By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.
Search for degree programme
When you search for a degree programme by name or by part of the name the options in the list of degree programmes below the search field is narrowed down. After this you have to choose the degree programme from the list.
If you wish to explore currently available courses, begin with the following websites:
Courses – If you wish to search for interesting courses from the studies offered by the University as a whole
You can search for courses with specific terms or refine the search results, for example, by date, target group or language of teaching. You can access course pages by clicking on the course title in the search results. Course pages provide detailed information on courses and include a link to their Moodle areas, if any.
For basic information on each course as well as the content added by the teacher, please see the course pages in the Studies Service section “Courses”. You can view the information without logging in or registering, but some of the content added by teachers to the course pages may be available to course participants only. The course pages also give you access to information on the degree requirements the courses meet. Before registering, please always check the information on the course pages because teachers may update the pages after they have been published.
When you know which course you wish to complete, add it to your study plan and register for it in Sisu. Information on registration is available at How do I register for my courses and exams?
You can find the course pages through the search available at Courses or from Sisu. After registration, you can find the link to the course page in the Studies Service calendar (requires login).
I wish to learn more about the courses offered by my degree programme in the next academic year
Teaching programmes are published in two parts: preliminary versions in March and the actual programmes usually in June.
Preliminary teaching programmes
Published in March
The preliminary teaching programmes of degree programmes are published on this page. To access them, select your degree programme from the menu at the top, and the teaching programme will appear at the bottom. If you are an exchange student, please also see the instructions in the section I wish to search for courses available to exchange students.
The Language Centre’s preliminary teaching programmes are published on the Language Centre’s website.
Open university courses can be found in the preliminary teaching programmes of degree programmes and the Language Centre. You can also find course details on the helsinki.fi website at Preliminary information about upcoming courses.
Preliminary teaching programmes contain the following information:
The courses you can complete in the upcoming academic year and the teaching periods in which they are offered
The course implementation and completion methods (you can find more information on the page How are studies completed?)
The course languages
The courses included in open university education and the courses available to degree students free of charge or subject to regular rates
The courses open to exchange students
Actual teaching programmes
The actual teaching programmes for the autumn and spring terms are published in Sisu and on the Courses section of the Studies Service. Usually they are published by the end of June.
Summer courses are published in Sisu and on Courses, usually in early March. Information on open university courses can also be found on the helsinki.fi website at Open university: Summer studies.
Before registering, please check the information on the course pages. Teachers may update the pages after teaching programmes have been published. You can find links to the course pages in Sisu and on Courses and, after you have registered, in the Studies Service calendar.
Actual teaching programmes contain the following information:
Detailed information on course implementation and completion methods (you can find more information on the page How are studies completed?)
You can find information on open university studies on the Open University website. It includes information on:
courses offered during the academic year in specific degree programmes and on specific topics
preliminary information on upcoming studies
information on registration and course fees
In the Courses section of the Studies Service, you can view open university courses by selecting ‘Courses open for all’ in the target group menu. As a rule, information on courses offered in the next academic year will be available from the end of June (summer courses from the end of March).
In addition, open university courses are included in the teaching programmes of degree programmes and the Language Centre. For information, please see the section above.
I wish to search for courses available to exchange students
If you are an exchange student, finding and choosing courses suitable for your learning agreement, and knowing which courses you can take can be tricky. To help you find your way, we've put together a separate page on courses for exchange students. Visit the page to learn how and where to find courses suitable for exchange students.
Preliminary syllabus for the academic year 2024-2025
Master's Programme in Theoretical and Computational Methods (TCM)
Master's Programme in Materials Research (MATRES)
Master's Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences
Master's Programme in Geography
Master's Programme in Urban Studies and Planning (USP)
Master's Programme in Geology and Geophysics
Master's Programme in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences (PARAS)
Master's Programme in Atmospheric Sciences (ATM)
Nordic Master Programme in Environmental Changes at Higher Latitudes (ENCHIL)
Master's Programme for Teachers of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
Master's Programme in Mathematics and Statistics (MAST)
Master's Programme in Life Science Informatics (LSI)
Master's Programme in Computer Science (CSM)
Master's Programme in Data Science
Doctoral Programme in Computer Science (DoCS)
Doctoral Programme in Particle Physics and Universe Sciences (PAPU)
Doctoral Programme in Materials Research and Nanoscience (MATRENA)
Doctoral Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences (CHEMS)
Doctoral Programme in Geosciences (GeoDoc)
Doctoral Programme in Mathematics and Statistics (Domast)
Doctoral Programme in Atmospheric Sciences (ATM-DP)
The Faculty of Science and Aalto University have made an agreement on Cooperation on quantum technology education in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The agreement allows students to take courses at the other university with the following set-up.
How to apply for a study right
Degree students in the Bachelor’s Programme in Science, Master’s and Doctoral Programmes at the Faculty of Science (not available for exchange students) can apply for a study right for the listed courses in quantum technology offered by Aalto University. The study right will last for two years, but it will end earlier if you graduate.
Please note that the teaching periods are different for the University of Helsinki and Aalto University.
Intermediate studies
PHYS-C0210 Kanttimekaniikka (5 cr)
PHYS-C0240 Materiaalifysiikka (5 cr)
PHYS-C0254 Quantum Circuits (5 cr)
PHYS-C0258 Quantum Labs (5 cr)
Advanced studies
PHYS-E0414 Advanced Quantum Mechanics (5 cr)
PHYS-E0551 Low Temperature Physics (5 cr)
PHYS-E0420 Quantum Many-body Physics (5 cr)
PHYS-E0421 Solid State Physics (5 cr)
PHYS-E0436 Modern Optics (5 cr)
PHYS-E0437 Laser Physics (5 cr)
PHYS-E0525 Microscopy of Nanomaterials (5cr)
PHYS-E0549 Machine Learning for Materials Science (5 cr)
PHYS-E0412 Computational Physics (5 cr)
School of Electrical Engineering, Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering
Intermediate studies
ELEC-C9440 Quantum information (5 cr)
ELEC-C9420 Introduction to Quantum Technology (5 cr)
ELEC-C9430 Electromagnetism (5 cr)
Advanced studies
ELEC-E3230 Nanotechnology (5 cr)
ELEC-E4130 Electromagnetic Fields (5 cr)
ELEC-E3140 Semiconductor Physics (5 cr)
ELEC-E3220 Semiconductor Devices (5 cr)
ELEC-E3240 Photonics (5 cr)
ELEC-E4810 Metamaterials and Nanophotonics (5 cr)
You can find more information also on the website of InstituteQ.
Registration and recognition of studies completed at Aalto University
To be able to include these studies to your degree, they must be formally recognized by the University of Helsinki. These courses will be recognized (as substitutions) according to the following table: