RPL instructions

If you have been selected as a student with an incomplete degree or as a transfer student via Studyinfo, you should have an RPL discussion with the person responsible for the programme before starting your studies. After this, you will be told which studies will be recognised and which will be not. If you have done the studies to Centria, you will get more information about the RPL process from the person responsible for the programme, study counsellors or from study advisors.

If your prior studies have been completed (including path students) at a higher education institution other than Centria, you will receive separate instructions for submitting an application for recognition of prior learning after the guidance discussion.

You need the following information to submit an eRPL application. Please note that you need to enter the information in both Finnish and English in Finnish-taught programmes!

• a document that proves your competence at the place of completion (e.g., diploma, transcript of records, certificate of employment). Note! No screenshots or web links.
• consider in advance which individual Centria courses you wish to substitute and which previous courses you will use to apply for substitution. In your application, you must carefully align you prior learning with a specific Centria course.
• consider in advance in what part of your degree (PSP) you want to include your prior learning.In your application, you must align you prior learning with a specific Centria degree module. The primary form of recognition in Centria is substitution.

• Compare the learning outcomes of your Centria degree with your previous competence. If you have documentation detailing your previous competence and it corresponds to the learning outcomes of your Centria degree programme, you can apply for substitution or inclusion with your previous competence.
• Download digital copies of your documents from your previous studies (e.g. transcripts of records, degree certificates). If you only have a paper certificate, you must convert it to a digital format. If you study in a Finnish-taught programme, the names of your study attainments must be in both Finnish and English. If you do not have an English-language transcript available, you can ask for one from your previous educational institution or have it translated by an authorised translator (you will have to pay for your translations yourself). Work certificates or other documents have to be either in Finnish, in English, or in Swedish.
• Find the descriptions of the contents of your completed study units. These are available in e.g. your institution’s electronic study guide. After this, you can e.g. add links to the relevant guides to your application.
• If you apply for recognition of practical training, check the required documents for your degree programme from your teacher tutor, student counsellor, or study advisor.

If your application is incomplete – for example, if you fail to include the necessary translations – the application will be sent back to you for completion.  

Do not add any sensitive information (e.g. health-related information) to your application. 

You application will be processed in approximately one month. Any non-teaching periods at educational institutions may delay this processing time. You will receive a written decision once your application has been processed. After this, your application will be transferred to the Student Services, where the approved decision will be recorded on your transcript of records. 

If your application is rejected, you will have to complete the studies you intended to substitute.

Read the instructions carefully before submitting your application. You can submit the application in two ways:

A. Include several studies in the same application

If you include two or more studies in the same application, you still must submit separate applications (= Main application) for

1. Vocational studies
2. Language and communication studies
3. Mathematical studies

Example: You wish to apply for the recognition of prior vocational studies, language and communication studies, and mathematical studies > you must submit THREE separate and completely new applications by proceeding in the manner outlined in section 3 (Select + New application)

You must then add separate partial applications within your main application for each study unit you wish to have recognised.

Example: You intend to apply for the recognition of prior language studies in English, Swedish, and Finnish > you must submit three separate partial applications within your main Language and communication studies application (see section 6).

B. You can also make separate main applications for each study unit. Example: You apply for recognition of two studies you have completed (regardless of the type) > you can submit two separate main applications.

Select RPL from the tabs under the PSP menu.

Select + New application

Check the basic information. You are not required to enter any guidance discussion-related information. 

Select Save draft and start filling out application.

To add a place of performance, select the + Add place of institute / performance button at the bottom of the page.

5.1. Place of performance: educational institution

1. Select “Educational institute” as the type 
2. Select the type of the place of performance from the drop-down menu (type of educational institution, such as a university of applied sciences, university, etc.) 
3. Select the place of performance from the drop-down menu (name of the educational institution, e.g. Centria University of Applied Sciences) 
4. Add the name of the education programme in English (both fields)
5. Add an attachment that verifies that you have completed your attainment at the place of performance in question (certificate, transcript of records in English) 

Add each place of performance individually. Repeat the steps until each place of performance has been added.

