Credit transfer for competence
Identification of elsewhere acquired competence refers to the measures enabling credit transfer for competence acquired by the student in diverse manners. The competence acquisition methods (e.g. studies, courses, work experience) affect which methods are reliable in demonstrating the competence. The most common competence demonstration methods are e.g. skills tests, portfolios, assignments, and examinations. By these means you demonstrates that you have attained the learning outcomes of the course. It is your responsibility to take the initiative to credit transfer for competence.
You are entitled to apply for recognition of elsewhere acquired competence, regardless of where and how it has been acquired. The recognised competence must conform to the learning outcomes of the degree programme courses. It is your responsibility to demonstrate and verify the competence and provide sufficient information.
The competence is identified and recognised by the teacher in charge of the studies. Assessment follows the same assessment criteria and scale as is followed in courses with corresponding learning outcomes.
The competence identification methods and number of studies to be approved through competence tests are defined in each degree programme following TAMK's general definitions of policy. The decision on recognition of competence is made at the beginning of the studies or at the latest before the beginning of the study module. Some of TAMK's degree programmes may exceptionally have such separately defined studies that cannot be transferred. Students can have information on these exceptions from the student counsellor or teacher tutor.
These guidelines can be further specified with degree program specific instructions. Faculty-specific guidelines will be updated on this page during autumn 2025.
You can find the instructions for submitting a CreTa application at the bottom of this page.
Credit Transfer Process for Competence
A) Creating the individual study plan and comparing acquired competence with curriculum´s learning outcomes
You make your individual study plan right at the beginning of studies with the student counsellor or teacher tutor. Your previous competence and the possibilities for credit transfer in the current degree programme are established in the guidance discussion. The prerequisite for credit transfer is that the competence corresponds to the curriculum´s learning outcomes and is still up to date.
B) Submitting the credit transfer application for studies in the CreTa accreditation system
The student makes a proposal on competence to be transferred with the credit transfer application. The application with its appendices is delivered to the teacher in charge of the course or study module a minimum of 3 weeks before the beginning of the course.
C) Credit transfer decision and demonstration of competence
The teacher in charge of the course or studies makes the decision on credit transfer. If the student's competence conforms to the learning outcomes of the course (i.e. the competence can be identified), it can be recognised and transferred. Otherwise, you can be asked to supplement your competence or participate in the ordinary course implementation. You demonstrate the elsewhere acquired competence according to the plan made by the teacher in charge of the course or studies. On request, you can receive support from the teacher in charge of the course or studies for preparing the needed documentation or performance. The credit transfer process can also be considered as a part of the learning process.
If the credit transfer is only accepted partly and/or you are requested to supplement your competence with a competence test, you must deliver the decision to the teacher of the implementation or the teacher receiving the competence test. This is because the teacher in charge of the course/study module is not necessarily the same person as the teacher in charge of the implementation.
D) Assessment
The teacher in charge of the course or studies assesses the prior competence. The assessment is based on equivalence comparison between the experience-based or related competence and the study-based competence. Assessment of prior competence covers the acceptability, sufficiency, reliability, and up-to-dateness of the competence demonstration in comparison with the learning outcomes of the course.
E) Entry of the course to the study register
The teacher in charge of the course enters the transferred courses to PAKKI as other study performances in accordance with the assessment plan. The teacher must preserve the assessment criteria and study performances for a year as stated in the degree regulations.
F) Amendment request
If the student is not satisfied with the credit transfer decision, (s)he can make an amendment request in accordance with the instructions given in TAMK's degree regulations (26 §).