Study guide's LTK - Medicine, 2012-13 information (E)

DEGREE PROGRAMME IN MEDICINE 2012-13

The degree of Licentiate of Medicine, 6 years

Level of qualification

The degree programme in Medicine leads to the degree of Licentiate of Medicine (lääketieteen lisensiaatti), which Corresponds M.D. degree in Angloamerican countries.

ECTS Credits

The minimum extent of the Licentiate of Medicine degree is 360 credits. 

Language of instruction

The teaching is given in Finnish language.

Admission requirements

The admission requirements for the degree programme in Medicine comprise the Matriculation Examination Certificate or the upper secondary vocational education and an entrance examination. Equivalent foreign education also gives general eligibility for degree programme in medicine. Foreign applicant's admission is based exclusively on the results of the entrance examination.

All applicants to the degree programme in Medicine have to attend an entrance examination, which is held in Finnish or in Swedish and is based on Finnish or Swedish literature. If a foreign applicant wants to answer in Swedish to the entrance examination, she/he has to demonstrate language proficiency in Finnish. The teaching is given in Finnish language.

Arrangements for recognition of prior learning

Recognizing official, unofficial or informal learning: AHOT , University of Oulu Rules of Procedure

Profile of the programme

The degree programme in Medicine leads to the degree of Licentiate of Medicine ( lääketieteen lisensiaatti), which Corresponds M.D. degree in Angloamerican countries. The instruction in the degree programme in medicine emphasizes the regular updating of knowledge and has a strong connection to scientific research. The contents of instruction are fully in line with the intended learning outcomes, and they are under constant evaluation and development. Since 2011, instruction in the degree programme in Medicine at the University of Oulu has been organised according to a new curriculum.

Graduates of the degree programme in medicine become experts in demanding tasks on both national and international level. Studying in an academic community of diverse scientific fields and high standards is challenging and rewarding. Our programme offers graduates a range of career opportunities on different professional paths as well as in research.

The training has strong connection to diverse and cross-disciplinary scientific research at Faculty of Medicine. For students, it is possible to begin scientific research work in research groups before graduation.

Course structure diagram and required for the degree courses

The minimum extent of the Licentiate of Medicine degree is 360 credits. One Finnish credit equals to one ECTS credit. The average input of 1600 working hours needed for studies of one academic year is equivalent to 60 credits. Medical studies are pre-scheduled and the training is organized in such a manner that with full-time attendance the degree can be taken in six years.

The degree programme consists of basic, intermediate and advanced studies, language studies and compulsory practical training. Studies are carried out as contact teaching. Medical studies are pre-scheduled and organized according the order presented in curriculum. Studies have to be accomplished according the pre-scheduled order. Exceptions can be made only based on the accepted personal study plan.

The preclinical stage lasts for two years (Semesters 1-4) and mostly consists of general studies. The completion of clinical studies takes four years (Semesters 5-12). During this phase students focus on the occurrence, onset, diagnostics, treatment and prevention of various diseases. Bed-side teaching is part of students' daily routine. Some clinical studies are integrated in preclinical stage of studies.

The degree structure of each semester

1. Semester

040201A         Anatomy 14 ECTS
040201A         Developmental biology 7 ECTS
040116Y         Public health and interprofessional collaboration 5 ECTS
040103A         Medical biochemistry and molecular biology 15 ECTS

Professional development in medicine (PDM) – track 4 ECTS, including:

040013Y         Introduction to Medical Studies 2 ECTS
040016Y         Basic life support 0.5 ECTS
040015Y         Health Care Ethics 1.5 ECTS

Environment, lifestyle and health (ELH) - track 1 ECTS, including:

041002Y -01    ELH-studies 1 ECTS        

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) - track 5 ECTS, including:

902006Y         Reading for Academic Purposes 1.5 ECTS
040007Y         Introduction to scientific research 1.5 ECTS
040011Y -01    Medical informatics, module 1: information and Communication Technology 0.5 ECTS
040011Y -02    Medical informatics, module 2: literature retrieval 1 ECTS
041001Y -01    EBM-studies 0.5 ECTS

total 51 ECTS

2. Semester

040106A         Pharmacology and toxicology 10 ECTS
040112A         Physiology 15 ECTS
040119A         Microbiology 10 ECTS
040117Y         Interviewing and examining patients 4 ECTS
040104A         Psychology 4 ECTS
040108A         Pathology I: General Pathology 5 ECTS

