Workload and credit points

The programme structure, the modules of the degrees and module sizes (duration and number of ECTS credits) are described in detail in the Study Guide (Appendix ENV1). Some courses in the undergraduate level are incorporated to the Master’s Degree programme. These courses are Elective studies and provided by other Degree Programmes.

3.2 Workload and credit points

The basic unit to evaluate the workload of the studies is one credit point. A module is scored by the workload required to pass it. To complete the studies of one academic year requires on average 1600 hours, which corresponds to 60 ECTS credits (Appendix C2, Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004).

One credit point equals to approximately 26 hours workload, including face-to-face teaching hours, individual studying, as well as preparation for and taking part in the examinations. In the study guide also the individual work required from the student will be presented.

The total value of obligatory practical training in the Bachelor’s degree is 2 ECTS credits, corresponding four full-time working weeks. In the Master’s degree, the total value of obligatory practical training is 2 ECTS credits. 16 full-time working weeks correspond to 8 ECTS credits.

The study guides (curricula) present how the tuition (module) is divided between the study years.

The scheduling of modules is planned accordingly.

The Degree Programme is composed so that by following the study guide, the degrees can be completed within the standard period of study (i.e., it is possible to take 60 credits per year on average), and the maximum of 75 credits is not exceeded in any year (Appendix ENV4).

Students’ individual workloads per semester might vary depending on the workload of elective studies, which they have selected. Examples of study plans in Appendix ENV12 show how the workload is divided during each semester.

If a student conducts studies in another university or educational institute in Finland or abroad, he/she can request the Head of the degree programme to credit the studies taken elsewhere. A student can credit and replace study modules also by knowledge gained otherwise. Knowledge can be proved by an oral or written examination. Also portfolios are in use as a means to validate the prior gained knowledge. Still, at least 90 ECTS credits of the Bachelor’s degree (including the Bachelor’s Thesis) and 70 ECTS credits of the Master’s degree, including at least 45 ECTS credits of major subject studies, including the Master’s Thesis, have to be passed at LUT.

More detailed description of the credit point system and inclusion of studies in other institutions are presented in the University Regulations on Education and the Completion of Studies (Appendix C4).

3.2.1 Workload and credit points in Bachelor’s Degree

The workload for the Bachelor’s degree is presented in Table 4. The detailed workload analysis can be found in AppendixENV4. The academic year consists of four periods.

The elective studies are not included to the workload analysis in Table 4, because the student can choose to the elective studies any course taught at LUT according to his/her interest. The elective studies are recommended to be conducted in B.Sc.2 or B.Sc.3 on the basis of the workload analysis. The Bachelor thesis and seminar (10 ECTS cr) is dated to B.Sc. 3 periods 1.-4.

The workload of practical training (2 ECTS cr) is also omitted from the calculations, because it is usually completed during the summer holidays.

Table 4.Workload per the year of study and periods, Bachelor’s degree

Summary, obligatory studies 145

Elective studies 35

Minor subject 2: B.Sc. 1, obligatory studies 59 18,5 13,5 13,5 13 HVAC Engineering B.Sc. 2, obligatory studies 56 11,5 14,5 20,5 18,5 (GS + MS incl.) B.Sc. 3, obligatory studies 32 10,5 7,5 7 7

Summary, obligatory studies 147

Elective studies 33

Minor subject 3: B.Sc. 1, obligatory studies 56 18,5 13,5 10,5 13 Green Chemistry B.Sc. 2, obligatory studies 66 15,5 18,5 21 20 (GS + MS incl.) B.Sc. 3, obligatory studies 22 5,5 2,5 7 7

Summary, obligatory studies 144

Elective studies 36

Minor subject 4: B.Sc. 1, obligatory studies 56 18,5 13,5 10,5 13 Sustainable Business B.Sc. 2, obligatory studies 52 17,5 14,5 14 15 Management B.Sc. 3, obligatory studies 39 10,5 8,5 10 10 (GS + MS incl.) Summary, obligatory studies 147

Elective studies 33

On the basis of the workload analysis, in B.Sc. 2, the spring term (periods 3 and 4) is more stressing than the autumn (periods 1 and 2). For this reason, elective studies are recommended to be completed especially during the autumn term in B.Sc. 2 and during B.Sc. 3. The workload analysis demonstrates that the second year (B.Sc. 2) of the students with the minor Green Chemistry is slightly overloaded (66 ECTS cr). The transfer of the minor subject course

”BJ70A0701 Analytical Methods in Industry and Environment I” to B.Sc. 3 is being considered.

Otherwise, the workload analysis indicates that the studies are distributed along the studies very uniformly.

3.2.1 Workload and credit points in Master’s Degree

The workload for the Master’s degree is presented in Table 5. The detailed workload analysis can be found in AppendixENV4.

The general studies and some minor subjects include also some elective studies, which the student must choose from the lists presented in Study Guide. The elective studies (which can be any courses taught at LUT) are not included to the workload analysis in Table 5, because the student can choose the courses according to his/her interest. The elective studies are recommended to be conducted in both M.Sc. 1 and 2 on the basis of the workload analysis. The Master’s thesis and seminar (30 ECTS cr) are completed in the periods 3 and 4 in M.Sc. 2. The workload of practical training (2 ECTS cr) is also omitted from the calculations, because it is usually completed during the summer holidays.

Table 5.Workload per the year of study and periods, Master’s degree

Summary (GS + MS incl.) Summary, obligatory studies 94

Elective studies 26

Workload analysis showed a few development areas in the curriculum. The course "Chemical Reaction Engineering" will be transferred to M.Sc. 2 (academic year 2012-2013), because it should be studied after all the other chemistry courses. It would also be better to organize the course "Energy Efficient Environment" and the Green Chemistry courses (Advanced Course of Green Chemistry and Methods of Green Chemistry in Environmental Technology) in periods 1 and 2. Thus there would be more time for the Master's Thesis in periods 3 and 4. It should also be considered, whether one of these Green Chemistry courses could be transferred to M.Sc. 1.

The above mentioned changes to the curriculum are being considered.