Right to Study

Every student enrols at Oulu UAS annually. The completion of studies is possible for students enrolled as present. The right to study is determined by the extent of the degree.

  • Enrolment

    Every student enrols at the university of applied sciences annually. The enrolment must be completed for the whole academic year (1 August to 31 July) by using the Peppi (Studies -> Presence enrolment). First year students have to enrol according to the instructions given with the notification of admission.

    The student who is continuing his/her studies must enrol during the period from 15 April to 31 May for the whole following academic year. He/she can change his/her enrolment for absence/presence during the enrolment period.

    If a student is registered as attending, he/she must pay the student health care fee. Students do not have to pay the health care fee if they have social security coverage from another EU/EEA country or from Switzerland or the United Kingdom. More information about this is available on Kela's website. The student health care fee is also referred to in the Graduating Student’s Checklist.

    If a student wants to change the enrolment information during the academic year, he/she must use the Application for Change in Enrolment for Presence/Absence. The application will be returned for the autumn term by 15 September and for the spring term by 15 January, at the latest.

  • Time to Complete a Degree

    The optimal times to complete a degree are as follows:

    Bachelor's degree Master's degree
    210 credits 3.5 years
    240 credits 4.0 years
    270 credits 4.5 years    		 60 credits 1.0 year
    90 credits 1.5 years

    Students have the right to use one extra year to complete the studies. The time for the right to study can also be determined according to a personal study plan.

    Students approved in spring 2015 or after can sign a notification of absence for a total of two terms.

    Absence during the first academic year is possible only due to

    • compulsory military service, non-military service, women’s voluntary military service
    • parental leave to take care of their child (birth or adoption) , (pregnancy or parental leave), or
    • illness or injury. 

    If a student has enrolled absent during the first academic year due to illness or injury, it will be deducted from their total time of absence, i.e. two terms.

    Absence due to

    • compulsory military service, non-military service, women’s voluntary military service or
    • parental leave to take care of their child (birth or adoption), (pregnancy or parental leave)

    is possible at any stage of the studies, and it will not be deducted from their total time of absence, i.e. two terms. Deliver the certificate of the reason for your absence by 15 September (autumn term) / 15 January (spring term) using your student email to Study Services (study.oamk#oulu.fi (korvaa # -> @)) or visit Study Services at Linnanmaa or Kontinkangas Campus.

    Students approved before spring 2015 can sign a notification of absence for a total of two academic years.

    Loss of Right to Study and Rectification of the Decision

    A student, who has been unable to complete his/her studies during the optimal time plus the extra year, within the discretionary extension period or if he/she has not been granted extension, will lose his/her right to study. In these cases, the student will be registered as resigned and will receive a resignation certificate.

    The student is entitled to submit a request for rectification in writing to the rector within 14 days of being notified of the decision regarding the cancelled right to study.

    In order to continue these studies later, the student has to apply for a study right based on previous UAS degree studies in Finland or take part in the central application service.

    More information

    Academic Affairs

  • Tuition Fees and Scholarships

    Tuition fee is charged from the non-EU/EEA/Switzerland students studying in the English degree programmes who do not hold the Finnish residence permit that gives the exemption from the tuition fees.

    At Oamk the amount of the tuition fee for

    • Bachelor's degree is 8 000 € per academic year.
    • Master´s degree is 10 000 € for one academic year and 5 000 € for each additional semester to complete the program. 

    The tuition fee entitles the student to study and receive a degree and to use the normal support services available for students. However, all students have to buy books and other educational material themselves, get insurance as well as take care of their own travelling and living costs (accommodation, food, clothing, leisure activities). Average monthly living cost for a student is estimated to be about 600–900 euros.

    According to Finnish Immigration Service, in addition to the amount of the tuition fee, the student has to have at least 6 720 euros / academic year available to cover the living costs.

    Exemption from tuition fees

    Tuition fee is not charged from students who are citizens of countries in the EU/EEA/Switzerland.

