Pedagogical studies

Published 14.11.2022 | Updated 17.12.2025

Qualification requirements for various institutions

Pedagogical studies are a requirement for a teacher’s qualification at the following institutions:

• Liberal adult education (adult education centres, folk high schools) 
• Conservatories (music and dance) 
• Comprehensive school 
• General upper secondary school

In addition to pedagogical studies, teachers are also required to have a higher education degree. At comprehensive schools and general upper secondary schools, a teacher is also required to have completed studies in the teaching subject, which at the Sibelius Academy are completed in the Degree Programme in Music Education. The studies are completed in accordance with the contents approved by Tampere University. Read more about the qualification requirements for educational institutions.

Theatre Academy’s pedagogical studies

At the Theatre Academy, pedagogical studies for teachers are included in the curricula of the Master’s Degree Programmes in Dance Pedagogy and Theatre Pedagogy.

Sibelius Academy’s pedagogical studies

The scope of pedagogical studies for teachers is 60 ECTS credits, and they provide a general pedagogical qualification. At the Sibelius Academy, pedagogical studies can be completed in two ways:

1. In the Degree Programme in Music Education

The studies are included as compulsory in the bachelor’s and master’s curricula of the Degree Programme in Music Education. Note that the 2.5-year master’s degree programme does not include the studies in question. You can ask for more information on the studies from the study coordinator of the Department of Music Education.

Read more about pedagogical studies in the Study Guide.

2. As part of master’s studies in other degree programmes

The 60-credit study module in teacher’s pedagogical studies is included in the master’s degree and designed for other students of the Sibelius Academy than music education students. The studies are either compulsory or alternative and elective studies, depending on the degree structure of the degree programme. You can ask more information on the studies from the study coordinator for pedagogical studies.

Pedagogical studies lead to the general teaching qualification in Finland (liberal adult education and conservatoires). You should find out from your home country how you can utilise this study module for your own country’s teacher qualifications.

Read more about pedagogical studies in the Study Guide.

Application

The application period for the studies beginning in autumn 2026 runs from 23 February to 6 March 2026.

You can apply for the studies at the end of your bachelor’s degree and before beginning your master’s degree. You should have completed pedagogy 1 for your own instrument or voice, or similar pedagogy studies offered by your own department. The application concerns the subject studies of the study module, comprising 35 credits.

How to apply

1. Read more about the study module in the study guide.
2. Participate in an info session where the teacher responsible for the module talks about the pedagogical studies and answers questions in Finnish and English. The info will be held on Zoom during the week starting on 23 February.
3. Fill in the electronic application form.
4. Discuss the inclusion of the study module in your degree with your PSP advisor. 
5. You will receive an invitation to a group interview. The interviews will be held on 23 March and 25 March 2026. Write a motivation letter for the interview by 19 March.
6. Once you have been admitted to participate in the studies, register for the next academic year’s courses in Peppi 10.-29.4.2026.

Complete pedagogical studies based on a continued right to study

The study module of teachers’ pedagogical studies is usually included as part of your bachelor’s and master’s degree. If it is not possible for you to complete the entire study module of 60 credits within the normative time frame of 2.5 years for a master’s degree, you can complement your studies based on a continued right to study.

Read more about the continued right to study

If you graduated within the normative duration of studies, it is possible for you to complete the remaining studies of the study module based on a continued right to study, including the pedagogical studies (21 cr) that are part of the core studies of your major subject/degree programme and that include individual teaching/supervision (teaching practice).

If you did not graduate within the normative duration of studies, it is possible for you to complete the remaining studies of the study module based on a continued right to study, excluding the pedagogical studies (21 cr) that are part of the core studies of your major subject/degree programme and that include individual teaching/supervision (teaching practice).

You must apply for the study module during your degree studies. After your continued right to study has expired, you cannot complete studies at the Sibelius Academy through the Open University.

You will receive a separate certificate of the studies you completed for the study module based on a continued right to study.

