Program Overview

Introduction to the Pedagogical Studies Arranged in English (STEP Programme)

The Subject Teacher Education Programme (STEP) contains the Pedagogical Studies for Teachers arranged in English. The Programme helps the future teacher to develop into a professional in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and development of teaching.

What are the STEP Studies?

Study Objectives

Subject teachers in Comprehensive Schools and Upper-Secondary Schools must have completed, among other things, the Pedagogical Studies for Teachers as defined in the Decrees No 986/1998.

The Subject Teacher Education Programme (STEP) is the Pedagogical Studies for Teachers arranged in English complying with the Decree requirements.

The Subject Teacher Education Programme (STEP) contains the Pedagogical Studies for Teachers arranged in English. The Programme helps the future teacher to develop into a professional in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and development of teaching.

Please read more about the of the Programme. It is not a Master's degree Programme and does not lead to a university degree.

The extent of the Programme is 60 credits which corresponds to a work load of one full academic year. The academic year runs from 1 August to 31 July but the compulsory attendance is required from the last week of August until the end of May.

Even if the Programme can be completed in one academic year the non-degree students are automatically given a study right for two years. The Programme does not lead to an academic degree but it is required for subject teacher qualification in Finland.

There are no tuition fees connected to the Programme, but on the other hand, the University is not able to provide any financial support to its students.

The STEP Programme is open to those

• who have already completed an appropriate Master’s level degree at a Finnish university or abroad (= non-degree applicants), and who have already completed sufficient studies at least in one of the teaching subjects covered by the Programme. The Master's level degree students at the University of Helsinki can also apply.

More information on the selection criteria and procedure can be found on the Studyinfo.fi in November 2025.

Possible Ways to Show Sufficient Language Proficiency

• IELTS Academic
  • Minimum requirement: Overall score 6.5, with a minimum score of 6.0 in the writing section.
• TOEFL
  • Minimum requirement: TOEFL iBT (Internet-based) 92, a minimum score of 22 in the writing section
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) or C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE)
  • Minimum requirement: for C1 Advanced (formerly CAE): Pass levels A, B or C
• PTE Academic
  • Minimum requirement: Overall score 62, with a minimum score of 54 in each communicative skills section (listening, reading, speaking and writing).
• National Certificate of Language Proficiency (= yleinen kielikoe, YKI)
  • Minimum requirement: Skills level 5 in the reading comprehension, writing, and speaking subtests.
• Upper-secondary schooling in English
  • You can prove your language skills with upper-secondary education conducted in English in the following countries: Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States of America.
• International Baccalaureate
  • You can prove your language skills with the or the , if your programme has been completed in English.
• European Baccalaureate
  • You can prove your language skills with the European Baccalaureate. The following grades are accepted as proof of language skills: European Baccalaureate with English as the L1 language with an approved grade, minimum grade of 4 if the examination was taken before 2021, minimum grade of 5 if the examination was taken in 2021.
• University degree completed in English
  • You can prove your language skills with a university degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree, or polytechnic/university of applied science degree) completed in English in one of the following countries: EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States of America.
• Language studies in English completed as a part of a Finnish university degree
  • You can prove your language skills with a degree completed in a Finnish university or university of applied sciences if you have demonstrated foreign language proficiency in the English language in accordance with the Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004) or University of Applied Sciences Degrees (1129/2014).
• Degree completed in a Finnish university with English as a major subject
  • You can prove your language skills with a degree completed at a Finnish university with English as the major subject.
• English as a teaching subject
  • You can prove your language skills with an Equivalency Certificate in English which you have already received or will receive during your studies.

Instructions for Application Attachments

You may attach the required documents electronically in your application. Alternatively, you can submit the required documents in paper.

Officially Certified Copies

All the admitted students may be asked to send original or official, legalised copies of the documents used the application process.

A document copy can be certified as follows:

• The educational institution certifies the copy.
• A certifies the copy.
• The copy is legalised.

Authorised Translation

A translation is considered an authorised translation only if it was done by an authorised translator or the educational institution that awarded the document.

Legalisation

If you cannot obtain officially certified copies of your academic documents from the awarding institution, you may submit legalised copies of your academic documents.

Submitting Documents

You are always responsible for the arrival of documents at Admission Services by the set deadline. This is also the case if you do not deliver the documents yourself.

The easiest and most secure way to submit the required documents is to attach them electronically in your application. The documents do not have to be officially certified.

However, the applicants have also the right to submit the documents in paper but it is not recommended. The paper documents must be sent by post or courier, or dropped off in the designated letterbox.