Community Work and Multicultural Development
You are most welcome to study community work and multicultural development in cooperation with other international talents!
In the programme, you will make insights into the history and future of Nordic welfare systems and discuss hot topics with your co-students and advanced social politicians, pedagogues, and psychologists. You will grow into an expert with knowledge of the principles and practices of the Nordic welfare systems and the ability to apply your skills in your own environment.
Also, you will learn to manage customer relationships and multicultural development processes. The programme orientates you to learn about culturally sensitive work approaches and interaction skills. Most of all, the master’s studies expand your own international networks and understanding of multiculturalism in local and international contexts. You will have an excellent opportunity to collaborate with your new international networks and learn from them alternative approaches and local & international solutions.
In this master’s degree Programme in Community Work and Multicultural Development you will cooperate with local communities and projects, as well as with international organizations and academies. Studying is flexible as this online studying programme offers you the possibility of part-time or full-time studying anywhere in the world. You also have a chance to get to know other international master’s degree programmes, students, and specialists of TAMK, because we are cooperating closely with them.
You are welcome to apply to this programme if you have a bachelor’s degree in the humanities and social sciences and at least two years of work experience. Applicable degrees are, for example, bachelor's degrees in social work and social services, social policy, political science, sociology, psychology, health sciences and education. Feel free to ask and learn more about the topic from a contact person.
After completing this master’s degree, you have strengthened your abilities to develop and manage social and health care services as well as educational organizations. With this degree, you will have expertise in theories and practices of multicultural work, sustainable development, and community work, which you can rely on in tasks related to promoting well-being and safety of communities, whether you are employed by the state, municipality, NGO, company, or educational institution. You have also gained valuable knowledge and skills that will strengthen your growth into leadership.
News from the field
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Link to scholarship programme
Learn the basic principles and most common practices of the Nordic welfare state.
Absorb knowledge and skills that you can utilize in developing and leading social and health care organizations and processes related to promoting people’s well-being and learning.
Strengthen your international and local networks and learn about multiculturalism and cultural sensitivity both in theory and in practice. Take into consideration the new contacts and lessons in your work assignments.
Learn from other actors - both international and local - about socially and ecologically sustainable development that attaches to everyday actions. Learn “bottom-up development strategies”.
Utilize the expertise of a diverse network of experts when completing courses and doing your thesis.
Encouraged international and local advocacy and the preparation and implementation of well-prepared and democratic plans.
The Master of Community Work and Multicultural Development is a professional higher education degree. The degree meets the criteria sets by the Finnish and European degree systems and competence frameworks. The degree provides qualifications for public assignments and expert positions in companies that requires a master’s degree.
When applying for a degree, you must have a feasible plan for your thesis. This plan will be submitted with the application.
This master's degree, based on social sciences and humanities, can be completed as a part-time or full-time online study. In the implementation of the degree program, we work closely with local and international experts in the field. The courses are attached to authentic learning environments and the student can utilize his or her own life and work experiences. The programme welcomes close interaction between international students and specialists. Students attend to real societal issues. They analyze and solve the issues creatively in collaboration with others. Participants can apply what they have learned in their own environments, while seeking to promote the eco-social development of their own community or society.
This 90 ECTS credit programme focuses on studies that benefit you from working in development and management positions in social and health care or academy. The estimated study period is 1.5 years. The estimate has been calculated assuming that the student is also working while completing the degree. The thesis module (30 ECTS credits) includes webinars and method teaching.
The degree carries a tuition fee of EUR 10 800 / academic year for non-EU/EEA students. Applicants must submit relevant documentation together with their application. If you are unsure about whether you would be subject to tuition fees, check the 'Am I required to pay tuition fees?' section on the Studyinfo.fi application site.
Scholarships
Early bird waiver: If the first academic year is paid in full before 31 May, the amount is reduced by -1 500 euros (total to be paid 9 300 euros)
Academic award waiver: If the student completes 60 cr in the first year = 50% reduction is given for the remaining study time (excluding overtime, which carries a separate fee). If the student completes 45 cr in the first year = 25% reduction is given for the remaining study time (excluding overtime, which carries a separate fee).
