Opintopisteensä

Opintopisteensä is a Finnish term that translates to "her/his/its study credits" or "his/her/its academic points." It refers to the quantitative measure of a student's academic workload and achievement in higher education in Finland. One study credit, or opintopiste, typically represents approximately 27 hours of student work, which includes lectures, independent study, assignments, and examinations.

The system of opintopisteensä is based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which is designed to facilitate the recognition of studies and qualifications across European countries. When a student successfully completes a course or module, they are awarded a certain number of opintopisteensä, which are recorded on their transcript. These credits contribute to the total number of credits required for a degree.

The number of opintopisteensä awarded for a particular study unit is determined by the expected workload involved. For example, a master's thesis often requires a significant number of opintopisteensä, reflecting the substantial effort and research involved. The accumulation of opintopisteensä is a key indicator of a student's progress towards graduation and is essential for transferring credits between institutions or for international exchange programs. Universities and other higher education institutions in Finland use this system to structure their curricula and to monitor student progress.