2 credits. For degree students, the course in methods (6 credits) and the course in corporate responsibility (6 credits) within the compulsory basic courses are included in the studies in the major subject. Study planning (1 credit) within the introductory course is also included in the studies in the student s major. 6 Completion of Courses and Registration of Completed Courses In order to pass a course, a student must pass each separate part of the course. Passed separate parts of courses generally remain in force for one academic year, after which the entire course must be retaken. Courses are completed and registered in the study records with the extent that has been approved by the Academic Council. Completed courses shall be registered in the study records within one week of the results being published, holidays excepted. Completed courses will be registered with the date on which the last part of the course was completed; this can be an examination date or the last submission date for an assignment. Completed courses are not deleted from the register. Marks for a completed course cannot be altered to merely a pass. Courses become invalid after ten years. Completed degrees remain valid, as do completed modules. Approved theses remain valid and completed terms abroad also retain their validity. 7 Credit Transfer A student can apply to have courses completed within degree studies at other universities or polytechnics credited at the same level or a lower level of degree studies at Hanken. The credited courses shall be included in the degree. Credit transfer is always a matter of judgment. An application for credit transfer must be supplemented with an official transcript of the studies concerned and a description of the course or study module. Credit transfers are based on the original completed course, not on previous credit transfers. Transferred credits are registered with the date they were originally completed. Courses completed within Hanken s exchange programme at Hanken s partner universities are credited in their entirety. Courses completed at Finnish universities are, as a rule, transferred to the extent and with the grade originally received. Other completed courses are generally transferred with the grade pass. When studies completed abroad are transferred to Hanken, ECTS-credits correspond to credits at Hanken.
Studies completed at another university within a joint study programme are not considered to be transferred credits. Decisions on credit transfers are made by an examiner in the subject when the subject in question is being taught at Hanken. Decisions on other credit transfers are made by the Office of Study Affairs. The Office may consult a steering group on educational issues. Within the doctoral degree programme the degree supervisor makes decisions on credit transfers. The degree supervisor can also decide on grading the course. Credit transfers are not as a rule given for courses completed more than ten years previously. Credit transfers become invalid ten years after the completion date of the course. If the student has a time limit for studies, transferred credits are generally considered valid for the duration of the studies. The introductory course, individual study plan or theses cannot be transferred. 8 Internship An internship can be approved as part of the studies in all major subjects in accordance with what is established in the course descriptions. An internship can be included in both the Bachelor s and the Master s Degree. The internship shall be completed during the studies, or no more than three years prior to the student having been admitted to the degree programme which includes the internship. Students who have been admitted for both the Bachelor s and Master s Degree must complete an internship for the Master s Degree within the duration of their studies at Hanken in total. The internship shall comprise at least 12 weeks of work. An internship report shall be approved by an examiner. Internship is marked either pass or fail with no qualitative grades. 9 Bachelor s Thesis The Bachelor s thesis is written in Swedish. The thesis becomes a public document immediately upon approval. Two examiners, who can represent the same subject, shall approve the thesis. 10 Master s Thesis The Master s thesis is written in Swedish within the Swedish-language degree programmes and in English within the English-language degree programmes. The thesis becomes a public document immediately upon approval. On request, a student in the Swedish-language degree programme can be granted permission to write his/her Master s thesis in English. The student must demonstrate adequate mastery of English. In this case, a thesis written in English must include a summary in Swedish. Master s theses are assessed by the Academic Council on the proposal of two readers representing different subject. At least one of the readers must hold a doctoral degree.