Academic excellence scholarship: At the time of graduation, students may be eligible for significant Academic Excellence scholarships. These scholarships are governed by the TAMK's R&D Fund. They can be based on final thesis quality, excellence in project work, exceptional practical training success or other grounds set by the Fund.
Timetable
The programme consists of collaborative online distance learning and one intensive week in Tampere, Finland.
The intensive week will be held (face to face) in Tampere, Finland from September 5 to 9, 2022. If it’s not possible to hold the intensive week at the campus for any reason, the intensive week will be held online. Information about this possible change will be given to the students well in advance.
The studies take place collaboratively online in 12 online courses of 5 credit each, six of them being a free choice course. Each course lasts 7-8 weeks (about 2 months). The Master’s Thesis is 30 credits.
During the first semester you will learn about theoretical framework for eco-social work and community and participatory development methods. You will also begin the thesis process by confirming your thesis topic and finalizing your plan.
In the second semester, you will become acquainted with Finnish Social and Health Service Systems, as well as global challenges and welfare issues. In the thesis process, you progress to the implementation phase, for which you receive support from the teaching staff and project partners.
During the third semester, you will become familiar with project and customer relationship management, system theories and experimental culture. In addition, interpersonal work, such as facilitation and mentoring, are at the center. During the third and fourth semesters, most students complete their thesis and a master’s degree.
The final project is a research development thesis based on the development needs of working life, which you plan and implement in cooperation with working life and report independently. The thesis demonstrates your ability to utilize research data and apply and use selected research and development methods. The thesis shows your readiness for independent expert work.
After 1,5 years of inspiring studies, graduates have developed a strong expertise to work in demanding customer service and supervisory positions in social and health care organizations as well as academies. They have a capacity to work in multicultural communities and international roles too.
As a graduate of the master’s degree Programme in Community Work and Multicultural Development, you can also work as a multicultural work leader, a sustainable development expert, a community work leader, and an expert in social development projects.
Participants, with a variety of cultural backgrounds and located in different countries, bring truly international aspects to the degree. Application of learned content happens in the students' own environment and thus in a global context.
TAMK's master's degree certificate offers you the possibility to apply for doctoral studies in other universities according to their admission policy.
Minna Niemi
Yliopettaja
Apply in TAMK Direct Application for Master's Programmes
The student selection has two phases: a compulsory pre-task, based on which the best-performing applicants are invited to an online interview. Admission is made based on the combined points of both phases. Click to see the admission & eligibility criteria.
Näytä
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply to TAMK’s Master’s Degree Programme in Community Work and Multicultural Development, an applicant most hold
- One of the following UAS degrees completed in Finland:
- Sosionomi (AMK)
- Yhteisöpedagogi (AMK)
- Geronomi (AMK)
- Kuntoutuksen ohjaaja (AMK), or
- One of the following diplomas from a Finnish vocational college (opistoaste):
- Sosiaalikasvattaja or equivalent lähikasvattaja diploma
- Sosiaaliohjaaja
- Kehitysvammaisten ohjaaja or Kehitysvamma-alan ohjaaja
- Sosiaalialan ohjaaja
- Diakoni diploma that includes sosiaaliohjaaja training, or
- One of the following degrees completed in Finland or equivalent degrees completed outside Finland:
- Bachelor of social work / social policy / social psychology / social sciences / administrative sciences / arts (education).
In addition, the applicant must have a minimum of two years (24 months) work experience from a relevant field after completing the degree. The work experience must be accumulated prior to 31 July 2022.
Language skill requirements
Sufficient English language skills are required for degree programmes conducted in English. English language skills are evaluated as a part of the pre-task and interview.
Applicants with a refugee status
If you are a person with refugee status or an asylum seeker, you may apply and be accepted to study just as any other eligible applicant.
If you are a refugee, have a status comparable to a refugee or are an asylum seeker, and cannot thus verify your previous degree with relevant documentation, TAMK may still invite you to participate in an entrance exam. You must have a decision by the authorities concerning your refugee status. See instructions for the submission of the document at the section enclosures. In a situation like this, please be in touch with the TAMK's Admissions office before applying.
The 2022 intake for Master's degree programme in Community Work and Multicultural Development is 20.
