ARCADA
TopUp, an On Demand Upskilling Program
Arcada’s TopUp on Demand offers an ethical, cost-efficient, and sustainable path for the upskilling of foreign-educated nurses to Finnish standards.
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Students are awarded a Bachelor of Healthcare (Nursing) Degree upon completion of studies.
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The Arcada TopUp is aimed at upskilling foreign-educated nurses who have,​
A Bachelor's Degree
in Nursing completed outside of Finland
Work Experience
Several years of work experience as a nurse
Skills
Intermediate skills in Finnish (minimum A2 level)
As basic Finnish language skills are required to work in Finland Arcada will offer pre-admission and language courses.
Language is an important aspect in both professional engagement and patient safety so Arcada embeds language teaching into both the theoretical courses and clinical skills teaching, as well as offers a Professional vocabulary enhancing Finnish course and a beginner course in Swedish.
Arcada can, if needed, offer further language courses so that relocating nurses can deepen their language skills after completing the upskilling process.
To be eligible to take part in the TopUp Programme, the applicant must have a Bachelor in Nursing degree, good English language skills, and have passed AUAS’
pre-admission courses: Working as a nurse in Finland 2 ECTS credits; Nursing in Finland: Clinical competence, legislation, and patient safety 15 ECTS credits, and have A2 level Finnish skills.
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The Nursing upskilling education is comprised of the following modules;
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Finnish Nursing Competencies,
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Finnish Nursing Practice and Finnish Language Studies.
Practical training is completed from basic professional studies to advanced professional studies. The courses that Arcada will offer within the project are built on multiform principle.
Methods used in this format may include lectures (online and in-house), individual reading assignments, workshops,
case-based exercises, simulations, web-based courses, real-life projects and working life practice. The project will also use the Arcada Patient Safety and Learning Centre (APSLC) as this provides an active simulation-based environment where theory and practice are combined.
Through simulation-based training students learn to handle high-risk situations and special equipment, while at the same time improving their Finnish language, critical thinking, and leadership and teamwork skills. A broad spectrum of difficult crisis and accident situations can be recreated in this simulation environment, which is safe and secure, easily adjustable, and realistic.
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In summary, Foreign educated nurses will at Arcada complete TopUp Finnish/EU Nursing competencies (theory and skills), Finnish and Swedish language studies, and half a year of practical training.
Structure of the upskilling studies
The TopUp Programme results in a Bachelor of Healthcare degree 210 ECTS credits.
The TopUp Programme is however planned so that students apply for accreditation of up to 150 ECTS credits from a previous bachelor’s in nursing degree and complete at least 60 ECTS credits, but no more than 90 ECTS credits, during 2-3 academic semesters.
The students are expected to complete approximately 30 ECTS credits per academic semester and the whole TopUp Programme within 6 academic semesters.
The students receive a study right of 6 academic semesters. Students can apply for accreditation up to 150 ECTS credits, with their previous Bachelor of Nursing degree, once their studies have started in AUAS in Finland. This leaves at least
60 ECTS credits to be completed before their study right ends.
The Internship
The TopUp program has internship studies (Finnish Nursing in Practice 30 ECTS credits) that will be completed through working in Finnish hospitals as a nurse student and will be accredited once you have met the goals set for each internship course.
Internships will be carried out under the supervision of Arcada teachers and in cooperation with Arcada working life partners. A nurse student's salary is 90% of an authorized nurse’s salary. AUAS is committed to help you find work in Finland.
AUAS close contact with working life partners and will organize job fairs promoting our students when you are on our AUAS campus. Please remember, the better student’s language skills are and the more positive attitude students show of learning Finnish the better opportunity they have of receiving attractive job offers.
The objective of the practical training is to provide the student with the opportunity to apply previously obtained knowledge and newly learnt competencies in Finnish working life. As soon as students successfully complete all courses, required within the degree program, and reached B1 level language level in either Finnish or Swedish, you will be able to apply for professional practice rights as a nurse from Valvira (The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health).
The study Right
Applicant’s study right for the enrollments for the students of year 2024 commences 1.1.2024 and ends 31.12.2026 (lasts for three years period ) as commissioned by NC under TopUp programme.
However, the commencement date of the study right of applicant may subject to change depending on the intake applicant is actually qualified for.
However, the applicant can commence studies at AUAS campus only when the she has passed the preadmission courses worth
2 +15 ETCS and proven Finnish language skills on A2 level, which has to be done by 15.12.2024, allowing for sufficient time to complete studies before the study right ends.
The applicant does not have the right to register as absent nor to apply for continued or renewed study rights. If a student does not complete the afore mentioned requirements by 15.12.2024, AUAS will revoke the study right and student cannot commence studies at AUAS campus.
Programme fees and Payment
Arcada TopUp program fee is 10,725 euros per student
(Euros ten thousand seven hundred and twenty-five only).
This fee is subject to change This is to be paid in three separate installments as invoiced by NC. The invoiced amount should be paid always in Euros by an international bank transfer.
Nordic Ceylonian's role as the commissioned education partner for ARCADA UAS
Nordic Ceylonians (NC) is a commissioned education provider, migration, and human rights consultancy agency established in Finland.
NC, as a Commissioned Education partner of Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland is authorized to grant study rights for eligible applicants selected for Arcada TopUp on Demand Upskilling Programme for registered nurses with foreign Bachelor of Nursing degrees from around the world.
Upon the applications submitted by eligible applicants, NC verifies the applicant’s fundamental eligibility in the basis of the documents provided by the applicant, determines her eligibility to TopUp program, and subsequently the applicant will be registered to 2 Credit short course, Pre-admission and Finnish language skills A2 level course as organized, managed and supervised by AUAS.
In that, NC assists the applicants their enrollment process for the TopUp program, including providing relevant information, guidance, and necessary coordination to succeed in the whole enrolment process with compliance to the terms and obligations set on the commissioned education agreement with AUAS.
In addition, NC, also provides consultation services on the Applicant’s Finnish resident permit application process on the basis of the study rights granted under this agreement, including guidance on visa requirements, required documentation, information sharing with relevant parties, and assistance on completing visa application. This whole process will cover both parties with a mutually signed agreement.
