How to apply for an extension to study right

• Applying for extension only applies to you if your studies began on or after 1 August, 2005. This is because the legislation on the normative duration of studies only applies to these study rights.
• Applications for extension will be subject to a processing fee of €50. See payment instructions in “Instructions for applying for an extension in Sisu” or “Applying for an extension without a user account”.
• Do not apply for an extension before you can, and intend to, study and complete your degree.
• You do not need to apply for an extension immediately after your study right expires.
• Draw up a study plan that is as realistic as possible considering your overall situation.
• Your study plan must first aim at the completion of a first-cycle (bachelor’s) degree if you were granted the right to complete both a first- and a second-cycle degree and you have not completed the first-cycle degree before the duration ended.
• Student Services and your PSP supervisor can support and guide you in devising the plan.
• Completion of studies in this plan will serve as the ground for any subsequent extension decisions.
• Your study plan must take the expiry of studies into account. 

To apply for an extension to a study right in Sisu, your study plan must be completed, i.e., all parts need to show "Selections done" or "Parts completed".  

Before submitting your extension application, Sisu directs you to a separate online payment service to pay the application processing fee. The application will not be processed unless the fee has been paid. You will receive a receipt for the payment by email. If you are not able to pay the fee in the online payment service, apply for the extension with the e-form (instruction "Applying for an extension without a user account" below).

The extension application process in brief:

1. First, check the application periods and processing timetables for your faculty below.
2. Add the courses missing from your degree to your study plan and schedule them for the current term or future terms. Sisu instructions: Study plan
3. Complete the extension application in Sisu. Sisu instructions: applying for an extension
4. Sisu directs you to pay the application processing fee in a separate payment service. After the payment, you will return to Sisu.
5. Send the application.
6. If necessary, Student Services will ask you to email attachments or further information to supplement your application. Do not send sensitive information (e.g., doctor’s certificates) by email unless specifically asked to do so. If relevant, you will receive instructions for using encrypted email.
7. The decision will be communicated to you via Sisu or by mail, depending on the method you selected in your application.

First, try signing in to Sisu to apply for an extension and to pay the processing fee for the extension application in Sisu (see instructions above).

If your study right has already expired and you cannot log in to Sisu, or you are not able to pay the processing fee in the online payment service, you can apply for an extension using the electronic forms below. Your application must include a study plan aimed at graduation. Applications submitted electronically are assessed in the same way as those submitted in Sisu. 

Pay the processing fee in the University of Helsinki online payment service first. The processing fee for the extension application is 50 euros. When paying the fee in the online payment service you do not need to send the receipt with you application.

If you are not able to use the online payment service, you can pay the fee to the University of Helsinki bank account FI58 5000 0120 3778 32, SWIFT (BIC): OKOYFIHH, Reference 161220266. Bank address: OP pankki, Gebhardinaukio 1, FI-00510 Helsinki, Finland. In this case, submit the receipt via the HelsinkiUni Help service request.

In addition to a study plan, your application should include the following information:

• Explain the reasons leading to the delay in your studies. Reasons to be considered include personal factors, such as an illness or a difficult life situation, civic activity during studies, participation in an international student or trainee exchange, and/or systematic training in professional sports. When applying for an extension for the first time, your own statement is sufficient.
• If you are studying on a full-time basis, you should complete at least 45 credits per academic year. If you are planning to complete fewer credits, your application should outline the reasons.
• You should also provide an explanation if your plan requires that you study at a considerably faster pace during the extension.
• If you have completed all studies with the exception of the thesis, describe the stage of your thesis and the estimated timetable for its completion. The information you provide can be used to monitor the progress of your thesis. In addition, your faculty may request a statement from your thesis supervisor on the progress of your thesis.

If you have previously applied for an extension and are now submitting a new application, the following principles apply:

• Your application must include information on the studies completed during the previous extension. If your studies have progressed as planned, no further report is required.
• If your studies have not progressed as planned, you must update your graduation plan. The updated plan will be assessed according to the same criteria as the original plan.
• If you have completed studies not included in your graduation plan during the previous extension, they will not be taken into account when deciding on another extension.
• If you wish to base your appeal on personal reasons, describe your life situation in your application. Acceptable reasons must be in a direct causal relationship with the delayed studies. If necessary, you will be asked to email attachments, such as doctor’s certificates.

