Developing Digital Services

The compulsory core competence studies are made up of five modules of 30 ECTS each, giving you fundamental skills across business, IT and digital service development:

• Customer-oriented actor in a business environment (30 ECTS) — develop your competence in business, project work and interactive skills; identify and describe opportunities in the business environment and the role of marketing.
• Competent developer in a digital operating environment (30 ECTS) — basic professional competence in the ICT sector: software development, infrastructure solutions and related information security. Build simple applications, create database solutions, and use programming structures and cloud infrastructure.
• Designing customer-centric digital services (30 ECTS) — strengthen your capabilities for developing digital services with business objectives and sustainable development in mind. Apply service design methods, analytics and monitoring to support decision-making.
• Expert in a work community (30 ECTS) — includes Job placements 1 and 2. Deepen your expertise in your chosen field, learn how to apply for jobs and act responsibly in national and international IT positions.
• Expert in development and workplace innovation (30 ECTS) — strengthen your competence identity, study skills and research-based development capability. This module includes your bachelor’s thesis.

Complementary competencies let you focus your specialisation. Two named complementary study modules are available:

• Cloud developer — develop digital applications and services using cloud services; work in software development with the methods and tools of web application development, integration development and software testing.
• Digital service designer — plan and develop digital services in a user- and customer-oriented way; improve user experience and design user-friendly interfaces; consider business processes and industry context.

You can also combine IT studies with other Laurea offerings, Open UAS courses, or CampusOnline studies (Finnish higher-education shared online platform).

Job placements are part of the Expert in a work community module — approximately five months of practical training, which can be completed in one or two parts. A placement can take place in Finland or abroad. Placements are an important step towards employment and let you deepen your expertise in your chosen area.

The thesis is completed at the end of your studies, normally in connection with a working-life organisation and your IT specialisation area. It is part of the Expert in development and workplace innovation module.

The programme is delivered entirely online, in English. You can study from anywhere in Finland — or anywhere in the world — provided you can participate in scheduled online sessions and meet deadlines. Online webinars, workshops and possible campus-based counselling sessions are typically organised in the afternoons and early evenings, Finnish time (GMT+2).

Laurea’s pedagogical model means you don’t just learn theory — you apply it. You work on real digital service projects with companies and partner organisations, often as part of multidisciplinary teams. This is one of the most important parts of the programme.

Laurea works closely with industry partners (such as AWS, Microsoft, Google, Nokia and Finnish IT employers) to bring the latest tools and competencies into the courses. Students may also work on projects around Industry 4.0 topics — service robots, robotic process automation, Internet of Things, data analytics, virtual reality and digital content production.

When you are admitted, your studies begin with a mandatory 2-day online kick-off. During this orientation, your high-school certificates are reviewed, your identification is checked, and you are given access to Laurea’s online learning platforms. You also plan your personal study path, meet your lecturers and your future classmates, and start the Building Competence Identity study unit. The aim is a smooth start — so you are ready to study from day one.

If you have previous higher education studies, work experience on BBA-level jobs or IT certifications, Laurea has flexible Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedures. You can compensate part of the programme through credit transfers or competence demonstrations, which can shorten your overall study time — in practice, some students graduate in as little as two years.

Throughout your studies, you are supported by a responsible teacher for each study unit, a personal tutor teacher who helps you plan your studies, and Laurea’s online platforms for everyday communication.

• Estimated workload: about 25 hours per week minimum alongside other commitments
• Duration: the programme is designed to be completed in 3 to 3.5 years
• Industry-recognised certifications: several courses include Microsoft, Google and other industry certifications you can earn alongside your degree
• Online sessions: typically organised in afternoons and early evenings, Finnish time (GMT+2)