What is a professional bachelor’s degree?

And what sets it apart from other kinds of bachelor's degrees? Get the inside scoop here.

Theory and practice

VIA is a university college offering professional bachelor’s degree programmes in which theory goes hand-in-hand with practice.

With a professional bachelor’s degree you are always close to ”the real world”, have a full set of professional skills and are ready to take on a job straight after graduation.

Facts:

A professional bachelor's degree takes 3 to 4 and a half years or 180-240 ECTS to complete
Offered at a level corresponding to university bachelor's programmes, but with a stronger focus on professional practice
Gives access to further studies, e.g. at master's level

Visit the Ministry of Higher Education and Science's website to learn more about professional bachelor's degrees

Professional bachelor's degree at VIA

Internship

Some programmes offer internships right from the start and several times during the programme. Some programmes offer a whole semester of internship in a company - e.g. for all engineering programmes.

During the internship, you learn how to translate your theoretical knowledge into practical skills and earn experience within the profession that you are being educated for.

While in your internship, you will receive guidance and feedback from the professional staff in your internship organisation. It is their responsibility to guide you through the internship.

”Internships give students great experience to put on our CVs, before we have even finished our studies. This makes it easier to find a student job, but also to get a job right after your studies are completed.”

Maria Jose Ferreira, full degree Software Engineering student
Project collaboration with local businesses

As a student at VIA, you will be involved in real tasks and work processes in local businesses or institutions.

This way, you work theoretically and practically with projects that are similar to challenges or tasks that you might meet in your future career.

You will also learn to collaborate with students from VIA’s other programmes when you solve cross-disciplinary assignments together.

“We work in teams on projects, and we have to make plans to keep it on the right track, and we have to collaborate even though we might have different opinions and different suggestions.”

Constantin Gavriloae, Architectural Technology and Construction Management
Specialised teaching environment

A large part of the teaching during a professional bachelor’s degree is focus on preparing you for the job you will take on after graduation.

Therefore, you will practice future job tasks in specially equipped teaching rooms and environments during your education.

Depending on which programme you are attending, this could be e.g. clinical teaching, teaching in laboratories, sewing room, creative workshops, music teaching, physical education or film production.

The essence is that you get to try out what it is like to solve tasks similar to those that you will encounter in your future profession.

"Here, you are not expected to remember the facts, but have to actually apply what you have learnt and put it into practice."

Bishal Kafle, Mechanical Engineering
Talent programme

VIA offers talent programmes to students with an appetite for taking on an extra layer of academic challenges.

You can for example participate in research projects or other large projects in collaboration with local businesses and organisations.

You will get the chance to develop your talent and strengthen your independence in the meeting with strong professional partners and specialists.