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Credits can be transferred to all modules included in the degree, such as major or minor subject, basics of business knowledge, language and communication studies or elective studies. When you apply for credit transfer, you place the studies in a specific module as part of your degree in your study plan. Please note that transferred credits are always included in the degree, i.e. you cannot cancel the credit transfer later. 

For elective studies in the School of Business degrees, we recommend that you complete studies that support your goals and interests, either from Aalto University or other schools. We especially recommend studies in other fields at Aalto, language studies and practical training. The level of studies included in the degree must correspond to the degree to be completed, i.e. intended for degree students at the organising higher education institution as degree studies. 

The change will enter into force at the beginning of the academic year 2025-2026

In its meeting on December 19, 2024, the Academic Committee for Business decided to restrict the possibility of placing studies other than those aimed at degree students in bachelor's and master's degrees. In future, studies intended for non-degree students, such as many open online courses offered in continuous learning offerings, can no longer be transferred as elective studies in degrees. The change applies to credit transfer applications submitted on or after August 1, 2025.

Quality of degrees is the goal

The scope of elective studies is extensive in many programmes, and we feel that it is necessary to define its content in more detail, especially from the point of view of student guidance. With this change, we want above all to ensure the high quality of Aalto University School of Business degrees. 

We continue recommending students to complete studies also elsewhere than at the School of Business. "The aim is not to restrict opportunities to study at other higher education institutions, but to pay attention to the level of studies and competence acquired," Falk emphasises. 

The rapidly growing supply of life wide learning has also caused a phenomenon where, for example, the index figure used as the basis for allocating exchange places has been increased by transferring a large number of open online courses. 'Students have had unfortunate situations when it has come as a surprise to them that transferred credits are always included as part of their degree. In some cases, there has not been room in the degree for the more relevant studies completed by the student and therefore the student's degree certificate does not show the competence they have acquired in Aalto," says Pia Lahti, Manager of Academic Affairs. 'The open offering contains a lot of good content produced by both Aalto University and other schools, but it is not appropriate to include everything as part of the degree,' Lahti continues.