Enrollment and study fees

Please note that you must confirm your study place by identifying yourself in order to participate in the course.

Confirm your registration within 72 hours of paying the course fee. Confirmation requires electronic identification using either the University of Helsinki username or the Suomi.fi service.

Confirm your place by identifying yourself immediately after registering.

Participation in the courses requires strong authentication because you will gain access to university services. Additionally, your completed studies grades will be recorded in the University of Helsinki Sisu-system.

Authentication verifies your identity. If you are unable to use strong authentication, confirming your registration and processing your access to university services may take several days or even a few weeks.

The service developed by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, Suomi.fi, is available for use. 

Additionally, authentication is also possible through the European identification (eIDAS).

Please note that you must confirm your study place by identifying yourself in order to participate in the course.

You must confirm your study place by identifying yourself using either by strong e-authentication or by using official ID (passport or ID card) to identify yourself.

Participation in the courses requires strong authentication because you will gain access to university services. Additionally, your completed studies grades will be recorded in the University of Helsinki Sisu-system.

Please note: If you cannot use strong e-authentication, the authentication process may take several weeks. 

Here's how to register and identify yourself:

1. Register and pay for your chosen course.
   • Immediately contact student advise for more detailed instructions.
2. Authenticate using your chosen method. If you cannot use e-autentication, you can choose from the following options:
   • Arrive for authentication by appointment at the Helsinki customer service point.
   • Submit an official identification document either by mail or through secure email.
     • We accept: Passport (with or without ICAO chip) or  Finnish ID card or Foreign ID card with ICAO chip

Activating Your User Account

Once your study place is confirmed and you need access rights from the University of Helsinki for your course, you still need to activate your user account:

• If you authenticate at the customer service point, you will receive a code and instructions for activating your user account.
• If you submit the document, you will receive instructions via email for completing the access rights application and requesting remote authentication. 

Please note that there may be a queue for remote authentication, so act in a timely manner.

A study voucher is a benefit equivalent to 30 ECTS credits that is granted to individuals who were not offered a study place through Finland’s joint application process for higher education (see the eligibility criteria).

With a study voucher, you can take courses from the Open University's course offering.

The study voucher remains valid for two years from the time all joint application results have been published in August. You can use it at your own pace, and you do not have to use the entire voucher at once.

If you are eligible for a study voucher, you can activate it via for use starting from 5 August 2026.

With a study voucher, you can enroll in courses taught in Finnish or Swedish that match your interests. The voucher can be used for up to 30 ECTS credits, which may consist of, for example, a complete basic studies module or individual courses from different subject areas.

Choose your courses from a wide range of study options!

You do not have to use the entire voucher at once. New course registrations open throughout the year, allowing you to use the voucher at your own pace.

Activate your study voucher in the Opin.fi service starting from 5 August. This will allow you to use it as a payment method when registering for studies.

1. Explore our course offerings, plan your studies, and choose your courses.
2. Register for your selected course according to the standard registration instructions.
3. Select “study voucher” as your payment method during registration.
4. You will then be redirected to the Opin.fi service, where you can pay for the studies using your available study credit balance.
5. After payment, you will return to the Sisu system, where you must confirm your study place.
6. After registration, you will receive instructions for activating your user account (on the day following registration).
7. Begin your studies according to the study programme and course instructions.

Activating Your User Account

• Upon registration, you will be granted a user account from the University of Helsinki.
• You can activate your user account no earlier than the day after registration.
• The account information will not be sent separately; you must activate the account yourself. You will receive an email with instructions when you can start using the account.

The user account will be available approximately one hour after activation. However, some services may only be functional starting the following day.

User Account and Learning Environment Moodle

• You will need the account to log into the learning environment Moodle.
• You can find the link to the Moodle area on the course page as well as in the "My Courses" view in Moodle once the course area is opened.
• Please note that after registering or activating the account, you can log into the course's Moodle no earlier than one hour and at the latest 24 hours after.
• Also activate your University of Helsinki email.  We will use it for communication regarding your studies and for matters related to data protection. Read more

User accounts and helsinki.fi email are not granted for MOOC courses.

You will gain the right to complete the study module by registering for open university studies.

• The Period of completion is determined according to the schedule provided on the course page. This includes the course as well as the exams and/or other assessment methods. Exams or other instances held outside the completion period are not included in the course fee.
• If you intend to apply for credit transfer for studies completed elsewhere, you must first have the right to complete the study module for which you seek recognition. A normal tuition fee will be charged for the studies.
• You can check your completion rights in Sisu (My Information -> Study Rights -> Completion Rights for Study Modules)."

• Fee for open university studies can be found on the course page. The fee is paid online at the time of registration. Cash payments can be made by arranging this in advance with the customer service.
• Registration is binding, and the paid fee is non-refundable. An unconfirmed registration does not entitle you to a refund of the fee.
• If the student falls ill before the studies begin and cannot participate, the sum of the course fee exceeding €75 will be reimbursed against a doctor’s certificate. The fee will only be refunded within 3 months of payment.
• The fee for a study module covers only those courses that are included in the minimum credit point requirement of the module. The student will pay separately for optional courses that exceed the minimum credit point requirement.
• Participation in MOOCs is free of charge. However, if you want to enter the completed course (credits) in University of Helsinki’s student information system, you must register for the course after completing it and pay the Open University course fee. Some MOOCs are completely free of charge. More detailed information is available on the course page of the relevant course. .
• If the University of Helsinki cancels the teaching, the course will be reimbursed in full.
• The fees are based on the Universities Act () as well as the Government Decree on fees collected at universities (1082/2009) and the amendment to the Decree (1436/2014).
• Course fees are exempt from VAT (
• As payments under public law, the collection of Open University fees as well as the associated interest and charges may be enforced without a separate judgement or decision ().

If you have an open university gift card or a separately received registration code, please request separate registration instructions from the open university's student advising before registering.

Online payments are processed through a secure connection via Verifone Finland Oy, BlueCommerce (0943819-9). The payment method options include all Finnish online banks and the most common cards (debit/credit). The payment recipient will appear as Verifone Finland Oy on your bank statement or card bill. A payment confirmation and receipt will be sent to the payer via email.

• Should your plans change and you cannot participate on the course, please cancel your registration via customer service at or by email at .
• Cancelling your registration does not lead to a reimbursement of the course fee (see the terms of payment of the open university above). But this way your place will be freed for use by another student.

• Most open online courses (MOOCs, Massive Open Online Courses) do not require advance registration. You can usually start studying by signing in to the course's online learning environment. There is no limit on participation, so all interested learners are welcome. You can find the necessary instructions and a link to the learning environment on the MOOC course page.
• If you would like the MOOC course to be recorded in the University of Helsinki’s student information system, you can register for the course and, if required, pay the course fee after completing it.

• If the course is organized by one of the University of Helsinki’s partner institutions, register for the course through that institution and follow its registration instructions.
• Afterward, also register as an Open University student. Your partner institution will provide you with instructions on how to do this.

• Most open online courses (MOOCs, Massive Open Online Courses) do not require advance registration. You can usually start studying by signing in to the course's online learning environment. There is no limit on participation, so all interested learners are welcome. You can find the necessary instructions and a link to the learning environment on the MOOC course page.
• If you would like the MOOC course to be recorded in the University of Helsinki’s student information system, you can register for the course and, if required, pay the course fee after completing it.