An extension can be granted if the student is able to complete their studies within a reasonable period. The extension will always be for a fixed period of time, a minimum of one term and maximum of four terms at a time. When granting an extension to the duration of study, consideration will also be given to previous extension decisions, if any, and the progress of studies in accordance with the previous graduation plan.

When granting an extension for the first time, its duration can be up to two academic years, depending on the time required for the study plan to be implemented. Subsequently, an extension can be granted for no more than one academic year if the student cannot complete their degree sooner in accordance with their plan.  In total, the extensions granted cannot usually exceed the target duration of the degree (e.g., three academic years or five academic years).

A reasonable period for completing studies is defined as follows:

• First-cycle degree (target duration of 3 academic years): an extension of up to 6 terms
• Second-cycle degree (target duration of 2 academic years): an extension of up to 4 terms
• First- and second-cycle degrees (target duration of 5 academic years): an extension of up to 10 terms

Degrees with a longer target duration are an exception to the above rule:

• First- and second-cycle degrees in psychology (target duration of 5.5 academic years): an extension of up to 11 terms
• First- and second-cycle degrees in veterinary medicine (target duration of 6 academic years): an extension of up to 12 terms
• Second-cycle degree of Master of Arts (Psychology) (target duration of 2.5 academic years): an extension of up to 5 terms
• Single-cycle degree of Licentiate of Dentistry (target duration of 5 or 5.5 academic years): an extension of up to 11 terms
• Single-cycle degree of Licentiate of Medicine (target duration of 6 academic years): an extension of up to 12 terms

If your application for an extension is rejected, you will receive a written, reasoned decision on the matter, together with information on how to appeal against the decision. Should the appeal also be rejected, you can lodge a further appeal with the Helsinki Administrative Court. In addition, you can submit a new extension application in which you have, for example, amended your study plan to make it more realistic.

If your right to study has expired and you cannot log in to Sisu, you can apply for an extension using the electronic forms below.

Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

You will receive the decision on the extension by email within approximately four weeks of submitting your application. You should submit your extension application well in advance of the expiry of your right to study.

• If your right to study expires at the end of the spring term (31 July), submit your application by mid-May.
• If your right to study expires at the end of the autumn term (31 December), submit your application by the end of November.

Application forms:

• Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences application for the extension of the study right  (E-form)
• Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry application for the extension of the study right (E-form)

Contact information: Viikki Student Services

Faculty of Arts

You will receive the decision on the extension by email within approximately four weeks after submitting your application. You should submit your extension application well in advance before the expiry of your right to study.

• If your right to study expires at the end of the spring term (31 July), submit your application by the end of May.
• If your right to study expires at the end of the autumn term (31 December), submit your application by the end of November.

Application form:

• Faculty of Arts application for an extension of a study right (E-form)

Contact information: Metsätalo Student Services

Faculty of Educational Sciences

There are six deadlines annually for applying for an extension: 15 August, 15 September, 30 November, 6 January, 15 February and 31 May. You will receive the decision within three to four weeks after the deadline for applications. The Faculty of Educational Sciences complies with the above deadlines. Submit your application for an extension only if your right to study is about to expire and you are planning to continue your studies. Please note that applications for study rights that expire at the end of the spring term (31 July) will not be processed until after the May deadline. Similarly, applications for study rights that expire at the end of the autumn term (31 December) will not be processed until after the November deadline. Please contact siltavuori-student@helsinki.fi, if you have a valid reason for having your application processed earlier.

Information on the duration of the extension granted and the number and date of the dean’s decision will be recorded in Sisu. You are responsible for registering for the academic year.

• Faculty of Educational Sciences application for an extension of the study right (E-form)

Contact information: Siltavuori Student Services.

Faculty of Medicine

There are two deadlines annually for applying for an extension: if your right to study expires on 31 July, submit an application between 1 April and 15 May. If your right to study expires on 31 December, submit an application between 1 and 30 November. The decision on whether to grant an extension to the right to study rests with the dean.

You will receive the dean’s decision by the end of the term.

• Faculty of Medicine application for an extension of the study right (E-form)

Contact: Meilahti student services

Faculty of Science

Submit your application for an extension well before your right to study expires if you are planning to continue your studies. If your right to study expires at the end of the spring term (31 July), you must submit an application by the end of the first week of June. If your right to study expires at the end of the autumn term (31 December), you must submit an application by mid-November.