The student selection has two phases. The first phase is a pre-task and the second is an online interview. Student selections are made based on the combined points of both phases. To be admitted, the applicant must pass both phases of the student selection.
If two or more applicants have the same admission points, they will be ranked on the following basis:
- online interview points
- pre-task points
- order of preference
If the criteria given above fails to produce a difference between tied applicants, all the applicants with the same number of points will be selected.
Pre-task
Applicants must submit the pre-task by 26 January 2022 (3 pm Finnish time) at the latest. The instructions for the pre-task will be published on TAMK website and Studyinfo.fi on 30 November 2021.
The maximum score of the pre-task is 50 points. A minimum of 10 points is required for the pre-task to be accepted.
Online interview
Based on the pre-task points 40 best-performing applicants will be invited to the online interview. Online interviews take place 15-17 February 2022. Invited applicants must book an interview time slot from the given schedule. Online interview is accessible globally over the internet.
The maximum score of the online interview is 50 points. A minimum of 10 points is required for the interview to be accepted.
The online interview is tied together with the pre-task and will test applicants' motivation and suitability for the field of study. Applicants must be prepared for interview (i.e. have a computer with a microphone and a camera available) at the time given. Interviews will be arranged during office hours Finnish time.
English language skills are evaluated as a part of the pre-task and interview There is no pre-reading material for the online interview. The pre-task and online interview results are only valid for this specific application period.
Invitations to the interviews are sent to the email addresses given in the application 11 February 2022 at latest.
Entrance exam cooperation
No cooperation.
To be eligible, applicants must have 24 months (two years) of relevant work experience accumulated after the date of graduation (Bachelor’s/higher education degree) and no later than 31 July 2022.
As a relevant field is regarded both the field being applied to and the field of the previous higher education degree.
Work experience must be verified with a work certificate provided by the employer. Unofficial testimonials by email or hand-written documents cannot be accepted. A work certificate must indicate details such as the exact start and end dates of employment, the employer’s contact information, work duties, as well as working hours for part-time work. If the employment continues, the applicant should request a temporary work certificate from the employer.
Entrepreneurship will be accepted as work experience if the applicant can produce a certificate attesting that they are or have been covered by the statutory YEL or MYEL pension scheme. (YEL = statutory pension scheme for entrepreneurs; MYEL = statutory pension scheme for farmers, forest estate owners, fishers and reindeer herders and their family members). Entrepreneurship abroad should be substantiated with comparable official documents.
For applicants who have completed a vocational college degree or higher vocational degree in Finland (opisto- tai ammatillisen korkea-asteen tutkinto) before completing the required Bachelor's degree, work experience completed after the lower degree will also be accepted. Applicants are still required to have a minimum of two years' work experience, and it has to be from the relevant field. If the applicant has completed a vocational college degree or higher vocational degree in Finland (opisto- tai ammatillisen korkea-asteen tutkinto) before completing the required Bachelor's degree and has the required work experience between these degrees, the required Bachelor's degree must be completed so that the applicant can send a copy of the certificate to TAMK Admissions Office by 15 July 2022 at 15.00 Finnish time at the latest.
Work experience must be informed as full months. Part-time work is converted into full-time such that 150 hours or 20 full working days (at least 7 hours per day) correspond to one month of work. Work experience does not have to be continuous or obtained with the same employer. The amount of work experience gained from simultaneous employment relationships may not exceed the amount of full-time employment. Work experience will only be accepted if it is verified by a work certificate provided by the employer.
Military or non-military national service, women’s voluntary military service or child-care leave will not be counted towards work experience.
Online interview
Based on the pre-task points 40 best-performing applicants will be invited to the online interview. Online interviews take place 15-17 February 2022. Invited applicants must book an interview time slot from the given schedule. Online interview is accessible globally over the internet.
The maximum score of the online interview is 50 points. A minimum of 10 points is required for the interview to be accepted. The online interview is tied together with the pre-task and will test applicants' motivation and suitability for the field of study. Applicants must be prepared for interview (i.e. have a computer with a microphone and a camera available) at the time given. Interviews will be arranged during office hours Finnish time.
English language skills are evaluated as a part of the pre-task and interview. There is no pre-reading material for the online interview.
The pre-task and online interview results are only valid for this specific application period.
