Faculty of Information Sciences
Mailing address
Faculty Office, Faculty of Information Sciences
FI-33014 University of Tampere, Finland
Visiting address
Kanslerinrinne 1, Pinni B building, 3rd floor (from 6 August, 2009)
Tel. 03-3551 7078 and 03-3551 8329 Faculty Office
Fax 03-3551 4002
E-mail informaatiotieteiden.tiedekunta (at) uta.fi
http://www.uta.fi/tiedekunnat/inf/inenglish.html
ABOUT THIS GUIDE: This Guide is based on the Faculty of Information Sciences Study Guide given in Finnish. This version has been translated and edited with the Faculty’s international – both degree and exchange – students in mind. Those sections which do not apply to exchange students are marked with ‘degree students only’.
Faculty of Information Sciences in Brief
The Faculty of Information Sciences offers an excellent selection of fields of science which examine information from different points of view. The faculty produces research and education in the fields of Computer Science, Interactive Technology, Information Studies, Hypermedia, Mathematics, and Statistics. The research and teaching in the faculty are aimed at fulfilling the increasing demands for information technology in modern society.
The main language of teaching is Finnish but three Master degree programmes and some Bachelor level course units are offered with English as the medium of instruction.
All activities at the University of Tampere are governed by the Universities Act as well as the University of Tampere regulations. The decision-making bodies of the faculty are the Faculty Council and the Dean who is the chair of the Council. A list of the members of the Faculty Council is available in the Faculty Office. The university regulations define in detail the responsibilities of the Faculty Council and the Dean.
The Head of Faculty Administration and the Head of Study Affairs of the faculty prepare the issues discussed in the meetings of the Faculty Council and the issues which are decided by the Dean.
The staff of the Faculty Office:
• Head of Faculty Administration, Ms. Marja Liisa Nurmi
• Head of Study Affairs, Ms. Taru Koskinen
• International officer, Ms. Kirsi Tuominen, kirsi-marja.tuominen (at) uta.fi (more contact info below)
• Department secretary, Ms. Minna Heinonen
• Administrative secretary, Ms. Mirja Björk, on leave of absence until 31 Dec. 2010, acting secretary Ms. Sivi Aalto
• Student advisor, Mr. Ville-Matti Erkintalo
Departments of the Faculty
Department of Computer Sciences
Tel. (03) 3551 6616 Department Office
Fax (03) 3551 6070
Department of Information Studies and Interactive Media
Tel. (03) 3551 6970 Department Office
Fax (03) 3551 6560
http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/infim/english.php
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Tel. (03) 3551 6321, (03) 3551 7342 Department Office
http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/mattiet/english.php
Hypermedia Laboratory
See Department of Information Studies and Interactive Media
The departments are governed by the Department Council and the Head of the Department, who is the chair of the council. A list of the members of the Department Council can be seen in the department offices. The issues discussed by the Department Council are usually prepared by the amanuensis of the department.
Degrees and Subjects of the Faculty
In the Faculty of Information Sciences, the following degrees can be taken:
Undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science
The Bachelor of Science degree is a lower university degree of 180 ECTS credits (Decree 794/2004).
The Master of Science is a higher university degree of 120 ECTS credits (Decree 794/2004).
Postgraduate degrees: Licentiate of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy
Subjects:
The following fields of science can be major subjects in the degrees awarded by the Faculty:
Computer Science
Information Studies
Interactive Technology
Mathematics
Statistics
In the following subjects, basic and Intermediate Studies can be completed as a minor subject:
Hypermedia
Physics (at TUT)
Chemistry (at TUT)
Separate Study Modules (can be taken as minor subjects):
Study Module on Records and Document Management
Study Module on Library Services and Cultural Activities
Study Module on Information and Knowledge Management
Study Module of Information Service
Language Technology
Subjects and Study Modules of the Faculty and the Departments Responsible for the Tuition
Department of Information Studies and Interactive Media
Major subjects Information Studies
Study modules
Study Module on Records and Document Management
Study Module on Library Services and Cultural Activities
Study Module on Information and Knowledge Management
Study Module of Information Service
Language Technology
Other subjects Hypermedia
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Major subjects Mathematics
Statistics
Other subjects Physics (at TUT)
Chemistry (at TUT)
Department of Computer Sciences
Major subjects Computer Science
Interactive Technology
Study counselling
Study counselling for degree students: Master’s degree programmes given in English
Study counselling is given by the Master’s degree programme tutor teachers and the International officer of the Faculty Office. For contact information please see below.