You will receive the decision by email to the address you have provided. If your application is rejected, you will receive the decision in writing to the postal address you have provided.

• Faculty of Science application for the extension  of a study right (E-form) 

Contact information: Kumpula Student Services

Faculty of Law

There are six deadlines annually for applying for an extension: 6 August, 15 October, 17 December, 14 January and 11 March and May 27. You will receive the decision by email within three to four weeks after the deadline for applications. The application should be submitted well before the expiration of the right to study: in the middle of May if your study right expires at the end of July. Submit your application on Sisu.

• Faculty of Law application for the extension of the study right (E-form; only to be used if your user account is not active and you cannot submit the application in Sisu)

Contact information: Porthania Student Services

Swedish School of Social Science

The extension application should be submitted well in advance of the expiry of the right to study. As a rule, the applications are processed four times a year: January, May, August and December. 

Information on the duration of the extension granted and the number and date of the dean’s decision will be recorded in Sisu. You are responsible for registering at the University as an attending or non-attending student.

• Swedish School of Social Science application for the extension of the study right (E-form, in Swedish)

Contact information: Kruununhaka Student Services

Faculty of Theology

You will receive the decision on the extension by email within approximately four weeks after submitting your application. You should submit your extension application well in advance before the expiry of your right to study.

• If your right to study expires at the end of the spring term (31 July), submit your application by the end of May.
• If your right to study expires at the end of the autumn term (31 December), submit your application by the end of November.

Application form:

•  Faculty of Theology application for the extension of the study right  (E-form)

Contact information: Metsätalo Student Services

Faculty of Social Sciences

The application for an extension of the right to study must be submitted well in advance before it expires, at the latest by mid-May, if your study right expires in July, or in November if your study right expires in December.

• Faculty of Social Science application for the extension of the study right  (E-form)

If you are dissatisfied with the decision made on your extension application, you can appeal the decision in writing to the Dean of the Faculty within 14 days of obtaining the decision. The written appeal must indicate the decision to be appealed, the rectification requested and the grounds for it as well as your contact information. You can submit the appeal to Kruununhaka Student Services (kruununhaka-student@helsinki.fi).

Contact information: Kruununhaka Student Services

You need to register for the academic year also during extension periods. 

First registration for a new extension 

After being granted a new extension, regardless of whether it is your first extension or you have already studied on an earlier extension

• you can register at any time during the academic year
• you do not need to pay a re-enrolment fee

You can register the first time for a new extension period any time during the extension period, however, not for past semesters. We recommend that you register as soon as possible after receiving the extension decision, to make best use of the time allotted to you.

Subsequent registrations within the same extension period

 If the period granted extends from one academic year to another

• you need to register for the subsequent academic terms and years as usual within the annual registration period.
• If you forget to register, you will be charged a re-enrolment fee.

How to register

• If the normal registration period is ongoing, please register and pay the Student Union fee through Oili. Registration in Oili is possible a couple of days after you have been notified of the granted extension. Register in Oili
• If you register outside the normal registration period, or your username is no longer valid, you can register through the HelsinkiUni Help service request or at the HelsinkiUni Help service point in Kaisa House. Pay the Student Union membership fee for the extension period by bank transfer and attach the receipt to the service request form or bring it to the service point. At the service point, showing the receipt on an electronic device screen is sufficient. Register outside Oili.

Do not pay a re-enrolment fee if you register for the first time to a new extension period.

Please read the instructions on applying for an extension above carefully.

A fee of 50 euros will be charged for the processing of the extension application (Government Decree 199/2024, Section 4) (in Finnish).  

The fee will not be returned.

Study-related fees are based on the Universities Act (558/2009), the Government Decree on fees collected at universities (1082/2009) and its amendment (1436/2014).

Educational and training services fees are exempt from VAT (Value Added Tax Act 1501/1993, section 39).

As payments under public law, the collection of fees, including the associated interest and costs may be enforced without a separate judgement or decision (Act on the Enforcement of Taxes and Public Payments 706/2007).

The payment must be made immediately. Fees can be paid using a credit card, mobile payment (MobilePay, Siirto) or an online bank transfer (Finnish banks). The payments are made through the BlueCommerce website of Verifone Finland Oy.