Invitations to the interviews are sent to the email addresses given in the application 11 February 2022 at latest.
Pre-task
Applicants must submit the pre-task by 26 January 2022 (3 pm Finnish time)* at the latest. The instructions for the pre-task will be published on TAMK website and Studyinfo.fi on 30 November 2021. The maximum score of the pre-task is 50 points. A minimum of 10 points is required for the pre-task to be accepted.
Click here to the pre-task instructions.
*Please note that the deadline has been updated to this section on 19 September 2021 at 11.00 Finnish time.
Individual arrangements for entrance examinations are practical arrangements made by TAMK to facilitate application in case of special needs. You can apply for the right to individual arrangements for entrance examinations / online interviews in using an online application (below). The deadline for applying for individual arrangements is 26 January 2022.
You need to describe your special needs and the grounds for individual arrangements in the application. You should enclose copies of the certificates to which they appeal. The certificates may not date back for more than 5 years. More detailed instructions on the attachments are provided on the online application. All documents supporting the applications are confidential and approved methods of administration are applied when processing these documents.
If you do not deliver the application in time, TAMK has no obligation to make any individual arrangements. If the need for individual arrangements arises or is discovered between the end of the application period and the online interview/entrance exam, you must submit the individual arrangement application without a delay to TAMK Admissions Office.
You will receive a notification (not a decision) concerning the individual arrangements before the entrance examination/online interview.
The individual arrangement decision only applies to one application round.
See more information about individual arrangements and submit the application.
Application step-by-step
- Check your eligibility for the degree programme of your choice
- Read admission criteria carefully
- Apply via Studyinfo.fi portal during 8 December 2021 - 19 January 2022 (3 pm Finnish time)*
- Prepare and send the pre-task by the deadline
- Upload requested attachments to your application
- Apply for special arrangements (only if needed)
- Take part in the online interview
- Accept the offered study place
- Pay the tuition fee if needed
- Register as present (you may register as absent for the first academic year for the legal reasons only)
- Join the TAMK community!
* You can find the direct link to apply this programme at the bottom of this page.
For detailed instructions please read Application Process.
1. Compulsory pre-task
When applying to TAMK's Master's Programme, you have to submit a pre-task by 26 January 2022 at 15.00 Finnish time at the latest.
The instructions for the pre-task will be published on 30 November 2021.
Click here for the pre-task instructions.
2. Application Documents
All applicants (regardless of the country of the educational background) must upload the school and work certificate copies on their application form by 26 January 2022 at 15.00 Finnish time at the latest.
The application documents you need to upload are:
- Bachelor's/higher education degree certificate
- Transcript of records of the degree
- Work certificates stating the minimum of 24 months of work experience after graduating to the degree
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Résumé
If your document is in other language than Finnish, Swedish or English, you also have to upload a copy of its authorised translation made by authorised translator. The translation has to be in Finnish, Swedish or English and it has to include the translator’s signature and stamp.
Work experience must be verified with a work certificate provided by the employer. Unofficial testimonials by email or hand-written documents cannot be accepted. A work certificate must indicate details such as the exact start and end dates of employment, the employer’s contact information, work duties, as well as working hours for part-time work. If the employment continues, the applicant should request a temporary work certificate from the employer.
The original certificates will be checked from admitted applicants at the beginning of the studies.
TAMK may withdraw the admission if you do not deliver the certificates by the deadline or if you have given false information.
3. Document proving identity and exemption of tuition fee
All applicants must upload a copy of an ID-document on their application form. The document is used to prove applicants identity during different stages of the admissions process (i.e. the online interview), and to establish their citizenship and/or residence status.
Students who are not citizens of countries of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, or are not holders of certain residence status in Finland are subjec to tuition fees. If you hold a residence permit, submit a copy of the residence permit card together with a copy of a passport.
All submitted documents must include a photograph and the applicant must be identifiable from the photograph. The copy must be fully legible.
