tutkintaa

Tutkintaa is the partitive singular form of the Finnish noun tutkinto, which means a degree, qualification, or certificate awarded by an educational institution after completing the required studies. The word is used to refer to the credential in a general or indefinite sense and appears in Finnish grammar in contexts where the degree is not treated as a definite object.

In the Finnish education system, tutkinto denotes formal qualifications earned at universities or universities of applied sciences (AMK). The main categories are alempi korkeakoulututkinto (bachelor’s degree) and ylempi korkeakoulututkinto (master’s degree); doctoral degrees exist as well, and many professional fields offer AMK-tutkinto. Degrees are structured around a set of learning outcomes and a defined number of credits (opintopisteet), typically 180 credits for a bachelor’s degree and additional credits for master’s studies. Completion usually involves coursework, examinations, and often a thesis or final project.

The process to obtain tutkinto generally includes accumulating the required credits, completing program-specific requirements, and successfully defending a thesis or equivalent piece of work where applicable. Upon fulfillment, the degree is conferred and a degree certificate (tutkintotodistus) is issued. Degrees issued in Finland are designed to align with the European Higher Education Area and use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to facilitate recognition abroad.

Usage of tutkintaa appears in academic discourse, administrative language, and employment contexts. The form is grammatical partitive, reflecting indefiniteness or non-specific reference to the degree in sentences.