Department of Computer Sciences
Programme tutor teachers
Ms. Zheying Zhang (M.Sc. Programme in Software Development)
Pinni B Building, room B1034
Tel. 03-3551 4045
E-mail zheying.zhang (at) uta.fi
Mr. Poika Isokoski (M.Sc. Programme in User Interface Software Development; M.Sc. Programme in Interactive Technology)
Pinni B Building, room B1040
Tel. 03-3551 8561
E-mail poika.isokoski (at) cs.uta.fi
Departmental amanuensis (study affairs)
Ms. Heli Rikala (on leave of absence), acting amanuensis Mr. Henri Kynsilehto
Pinni B Building, room B1024
Tel. 03-3551 8566
E-mail studies (at) cs.uta.fi
Faculty Office, International officer
Ms. Kirsi Tuominen
Pinni B Building, room B3141 (from 6 August, 2009)
Tel. 03-3551 7036
E-mail kirsi-marja.tuominen (at) uta.fi
Study counselling for exchange students
Exchange and visiting students should contact the departmental advisers of their department. For contact information please see below.
Department of Computer Sciences
Ms. Minna Parviainen
Pinni B Building, room B1025
Tel. 03-3551 7060
E-mail minna.k.parviainen (at) uta.fi
Department of Information Studies and Interactive Media
Ms. Raija Aaltonen
Pinni A Building, room A4048
Tel. 03-3551 7039
E-mail raija.aaltonen (at) uta.fi
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Mr. Juha Sillanpää (Mathematics)
Due to move during summer 2009, please check the room
Tel. 03-3551 6255
E-mail juha.sillanpaa (at) uta.fi
Mr. Jyrki Ollikainen (Statistics)
Due to move during summer 2009, please check the room
Tel. 03-3551 6426
E-mail jyrki.ollikainen (at) uta.fi
Hypermedia
See Department of Information Studies and Interactive Media
General information on studies
1 Degree structure
A new degree system took effect at the Finnish Universities in August 2005. The extent of a degree is given in credits (in Finnish opintopiste). Finnish credits are ECTS compatible, i.e. one Finnish credit corresponds to one ECTS credit. The minimum requirement for a lower university degree, Bachelor’s degree (=first cycle), is 180 credits. The extent of studies leading to a higher university degree, Master’s degree (=second cycle), is 120 credits.
As of 1 August 2008 all students in the Faculty of Information Sciences - also those who started before 2005 – came under the new system and conduct their studies according to the new regulations. For more information on the degree structure reform please see http://www.uta.fi/studies/legislation/.
The current degree structure regarding Bachelor and Master degrees is as follows:
Bachelor of Science degree: 180 ECTS credits (approximately 3 years of studies)
- Studies in the major subject: Basic Studies and Intermediate Studies (a minimum of 60 ECTS credits)
- Studies in the minor subjects: one or more subjects; one minor subject must be studied at least 25 ECTS credits
- Language and Communication studies
- General studies
- Bachelor’s degree gives eligibility for Master level studies
Master of Science degree: 120 ECTS credits (approximately 2 years of studies)
- Studies in the major subject: the Advanced Studies in the major subject (usually a minimum of 80 ECTS credits); the Master’s thesis (usually 40 ECTS credits) is included in the Advanced Studies
- Minor subject studies (in the Master’s degree programmes can be included in the Other studies)
- In Master’s degree programmes given in English also General studies and Language/Communication studies are required
- Master’s degree gives eligibility for postgraduate (Doctoral) studies
In the Faculty of Information Sciences, the Department of Computer Sciences offers three Master’s degree programmes given in English:
• Master’s Degree Programme in Software Development (major: Computer Science)
• Master’s Degree Programme in User Interface Software Development (major: Interactive Technology)
• Master’s Degree Programme in Interactive Technology (major: Interactive Technology)
The extent of the Master programmes is 120 ECTS credits. The programmes consist of three components:
- Advanced level courses in computer sciences 40 ECTS
- Master’s thesis 40 ECTS
- Other studies 40 ECTS (including General studies, Language/Communication studies, optional studies and possible complementing studies)
2 Credits and workload
The average input of 1600 working hours needed for studies of one academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS credits. The working hours include lectures, practical work, seminars, exercises, independent study, written examinations, and research. Thus, the credit system is based on a full student workload and is not limited to contact hours only.