Submit one of the following documents to prove your identity:
- Passport ID page or ID card of EU/EEA/Switzerland which states citizenship
- Passport ID page (all other citizenships)
- Finnish driving license (only Finnish citizens)
If applicable, submit also a copy of one of the following to prove exemption from tuition fee:
- EU Blue Card
- EU Family Member's Residence Card in Finland
- Type A permit (continuous residence permit in Finland)
- Type P permit (permanent residence permit in Finland)
- Type P-EU permit (EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long-term residence in Finland)
You must upload the copy/copies on your application form by 26 January 2022 at 3 pm (Finnish time).
Applicants with a refugee status
If you are a refugee, have a status comparable to a refugee or are an asylum seeker, and cannot thus verify your previous degree with relevant documentation, please be in contact to TAMK's admissions office before applying (admissions.tamk[at]tuni.fi).
You must have a decision by the authorities concerning your status (decision on asylum or residence permit on the basis of protection). A copy of the relevant decision must be submitted to TAMK's Admissions Office by 26 March 2022 by mail. If you have not yet been granted a decision, you may verify your status by presenting an identity card with their photograph granted by Migri and a fee-based (approximately €20) pending application by Migri that states that you are permitted to legally reside in Finland during the time when your case is being processed, i.e. until a lawful decision has been made on the case.
Results
The results for the August 2022 intake will be published around 4 March 2022.
All applicants
- See their results by logging in to Studyinfo.fi portal
- Receive an e-mail/a letter stating their result and points
Admitted applicants
- Receive a notice of admittance by e-mail
- Must confirm the offered study place in time
Confirm the offered study place in time
Admitted applicants must confirm their study place by 15 July 2022 3 pm (Finnish time) by logging into Studyinfo.fi portal. If the confirmation has not been done by the set date and time, the applicant will lose the offered study place.
Non-EU/EEA students: To qualify for the Early Bird -scholarship you must have accept the offered study place within 7 days of being accepted!
Confirmation of the study place is binding and cannot be altered or cancelled.
If you are later admitted from the waiting list, you have 7 days to confirm your study place. Please read your e-mail regularly in order to receive the possible admittance e-mail in time. The final day of admittance of new students is 2 August 2022.
Original certificates
The original certificates will be checked at the beginning of the studies. Student admission is conditional until TAMK has checked the admitted students' original school and work certificates at the beginning of the studies.
Original certificate submission instructions are given in the admission letter. TAMK may withdraw the admission if you do not submit the original certificates by the deadline or if you have given false information.
One study place
You can only accept one study place among Bachelor's/Master's degrees in Finland starting during the same academic semester (1 Aug-31 Dec/1 Jan-31 Jul). Even if you register as absent or quit your studies, you cannot accept another study place during the same academic semester.
You can only be admitted to one study programme at the TAMK Direct Application for Master's Programmes. After you are offered a study place, all your lower preferences will be cancelled, and you cannot be admitted to those. However, you may still be admitted to your higher preferences if study places become available from the waiting list. This is a national policy to ensure that as many applicants as possible get a new study place annually.
Enroll for studies
When accepting the study place, you also have to register as present or absent to your studies at TAMK on the Studyinfo.fi portal.
According to Finnish legislations, first-year student may register as absent for the first academic year for the following reasons only:
- Finnish military service under the Conscription Act (1438/2007), Non-Military Service Act (1446/2007), or Act on Women's Voluntary Military Service (194/1995);
- maternity, paternity or parental leave;
- the student cannot begin studies due to being incapacitated by personal illness or injury.
If you register as absent, you must prove the legal grounds for your absence. TAMK requires you to present these documents by 15 July 2022 3 pm (Finnish time). Documents must be delivered to TAMK Admissions Office.
If you register as absent in your first academic year, but fail to deliver sufficient clarification regarding the grounds for your absence within the deadline, you will lose your right to study.
Appeals
If you believe that there has been a mistake in the student selection or the set admission criteria have not been applied correctly, you can submit a written request for rectification of the student selection decision addressed to TAMK Board of Examiners within 14 days after the student selection results have been published.
Always check the admission criteria of the programme first and contact TAMK Admissions Office before writing the request. If the issue cannot be solved by the admissions officials, you are advised to submit a written request for rectification.
Form and content of request for an administrative review: The document requesting an administrative review shall indicate the particular decision for which the review is requested, the amendment that is being sought in the review requested and the grounds for requesting the review. (Administrative Procedure Act, Section 49d)
