Registration and fees

As a rule, registration for Open University studies takes place online. Registration begins 45 days prior to the start of studies.

Exceptional registration practices may apply, for example, to studies that can be commenced flexibly, teaching provided collaboratively with partner institutions, MOOCs and courses taught collaboratively with University of Helsinki degree programmes. For information on registration dates and practices, please see the study programme (i.e., course page) of each course.

Registration for courses is binding. Terms of payment and cancellation

General registration instructions:

• For those who are not students of the University of Helsinki or another Finnish university
• For students of the University of Helsinki
• For those who have no Finnish personal identity code

Registration instructions for those who are not students of the University of Helsinki or another Finnish university 

1. Select the course offered by the Open University for which you wish to register.
2. Click on Register in the study programme (i.e., course page) to find out whether registration for the course has begun or when registration for the course will begin, and whether there are places available.
3. Complete the registration form or supplement/edit the information you have previously submitted.
4. Pay the course fee online to confirm your registration.
5. You will automatically receive an email confirming your registration.
6. Activate your University of Helsinki user account before your studies begin. Read more: University of Helsinki user account and how to activate it.
7. You can then view your registration and payment details in the Open University’s My pages service.
8. Read also: Checklist for students. 

Registration instructions for students of the University of Helsinki

1. Select the course offered by the Open University for which you wish to register.
2. Click on Register in the study programme (i.e., course page) to find out whether registration for the course has begun or when registration for the course will begin, and whether there are places available.
3. Log in to the Open University web service with your University of Helsinki account.
4. Complete the registration form or supplement/edit the information you have previously submitted.
5. Pay the course fee online to confirm your registration. NB! Summer studies and certain courses taught collaboratively during the academic year are free of charge to attending undergraduate students of the University of Helsinki.
6. You will automatically receive an email confirming your registration.
7. You can then view your registration and payment details in the Open University’s My pages service.
8. Read also: Checklist for students. 

Registration instructions for those who have no Finnish personal identity code or online banking ID

NB! Registration without a Finnish personal identity or online banking ID requires visiting the University of Helsinki’s Admissions Services. However, this is currently impossible due to the coronavirus epidemic. Consequently, you cannot currently register for studies if you do not have a Finnish personal identity code, online banking ID, a University of Helsinki user account or a user account provided by another Finnish university (logging in with HAKA credentials).

1. Select the course offered by the Open University for which you wish to register.
2. Visit the University of Helsinki Admissions Services office or drop-in service desk in the Kaisa House Guidance Corner. Contact details and office hours of Admissions Services.
NB! In the exceptional circumstances caused by the coronavirus epidemic, you cannot visit the Admissions Services office or Guidance Corner at Kaisa House. Visiting will be possible as of 17 August.
3. You will complete the registration and payment process together with a staff member at the above meeting.
4. You will automatically receive an email confirming your registration.
5. Before your studies begin, you must activate your University of Helsinki user account, which is automatically granted to you in conjunction with registration. Activating a user account requires strong authentication. Read more: University of Helsinki user account and how to activate it.
6. You can then view your registration and payment details in the Open University’s My pages service.
7. Read also: Checklist for students. 

You will be granted a fixed-term right to complete the studies for which you register. The right to study will be valid as of the registration date. During your studies, you can check the validity of your study rights in WebOodi.

Please see the registration and payment terms.

You can cancel your registration for Open University classes in the My pages service or in writing to avoin-student@helsinki.fi.

The cancellation terms of partner institutions may vary. Check the terms in the study programme or directly from the relevant institution.

You can resume discontinued studies by registering for courses which you have not completed. Most disciplines allow you to register for individual courses. Check the information about substituting studies in your discipline if its degree requirements have been amended since your previous studies.

As a rule, completed courses and modules are valid for ten years. If you completed your studies more than ten years ago, please contact the education specialist.

• 15 euros per credit. NB! Study fees and cancellation terms vary at the Open University’s partner institutions.
• The study fee entitles the student to attend the classes specified in the study programme and to take the associated examinations.
• More information in the study programmes

Summer courses are free of charge for undergraduate students of the University of Helsinki who are enlisted as attending students at the moment of registration. This excludes a possible fee for study materials. Our course offerings include courses that are open to all and free of charge. Always check the fee from the study programme of the course.

The fees for any study material used in courses are indicated in the study programmes and must always be paid in conjunction with the study fee.

Examination questions in a language other than Finnish or Swedish: 75 euros per examination
The study fee includes examination questions in Finnish or Swedish. If the language of instruction is other than Finnish or Swedish, the fee includes examination questions in that language as well. Students must pay a fee to receive examination questions in another language.

Remote examination: If you wish to take an examination at the time and date specified in the study programme, but at another venue approved by the Open University, you must arrange the location, have it approved by the Open University, and pay all the expenses related to acquiring the facility for taking the examination.

Transfer examination: 75 euros per examination
Students can take examinations administered by other educational institutions at Open University examination sessions. Such examinations can be administered with the permission of the educational institution and examiner in question. Agree on arrangements for transfer examinations with the examination service.

The fees at the Open University are based on a government decree. The Open University’s Board has decided on the fees charged at the Open University (Appeals).

Decisions on charges made in accordance with section 6 of the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State can be appealed as provided in the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003).

Decisions made on appeals may be appealed against by registering a complaint with the Administrative Court as stipulated in the Administrative Judicial Procedure Act (586/1996). Decisions made by the Administrative Court are not subject to appeal.

Disputes concerning charges for other performances, as referred to in section 7 of the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State, are processed as disputes in a district court. (Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State 7 August 2015/951, section 11b)

Registration and payment terms

Printing, copying, scanning

Helsinki University Library has multifunction devices and online printers available to students. Information on their location and instructions for purchasing print credit are available on the Kaisa House Library website

Transcripts of studies

Completed studies are recorded in the Student Register (Oodi) of the University of Helsinki. Transcripts from the Student Register are official documents and serve as certificates of completed studies.
More information on certificates and study transcripts

The price of a transcript of studies:

• 5 euros per transcript if collected from the Open University
• 10 euros per transcript if mailed

Request a transcript