Ammattikorkeakoulu, short AMK, is a Finnish polytechnical institution. Literal translation is School of Higher Vocational Education.
Finnish higher education has what is called a dual model, where universities (Yliopisto; lit. "higher institute") focus on scientific Master's and higher degrees and polytechnics on Bachelor's-level vocational and practical education. The phrase "equal but different" is used in conjuction with the dual model, meaning that Finnish polytechnics and universities serve different goals in the field of higher education and should not be combined on any level.
There are about 100.000 students in Finnish polytechnics. Most notable field of education is engineering, on which field the schools offer high level tuition starting from a broad base of mathemathics and physics related to the field of study. Engineers graduating after minimum of four years and 240 ECTS credits are awarded the degree of Insinööri(AMK), equalent of Bachelor of Engineering, which has been found to be one of top engineering degrees in Europe.
Other typical fields of tuition in Ammattikorkeakoulu are healthcare, business and culture.
Some Finnish polytechnics have taken the english title of University of Applied Sciences to give more correct impression of the level of tuition given. The term is loaned from German Fachhochschule.
Bachelor's graduates from Finnish polytechnics are allowed to enter universities for post-graduate studies leading to Master's degree, should they have their degree on suitable field. However, since 2005, Finnish Parliament has approved the creation of higher polytechnical degree, similar to Master's in universities. Finnish polytechnics are also taking part in the Bologna process.
