Social Services, Bachelor's Degree

Degree
Bachelor of Social Services
Duration
210 ECTS
Time
3.5 years
Mode of studies
Language
English
Price
Tuition fees might apply

Studies

What is it like to study Social Services?

See our student Chrish's experience of studying Social Services in Metropolia.

Job opportunities and working as a Bachelor of Social Services

As a Bachelor of Social Services, you are qualified to work with various client groups. Provision of services and client work is seen through a social pedagogical framework. The work may consist of supporting clients in their home or community settings, co-ordination of services, or supportive guidance and assistance. You may work with people of all ages.

Job opportunities for Bachelor of Social Services:

  • Early childhood education and care
  • Child welfare
  • Family work
  • Guidance and education in youth work
  • Social counselling in schools
  • Work with adults
  • Community work
  • Work with the elderly
  • Work with people with disabilities
  • Work with people with substance abuse issues
  • Work with people with mental health issues
  • Preventive work against violence
  • Multicultural work and work among diverse people

Bachelor of Social Services have also the opportunity to work as self-employed professionals and service providers.

By choosing certain studies that are related to early childhood education, the student has a possibility to obtain a qualification to work as a Bachelor of Social Services in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care (Varhaiskasvatuksen sosionomi).

The Curriculum

The curriculum, based on a social pedagogical framework, focuses on empowering citizens, preventing marginalization, and promoting inclusion and social pluralism. Working as a Bachelor of Social Services requires multi-disciplinary education, collaborative skills, and an ability to examine and develop oneself and one's field.

As the student moves through the degree programme, they will take part in thematic learning processes such as: expanding knowledge of Social Pedagogy, collaboration with working life partners and investigative development within social services.

The curriculum of the degree programme is based on the following competences of the Bachelor of Social Services (Sosiaalialan AMK -verkosto 2023):

  1. Ethical competence in the social work field (Sosiaalialan eettinen osaaminen)
  2. Competences in social work with clients (Sosiaalialan asiakastyön osaaminen)
  3. Competences in social service systems (Sosiaalialan palvelujärjestelmäosaaminen)
  4. Critical and inclusive civic competences (Kriittinen ja osallisuutta edistävä yhteiskuntaosaaminen)
  5. Research, development and innovation skills (Tutkimuksellinen kehittämis- ja innovaatio-osaaminen)

See Social Services curriculum in Studyguide

Language of the studies and language awareness

Tuition is offered in English with opportunities to gain real-world Finnish as part of internships and theory courses. Finnish language will be built into the courses as the student progresses through the curriculum. Therefore, as part of the studies, graduates have a possibility to gain Finnish skills at least to a level B1 in the Finnish language in order to facilitate their employment in the Helsinki region.

Those who already master Finnish at a native level, will have the opportunity to develop their language mentoring skills.

To be employed in Finland into the social work field, professionals generally need to have a sufficiently good level of Finnish language skills.

Studying with us

The students are studying in a multicultural group. The learning methods may include individual learning, group work and project learning. As a student, one can participate in international activities in various ways at different stages of the studies.

Faculty members of the degree programme are pedagogically qualified teachers who have experience teaching in English with a language aware approach. The English tuition degree programme at Metropolia is one of the most skilled in Finland. The degree programme annually invites guest lecturers to enrich the programme. Teaching is mainly Campus-based, but to be able to study with us, one needs to have a working laptop and access to internet.

Teaching methods include for example:

  • lectures
  • discussions
  • group work
  • learning assignments
  • projects
  • workshops
  • e-learning
  • independent studies
  • internships

There are job placements or internships three to four times during the studies. Job placements are in various working environments in the field of social services.

Prior to any internships, it is the student's responsibility to obtain and prove a criminal record extract as a prerequisite for admission to the internship. In the beginning of the studies, students will be guided to apply their criminal record extract from Finnish authorities.

If one moves to study in Finland from other countries, one needs to obtain an authenticated criminal record extract from the authorities in one’s country of origin. This should be as up to date as possible, less than 6 months old at the beginning of the studies.

International Activities

As a student of the degree programme one will have many opportunities to join in international activities.

The degree programme is in partnership with a number of universities and institutions of higher education in many European countries, Africa, Asia and the USA. Activities include student and staff exchanges, international projects and intensive week programmes.

A majority of the degree programme students participate in some exchange programme and complete either the second or third placement in another country.

Scholarships and tuition fees

Annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants 11 000 €.

This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.

Read more on tuition fees and scholarships

Want to know more about the Bachelor of Social Services degree programme?

Applying

  • Application period
    8.1.2025 at 08:00 - 22.1.2025 at 15:00
    Start of studies
    autumn 2025
    • Day-time studies

    Instructions for applying

    In the spring 2025 Joint Application to higher education, you can apply to degree programmes that start in the autumn of 2025. The application period starts on the 8 January 2025 at 8 am and ends on the 22 January 2025 at 3 pm (local time in Finland).

    All the information needed to apply can be found on the national Studyinfo.fi portal. At Studyinfo.fi you can find descriptions of degree programmes, application criteria, application instructions, application forms and much more.

  • Application period
    31.12.2024 at 08:00 - 30.4.2025 at 15:00
    Start of studies
    autumn 2025
    • Day-time studies

    The Separate Application for International Degree Programmes is aimed at those applying on the basis of GMAT/GRE test, SAT test, the Edunation Pathway Diploma or a top-up degree for an education leading to a higher education degree in English. Application period for studies starting in autumn 2025 starts on 31 December 2024 08:00 am (local time in Finland).

    Application instructions have been published on Studyinfo.fi Check the individual selection methods for each degree programme in Studyinfo.fi .

More information

For more information on the application process please contact

Metropolia's Student and Admission Services:
+358 40 712 5100
admissions [at] metropolia.fi (admissions[at]metropolia[dot]fi)

Starting studies

How to start your studies in Metropolia

Welcome to study for a degree at Metropolia!

Congratulations! You have been admitted to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and we are delighted to have you as a new member of our vibrant community of more than 16 000 students!

You have made an excellent choice - Metropolia offers you unique multidisciplinary opportunities throughout your studies with its strong connections to working life and active role in innovations built around socially significant phenomena.

We are happy to have you with us and help you with any questions you might have. Welcome to Metropolia!

The below information applies to students who have been accepted to study for a full degree at Metropolia. Make sure to complete all the steps in order to secure your study place.

Greetings by Tutor Teachers and the Head of Degree 2024

For new students

Will be updated more near the start of the next group.