Planning of studies

Personal study plan

To facilitate the long-term planning of studies, each student is required to make a personal study plan. To facilitate the monitoring of progress in studies, the study plan will be checked regularly. However, at the University of Helsinki, the personal study plan is not considered to be a binding agreement between the student and the University.

Orientation and tutoring

All new students participate in an Orientation Course arranged by his or her own Faculty. Depending on the Faculty students might also receive credits for completing the course. A special orientation course for international students is provided in co-operation by the Education Services and the Faculties. The language of the Orientation Course for international students is English.

During the Orientation Course, all students are assigned to tutor groups – lead by a peer counsellor, i.e. an experienced student – to help them get started and to facilitate their settling in the City of Helsinki, and engourace them to be active members of student organisations of the University of Helsinki.

Etappi Checkpoint System

A system of "checkpoints" ( ETAPPI-järjestelmä in Finnish) is used to support smooth progress in studies and, consequently, a faster completion of degrees.

With the system of checkpoints, study progress is monitored by assessing the accumulation of credits. The Faculties determine the minimum number of credits required at each checkpoint. Study progress will be supported through the personal study plan and intensive supervision and tutoring.

Regulations on the Normative Duration of Study

In the Universities Act that regulates the Universities and studies in Finland, there are regulations on the normative durations for the attainment of degrees.  This means that the study times are limited for those students whose right to pursue a degree has begun on 1.8.2005 or later.

As a registered student you can follow your remaining study time in WebOodi study system. If you change your registration status during the academic year, the end date for your right to study is updated in WebOodi the following day.  If your registration status (attending/non-attending) changes during the course of a term, the registration status valid on the last date of the term in question determines the registration status for the entire term. The end date of the right to study is also printed on the certificates of attendance and transcripts.

Target durations of degree studies

According to the Universities Act the normative or target duration for the completion of university degrees are the following:

• the lower academic degree (Bachelor): three academic years.
• the combined lower and higher degree (Bachelor and  Master): five academic years. Exceptions are the training leading to the qualification of a psychologist (five and a half academic years) and the training leading to the qualification of a veterinary surgeon (six academic years).
• the higher academic degree (Master): two academic years. Exceptions are the degrees of Master of Arts/Psychology (two and a half academic years), Licentiate of Dentistry (five or five and a half academic years) and Licentiate of Medicine (six academic years).

If you have been admitted to pursue both the lower and higher academic degrees you have the right to exceed the normative duration of degrees defined in the Act by two years, i.e. the degree should be completed in seven academic years.

If you have been admitted to pursue the lower academic degree you have the right to exceed the normative duration of degrees defined in the Act by a maximum of one year, i.e. the degree should be completed in four academic years. If you have been admitted to pursue the higher academic degree you have the right to exceed the normative duration of degrees defined in the Act by a maximum of two years, i.e. the degree should be completed in four academic years.

The duration of study does not include:

• absences due to statutory reasons such as voluntary military service or conscription or maternity, paternity or parental leave.
• absences of a maximum of two academic years (four terms) for which you have registered as a non-attending student. The terms when you have registered as non-attending do not have to be consecutive.

Procedures at the University of Helsinki

If your studies have been delayed due to the statutory reasons listed above, the time is taken into consideration in the length of your study time if you produce a certificate for the reason and time spent on the statutory absence. The certificate has to be sent or presented at the Student Services.

As provided by the relevant legislation, you have the right to register as non-attending for a maximum of four terms, this time is not counted as part of the length of your duration of study.  You do not have to inform the University of the reasons for your absence. The discontinuation of studies required by the employment authorities is considered equivalent to the registration as non-attending for a maximum of four terms. Please note, that if you fail to register as either attending or non-attending, the elapsed time is included in your target study time.

You can keep track of the time you have left to complete your degree in the WebOodi system. If you do not complete your degree in the normative time for the completion of the degree, you may apply for an extension from your faculty.

Applying for an extension of the right to study

If you have not completed your degree within the normative time for the completion of degrees the faculty may grant an extension. The prerequisite is that you present a goal-oriented and feasible plan for the completion of your studies.

Links the the faculty websites on the normative duration of study can be found at the end of the page.