Environment, lifestyle and health (ELH) - track 1 ECTS including:

040119Y         Environmental health care 1ECTS

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) - track 5 ECTS including:

040005Y         Biostatistics 3 ECTS
040105Y         Basic Epidemiology 1.5 ECTS
041001Y -02   EBM-studies 0,5 ECTS

total 54 ECTS

3. Semester

080601A         Anaesthesiology I 4 ECTS
080222A         Organ pathology I 6 ECTS
080205A         Pulmonary diseases 3 ECTS
080712A         Surgery I 16 ECTS
040127A         Clinical pharmacology and Prescriptions 1 ECTS
080603A         Clinical chemistry 3 ECTS
080803A         Radiology I 5 ECTS
080711A         Internal medicine I 12 ECTS
080427A -01   General practice 1 ECTS
042001Y         Integrated studies 2 ECTS including:
042001Y -01   Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1 ECTS
042001Y -02   Physiology  1 ECTS

Professional development in medicine (PDM) – track 1 ECTS including:

041003Y -03   PDM-studies 1 ECTS

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) - track 1 ECTS including:

040011Y -03     Medical informatics, module 3: clinical information systems 0.5 ECTS
041001Y -03     EBM-studies 0.5 ECTS

total 55 ECTS

4. Semester

080613A         Anaesthesiology II 3 ECTS
080223A         Organ pathology II 2 ECTS
080714A         Surgery II 8 ECTS
080302A         Oto-rhino-laryngology 6 ECTS
080304A         Neurosurgery 3 ECTS
080301A         Neurology 6 ECTS
080511A         Psychiatry 12 ECTS
080713A         Additional Studies of Internal Medicine II 9 ECTS
080427A -02   General practice 1 ECTS
042001Y         Integrated studies 3 ECTS including:
042001Y -04   Anatomy 1 ECTS
042001Y -03   Physiology 1 ECTS
042001Y -05   Pathology 1 ECTS

Environment, lifestyle and health (ELH) - track 1 ECTS including:

041002Y -04    ELH-studies 1 ECTS

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) - track 2 ECTS including: 

902007Y         Scientific Communication 1.5
041001Y -04   EBM-studies 0.5 ECTS

total 56 ECTS

5. Semester

080224A         Organ pathology III 2 ECTS
080203A         Dermatology and venereology 5 ECTS
040128A         Clinical pharmacology 1 ECTS
080503A         Child psychiatry  3 ECTS
080502A         Pediatrics 14 ECTS
080505A         Clinical genetics 2 ECTS
901006Y         Second Official Language (Swedish) 3 ECTS
080303A         Opthalmology 4 ECTS
080401A         Obstetrics and gynecology 10 ECTS
080417A -03   General practice 5 ECTS
042001Y          Integrated studies 1 ECTS including:
042001Y -06   Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1 ECTS
080705S -01   Thesis, Study plan 
080510A         OSCE-exam

Professional development in medicine (PDM) – track 1 ECTS including:

040015Y         Health Care Ethics 1 ECTS

Environment, lifestyle and health (ELH) - track 1 ECTS including:

041002Y -05    ELH-studies 1 ECTS

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) - track 1 ECTS including:

041001Y -05    EBM-studies 1 ECTS

total 53 ECTS

6. Semester

080916A         Physiatrics and rehabilitation 5 ECTS
080914A         Geriatrics 5 ECTS
040116A         Public health science 5 ECTS
080204A         Oncology 4 ECTS
080001Y         Medical rescue work 5 ECTS
080202A         Forensic medicine 4 ECTS
080813A         Radiology II 2 ECTS
080410A         Occupational health 2 ECTS
080427A -04   General practice  9  ECTS
042001Y         Integrated studies 1 ECTS including:
042001Y -07   Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1 ECTS

Professional development in medicine (PDM) – track 3 ECTS including:

040015Y         Health Care Ethics 1 ECTS
041003Y -06   PDM-studies 2 ECTS

Environment, lifestyle and health (ELH) - track 1 ECTS including:

041002Y -06    ELH-studies 1 ECTS

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) - track 1 ECTS including:

041001Y-06     EBM-studies 1 ECTS

total 47 ECTS

080705S         Thesis and maturity exam 20 ECTS

080707S         Practice, total 24 ECTS   

DEGREE PROGRAMME IN MEDICINE (Government Decree on University Degrees 794/2004)

Graduation requirements

The minimum extent of the Licentiate of Medicine degree is 360 ECTS credits. The degree programme consists of general, basic, intermediate and advanced studies, language studies and compulsory practical training. The thesis and a maturity test are included in the advanced studies of major. The total amount of compulsory practical training is 24 ECTS credits.