11 Maturity Test The maturity test comprises an assignment written under supervised conditions and on a subject relating to the thesis. The test should show familiarity with the subject field of the Bachelor s or Master s theses. A student who has matriculated in the Swedish or Finnish language shall in the maturity test show that they have an excellent grasp of that language. Students who have matriculated in Finnish shall in a maturity test for a Swedish-language degree also demonstrate good written skills in the Swedish language. Students within the English-language degree programmes, who have matriculated in the Swedish or Finnish language, shall in the maturity test show that they have an excellent grasp of that language. Other students within the English-language degree programmes shall on completing their thesis take an examination equivalent to the maturity test. Chapter 3 Language skills and language studies 12 Language Skills Upon admission to a degree programme, the applicant is required to demonstrate sufficient skills in the language of instruction of the degree programme in question. 13 Languages Used in Instruction and Examination The Academic Council decides on the language of instruction for each course. More specific instructions for language use within the degree programmes are included in Hanken s language policy guidelines. Students are normally required to use the language of instruction that has been set for the course in all parts of the course in question. The examiner always has the option of permitting the use of Swedish. Where studies of foreign languages are concerned, the examiner decides on the language to be used. In other cases, the decision on the right to use another language lies with the Rector. The thesis is written in Swedish within the Swedish-language degree programmes and in English within the English-language degree programmes. 14 Languages as a minor subject Studies in a particular language comprising at least 25 credits can constitute a minor subject within a degree. Studies and courses at other universities in Finland and abroad may be included in the required credits. The minor subject Swedish can also include studies in other Scandinavian languages. Chapter 4 Examiners, Programme Directors and Supervisors 15 Examiners The Department Council or Hanken s Centre for Languages and Business Communication (the Language Centre) appoints an examiner in charge for each course. They ensure that the examiner possesses the necessary qualifications. In the event that
an examiner is declared to be challengeable or is temporarily prevented from serving, the Head of Department appoints another qualified person to perform the examination. The examiner is responsible for ensuring that the contents and examination corresponds to the goals set for the course in question and may make decisions on how to carry out the examination within the framework of what has been set for the course. Study modules that are not included in the major subjects of the degree programmes shall have an appointed examiner responsible for the module. 16 Programme Managers The programme director is responsible for the Bachelor s and Master s Degree Programme as a whole. A degree programme within the Bachelor s and Master s education must have at least one programme manager. The programme manager is responsible for the assessment of applicants, study counselling within the subject field and approving divergent study plans within the subject or programme. 17 Degree Supervisor and Thesis Supervisor within the PhD. Programme Doctoral students are allocated a degree supervisor in connection with their admission to the School. The Department Council decides on a change of degree supervisor. A doctoral student must have at least one thesis supervisor or a committee of supervisors. These are appointed by the Department Council of the department to which the student s major subject belongs, following a proposal by the degree supervisor and after the student has been heard. Chapter 5 Curriculum Management 18 Study Plans and Study modules The courses required for the degree in various major subjects and programmes are decided on for two years at a time by the Academic Council according to a proposal by the Department Council. A study module can be comprised of one sole subject or be multidisciplinary and comprised of many different subjects. A study module can contain both compulsory and elective courses. The study plan for a study module shall contain information on the name of the study module, content and number of credits, the specialisations offered, compulsory and elective courses, how the study plan is affected by course changes, and the Department or Departments responsible for the course. The Department has, in individual cases, the right to approve departures from the plan. In regard to degree programmes, the study plan shall include the name of the programme, its goal, content and number of credits, the study module equalling the major subject, possible combinations of modules within the degree and the Department or Departments responsible for the programme. The Department has, in individual cases, the right to approve departures from the plan.
19 Curriculum The Academic Council decides annually on the schedules for teaching and examination periods for the academic year. The courses offered are set by the Academic Council for two academic years at a time. The Office of Study Affairs coordinates the teaching schedule. 20 Course descriptions Each course shall have a course description containing at least the name of the course, the amount of credits, learning goals, learning outcomes, level, possible prior requirements, Department and subject responsible for the course, examiner, language of tuition, course literature, the calculated hours of student work divided into scheduled contact hours and non-scheduled (individual) student work, teaching methods as well as examination and assessment. 21 Course Design Standards The standard for scheduled contact hours is 4 lessons per credit point. All variations within the frame of 3-5 scheduled contact hours per credit point can be considered to be within the frame for the standards. The standard does not apply to theses, internships, seminar and literature courses or the language and communication courses.courses that do not comply with the standard can be approved if especially justified. Courses with the same course code shall, irrespective of study location, have the same learning goals and learning outcomes. Furthermore, the compulsory courses in the economic sciences shall have the same (main) course literature. Chapter 6 Examinations 22 Examinations Unless otherwise specified, the term examination applies to all examinations relating to completing a course. The form for the examination and the grounds for assessment shall be specified in the course description. 23 Examination Schedule After the curriculum has been set by the Academic Council, the Office of Study Affairs in joint consultation with the departments and the Student Union composes an examination schedule for the written examinations for the following academic year. The Administration is in charge of arranging these examinations and the examinations listed on the examination schedule are arranged on the School s premises. An examination for individual students may also be held somewhere else if justified. In such a case, the examiner for the examination in question is responsible for the arrangements. 24 Registering for Examinations Students are required to register for examinations listed in the examination schedule at least one week before the examination. After the end of the registration period, students