    Students who have one of the following, are exempted from tuition fees:

    • an EU Blue Card
    • continuous (type A) residence permit in Finland. Please note that from the spring 2022 onward the legislation has changed and the new students applying for student visa will receive continuous residence permit A based on their study place (previous residence permit B). This permit, however, will not give exemption from the tuition fee. The grounds for the permit are stated in the card (student).
    • permanent (type P) residence permit in Finland
    • an EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long-term residence (type P-EU) in Finland
    • EU Family Member's Residence Card in Finland
    • Brexit permit

    Document proving the right for exemption must be submitted before the tuition fee is charged.

    If a student’s residence permit status changes during studies, the student must provide copies of documents to be exempted from tuition fees. If a document is provided after paying the tuition fee, the payment will be returned to the student regarding the period after the delivery of the document starting from the beginning of the month when the document is delivered. If the new residence permit will not give exemption from the tuition fees, student has to pay the tuition fee starting from the semester after the residence permit has expired.

    Early bird discount

    From the autumn 2023 onwards the early bird discount is 2000 €. The early bird discount is applied to applicants who have been selected to study in a degree programme from autumn 2023 onwards. Applicant must confirm the study place and enroll present within 7 days from receiving the information of acceptance. Early bird is not available for transfer students, students who have been selected on the basis of their Open UAS or previous UAS studies or students studying for a double or joint degree.

    Students who have been selected for degree studies beginning in January 2023 can receive an early bird discount of 500 € if they confirm the study place and enroll present within 7 days from receiving the information of acceptance.

    The early bird discount is deducted from the first-year tuition fee.

    Bachelor´s student selected from autumn 2023 onwards

    If you have been selected to study in a degree programme at Oamk from autumn 2023 onwards, you will be refunded 30 % of the tuition fee as a scholarship if you complete at least 55 credits per each academic year and graduate within optimal study time.

    If you are a transfer student and you have been selected to your studies in the previous University of Applied Sciences in autumn 2023 or after, these rules apply also to you.

    The scholarships are awarded only for the optimal study time:

    • Degree Programme in International Business 3,5 years
    • Degree Programme in Nursing 3,5 years
    • Degree Programme in Information Technology 4 years
    • Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering 4 years

    Please note, that in order to graduate in optimal study time you have to complete an average of 60 credits per one academic year. The study plan for each Bachelor's degree programme is designed so that the required number of credits is achievable if you follow your personal study plan.

    First-year student

    The first-year tuition fee is paid in one part. There are no scholarships for first-year students. This applies also to transfer students, students who have been selected on the basis of their Open UAS or previous UAS studies and students studying for a double or joint degree. If you are a transfer student, please note that the first-year tuition fee referred here applies to your first year at Oamk as well.

    You will receive an email with instructions for making the payment after you have confirmed your study place and enrolled as present for the upcoming academic year. You can pay the tuition fee either with your credit card through paytrail services or by using the electronic invoice information (given by request). The fee must be paid within 14 days.

    Please note that the tuition fee must be paid before applying for student visa.

    Continuing student

    The tuition fee for the second and the rest of the academic years is charged in two parts.

    • The payment link for the first part (4 000 €) is sent in May-June after you have enrolled as present for the upcoming academic year. The due date for the first part of the tuition fee is the 31st of July.
    • The second part of the tuition fee (4 000 €) is charged in October. The due date for the second part of the tuition fee is the 31st of December.

    If you have completed at least 55 credits during your previous academic year, you will be awarded a scholarship of 2 400 € which will be deducted from the second part of the tuition fee. The Grant Committee will check the number of study credits of each tuition paying student and informs students in October whether they are awarded for a scholarship. The deadline for completed credits is the end of the previous academic year (July 31st).

    • Compensated credits are not recognized when monitoring study progress.
    • If a transfer student starts their studies at the beginning of the spring semester, their studies totaling 55 credits completed during the previous autumn semester and the Oulu UAS spring semester will be considered when awarding a scholarship.
    • If a student has enrolled as an attending student for one semester and as an absent student for another semester, they must complete 55 credits during their attendance to receive a refund on the next academic year’s tuition fee.
    • If a student completes more than 55 credits during an academic year, any studies exceeding 55 credits will be taken into account when awarding a scholarship for the next academic year.