3 Major subject
Master degree students have a major subject, in which scientific knowledge, theory and practice of the field are combined. At the final stage of their studies, students write a thesis based on independent research in a chosen area of the major subject.
4 Minor subjects, language studies and other studies
Studies in minor subjects can be included in the Master’s degree. They can be chosen from a faculty other than the one for which the student is accepted.
Depending on the degree programme, other types of studies (e.g. General studies, Language and Communication studies), are to be included in the degree.
5 Study module
All courses taken by a student belong to a study module (opintokokonaisuus), which is the basic structural entity of a degree programme. The study modules are classified with respect to their contents and position in the curriculum as Basic Studies (perusopinnot), Intermediate Studies (aineopinnot) and Advanced Studies (syventävät opinnot). Study modules comprise a certain number of course units and they represent either one discipline or are interdisciplinary. The study modules usually range from 25 to 80 ECTS credits depending on the subject and the level of studies.
The main aim of the Advanced Studies is to develop the student’s ability to seek and apply scientific knowledge.
Master programme courses in the major subject are on the advanced level. Some complementing studies on intermediate level may be required.
A large proportion of the master level studies is taken up by research. The Master’s thesis is the most extensive single study module.
6 Course unit
Study modules consist of course units. All instruction is planned, arranged and taken in course units. Course units carry a certain number of credits, usually from 3 to 10 credits. In most cases, one course unit consists of lectures, exercises and/or an exam. In addition to lecture courses and exercises, other forms of teaching are used, e.g. seminars, group work, practical work, written assignments, set book exams etc.
Once the student has taken all the course units within a certain study module, s/he should ask for a grade for the completed study module at the Department Office. Graduating students should ask at their department for the final grade of their major subject studies after their Master’s thesis has been assessed and graded.
6 Assessing course units
The evaluation scale for studies graded ‘Pass’ is five-tiered. The grades are 1 (sufficient), 2 (satisfactory), 3 (good), 4 (very good), and 5 (excellent). For more information on the evaluation of studies please see http://www.uta.fi/studies/legislation/.
7 Personal study plan HOPS (degree students only)
All degree students must make a HOPS plan, a written personal study plan to support the planning of the studies. In the Master degree programmes, the student writes the HOPS plan together with the programme tutor teacher, and the plans are monitored by the programme professor and the Faculty Office.
8 Queuing for a course place
If there are exercises, seminars or some other small group teaching where the number of study places has to be limited, the number of admitted students is to be decided in the curriculum or teaching programme.
If there are more students wishing to take a course than can be admitted, the priority is given to those who have registered in time and who have taken the prerequisite courses, and to those degree students on Bachelor and Master level for whom the course is compulsory. If there are still more students than can be admitted, the priority is given first to those who have taken more credits in the subject and secondly to those whose grades in the subject are better. If the situation is still unsolved, the priority is given first to those who have taken more credits in the major subject and secondly to those who have taken more credits in all their studies. Doctoral students are taken into account, if the course in question is listed in the Doctoral student’s detailed personal HOPS study plan accepted by the home department. Unclear cases are solved by the Head of Department.
If specific reasons are presented, the Head of Department may deviate from the above rules.
9 Exercise essay (degree students only)
One or more exercise essays can be written in the Master’s programmes if required in the programme studies. The aim is to allow the student to exercise scientific writing and clear written expression. An exercise essay is written under the direction of the thesis supervisor and both the content and the language are examined. An exercise essay may be a part of the thesis.
10 Master’s thesis (degree students only)
For the Master’s degree, the student is required to write a Master’s thesis in the major subject and a maturity test connected to the thesis. The Master’s thesis is part of the Advanced Studies in the major subject, and it must show that the writer knows well the topic of the thesis, the required research methods and the ways to express scientific findings in writing.
The thesis may be written according to the following options:
• a monograph
• a collection of papers presented together with an introduction
An earlier published work may be accepted as a thesis provided that the work corresponds with the requirements that are set for the thesis.
If the thesis is written as group work, the independent part of each student must be made clear. The work load of each student must also equal that of a thesis written alone. The thesis is examined by assessing the part of each individual student. A joint thesis may be written to combine two or more disciplines. Each discipline and each student will be appointed a separate examiner.
Submitting the Master’s thesis
The thesis is submitted through the electronic service maintained by the University Library at http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/kirjasto/english/guides/theses.php. The service produces copies of the thesis for the examiners and for the University archives. For students in the Master’s degree programmes given in English, more information is available at the Department of Computer Sciences at http://www.cs.uta.fi/en/studies/. The thesis is to be submitted with an abstract of 1-2 pages, giving information on the research question, material, methods used, and the most important results. More information on the abstract is available at the department. If the programme studies include an exercise essay, it must be completed before the Master’s thesis is submitted.
