Further training

Postgraduate studies at universities

The Master's degree can be followed by a professional licentiate degree. The Licentiate of Social Sciences programme consists of 120 credits.

The specialisation options in the professional licentiate degree are social work with children and youth, empowering social work, social work in the area of marginalisation, social welfare services, and communal social work. The degree student familiarises himself/herself with the scientific knowledge of his/her specialised field and acquires the knowledge and skills necessary in this field. The degree comprises a thesis on a subject related to the student's research field. The studies are free of charge and can be pursued while working.

Apart from the professional licentiate degree it is possible to take a scientific licentiate degree and a doctoral degree.

For more detailed information on university postgraduate studies, please contact the universities providing degree programmes in social work or visit the web site of the Finnish National University Network for Social Work: www.sosnet.fi

PD programmes

In addition to postgraduate studies universities offer professional development or PD programmes mainly for holders of a Master's degree. These programmes are designed to build up and deepen professional competence.

Postgraduate studies at polytechnics

After acquiring some practical work experience, polytechnic graduates can choose to deepen their professional competence by pursuing further studies and taking a second-cycle polytechnic degree. The trial period for awarding second-cycle polytechnic degrees started in 2002 and ended in July 2005; the second-cycle polytechnic degree was then established as the polytechnic Master's degree (Act 411/2005). The second-cycle degree programmes consist of 90 credits. You are eligible for a second-cycle polytechnic degree if you have completed a first-cycle polytechnic degree or other relevant academic degree and have three years' work experience.

According to the Ministry of Education, the objective of studies leading to a second-cycle polytechnic degree is to provide the student with:

• broad and advanced knowledge and skills for developing the professional field as well as the theoretical skills for working in demanding expert and leadership positions in the field;
• a profound understanding of the field, its relation to the world of work and the society at large as well as the knowledge and skills needed for following and analysing the theoretical and professional developments in the field;
• a capacity for life-long learning and the continuous development of his/her own expertise;
• good language and communication skills required in the world of work and the knowledge and skills needed to interact and conduct professional activities in an international context

The second-cycle polytechnic degrees in the field of social services are:

Master of Health Care
Master of Social Services and Health Care
Master of Social Services

For further information on second-cycle polytechnic degrees, please visit:
www.ylempiamk.fi
www.minedu.fi

Continuing education and specialisation studies

In addition to degree-oriented postgraduate studies, universities and polytechnics offer specialisation studies of a varying scale. Specialisation studies deepen the student's professional competence. Specialisation studies provided as continuing education are subject to a fee and can be pursued while working. Detailed information on the various possibilities for continuing education can be found on the web sites of universities and polytechnics. A list of their network addresses can be accessed through www.edu.fi/koulut or through the joint network service of the extension studies provided by Finnish universities: www.taydennyskoulutus.fi

The right to continuing professional education is provided by law

The Act amending the Social Welfare Act (50/2005) came into force 1st August, 2005. The Act applies to social welfare personnel employed by the municipalities and defines the obligation to provide continuing professional education. The Act requires the employer to organise continuing education for the employees to the average extent of 3 to 10 days every year. The cost of the education is borne by the employer, and the time spent is counted as working time. Although the Act does not apply to private social services, there is no reason for the private and third sectors not to act in accordance with its provisions.