5.2 Place of performance: work experience / other

To add a place of performance, select the + Add place of institute / performance button at the bottom of the page.

If you have competence that you have attained in some other location than an educational institution, the competence must be documented (e.g. a certificate completed in working life).

1. Select the appropriate type: Work experience / Other
2. Select the place of performance type from the drop-down menu
3. Select the employer / other from the drop-down menu or write down the name
4. For the the Job title / other, write down “Work experience” for both fields (if you are adding work experience), or name of the other competence (e.g. name of certificate)
5. Add an attachment that verifies that you have completed your attainment at the place of performance in question (certificate)

Select + Add previously completed study or + Add previously acquired knowledge

On the opening window, select substitution or inclusion as the credit transfer type. 

Substitution: The study unit included in your degree will be substituted with a corresponding previously completed study unit (the name of the study unit in your PSP will remain the same). As a result, you will not be required to complete the study unit that you substituted in your degree. 

Inclusion: A previously completed study unit will be added to your degree, and it will not directly substitute any specific study unit in your degree programme. The included study unit is added to your degree as-is (with its original name), and will count for your total number of credits. 

Choose your handler according to your degree programme. You can see the handlers on the application in the blue-coloured field or in the list below. Check the up-to-date name list on the application.

• Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Management / International Business – Handler: Heidi Tiensuu
• Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering / Industrial Management – Handler: Riikka Tervonen
• Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology – Handler: Milla Jokisuu
• Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing – Handler: Milla Jokisuu
• Master – Handler: Nina Lång

Take great care when filling in the following section! If you apply for recognition with previously completed studies, see section 7.1 Adding a study unit, and with previously acquired competence, see section 7.2. Adding previously acquired competence.

If you have several completed studies and want to include them in the same application, you must always return to this section and add each study unit as a separate section (partial application). In other words, you may only add one completed study unit at a time.

Example. You are applying for substitution with your previous English and Swedish studies. First, add your English studies (+ Add previously completed study). Then return to (+ Add previous completed study) to add the Swedish studies you have completed. In other words, you cannot add several study units to the same partial application.

An exception to this is when you apply for the substitution of two study units (e.g. 3 credits + 3 credits) with one completed study unit (e.g. 6 credits) or, vice versa, for one study unit (e.g. 6 credits) with two completed study units (e.g. 3 credits + 3 credits). See detailed instructions below under Substitution.

The same study unit can only be recognised once. Not following these instruction will be considered fraud and may lead to the rejection of your applications after the fact. 

7.1. Adding a study unit 

Select + Add previously completed study 

Select substitution or inclusion as the credit transfer type, and choose your handler according to your degree programme (see detailed instructions in 6. Selecting handler and credit transfer type).

 Add the study unit you have completed. 

• name in English (both fields). Check that it is spelled correctly. (In English, minor words are in lowercase) 
• Course credits and Type of credits (e.g. ECTS credit) 
• Language of instruction (the language the studies were held in) 
• Evaluation (grade of your performance) 
• Places of performance (select the institution you previously added) 
• Date of completion (date in your transcript of records or certificate) 
• Justifications (Use the field to describe the content of the study unit and compare it with the learning outcomes of your Centria study unit/degree. Add a link to the study unit’s study guide page, or attach a screenshot of the study unit’s description to the section where you added your places of performance).
• Select Add 

7.1.1. Substitution 

Select the study unit(s) in your PSP that you would like to substitute (middle column).  NB: Select ONLY one study unit at a time! If you have several completed study units, you must always return to the beginning of section 6 and repeat the same steps for each study unit. An exception to this is when you apply for the substitution of two study units with one completed study unit or vice versa.