Maturity test
A maturity test based on the Master’s thesis is compulsory for all degree students and it should be taken after the completion of the thesis. Students with Finnish/Swedish as the language of their elementary education will write the test in Finnish/Swedish. If the elementary education has been taken in some other language, the maturity test is taken in English. Maturity test is a written examination, which is taken on a faculty examination day or some other day arranged with the department. Registration is done through the thesis supervisor in the same way one registers for a normal book examination. The registration is to be done a minimum of seven days before the test date unless the programme rules require differently. The test time is four hours.
The aims of the maturity test are to ensure that the student is well versed in the topic of the Master’s thesis and scientific writing, and to verify that the student has written the thesis him/herself. The main examiner of the thesis prepares two or three questions, which are related to the theme of the thesis. The student should choose one of the questions and write an essay about the topic. The main examiner assesses the content of the essay. Language Centre of the University of Tampere will check the language used in the answer. For students in the Master’s degree programmes given in English, more information is available at the Department of Computer Sciences at http://www.cs.uta.fi/en/studies/thesisprocess.html.
Assessing the thesis
A thesis is assessed and graded by a minimum of two examiners appointed by the Head of Department. The examiners’ assessment is to be delivered three weeks after the date of the student’s maturity test, unless the Head of Department has ruled otherwise. The assessment with the proposed grade is delivered to the student at least four days before the thesis is graded. At the same time, the student is given an opportunity to give a rejoinder against the assessment and the proposed grade. The rejoinder is to be delivered to the Department Office by the deadline given. If no rejoinder is given, the Department Council or the Head of Department grades the thesis using the examiners’ assessment. A rejoinder is always discussed in the meeting of a Department Council. The student has the right to appeal against the grade also after the meeting of the Department Council, as the student may submit his/her rejoinder to the Department Council within fourteen (14) days of the date when the assessment was made known.
If the student is still not satisfied s/he may submit a rejoinder to the Faculty Council within fourteen (14) days of the date when the Department Council assessment was made known.
In the case of Master’s thesis, the 7-tier grading scale in Latin (approbatur - laudatur) is used:
L, laudatur (highest grade)
E, eximia
M, magna cum laude approbatur
C, cum laude approbatur
N, non sine laude approbatur
B, lubenter approbatur
A, approbatur
The staff member introducing the assessment to the Head of Department takes the thesis and its grade to the UTA study register.
11 Degree diploma (degree students only)
After all the studies for the degree have been taken, the student is to submit an application to the Faculty Office for the degree diploma. The application is made using a form available in the Faculty Office or at http://www.uta.fi/tiedekunnat/inf/english/studies/graduation.html. The Dean grants the diploma. The student, before submitting the diploma application, can request a study transcript from the Faculty Office and use it to make sure that all the taken studies with their final grade have been registered. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that all the studies are registered. The student must him/herself get the final grades (the number of credits and the grade of studies taken in the subject) from the departments. The final grade is needed of all the subjects where the student has taken 15 ECTS credits or more.
In the Master’s diploma, the number of credits and the grade of the Advanced Studies in the major subject are recorded.
A minor subject is recorded if the student has taken 15 ECTS credits or more. Minor subjects with less than 15 ECTS credits are recorded as ‘Other studies’.
Language and Communication studies are recorded as ‘Language studies’.
12 Teaching schedules
Please notice that at the University of Tampere, curricula do not give the times and places of the tuition offered. University of Tampere teaching schedules are available at http://www.uta.fi/studies/studying/schedules.html.
13 Web tools: NettiOpsu
With the Basic User Account (BUA) students can browse their examination results, academic record and change their contact information using the electronic NettiOpsu in the Internet. Through NettiOpsu, students can also enrol for examinations and some courses. It is also possible for a student to send a transcript of his/her academic record in pdf format to any e-mail address. NettiOpsu is available at http://www.uta.fi/studies/nettiopsu/.
14 Legislation related to studies
Finnish legislation together with UTA regulations for the evaluation of studies and regulations governing degrees can be found at http://www.uta.fi/studies/legislation/.
15 More information
For more information on studying please see the following:
• Faculty of Information Sciences http://www.uta.fi/tiedekunnat/inf/english/studies.html
• University of Tampere http://www.uta.fi/studies/.