In this programme you acquire a high level of integrity and critical understanding of risk management, and the ability to apply this knowledge in both private and public sectors. You’ll achieve a business mindset to maximize your chances of success, and you’ll gain the skills to develop and lead high-quality safety and security functions now and in the future.

Programme content

The scope of this programme is 210 ECTS. It is composed of compulsory core competencies, complementary competencies, two work placements and a final thesis. At Laurea, you will have flexible possibilities to build your competence.

Core competence studies

Business Operations
During these studies, you will develop interactive skills and competences in business, entrepreneurship and project work and learn to recognize and evaluate opportunities in the business environment and analyze and assess the prerequisites for successful business.

Basics of Safety, Security and Risk Management
You will learn fundamental corporate and organizational safety, security and risk management theory and tools. You will also learn preparedness, information and cyber security compliance requirements ,best practices and development,. The studies also include the basics of leadership and you will develop your communication in English.

Sustainability and Business Analysis
During these studies, your skills in service business are strengthened. After completing the module, you are able to create value for customers in service business and use various tools in service design and digital marketing. You will also learn about sustainability, corporate responsibility, and circular business in organizations.

Expert in a Work Community (work placements)
Your studies include two work placements, each worth 15 ECTS, which translates to 400 hours of work. You may choose to complete the placements separately or combine them to a single, 30 ECTS or 800 hour placement period.

Expert in Development and Workplace Innovation (including your Bachelor's Thesis)
These studies will develop your abilities in studying individually and in teams, carrying out research and development work and supporting your career development and work identity. The degree includes a thesis amounting to 15 ECTS in which you demonstrate your expertise in your field. The thesis may be a workplace research or development project or it can also be completed by participating in the university of applied sciences' research and development activities.

Complementary competence studies

The rest of the degree (60 ECTS) consists of elective complementary competence studies. A degree certificate in Degree Programme in Security, Safety and Risk Management is granted only if the student has completed at least 45 ECTS complementary competence studies related to Security, Safety and Risk Management. The remaining 15 ECTS may consist of any complementary studies, such as language studies or studies in other fields.

You can choose from the following studies:

Corporate Safety and Security
Studies include corporate and organizational safety and compliance requirements and best practices, risk assessment, management, planning  and development. The main fields are information and cyber security management as well as occupational safety, health and quality. You will learn to define corporate and organizational safety and security compliance requirements, best practices and apply those. After these studies, you are also able to assess and manage risks related to corporate and organizational safety and security.

Preparedness in Society
Studies include international security, critical infrastructure protection and crime prevention, compliance requirements and best practices, risk assessment and management and assessment and development. After these studies, you know how to define international security, critical infrastructure protection and crime prevention phenomena, compliance requirements, best practices and apply those. You will learn to analyse global threats and their impact to societies and assess and manage critical infrastructure’s risk and crime risks.

Risk Management
Studies include compliance requirements and best practices in risk, safety and security management, business continuity and environmental risk management. You will learn to plan, assess and develop risk, safety and security management, business continuity and environmental risk management as part of the operations of a corporation or organization.

Complementary studies from Business Information Technology

After completion of specific preliminary studies, you may also study Cybersecurity- and Information Security studies offered by the Business Information Technology degree programme.

See the curriculum

Studying in the Safety, Security and Risk Management Programme

The Safety, Security and Risk Management studies starting in autumn 2023 will be implemented as blended learning studies. Blended learning studies have at most three days of contact lessons, three times each semester. Most of the studies are conducted independently, in group work, online and, where possible, in your own workplace. Various intensive courses are also available, allowing you to complete some of the courses over a few weeks.

You may also participate in the work life related projects that Laurea has, which are a great way to network and learn in an authentic environment. Many students come to find work placements or even a begin to their careers through these projects.

The material for the studies is maintained so that it is relevant and up to date; Leppävaara campus library has the country's largest safety, security and risk management-related collection of books and articles, most of which is available in print and electronic forms. It is also possible to cooperate and collaborate on projects with students from other degree programmes.

Your previous studies and work experience are carefully considered when planning the studies. In many cases, it is possible to compensate for part of the studies through credit transfer or competence demonstrations, allowing you to progress rapidly through your studies. In all these discussions, you will be supported by a dedicated personal tutor, who will help you navigate the course selections and provide you with career counselling advice.

Work placements and employment

Graduates of the Safety, Security and Risk Management degree programme will have good job opportunities in several sectors, and they will be eligible for a great variety of roles. 

As a graduate, you may work in various roles, such as:

• Risk, safety and security manager
• Facility manager
• Information and/or cyber security expert
• Event safety expert
• Health, safety and environment manager
• Head of security
• Fire inspector
• Security sector instructor

Internationality in studies

You will need international and multicultural competence as part of your professional expertise in the workplace, whether your job is in Finland or abroad. Laurea offers opportunities for international student exchanges by partnering  with higher education institutions abroad. Laurea is part of the Cooperation Network for Risk, Safety & Security Studies (CONRIS), through which short courses are offered either online or physically. International projects also offer opportunities to advance your studies or complete your thesis or placement. You can also apply for an international placement for one or both of your work placements.

At home, you can still participate in internationality with language or intercultural communication studies. You can also cooperate and collaborate on projects with exchange students from abroad and students from Laurea’s other international degree programmes.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Non-EU/EEA area students in degree programmes taught in English are charged tuition fees.

Tuition fee: €8 000/ academic year for non EU/EEA students.

Read more about the tuition fees and scholarships

Further studies

After completing a bachelor's degree at a university of applied sciences and gaining two years of work experience, you can be admitted as a student in a master's degree programme in a university of applied sciences. Laurea offers a Master’s degree programme in Security Management in Finnish.  A completed Master's degree at a university of applied sciences will give you the same qualifications for a public office as a Master's degree from a university.

Once you have a bachelor's degree from a university of applied sciences, you can also apply for a place at a university. In that case, you may be required to take complementary studies. Universities of applied sciences offer continuing education of various lengths. You can also acquire new knowledge through open university or open university of applied sciences studies.  Examples include masters programmes in Cyber Security or Law.