    Students of Nursing and International Business please note that since your optimal study time ends on 31st of December, the last autumn term tuition fee of 4 000 € is charged in parts as follows:

    • First part is 2 800 € and due date the 31st of July.
    • Second part is 1 200 € and the due date is the 31st of October if your study progress has not been sufficient.

    If your studies continue after your optimal study time has ended, you will be charged 4 000 € for each additional semester to complete the program. There are no scholarships available for additional semesters.

    Graduating student

    In order to be awarded the graduating student´s scholarship, you have to graduate within your optimal study time (Degree Programme in Nursing / International Business 3,5 years and Degree Programme in Information Technology / Mechanical Engineering 4 years). If you do not graduate within your optimal study time, you are not entitled for the graduating student´s scholarship.

    If you graduate within your optimal study time, you will be refunded a scholarship of 30 % (2 400 €). This scholarship will be paid to a bank account indicated by you.

    You can apply for the graduating student´s scholarship after the Degree Certificate is issued. Send an e-mail to Grant Committee (grantcommittee#oamk.fi (korvaa # -> @)) in which you inform your graduation date and your bank account information:

    • IBAN account number
    • Name of the bank
    • The address of the bank (if not a Finnish bank account)
    • BIC / SWIFT -code (if not a Finnish bank account)

    Bachelor´s student selected before autumn 2023

    If you have been selected to study in a degree programme at Oamk before autumn 2023, you will be refunded 50 % of the tuition fee as a scholarship if you complete at least 55 credits per each academic year and graduate within optimal study time.

    If you are a transfer student and you have been selected to your studies in the previous University of Applied Sciences before autumn 2023, these rules apply also to you.

    The scholarships are awarded only for the optimal study time:

    • Degree Programme in International Business 3,5 years
    • Degree Programme in Nursing 3,5 years
    • Degree Programme in Information Technology 4 years

    Please note, that in order to graduate in optimal study time you have to complete an average of 60 credits per one academic year. The study plan for each Bachelor's degree programme is designed so that the required number of credits is achievable if a student follows their personal study plan.

    First-year student

    The first-year tuition fee is paid in one part. There are no scholarships for first-year students. This applies also to transfer students, students who have been selected on the basis of their Open UAS or previous UAS studies and students studying for a double or joint degree. If you are a transfer student, please note that the first-year tuition fee referred here applies to your first year at Oamk as well.

    Continuing student

    The tuition fee for the second and the rest of the academic years is charged in two parts.

    • The payment link for the first part (4 000 €) is sent in May-June after you have enrolled as present for the upcoming academic year. The due date for the first part of the tuition fee is the 31st of July.
    • The second part of the tuition fee (4 000 €) is charged in October if you have not completed at least 55 credits during your previous academic year. The due date for the second part of the tuition fee is the 31st of December.

    If you have completed at least 55 credits during your previous academic year, you will be awarded a scholarship which covers the second part of the tuition fee (4 000 €). The Grant Committee will check the number of study credits of each tuition paying student and informs students in October whether they are awarded for a scholarship. The deadline for completed credits is the end of the previous academic year (July 31st).

    • Compensated credits are not recognized when monitoring study progress.
    • If a transfer student starts their studies at the beginning of the spring semester, their studies totaling 55 credits completed during the previous autumn semester and the Oulu UAS spring semester will be considered when awarding a scholarship.
    • If a student has enrolled as an attending student for one semester and as an absent student for another semester, they must complete 55 credits during their attendance to receive a refund on the next academic year’s tuition fee.
    • If a student completes more than 55 credits during an academic year, any studies exceeding 55 credits will be taken into account when awarding a scholarship for the next academic year.

    Students of Nursing and International Business please note that since your optimal study time ends on 31st of December, the last autumn term tuition fee of 4 000 € is charged in parts as follows:

    • First part is 2 000 € and due date the 31st of July.
    • Second part is 2 000 € and the due date is the 31st of October if your study progress has not been sufficient.

