Student appeals and rectification rights
What kind of decisions does the university make concerning students and how can I request rectification of decisions that concern me?
University decisions concerning students
Decisions concerning students are made at different stages of studies. Decisions concerning students are usually administrative decisions. Administrative decisions concerning the student at the university include student admission, loss of the right to study, granting additional time for studies, granting a degree, assessment and disciplinary decisions, among others.
Administrative decisions are given in writing, they must be justified, and they must be accompanied by details on how to request rectification or appeal the decision.
The student has the right to be heard on any report that the decision-maker obtains.
The student has the right to request rectification
Students may request rectification for or appeal an administrative decision concerning them in accordance with sections 82–84 of the Universities Act. Rectification matters refer to requests for rectification addressed to Uniarts Helsinki and appeals refer to claims brought before the Administrative Court.
According to section 82 of the Universities Act (558/2009), matters subject to the rectification procedure, i.e. requests for rectification submitted to Uniarts Helsinki, include student admission, forfeiture of the study right, the grading of study attainments and theses/dissertations/final projects, or recognition of prior learning. A decision for which rectification may be requested under section 82 of the Universities Act may not be brought before the Administrative Court until after the rectification procedure has been completed.
Other administrative decisions and decisions issued in the rectification procedure are appealed directly with the Administrative Court. The competent administrative court is the Helsinki Administrative Court.
The appeal instructions attached to the decision indicate where the appeal must be lodged and how the appeal should be requested. Appeals on decisions concerning the assessment of completed courses may not be brought before the Administrative Court.
Situations in which a request for rectification or appeal may be made
Below are typical situations concerning students for which a request for rectification or an appeal may be made.
Student admission decisions
Under section 82(1) of the Universities Act (558/2009), you may request rectification of a student admission decision from Uniarts Helsinki. A written request for rectification of the admission decision may be submitted within 14 days of the date on which the decision was issued.
Applications for a study extension, i.e. forfeiture of the right to study
Students may apply for an extension to complete their studies if the statutory study period is about to end. If an extension is not granted, the decision may be appealed under section 82(2) of the Universities Act (558/2009) within 14 days of the decision date, as laid down in the Administrative Procedure Act. The date on which the decision is issued is not included in setting the appeal period.
Grading of study attainments or theses/dissertations/final projects
Study attainments refer to a study unit completed in accordance with the curriculum, whose scope is defined as ECTS credits. A study attainment may also refer to recognised prior learning or other competence required by the curriculum. For the sake of clarity, it must be stated that theses at the Master’s, Licentiate or doctoral level are also considered completed courses, but these are subject to partially different appeal rules.
At Uniarts Helsinki, study attainments are graded in accordance with section 44 of the Universities Act and in greater detail according to the principles of the University of the Arts Helsinki Education Regulations.
Students who are dissatisfied with the grading of their study attainments or who have other problems with their study attainments should first discuss the matter with the teacher of the study unit in question. If the situation cannot be resolved in this way, the student should then contact the Head of Academic Affairs of their academy.
Students have the right to obtain information on how grading criteria are applied to their study attainments. Students must be given an opportunity to see the graded written or otherwise recorded study attainment. Written and otherwise recorded study attainments must be retained for a minimum of six months from the announcement of the result (section 44 of the Universities Act).
Results of study attainments must be reported no later than 4 weeks after an exam is taken or the date on which another study attainment is submitted. When the result cannot be reported within a fixed period for a valid reason, the new notification date must be announced before the end of the fixed period. Study attainments are recorded without delay after the results have been reported. Data protection legislation and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities apply to the processing of study attainment data.
Students must monitor their own study attainments in the record of credits and point out when study attainments have not been entered into the record of credits on time. Finding old records afterwards is difficult and time-consuming. It should also be noted that the exam papers are kept for a limited period of time (minimum 6 months), so it may be too late to enquire about a missing exam grade in December, for example.
Rectification of a study attainment grade (other than a Master’s, Licentiate or doctoral thesis)
Under section 82(4) of the Universities Act, a student dissatisfied with the grading of a study attainment other than a doctoral dissertation, licentiate thesis or equivalent final project may submit a rectification request orally or in writing to the teacher who decided on the grade. The rectification request must be made within 14 days of the date on which the information about the grades or the application of the grading criteria to the student’s study attainment became accessible to the student.
A student dissatisfied with the decision regarding the request for rectification may appeal the matter to the Academic Appeals Board of the University of the Arts Helsinki within 14 days of receiving notification of the teacher’s decision.
A decision made in the rectification procedure concerning the study attainment grade and recognition of prior learning may not be brought before the Administrative Court for appeal.
Assessment of theses (Master’s, Licentiate and doctoral level thesis)
In this context, thesis refers to a Master’s, Licentiate and doctoral thesis. The thesis assessment is issued in writing. Instructions for requesting a rectification from the University of the Arts Helsinki Academic Appeals Board must be attached to the thesis assessment.
Under section 82(4) of the Universities Act, a student dissatisfied with the grading of a doctoral dissertation, licentiate thesis or equivalent final project, or graduate thesis for advanced studies or corresponding study attainment, may lodge a rectification request with an administrative body designated by the university within 14 days, as laid down in the Administrative Procedure Act. At Uniarts Helsinki, requests for rectification are processed by the Academic Appeals Board. The request for rectification must be submitted within 14 days of being notified of the decision in question. For further information on requesting rectification in study matters, contact the Head of Academic Affairs.
A written request for rectification is addressed to the University of the Arts Helsinki Academic Appeals Board.
A decision made in the rectification procedure concerning the study attainment grade may not be brought before the Administrative Court for appeal.