Right to study

The instruction belongs to the following themes

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.

To study at the university, you must have a right to study. This may be either the right to compete a degree or the right to complete studies which do not lead to a degree. A right to study must always be applied for separately.

Right to complete a degree

The right to complete a degree (e.g., a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree) is granted for a specific degree programme and a specific degree title (e.g., the right to complete a Master of Arts degree in the Master’s Programme in European and Nordic Studies). Applications for the right to complete a degree must be submitted through the Studyinfo service.

Each student that has been admitted to a Bachelor’s degree programme gets the right to complete a Master’s degree, too. Exceptions to this are the students admitted to the kindergarten teacher specialisation in the Bachelor’s degree programme in Educational Sciences and some of the students admitted to the pharmacist degree programme. The students in the Bachelor’s degree programme in Swedish, Kandidatprogram i samhällsvetenskaper, are also subject to their own special rules.

Students admitted to a bachelor’s programme, who have been granted the right to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, are required to first complete a first-cycle higher education degree according to the bachelor’s degree programme requirements before completing a second-cycle degree. This requirement also applies to students who have completed or would complete a first-cycle degree or another equivalent degree in another degree programme of the University or another higher education institution.

Consequently, it is not possible to move on directly to master’s studies even if the student has already completed a bachelor’s degree elsewhere. The right to complete only a master’s degree must be applied for through a direct application to a master’s degree programme. This guideline applies to the right to complete a degree starting on or after 1 August 2020. With regard to the degree programmes coordinated by the Faculty of Pharmacy, this guideline applies to the right to complete a degree starting on or after 1 August 2023. 

Parallel rights to complete a degree

A student may hold no more than one right to complete a degree for a single degree programme, even if that programme can provide several alternative degree titles.

A student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree may only hold one right to complete a degree of the same title (e.g., Bachelor of Arts) at any one time.

A student may hold several simultaneous rights to complete a Master’s or doctoral degree from different degree programmes regardless of the degree title.

A student may hold simultaneous rights to complete degrees of different levels (e.g., Bachelor’s, Master’s, doctoral).

In the fields of medicine and dentistry, students may only hold one right to complete a Licentiate degree.

Duration of studies

The duration of studies for a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree is restricted. The remaining duration of your studies is indicated in Sisu. For more information on the normal duration of studies, please see the instructions on the Duration of the degree.

Right to pursue studies not leading to a degree

Rights pertaining to studies that do not lead to a degree include the right to complete non-degree studies, the right to complete studies under the Flexible Study Right Scheme (JOO), and the right to complete exchange studies (for students of international universities). All of these rights must be applied for separately.

The right to complete non-degree studies can only be granted for studies that are not available at the open university. A student may hold several simultaneous rights to complete non-degree studies. The right is issued for two years at a time. See the application instructions for non-degree studies.

University of Helsinki students can apply for the right to complete studies under the Flexible Study Right Scheme (JOO) at other Finnish universities according to specific criteria. Read more about the JOO scheme. Correspondingly, degree students from other universities can apply for the right to complete studies at the University of Helsinki under the Flexible Study Right Scheme.

The right to complete exchange studies means a temporary right to complete studies at an international university (or the temporary right of a student from an international university to complete studies at the University of Helsinki). For more information on exchange studies, read the section on Study abroad.

Revocation of the right to complete a degree

You cannot permanently lose a right to complete a degree at the University of Helsinki, even if you have been disenrolled (not registered as an attending or non-attending student) or if the time allocated for completing the degree has ended.

If a student would like to continue their studies, they must 

You can lose your right to complete a degree at the University of Helsinki permanently only by waiving it voluntarily (see instructions on how to forfeit the right to pursue a degree). 

Exceptionally, the right to complete a degree may be revoked only in the case of SORA degrees to which requirements related to health and functional capacity with regard to the safety of minors, patients or clients apply.