SORA guidelines

These guidelines concerning the SORA process at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (“SORA Guidelines”) describe the procedures and principles followed at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Ltd (“Metropolia”) in student selections and during studies, as well as the initiation of the process, its various stages and the conclusion of the process. 

The SORA provisions and regulations apply to studies leading to UAS Bachelor’s degrees in health care and social services, arts, education, sports science and maritime technology. The so-called SORA provisions and regulations (“SORA provisions”) deal with solutions related to unsuitability to study. They refer to laws and decrees that govern the evaluation of a student’s suitability to study and the possible revocation of the student’s right to study if they are deemed to be unsuitable for studies or work in certain fields. 

These SORA Guidelines have been approved by the decision of Metropolia’s Vice President of Education on 19 December 2025 and they replace the previous SORA guidelines. These SORA Guidelines entered into force on 1 January 2026, as of which date they will be applicable. If a case was pending processing by the SORA working group before the entry into force of these SORA Guidelines, it will be concluded in accordance with the previously valid guidelines. 

In addition to these SORA Guidelines, Metropolia’s operations are steered by:

• Rules of Procedure of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
• Degree Regulations of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
• Study Guidelines of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
• applicable legislation, particularly
  • Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014)
  • Government Decree on Universities of Applied Sciences (1129/2014)
  • Act on Checking the Criminal Background of Persons Working with Children (504/2002)
  • Criminal Records Act (770/1993)
  • Students’ Legal Protection Board Act (956/2011)
• Metropolia’s equality and non-discrimination plan
• Metropolia’s Substance Abuse Policy
• general ethical principles and the complementary ethical guidelines specific to each professional field. 

When processing personal data, Metropolia complies with regulations governing the processing of personal data, including the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (2016/679) and the Finnish Data Protection Act (1050/2018) as well as applicable sector-specific and special legislation. 

The so-called SORA provisions included in the Universities of Applied Sciences Act aim to give universities of applied sciences better capabilities to address questions of unsuitability and safety concerning students. The purpose of the provisions is to promote patient and customer safety, the safety of minors and the safety of students and the learning and work communities. 

The SORA provisions apply to student admittance, practical training conducted with minors, the temporary expulsion of students, the revocation and reinstatement of the right to study and appeals against decisions. The means included in the SORA provisions are intended for the most difficult cases of unsuitability, where student guidance and student services measures or other available means are no longer sufficient.

At Metropolia, the SORA provisions are applicable to the following Finnish-language and English-language degrees (“SORA degrees”): 

• Prosthetics and Orthotics, Bachelor’s Degree
• Biomedical Laboratory Science, Bachelor’s Degree
• Paramedic Nurse, Bachelor’s Degree
• Physiotherapy, Bachelor’s Degree
• Applied Gerontology, Bachelor’s Degree
• Podiatry, Bachelor’s Degree
• Midwifery, Bachelor’s Degree
• Music Educator, Bachelor’s Degree
• Optometry, Bachelor’s Degree
• Osteopathy, Bachelor’s Degree
• Radiography and Radiotherapy, Bachelor’s Degree
• Nursing, Bachelor’s Degree
• Social Services, Bachelor’s Degree
• Oral Hygiene, Bachelor’s Degree
• Public Health Nurse, Bachelor’s Degree
• Occupational Therapy, Bachelor’s Degree

The applicant must fulfil the requirements set in the selection criteria if the studies include requirements concerning the safety of minors, patients or customers, or traffic safety. A person whose health or functional capacity may prevent them from adequately attending to practical assignments and completing practical training during the studies may not be admitted as a student. However, an issue related to health or functional capacity may not prevent an applicant from being admitted as a student if reasonable steps can be taken to remove this obstacle.

An earlier or pending decision on revoking the right to study may also prevent an applicant from being admitted as a student. Metropolia has the right to obtain information on any pending processes for revoking the right to study from other educational institutions, including in cases where the student has applied to Metropolia as a transfer student. A previous decision to revoke the right to study does not automatically prevent an applicant from being admitted for studies leading to a SORA degree, as every case will be evaluated separately.

The SORA process in connection with applications for studying is divided into the following stages and is presented in more detail in Picture 1.

1. Applicant’s obligation to provide information
   The health and functional capacity requirements concerning each field of study, which are applicable to the SORA degrees, can be found on the UASinfo.fi website. 