When devising the graduation plan you have to take into consideration the following:

• Your studies have to progress a minimum of 30 credits/academic year.
•  If you know that your studies will progress slower than 30 credits/academic year, you have to attach an account stating the reasons for the slower timetable. Reasons that can be taken into consideration relate to the student’s life situation and are listed in the Rector’s Decision No. 133/2008. These are factors such as
  - illness or a difficult life situation
  - societal activity during studies
  - participation in international student or trainee exchange
  - systematic training in top-level sports
  - parenting and caring for a family member, employment and participation in the activities of the academic community may also be taken into consideration when granting an extension.
• Regulations related to the expiry of studies.
• The study plan should aim towards completing the lower academic degree first, if you have been granted a right to study to both a lower and a higher degree, and you have not completed the lower degree during the normative duration of study set for that degree.

Completing your studies within a reasonable extended time period

You have to devise your graduation plan as realistic as possible when taking into consideration your life situation. Please remember that studies completed according to the study plan are taken into consideration when making a decision on a further extension of your right to study. The University in turn evaluates the total time you have declared that you will need to complete your studies.

The reasonable time to complete your studies is as a rule determined as follows:

• right to study granted for a lower academic degree (normative duration of studies 3 + 1 years): an extension of a maximum of 8 terms
• right to study granted for a higher academic degree (normative duration of studies 2 + 2 years): an extension of a maximum of 8 terms
• right to study granted for a combined lower and higher academic degree (normative duration of studies 5 + 2 years): an extension of a maximum of 14 terms.

The following training programmes are exceptions, as they by law have a longer normative duration of study:

• studies leading to the qualification of psychologist,  right to study granted for a combined lower and higher academic degree (normative duration of studies 5,5 + 2 years): an extension of a maximum of 15 terms
• studies leading to the qualification of  veterinary surgeon,  right to study granted for a combined lower and higher academic degree (normative duration of studies 6 + 2 years): an extension of a maximum of 16 terms
• Master of Arts/Psychology, right to study granted for a higher academic degree (normative duration of studies 2,5 + 2 years): an extension of a maximum of 9 terms
• Licentiate of Dentistry, a first degree (normative duration of studies 5 + 2 years or 5,5 + 2 years): an extension of a maximum of 15 terms
• Licentiate of Medicine, a first degree (normative duration of studies 6 + 2 years): an extension of a maximum of 16 terms.

Applying for an extension a second time or more

An extension is always granted for a fixed period of time, a minimum of one term and maximum of four terms. When you apply for an extension a second time or multiple times, the following principles are applied to the application:

• The graduation plan has to include an account of the studies completed during the previous extension. If your studies have progressed according to the original plan, no further explanation is needed.
• If your studies have progressed slower that the original plan, but you still have completed more than half of the studies you had planned, it is enough that you update the graduation plan. The updated plan is evaluated according to the same principles as the original plan.
• If the only credits missing are your thesis, the progress of the thesis is monitored with the help of your own account. If needed the faculty can also ask for a statement on the progress of the thesis from e.g. your supervisor.
• If you have completed no more than half of the studies you had planned for during the first extension, your studies are considered to have progressed considerably slow.
• A reason that can be taken into consideration as explaining the slow progress of your studies is listed in the Rector’s Decision No. 133/2008 (see above) or if your studies have progressed slower because of teaching arrangements or courses, i.e. reasons outside of your own power.
• The acceptable reason that you present has to have a clear connection to the slow progress of your studies. If you have made a study plan for the completion of your degree more slowly (less than 30 credits/academic year), you cannot refer to the same reason again if you have fallen behind schedule, unless the situation has changed substantially.

Negative decisions and appeals

If your application for an extension is denied, the decision will be sent to you in writing and it includes the reasons for the negative decision. Information on how to appeal the decision is included.

According to paragraph 62 in the University of Helsinki Regulations on Degrees and the Protection of Student's Rights a student may appeal in writing to the faculty against a decision concerning the forfeiture of his or her right to study, in other words, to pursue a degree. The appeal has to be filed within 14 days of the receipt of the decision. If the appeal to the faculty is rejected as well, you can appeal to the administrative court in Helsinki. It is also possible for you to apply for a new extension.

For further information on the extension that can be granted for the completion of a degree: Rector’s Decision No. 133/2008: Duration of degree studies and extension of the right to study at the University of Helsinki (pdf, 17.6 KB). and Rector's Decision No. 107/2011.

Universities Act 558/2009

Faculty websites

Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Pharmacy (in Finnish)

Faculty of Arts

Faculty of Behavioural Sciences (in Finnish)

Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

Faculty of Science

Faculty of Law (in Finnish)

Faculty of Theology (in Finnish)

Faculty of Social Sciences

Swedish School of Social Science (in Swedish)