Separate provisions have been laid down for assessing the proficiency in Finnish and Swedish language required in accordance with the Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004), http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2004/en20040794.pdf :

1. The student must demonstrate in studies included in education for a degree of Licentiate of Medicine or otherwise that he/she has attained:

(1)  profiency in Finnish and Swedish which is required of civil servants in bilingual public agencies and organizations under Section 6(1) of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) and which is necessary for their field; and

(2)  skills in at least one foreign language needed to follow developments in the field and to operate in an international environment.

2. The provisions of subsection 1 do not concern a student who has been educated in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or a student who has been educated abroad. The language profiency of such students shall be determined by the university.

3. For special reasons, the university may either totally or partially exempt a student from the requisite language skills referred to in subsection 1.

In order to gain a degree certificate the student has to supply an application to the faculty’s office according to instructions given by the faculty.

Learning outcomes

The goal of the studies towards the degree of Licentiate of Medicine is to provide the students with such knowledge, skills and psycho-social abilities that will enable them, after graduation, to successfully function as experts, developers and team participants and leaders in hospitals as well as in primary health care. An additional goal is that a graduate will have the prerequisite skills for research work and post-graduate study as well as the ability and motivation for lifelong learning. The instruction, which emphasizes the regular updating of knowledge, has a strong connection to scientific research. The contents of instruction have been derived from the goals, and they are under constant evaluation and development.

The learning outcomes of the degree are based on the competences described in the publication of The Tuning Project (Medicine): Learning outcomes/competences for undergraduate medical education in Europe http://www.tuning-medicine.com/index.asp .

Modes of study

Medical studies are pre-scheduled and the training is organized in such a manner that with full-time attendance the degree can be taken in six years. Most of the courses are compulsory for all students. Some study modules, especially thesis in advanced studies, can be chosen according to the student's own interests.

Examination regulations, Assessment and Grading

Assessment is based on examinations, exercises, essays, field work, clinical work, reports or any other method determined pedagogically appropriate for the particular course. Additional information is given in study unit descriptions. 

A numerical scale 0-5 in whole numbers or verbal grading Pass or Fail is used in assessing a completed course. When assessing theses, verbal grading hyväksytty (Approved) tai hylätty (Rejected) is being used. In numerical scale zero stands for fail.

Qualification requirements and regulations

The degree provides doctor’s eligibility. National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) grants, upon application, the right to practice as a licenced medical doctor. More information: http://www.valvira.fi/en/licensing/professional_practice_rights

Occupational profiles of graduates

The goal of the degree programme in medicine is to prepare students for a career as a physician as well as for professional and scientific post-graduate education. In addition to the traditional work as a physician, the training enables graduates to work in the fields of teaching and research as well as in other positions as an expert in the field of medicine.

Access to further studies

After completing the basic degree, students may apply for the post-graduate professional education that leads to a specialist degree and/or pursue the Doctor of Medicine degree as a scientific post-graduate degree.

The degree of a Doctor of Medical Science is a postgraduate degree in medicine. The doctorate may take 3 - 4 years full time study. An accepted thesis is required as well as theoretical studies.

The Specialist degree is a professional postgraduate degree. In Finland there are 49 specialist degree programmes. The specialist education in medicine takes 5 to 6 years after permission granted by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health ( Sosiaali- ja terveysalan lupa- ja valvontavirasto, Valvira) to practice as a physician in Finland. It consists of theoretical lectures, working in hospitals and health centers and an examination.

Information about the post-graduate professional education: http://www.medicine.oulu.fi/erikoistumiskoulutus.html (in Finnish)

Information about the scientific post-graduate education: http://www.medicine.oulu.fi/english/postgraduate-education.html

ECTS Coordinator

Ms. Virpi Parkkila

University of Oulu
P.O.Box 5000
FIN - 90014 University of Oulu
E-mail: forename.surname@oulu.fi
Tel. +358-8-315 4125

For more information on postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Medicine contact:

Head of Postgraduate Affairs
Eija Ruottinen
Faculty of Medicine
P.O. Box 5000
Fin-90014 University of Oulu
E-mail: forename.surname@oulu.fi
Tel. +358-8-537 5106
Fax +358-8-537 5111