    If your studies continue after your optimal study time has ended, you will be charged 4 000 € for each additional semester to complete the program. There are no scholarships available for additional semesters.

    Graduating student

    In order to be awarded the graduating student´s scholarship, you have to graduate within your optimal study time (Degree Programme in Nursing / International Business 3,5 years and Degree Programme in Information Technology 4 years). If you do not graduate within your optimal study time, you are not entitled for the graduating student´s scholarship.

    If you have started your studies in the autumn term 2018, but before autumn 2023, you will be refunded 4 000 € as a graduating student´s scholarship. This scholarship will be paid to a bank account indicated by you.

    You can apply for the graduating student´s scholarship after the Degree Certificate is issued. Send an e-mail to Grant Committee grantcommittee#oamk.fi (korvaa # -> @) in which you inform your graduation date and your bank account information:

    • IBAN account number
    • Name of the bank
    • The address of the bank (if not a Finnish bank account)
    • BIC / SWIFT -code (if not a Finnish bank account)

    Master´s student

    The tuition fee for Master´s degree is 10 000 € for one academic year (=two semesters) and 5 000 € for each additional semester to complete the program.

    The first-year tuition fee is paid in one part. You will receive an email with instructions for making the payment after you have confirmed your study place and enrolled as present for the upcoming academic year. You can pay the tuition fee either with your credit card through paytrail services or by using the electronic invoice information (given by request). The fee must be paid within 14 days.

    The tuition fee for an additional semester is charged after you have enrolled as present for the upcoming semester. The due date is the 31st of July for the autumn semester tuition fee and 31st of December for the spring semester tuition fee.

    If you graduate within your optimal study time, you will be refunded a scholarship of 2 500 € of the tuition fee of one academic year studies and 3 750 € of the tuition fee for 1,5 academic years studies.

    The optimal study time for a 60-credit degree is one academic year and 1,5 years for a 90-credit degree. If you do not graduate within your optimal study time, you are not entitled for a scholarship.

    Tuition fee payment neglected

    If you fail to pay the tuition fee within the given due date, you will lose your right to study. Upon application, the Director of the School may return the right to study starting from, at the earliest, the month of application as you have paid the tuition fee. When making the decision, Director of the School considers your application with reasons, as well as your remaining time for the right to study to complete your studies.

    If you have lost your right to study due the tuition fee payment neglection and wish to reapply the restoration of your study right, please contact the Grant Committee (grantcommittee#oamk.fi (korvaa # -> @)) and ask for detailed information for the procedure.

    The Grant Committee informs the Finnish authorities if a student has begun studies and neglected the tuition fee payment / discontinued studies.

    Finnish language scholarship

    Oamk encourages its tuition fee liable students (tuition fee paying students and students who are exempted from tuition fees) to learn Finnish language as a step towards integration and finding their own place in Finnish society. Therefore present students who take and pass the Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency in Finnish language on the level B1 during their degree studies are awarded with extra scholarship of 2000 €.

    If the aforementioned knowledge in Finnish language is required as an admission eligibility, students cannot be awarded with the extra stipend of that level.

    The Finnish Language Scholarship is awarded by the Grant Committee after you have taken the exam and shown the diploma. You can apply for the Finnish Language Scholarship after the diploma is issued. Send an e-mail to Grant Committee (grantcommittee#oamk.fi (korvaa # -> @)) the diploma as attachment. If you send the e-mail from your student e-mail, the e-mail is encrypted. Remember to inform also your bank account information:

    • IBAN account number
    • Name of the bank
    • The address of the bank (if not a Finnish bank account)
    • BIC / SWIFT -code (if not a Finnish bank account)

    Other information

    Taxation of scholarships

    Scholarships are taxable under Finnish legislation. The maximum tax-exempt amount in 2022 is € 24 475. More information on Finnish tax administration pages.

    Contact

    If you have further questions about tuition fees and scholarships, please contact the Grant Committee: grantcommittee#oamk.fi (korvaa # -> @)

  • Extension Period

    Time to complete a degree includes the optimal completion time of the degree and one extra year. The student must apply for an extension period before his/her right to study expires, for example degree programme in 240 credits before the fifth academic year will expire.

