korkeakoulutustaso

Korkeakoulutustaso refers to the level of education attained within the higher education system. In Finland, this typically encompasses degrees awarded by universities and universities of applied sciences (polytechnics). The Finnish national qualifications framework, which is aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), defines several levels of higher education. These levels represent increasing complexity and academic rigor.

The basic levels of tertiary education are the Bachelor's degree and the Master's degree. A Bachelor's degree (kandidaatin tutkinto or ammattikorkeakoulututkinto) is usually a three to four-year program. A Master's degree (maisterin tutkinto or ylempi ammattikorkeakoulututkinto) typically follows a Bachelor's degree and requires an additional one to two years of study. Above the Master's level are postgraduate degrees, such as the doctoral degree (tohtorin tutkinto), which represents the highest academic qualification.

Universities primarily award academic degrees, while universities of applied sciences offer more professionally oriented degrees. The distinction between these two types of institutions is important in understanding the Finnish higher education landscape. The korkeakoulutustaso reflects a graduate's attained knowledge, skills, and competencies, which are recognized nationally and internationally. The classification of educational attainment at this level is crucial for statistical purposes, labor market analysis, and further educational pathways.