• One-to-one substitution: When you substitute one study unit with another study unit. Your selection will be moved to the right-side column, under the “Studies selected to application” header 

• One-for-multiple substitution: If you intend to substitute several study units with one study unit (e.g. 3+3 credits with 6 credits), select all the study units that you want to substitute. Your selection will be moved to the right-side column, under the “Studies selected to application” header 

• Multiple-for-one substitution: If you intend to substitute one study unit with several study units (e.g. 6 credits with 3+3 credits), select the + Add study option on the left until the necessary study units have been selected. Then, select the study unit that you intend to substitute from your PSP. Your selection will be moved to the right-side column, under the “Studies selected to application” header 

• Multiple-for-multiple substitution: If you have more completed study units that you wish to use for substitution, repeat the application process according to the steps outlined in section 6 (Adding a study unit) for each completed study unit! In other words, do not add all of your previous study units to the same application.

After making your selection, the chosen study unit(s) will be transferred to the Studies selected to application column. 

Select Save. 

7.1.2. Inclusion 

When applying for the inclusion of previous studies/competence, use the drop-down menu in the right-side column to select the PSP section under which your previously completed study unit is to be included (e.g. elective studies).

7.2. Adding previously acquired competence

Select + Add previously acquired competence.

Choose the credit transfer type (substitution or inclusion) and handler according to your degree programme (see section 6 for detailed instructions).

Add the competence details.

• Grade – leave this field blank
• Places of performance (select the place of performance you previously added) 
• Date of completion (the date of your certificate of employment or similar document)
• Justifications (Use the field to describe the content of your other competence and compare it with the learning outcomes of your Centria study unit/degree.

Select the study unit(s) in your PSP for which you wish to apply for recognition (substitution/inclusion). Check the instructions for the selection under 7.1.1 Substitution or 7.1.2 Inclusion. After making your selection, the chosen study unit(s) will be transferred to the Studies selected to application column. 

Select Save.

 Your application will be stored as a draft until you submit it to a handler. Choose the correct study advisor as the handler, according to your degree programme. You can see the list of handlers in Peppi or from the instructions here (section 6). If the application is sent to a wrong handler, it will be returned to you.

Your application will go to the study advisor to be checked, after which it will proceed for the decision making (usually for the head of degree programme).

Once you have submitted your application, you will no longer be able to edit it. Remember to fill in your application carefully – your handler will reject/return it if it is incomplete or not filled in correctly. If your application is returned to you for completion, follow the provided instructions (see section 9. Completing a returned application).  

Please note that it could take up to 1–2 weeks to receive the credits to your PSP after receiving the decision.

If your application is returned to you, you will receive a notification by email. Proceed to edit your application.

Select RPL from the tabs under the PSP menu.

You will see the returned application listed on the RPL main page. Move your pointer to the info icon to see which edits are required to complete the application. After this, choose Actions > Edit.

On the application, go to the study/competence you wish to edit. You can see the details of the request for completing the application on a yellow background. Edit the application by clicking the pencil icon.

You can change the credit transfer type from the drop-down menu.

You can change the handler from the menu Select a new handler. The change will come into effect after submitting the application.

If you need to edit the details of the study/competence, click the pencil icon.

After you have completed the requested changes, choose Save.

Return the application to processing by clicking the Return to processing button.

Prior learning must be at the same level. For example, upper secondary vocational studies and general upper secondary school studies are not at a higher education level and cannot be directly recognised. Similarly, it is not possible to recognise bachelor’s level attainments as part of a master’s degree because the degrees are of different levels.

Competence may also have been acquired elsewhere, for example at work, during free time, in positions of trust, in continuing education, in training organised by a workplace, through entrepreneurship, in project work or in civic engagement and association activities. Recognition of other competence requires that the acquired competence is considered to be at a higher education level and that there is proof of the competence. If there is no document proving your competence, you must register for the course and demonstrate your competence to the teacher in a manner determined by the teacher. See section “RPL instructions” above.

Recognition is done either by substitution or inclusion. Substitution is the primary form of recognition.