   Applicants must declare whether, in their own opinion, they fulfil the health and functional capacity requirements for the studies by answering the questions on the application form. In cases where it is justified based on an applicant’s declaration, Metropolia will contact the applicant and inform them that, if they are conditionally selected based on their diploma or through the entrance examination, they must provide Metropolia with a certificate on their state of health and attach to it a statement from a licensed health care professional so that their ability to complete the studies can be evaluated.

2. Student selection
   The applicants must participate normally in the selection based on their diploma and/or selection examination. If an applicant is selected, their selection will remain conditional until Metropolia has checked the documents required from the applicant and received all other necessary statements and certificates.  
    

3. Certificate of state of health
   Once an applicant has been conditionally selected, they must provide Metropolia with the requested certificate of their state of health and a statement by a licensed health care professional using the online E-lomake form. The statement must be provided by a doctor or other health care professional, such as a psychologist or occupational therapist. It can be a freeform statement and/or a standard statement such as the T-certificate of health status. Metropolia is not responsible for any expenses that the applicant must pay for the certificate of state of health or other statements.

   The statement issued by a health care professional must include an evaluation of whether the applicant meets the requirements specified in the request for the statement, and present an opinion on whether the applicant’s functional capacity is suitable, suitable with certain limitations, or unsuitable for studies in the field in question. The statement should not convey detailed information about the applicant’s state of health. 

   If the health care professional states that the applicant is suitable with certain limitations to complete the degree in question, the statement should aim to describe the applicant’s limitations with regard to the studies, practical assignments and supervised practical training. In addition, the statement should, as far as possible, assess how obstacles to studying can be removed.

   At Metropolia’s request, the applicant must provide the information on possible earlier decisions to revoke their right to study that is required for evaluating their eligibility as a student this time. In order to evaluate whether the applicant is eligible to become a student, Metropolia has the right to obtain from other educational institutions information on any decisions on revoking the applicant’s right to study and on the grounds for the decisions.

4. Processing of the certificate
   The student counsellor for the degree in question will process the certificate of state of health and, if necessary, refer the case to the head of degree programme and, potentially, to the director of school. 

   Metropolia may invite an applicant to an interview if it needs additional information to supplement an additional statement provided by the applicant and the statement by a licensed health care professional. The interview can take place in person, through a video conference or by phone, depending on which of these Metropolia deems the most suitable. 

   If the additional information and/or certificate of state of health submitted by the student is incomplete, the student will be asked to provide an additional statement by a certain deadline. 

   If, based on the additional statements and/or evaluations of the state of health and/or interview, the applicant is found to be suitable to study in the field in question, the selection will no longer be conditional and the applicant will be asked to enrol for the academic year. 

   If, based on the additional statements and/or evaluations of the state of health and/or interview, the applicant is found to be unsuitable to study in the field in question, or if the applicant does not provide sufficient additional information or an evaluation of their state of health or supplement them by the deadline, the conditional selection of the applicant will be cancelled, the result of the student selection will be rectified in the Studyinfo system and the applicant will be informed of this by email. If the conditional selection of the applicant is cancelled, the applicant may request additional information on the grounds for the decision from Metropolia’s Admission Services.

Metropolia requires students in health care and social services, including music education, to provide Metropolia’s student services in Myllypuro or another party stated in Metropolia’s instructions with an extract of their criminal records when the practical training included in the studies substantially requires working with minors (Universities of Applied Sciences Act, section 34). The instructions concerning criminal records extracts are applicable to all Metropolia students regardless of the form of studies.

The information on the obligation to present a criminal records extract is available in the information on the health and functional capacity requirements on the UASinfo.fi website and on the pages concerning practical training in the Student’s Guide of Metropolia.

The student must personally order a criminal records extract from the Legal Register Centre. The extract is free of charge for students (as of autumn 2025). The criminal records extract must not be more than 6 months old.

The student must present a criminal records extract before the first period of practical training, but Metropolia may, at its discretion and for a well-founded reason, request the student to present one again at a later stage of the studies.

Once the extract has been checked, this will be recorded in the student’s information in the student administration system. No copies of the criminal records extract will be taken for Metropolia. 

If the criminal records extract contains a mention of a crime that could pose an obstacle to completing practical training, the student must contact the student counsellor for the degree in question. 

If the student refuses to provide a criminal records extract, then according to section 38 of the Universities of Applied Sciences and section 17b of Metropolia’s Degree Regulations, Metropolia may suspend the student’s right to study until they present a criminal records extract.  

