Diplomi-insinööri

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Diplomi-insinööri (Swedish: diplomingenjör) is a Finnish academic degree. In English, the official translation of the degree is Master of Science (Engineering). The Finnish and German names originate from the German "Diplom", meaning "university diploma", in contrast to engineers with no university certification (see insinööri (amk)). The degree has a nominal length of 300 ECTS after the matriculation exam.

The degree qualifies for the study in programs for tekniikan lisensiaatti (Licenciate of Science (Technology) and tekniikan tohtori (Doctor of Science (Technology) degrees.

The diplomi-insinööri degree is granted by seven Finnish universities in a variety of degree programs. The connecting feature of the programs is the engineering approach built on a base of scientific and mathematical studies. Usually, graduates with the degree work as experts, managers, researchers or entrepreneurs. Many, if not most, of the middle and upper management in Finnish engineering and technology-based corporations are DIs.

Since 2005, the degree has been incorporated into the Bologna process and all students admitted before 2005 are required to complete their studies by 2010, if they wish to graduate under the old statutes. The modern, Bologna-compatible includes an intermediate Bachelor's degree tekniikan kandidaatti, which is to be taken after three years studies (180 ETCS).^[1] In the old system, an intermediate degree did not exist, which was a problem for exchange students going to study abroad in Masters-level studies.

In Finland, the higher education follows a dual model with science-and-letters-based universities and work-oriented polytechnics. In polytechnics, students may study for the degree insinööri (AMK), officially translated Bachelor of Engineering, which is a four-year, 240 ETCS program. The holders of insinööri (AMK) qualify to study straight for the diplomi-insinööri degree without the tekniikan kandidaatti degree in the same branch of technology, but must usually complete 60 ETCS worth of mathematical and scientific studies in addition to normal Master's degree requirement. Thus the master's program for insinööris (AMK) has a length of 180 ETCS or three years. Similar requirements apply, if a Bachelor with a university degree from a non-engineering program is admitted.

In both the new and the old system the degrees are classified into "pass" and "with distinction" (oivallisesti) categories. The rare "with distinction" classification (less than 10 % of the graduates) requires a grade point average of at least 4.00/5 and a thesis with grade of at least 4/5.

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