Flexible study right (JOO)

For bachelor and master level students there are two fixed application periods per year:

• 1.3. - 15.4. (at 15.45) for studies starting in next autumn term
• 1.9. - 15.10. (at 15.45) for studies starting in next spring term
   

If the date of the application deadline does not fall on a weekday, the application period ends on the next weekday. The applicant will receive information on endorsement decision at the latest by 30.4./31.10.

NB: If the host university`s application period ends before 30.4. or 31.10., the student must notify the International Exchange Services about the different application period via email joo@helsinki.fi at least a month before the application period for the host university ends.

For doctoral students the application period is year-round. Processing time of the applications is four weeks.

Information session about JOO-applications is held 1.3.2023 on zoom in Finnish.

• JOO info presentation (pdf in Finnish)

Supporting statements for studies within the Flexible Study Right Scheme (JOO) can be provided under the following criteria:

• The student must be able to incorporate the planned JOO studies fully in UH’s degree. JOO supporting statements follow the UH’s principles governing credit transfer and the scope of degrees (bachelor 180 cr, master 120 cr and doctoral 40 cr). Discretionary exceptions can be made when applied study module partly exceeds the scope of the degree and exceeding credits are incorporated to the maximum scope of the degree:
  • Instructions for basic degree students
  • Instructions for doctoral students
• The student can incorporate the JOO studies into his or her undergraduate or postgraduate degree for which he or she has registered for attendance.
• The JOO studies do not delay the student’s graduation or unnecessarily add to the scope of the degree completed at the University of Helsinki.
• A supporting statement for JOO studies can be provided only if the studies cannot be completed at the University of Helsinki. However, students in an English- or Swedish-language degree programme can complete courses in English or Swedish at another university if the courses in question are offered only in Finnish at the University of Helsinki (e.g., qualifying studies and language courses).
• A supporting statement for a study module can be issued only once for each degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, doctorate).
• The scope of the requested right to study may not exceed 60 credits.
• The applicant must have completed at least 30 credits, which are documented on a transcript from the University of Helsinki student register. If the student has been admitted to pursue a Master’s or doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, he or she must have completed 30 credits at the University of Helsinki or must enclose with his or her application a transcript for a previous degree.
• The application must also include information on the applicant’s study progress and performance at the University of Helsinki, a personal study plan and a description of the reasons for the need to receive the right to study.
• Those planning to complete a module must contact the target university to ensure that the studies applied for constitute a module. The student must submit a single application for a supporting statement for all the studies included in the module.
• No supporting statements are provided for Open University courses.
• No supporting statements for JOO studies are provided for students who hold a fixed-term right to study, for example, exchange students.

The use of JOOPAS online application system has ended at the end of 2021. 

Application method during the year 2023: 

• for bachelor and master level students E-form (form available only during the application periods)
• for doctoral students application round of is year-around and Pdf/Word application form has been in use from the beginning of 2022. Application must be filled in and sent with required application documents to: joo@helsinki.fi.

The application must be accompanied with the following:

1. A personal study plan in Sisu (additional document is not needed). The personal study plan (PSP) must indicate what mandatory and optional studies you are going to do and what you have already done. Optional studies planned under the JOO scheme must be clearly stated in your personal study plan. More on PSP and instructions on how to place JOO studies in Sisu.
2. PhD seeking applicants must also submit a transcript of studies (an unofficial copy from sisu is sufficient) and a supporting letter from one of their supervisors.

JOO application is processed in two stages. Endorsed applications are delivered directly to target university for further processing. Applicant will receive endorsement decision via email. If application is endorsed the applicant will receive possible additional instructions on how to apply to target university. 

The recognition of studies (credit transfer) takes place according to the home university’s instructions in Sisu. The student is responsible for applying the recognition. The Transcript of Records from the hosting university is required as an attachment for recognition application. 

If you need more information, contact primarily International Exchange Services at joo@helsinki.fi.