A certificate of a drug test may be required of UAS students in all fields of study according to Metropolia’s Substance Abuse Policy, and not just those subject to a suitability evaluation under the SORA legislation. If a student refuses to take a drug test or does not provide the results of the test as agreed, the director of school will decide on the suspension of the right to study until further steps and/or referral to treatment can be agreed on with the student or until other potential disciplinary actions are taken in accordance with Metropolia’s rules and applicable legislation.  

6.1 Revocation of the right to study  

According to the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, a student’s right to study in the SORA degrees may be revoked. It is possible to revoke the right to study if studies include requirements concerning the safety of minors, patients and customers, or traffic safety, and if:

1. the student has, through their actions or negligence, repeatedly and seriously endangered the health or safety of another person during their studies or practical training and thus proven to be unsuitable for performing practical assignments or practical training related to the studies (endangering others);
   • Such repeated endangerment may be due to deficient or erroneous practices or persistent recklessness despite official warnings.
   • Grievous danger may be caused, for example, when a student repeatedly and materially neglects the safety regulations of their place of training.
   • An individual case of damage due to negligence may fulfil the criteria for revoking the right to study if the action or negligence demonstrates clear unsuitability for attending to practical assignments and practical training related to the studies.
      
2. it is evident that the student’s health or functional capacity do not fulfil the set requirements for admission as a student (reasons to do with state of health or functional capacity); or
   • Other reasons for revocation may also include serious issues affecting physical or psychological functional capacity that prevent the student from completing practical assignments and practical training successfully, unless such an obstacle can be removed by reasonable means.
   • Revocation of the right to study for reasons to do with health and functional capacity does not require that the safety of another person has been threatened.
   • During the application stage, the student withheld information on an earlier decision on revoking their right to study which could have prevented them from being selected as a student (withholding information).
      
3. the studies or practical training included in the studies require the student to work to a substantial degree with minors, in which case Metropolia may revoke the right to study if it is necessary for the protection of minors, or if the student has been convicted of an act of sexual indecency, a sex offence, murder or manslaughter, aggravated assault or robbery or a serious narcotics offence (reasons to do with a criminal background).
   • A criminal conviction does not automatically lead to the revocation of the right to study, as each case is considered individually. Factors affecting the consideration include the field of study, the crime committed, the time when it was committed and the length of the sentence.

6.1.1. Process of revoking the right to study at Metropolia

Metropolia will intervene with problems affecting the students’ studies and graduation using the existing means of guidance and student wellbeing activities as well as other preventive means and support actions. Metropolia cooperates with the authorities and other parties providing and organising student health care and student wellbeing services, and gives its students information on the benefits and services they provide. If necessary, the student will be instructed to seek these benefits and services.

The primary aim is to ensure that the student receives the necessary support or treatment to enable them to continue to complete the degree in question and to graduate while fulfilling the requirements of the degree, so as to eventually find employment in the field. The secondary means is to find out whether the student could transfer to another degree programme at Metropolia. This is not possible in all cases, despite support measures, and in such an event it is necessary to initiate the process of revoking the right to study in accordance with the SORA provisions. The process description on the revocation of the right to study at Metropolia is presented in Picture 2.

1. Observation
   Any person in the study and work community can make an observation of a problem, including representatives of the organisation where practical training is conducted. It is important to understand that making such an observation does not mean you are an “informant”, but rather that you care for your fellow students and workers. It is also the first step towards resolving the problem. If necessary, a safety violation report on any observations should be made at hd.metropolia.fi.

   The person who makes the observation should contact a lecturer, an ISP counsellor or student counsellor or other member of staff.  
    

2. Discussion
   The person who makes the observation or the lecturer, ISP counsellor or student counsellor who has been informed of the observation will have a discussion with the student to assess the situation and to decide on any further measures. The person who has the discussion with the student may conclude that there is no reason to undertake any further measures. Alternatively, if the matter is not cleared in the discussion, they may arrange a new discussion together with the student counsellor and the student, or propose to the student counsellor for the degree in question that the case be referred to the SORA working group. 

   The student counsellor may refer the student to voluntary treatment in accordance with Metropolia’s Substance Abuse Policy or agree on other measures if the counsellor feels that there is no need to take the SORA process further at this stage.

   The person who has the discussion with the student will prepare a memorandum of the discussion indicating the subject, main content and outcome of the discussion. The memorandum should be signed by the person who prepared it and by the student. The student has the right to enter a dissenting opinion in the memorandum or to decline to sign it. The memorandum will be delivered to the student and the head of degree programme. No detailed health information or other particular personal data should be recorded in the memorandum. The memorandum must be saved in accordance with Metropolia’s archiving practices.  