can be placed on a waiting list. Decisions regarding registration for examinations outside the schedule are made by the examiner. 25 Examination Procedures Students taking part in examinations of any kind must produce proof of their identity and of their right to take part in the examination. During examinations, it is prohibited to speak, to share materials and to use materials other than those specified for the examination. The supervisor of the examination has the right to terminate the examination for anyone who fails to follow the rules. An examinee with a valid reason for being late may enter the examination room up to 15 minutes after the start of the examination. In the event that force majeure can be proven, an examinee is entitled to take part in the examination up to one hour after the start of the examination. No one is allowed to leave the examination room during the first hour of the examination. Students may bring only writing tools, a calculator and materials listed prior to the examination and listed on the examination paper into the examination room. It is prohibited to bring mobile phones and other communication appliances not listed on the examination paper. The answers must be written on Hanken s examination paper only. Examinees must write their name, student identification number, place of study and the name of the course that is subject to examination on each sheet of paper. All papers must be handed in with the examinee s name written on them. The sheet of paper with the examination questions may be removed from the examination room unless otherwise stated on the paper itself. The duration of the examinations included in the examination schedule is 4 hours, unless the Office of Study Affairs is notified of any deviations no less than two weeks before the exam. 26 Electronic Examinations Examinations may also be held as e-exams in a designated area. The waiting list does not apply to e-exams and students are not allowed to be late. The maximum time allowance for an examination is 3 hours and 55 minutes. Students may terminate the examination at any time by leaving the exam area, but they are not allowed to leave the area during the course of the examination. Students may not bring anything with them to the examination table, not even a lunch packet. E-exams in the designated area are supervised using surveillance cameras and spot tests. A student taking part in an e-exam agrees to being filmed by the surveillance camera and to Hanken having the right to use the footage to follow the course of the examination. 27 Re-sitting Examinations Students may take examinations on the examination dates set for the course on condition that other possible parts of the course are still in force. If a student has failed
an examination due to having been caught cheating, he or she forfeits the right to re-sit that examination. A student is allowed to try to improve a received course grade only once. The higher grade is always valid. A thesis grade cannot be improved except by judicial means. Where ways of completing a course other than examinations are concerned, the examiner makes the decision on the number of attempts allowed and whether attempting to improve the grade is permitted. Compulsory basic courses normally have two occasions per year for re-sitting examinations; other courses have one re-sit occasion. 28 Public Announcement of Results Examination questions are public. Examination results are public, but are announced only with the participants student identification numbers. The results of an examination must be published at least two weeks after the examination date, discounting public holidays, and at least two weeks before the next examination date. A Head of Department may decide that the time will be extended if justified, and notice of this must then be posted immediately. The results from courses that can be taken the year round by only e-examinations, the maturity test excluded, may be published at two or more previously set dates during the academic year. The decision concerning examination results is approved by the examiner and saved for 10 years. Answers shall be saved for six months. Students have the right to be informed of how the criteria for assessment have been applied to his or her study performance. 29 Academic Dishonesty If a student is caught cheating, fails to follow the rules or is deliberately disrupting an examination, the supervisor of the examination may immediately terminate the examination for the student in question. In such cases, and in cases where cheating is suspected, the supervisor must submit a report on the incident. All theses at Hanken shall be subject to detection of plagiarism before being approved. If it is discovered that a student has cheated during any form of examination, the examiner shall fail that student. A student guilty of academic dishonesty can be given a warning by the Rector or be suspended by the Board for a fixed period of time, one year at the most. Before a disciplinary matter of this nature is dealt with, the student must be notified of the nature of the accusation and given an opportunity to be heard. If a visiting student engages in serious academic dishonesty, the student s home university may be notified. Chapter 7 Certificates and Degree Certificates
30 Transcripts of Academic Records Students have the right at any time to obtain a transcript from the study records. Transcripts are given in Swedish and English. The transcript contains the completed courses that have been registered in the study records, and is not adjusted to meet various requirements. A transcript can, however, be issued separately for studies included in a degree and for studies not included in a degree. 31 Final Grade on the Degree Certificate For the study modules in the major and minor subjects a final grade is calculated based on the assessed weighted average per credit point for the courses assessed. Courses at the advanced level are given the weight 2. The assessments of the Bachelor s and Master s theses are not included in the weighted averages. Their assessment is stated separately. 32 Degree Certificate Studies completed beyond the degree requirements can be tied to the degree and be noted on the degree certificate on request. A transcript of the academic records and a Diploma Supplement in English are attached to the degree certificate. Chapter 8 Supplementary Directions 33 Exceptions The Rector may permit exceptions from these instructions where there is due cause.