The idea of a Master’s degree obtained from a university of applied sciences is a rather new one in Finland. Like in Sweden and Germany, in Finland higher education institutions are divided into the more vocationally inclined “universities of applied sciences” (Ammattikor-
keakoulu or AMK) and science universities.

Since the turn of the millennium, the two have been moving closer to each other in accordance with the EU’s so-called Bologna process, which aims to make all member states’ education systems compatible with each other. Both systems have adopted a three-cycle model for degree.

In order to give AMK graduates equal opportunities on the labour market as graduates from scientific universties, in 2005 a second-cycle (postgraduate) AMK degree was instituted. An AMK postgraduate degree is roughly equivalent with a Finnish Master’s degree and gives the same qualifications for public office.