3. SORA working group
   The SORA working group is convened by the student counsellors of the faculty of health care and social services. The SORA working group includes a student counsellor, a head of degree programme and a representative of the lecturers, as well as other expert members, such as a representative of health care services, who are invited if necessary.

   The task of the SORA working group is to evaluate the situation together with the student and the necessary experts and to decide on the necessary course of action. The student can request a student representative from Metropolia’s Student Union METKA or another assistant, such as a doctor treating them, to participate in the meetings with the SORA working group. In the first meeting with the SORA working group, the student must be informed of how the process will proceed and what the consequences will be if the student agrees or refuses to provide the information requested by the SORA working group or to participate in tests or examinations performed by health care professionals. 

   The SORA working group must

   • find out whether the student can continue to complete their degree and what support they may need,
   • find out whether the student can transfer to another degree programme,
   • decide on whether to request health examinations and a statement from the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) or another health care services provider, and
   • decide on whether to propose to the director of school that the student’s right to study be revoked. 

   The SORA working group may also come to the conclusion that there is no need for further measures, and this will also be recorded along with the reasons in the memorandum.

   If the student cannot continue to complete the degree in question for reasons related to the SORA provisions, the student may be transferred within Metropolia to another degree programme for which they fulfil the admittance requirements. The student’s consent in needed for such a transfer. A written decision on the transfer of the student to another degree programme will be made and, at the same time, the waiving of the current right to study will be recorded.

   Metropolia has the right to obtain a health care professional’s statement containing an evaluation of the student’s functional capacity made on the basis of a test or an examination. If necessary, the SORA working group may decide on sending the student to tests and examinations by a licensed health care professional if these are necessary for evaluating the student’s state of health or functional capacity. Metropolia will be responsible for the cost of any medical tests and examinations it has ordered. 

   If a student refuses to submit to tests or examinations of their health and functional capacity as required by Metropolia, the right to study may be suspended until the student agrees to submit to these tests or examinations. The Board of Directors of Metropolia decides on the suspension of the right to study. Before such a decision is made, the student must be given an opportunity to be heard.

   A written memorandum must be prepared of every meeting with the SORA working group. These memoranda must include the following, among others:

   • a description of what has happened and the views and wishes of all parties,
   • possible expert hearings,
   • measures taken, for example guidance and examining the possibility of a transfer to another degree,
   • decisions made

   The memorandum must be signed by the chairperson and the preparer of the memorandum and, if this is agreed on in the meeting, by the other participants as well. The student has the right to enter a dissenting opinion in the memorandum or to decline to sign it. The memorandum must be saved in accordance with Metropolia’s archiving practices.

   Metropolia is obliged to inform the Finnish Supervisory Agency of any pending processes for revoking the right to study in the degree programmes supervised by the agency, as well as to provide information on any decisions, and their justifications, to revoke or reinstate the right to study in such degree programmes.

4. Decision by the director of school
   Having received a proposal on revoking the right to study from the SORA working group, the director of school will make a decision on further measures. The director of school may decide that there is no need for further measures in the case and return the case to the SORA working group, or they may propose to the Legal Protection Committee that the right to study be revoked.

   If the director of school needs more information to support their decision, they may hear the SORA working group and the student.  

5. Processing by the Legal Protection Committee
   If the director of school decides to propose the revocation of the right to study, they will refer the case to Metropolia’s Legal Protection Committee for processing. The Legal Protection Committee will process the case and hear the student in accordance with its rules of procedure. 

   If necessary, Metropolia’s Legal Protection Committee will consult the national Students’ Legal Protection Board in the enforcement of the law.

   If the Legal Protection Committee decides to file a motion for revoking the right to study, the President and CEO will put the case forward to the Board of Directors, which will decide on the matter. 

   An extract of the minutes of the Legal Protection Committee will be delivered to the parties involved in compliance with secrecy provisions.

6. Presentation to the Board of Directors
   The decision on revoking the right to study is made by the Board of Directors of Metropolia following a motion by the President and CEO. In a case concerning the revocation of the right to study, the Legal Protection Committee prepares a motion for a decision for the President and CEO and, if necessary, serves as an expert when the President and CEO or the Board of Directors handles the aforementioned case. 