In substitution, prior learning substitutes for a course that is part of your degree, i.e., the learning outcomes of the substituting courses and the courses to be substituted are perfectly in line. The studies to be substituted are recorded in the study register under the name and scope defined in the Centria curriculum.

Example:

The Centria curriculum has a course titled Management worth 5 credits. You have previously completed a Strategic Management course at another university of applied sciences, also worth 5 credits. If the contents of the Strategic Management course correspond to the learning outcomes of Management (5 credits), the course can be recognised as substitution. The transcript of records will show the course Management (5 credits) included in a Centria degree.

In inclusion, a previous study attainment matches the learning outcomes of the degree to be completed, and it is attached as such to your degree, in which case the name and scope of the previous study attainment will be recorded in the study register. In practice, previous study attainments are included in the optional studies of degrees. You will not apply to include a specific course. Instead, it will be attached to your degree as such.

Example:

You have completed the Service Design (5 credits) course at the University of Turku. Centria’s curriculum does not include a study unit with similar learning outcomes, but the content of the previous study attainment corresponds to the learning outcomes of the degree. The previous attainment can be included in optional studies. The transcript of records will show the previous course, Service Design (5 credits).

Before submitting your application, consider whether you are applying for substitution or inclusion!

Recognition can be applied for by any student present in degree-awarding education (bachelor’s or master’s degree programmes).

Open university of applied sciences students or absent students are not eligible for recognition.

Please attach some of the following documents to your application for recognition of studies: a diploma, a transcript of records or other official document indicating at least the educational institution, the date on which the study attainment or document was granted, the name, scope, assessment date and grade of the course. Also attach a description of the course’s contents. 

In Finnish-language education, you must present the original documents on the study attainments in Finnish and English. You can request certificates from your previous educational institution or have an official translator translate them for you (the student must pay for the translation themselves). In Finnish-language education, you will also receive an English translation of your Finnish diploma and transcript of records when you graduate.

If you apply for recognition based on previous work experience, the testimonials need to be in English, Swedish or Finnish. Only work experience that is documented by the employer’s testimonial with signing date can be accepted. The testimonials/work certificates should show start and end dates as well as a description of work tasks. If you have worked part-time, the work certificates should indicate the number of work hours per month.

Work experience gained as an entrepreneur, in one’s own or family business, can be documented by a certificate from an unchallengeable third party, such as a bookkeeper.

If you apply for recognition of practical training, check the required documents for your degree programme from your teacher tutor, student counsellor, or study advisor.

If your application is incomplete – for example, if you fail to include the necessary translations – the handler will send the application back to you for completion.

You can ask your teacher tutor or student counsellor for advice. If you are not sure how to apply or if you are wondering whether you fulfil the requirements for recognition, please write to opo@centria.fi or to your teacher tutor: firstname.lastname@centria.fi.

The Defence Forces’ non-commissioned officer training and reserve officer training cannot be included in your degree, starting from 1.8.2025.

For valid card training (e.g., Occupational Safety Card, Electrical Safety Card, First Aid Card), prior learning cannot be recognised directly. If the training is in line with Centria’s curricula, it can be partly included in the recognition of a course. Register for the course and ask the teacher how your competence could be taken into account on the course. See section “Partial RPL”.

Other card training programmes, such as the Hygiene Passport and the Alcohol Passport, are not in line with the Centria degree curricula and cannot be recognised as part of your studies at Centria.

Fill in the application carefully and make sure to fill in all the sections according to the instructions. This will speed up processing of your information. Applications will be processed no later than within 1 month after all the necessary sections have been filled in. An incomplete application will be returned to you, slowing down its processing.

Please note that it could take up to 1–2 weeks to receive the credits to your PSP after receiving the positive decision.

If your application is rejected, you must register for the course and participate in teaching. If you are dissatisfied with the decision, you may request a review. The decision will include more detailed instructions on how to request a review.