Pedagogical studies as part of major subjects

At the Sibelius Academy, major subject studies may include pedagogical studies of varying scope that do not provide the general pedagogical qualification mentioned above. These studies may include teacher training. 

Degree programmes’ pedagogical studies provide students with means for practising self-reflection, developing interactive teaching skills and familiarising themselves with the pedagogical environment of their own instrument. The studies support the overall development of the student as a musician and an artist. 

You can ask for more information about completing pedagogical studies as part of your major subject from the study coordinator of your own department.

Forms related to pedagogical studies

To complete pedagogical studies at the Sibelius Academy, you must submit forms to complete teacher training and to monitor lessons. You can download and print the forms through the link below.

Practice pupils in pedagogical studies

Students at the Sibelius Academy prepare for working as instrument or vocal teachers by completing a teaching practice. During the practice period, students teach practice pupils with the support of a supervising teacher.

Complete pedagogical studies of your major subject based on a continued right to study

You can complete pedagogical studies of your major subject/degree programme based on a continued right to study at the Sibelius Academy.

How to credit trans­fer pedagogical stud­ies

If you have completed the 60-credit module of teachers’ pedagogical studies as non-degree studies or as part of some other degree completed at a higher education institution, you can include these studies in your bachelor’s and/or master’s degree that you are pursuing at the Sibelius Academy.

Non-degree pedagogical studies for teachers

Non-degree pedagogical studies for teachers are intended to be completed after earning a degree in the arts. 

The studies are intended for persons with a master’s degree or an equivalent degree in performing arts, music or visual arts and who wish to improve their pedagogical competence in the arts. A bachelor-level degree does not grant eligibility to apply.

Criminal record checks

The university has the obligation to check students’ criminal records

As of 1 August 2025 and on behalf of Tampere University, Uniarts Helsinki is obligated to check extracts from criminal records of new students who have been selected to complete teachers’ pedagogical studies (60 cr) and whose practice periods involve work with minors. The checking is related to the legislation concerning unsuitability for studies, aka SORA legislation, which obliges Tampere University and concerns teacher education, for example.

At the Sibelius Academy, the extract from criminal records is checked also from students who will be participating in courses (that include a practice period with minors) as part of teachers’ pedagogical studies (60 cr) before they have been selected to complete the aforementioned study module.

The extract is checked by the academic affairs team of the academy or unit at the start of studies and at least by the time the student begins their first practice period or study unit involving work with minors. If the student does not present an extract from their criminal records before the start of their first practice period or study unit involving work with minors, they cannot be allowed to participate in the studies in question.

The extract from criminal records is checked once during the completion of the study module. If a student’s studies do not include a practice period that involves work with minors, their criminal records are not checked. 

Instructions for students for ordering an extract from the criminal records

• Order an extract from your criminal record from the Legal Register Centre. Extracts from the criminal records for working with children – Legal Register Centre.
• International students may request so-called exchange of information when they request an extract so that the data is shown on a Finnish criminal record extract. However, only an extract from the Legal Register Centre is checked when checking extracts concerning international students.
• The extract from the criminal records must not be older than 6 months. The extract is delivered free of charge to the student.

Procedure for checking the extract

The extract from criminal records is checked by the academic affairs team of the academy or unit at the start of studies or at least by the time the student begins their first practice period or study unit involving work with minors.

The person who checks the extract is typically the planning officer of the programme.

The extract is presented in person either in electronic format or as a paper copy. Due to data protection and information security reasons, the extract cannot be sent by email. It cannot be checked on Teams or Zoom either.

The person checking the extract returns the document back to the student after it has been checked.

The academic affairs team of the academy or the unit only checks the extracts that do not state offences defined by law. If the extract reveals offences defined by law, the student agrees on the extract check procedure with the legal counsel of Tampere University, tuomo.ratinen@tuni.fi. If a situation arises where a student’s right to study would have to be revoked on the basis of the SORA legislation, Tampere University will take care of the process.