   Before such a decision is made, the student must be given an opportunity to be heard. The student also has the right to receive support from the Student Counsel during the processing of the case.

6.2 Reinstatement of the right to study

The student has the opportunity to apply for the reinstatement of their right to study if this right was revoked due to a health or functional capacity issue.

The condition for the reinstatement of the right to study is that the applicant demonstrates with a statement concerning their state of health that the reasons for losing the right to study no longer exist. The application for the reinstatement of the right to study must be delivered to Metropolia’s Registry Office and addressed to Metropolia’s Legal Protection Committee.

The Legal Protection Committee will process the case in accordance with its rules of procedure.

Metropolia’s Legal Protection Committee will prepare a motion for a decision for the President and CEO and, if necessary, serve as an expert when the President and CEO or the Board of Directors handles the case. The Board of Directors of Metropolia will make the decision on the reinstatement of the right to study.  

An appeal may be lodged with the Helsinki Administrative Court against a decision made by the Board of Directors of Metropolia in a disciplinary matter referred to in section 38 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014). A decision of the Helsinki Administrative Court concerning disciplinary action referred to in section 38 may not be appealed against.

Decisions concerning the revocation or reinstatement of the right to study for degrees governed by SORA (solutions for unsuitability to study) legislation that are made on the basis of section 33 or 35 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014) may be appealed against to the national Students’ Legal Protection Board within 14 days of receiving the decision, in accordance with section 58 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014). An appellant who is dissatisfied with the decision of the national Students’ Legal Protection Board may appeal against it to the Helsinki Administrative Court within 14 days of being notified of the decision, in accordance with section 8a of the Act on the Students’ Legal Protection Board (956/2011).

A decision on revoking the right to study may be enforced irrespective of an appeal lodged by the student, unless enforcement is prohibited by the Students’ Legal Protection Board or the Helsinki Administrative Court. 

The national Students’ Legal Protection Board is the body of first instance for appeals against the revocation and reinstatement of the right to study. 

The national Students’ Legal Protection Board is an independent body of appeal, the purpose of which is to ensure consistent practices in cases of revocation and reinstatement of the right to study. The Finnish Government appoints the Board for a term of three years based on a proposal by the Ministry of Education and Culture, in addition to which the ministry appoints the necessary number of part-time rapporteurs.

Cases of appeal against the revocation and reinstatement of the right to study are processed urgently. The Board may prohibit the enforcement of a revocation decision either upon a student’s request or independently.

Data on the health of an applicant or student involved in a case of revocation or reinstatement of the right to study may only be processed by persons who are preparing or making the decision on the student selection, the revocation or reinstatement of the right to study or disciplinary measures. 

The documents concerning the process of revoking and reinstating the right to study must be prepared in such a way that only the necessary personal data are reported. Documents containing sensitive personal data must be stored separately from other documents and destroyed immediately once there is no reason for retaining them for the purpose of performing statutory duties. Despite secrecy provisions, the holder of information has the right under section 65 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act to disclose information on a student’s state of health and functional capacity to persons preparing or deciding on the revocation or reinstatement of the right to study if there is a lawful basis for disclosing the information and the disclosure is essential for the decision-making process.

Despite secrecy provisions, such information on a student’s state of health and functional capacity as is necessary for the execution of duties may be supplied by the holder of this information to:

• the president of a university of applied sciences and those responsible for the security of the university of applied sciences for the purpose of ensuring the safety to pursue studies,
• a person responsible for study guidance for the purpose of guiding the student to other studies or student support services,
• a person responsible for student health care for the purpose of ensuring the student’s health and safety and to guide the student to support services where necessary,
• a person responsible for practical training for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the student and the safety of staff and customers at the place of training,
• the police and a representative of the university of applied sciences who is primarily responsible for investigating threats to security for the purpose of assessing if there is an imminent threat to safety or if, in a health assessment, the student’s state of health is deemed to pose a danger to the safety of others,
• members of the SORA working group and other experts at Metropolia for the purpose of handling the case in accordance with Metropolia’s process and instructions.  

The SORA Guidelines have been updated with respect to the sections stated below, and the amendments have been approved through the following decisions of the Vice President of Education at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences:

Decision date: 19 December 2025
Entry into force: 1 January 2026
Sections amended: Complete revision of the SORA Guidelines

The description of the processes  will be added to the website later.
Picture 1: SORA process in connection with applications to study
Picture 2: Description of the processes of revoking the right to study at Metropolia