    Check form Peppi that your time to complete a degree is about to end before you apply for the extension period. The extension period will be applied
    - in the spring term beginning of week 18
    - in the autumn term beginning of week 46
    by the end of the study right.
    Application for Extension Period

    The prerequisite for granting the extension period concerning bachelor’s degree is that maximum 60 credits are lacking from the degree. If there is a strong argument the lacking can be more than 60 credits.

    The extension period will be considered if the delay in studies is due to the following:

    • own or near relative’s illness
    • learning difficulty
    • responsible duty in society
    • delay in receiving the residence permit in the first academic year
    • difficulty to fit the international study period or practical training exchange in studies in Oulu UAS
    • systematic preparing for top sport
    • difficult situation in life or
    • other justified reason.

    In granting the extension period the following will be taken into account: the amount of credits during the last academic year, the amount of fluently advancing study terms and use of study counseling to support the progress of study.

    If a degree programme student has been accepted in the spring 2015 or later, their delay in studies due to part-time study during

    • military service, non-military service, women’s voluntary military service or
    • parental leave to take care of their child (birth or adoption)

    will be taken into account too. In that case a student has enrolled as present and they have not used their right to be absent.

    A student attaches the target-oriented and realizable personal study plan to the application for extension period in order to complete studies. A student discusses his/her personal study plan with the head of degree programme or a study counsellor. A student and one of above accept the personal study plan.

    There is a fee of 50 euros for the processing of the application for extension period (Decree 1461/2015 section 3). This is paid via a Paytrail payment when filling in the application. The payment is required for the processing of the application to proceed. Paid application processing payments will not be refunded.

    The student will receive the extension period decision by student email.

    The extension period is maximum a year in the education leading to a degree. The counselling contact and the timetable for the control of the progress of studies is specified for a student who has granted the extension period. A student who has been granted an extension period is not allowed to enrol as absent.

  • Restoring the Right to Study

    Students must enroll for studies in each academic year. If the enrolment is missing, student will lose his/her right to study. The right to study can be applied by an application. There is a charge of 50 euros for the processing of the application (Decree 1461/2015 section 3). The application must be returned to the Academic Affairs. The study right can be restored from the beginning of the application month. Applications are not processed during July.

    The student is entitled to submit a request for rectification in writing to the rector of the university of applied sciences within 14 days of being notified of the decision regarding the cancelled right to study. 

     

  • Resignation

    If you are considering to resign from Oulu University of Applied Sciences discuss the issue with a Teacher Tutor, a Study Counsellor or a Head of Degree Programme.

    Resignation influences your financial aid later. If you drop out and then begin a new course of study, the months for which you have already received financial assistance are deducted from your entitlement for the new degree. Further information »

    Fill in and sign the Resignation Announcement and then return it to the Academic Affairs. A student can be considered resigned from the date he/she has left a dated and signed resignation announcement to the Academic Affairs. The student will receive a resignation certificate. To be able to continue studies after resignation, the student has to be admitted through the standard selection process.

    According to the statute (Act amending the Polytechnics Act 257/2015) institutes of higher education have to reserve a part of study places for new students in the joint application procedure. To the so called quota of new students belong those who have never completed higher education degree in Finnish educational system or who haven’t received the study place which leads to a higher education degree in the joint application system of the spring 2014 or before that. Those who have received the study place in the joint application system of the autumn 2015 or after that don’t belong to the quota of new students in potential later joint application systems. 

    The student's user account, home directory and/or mailbox for students.oamk.fi server will be removed 2 months after the right to study has expired. After that the student can not use the student e-mail address of Oulu University of Applied Sciences nor the home directory (e.g. potential personal home page). User rights through the students.oamk.fi server to the services of other universities of applied sciences and other services outside Oulu University of Applied Sciences will be removed one week after the right to study has expired. E.g. the electronic services of the Library of Oulu University of Applied Sciences and their remote login (proxy) are this kind of services. The student has to save important files and e-mails before the above-mentioned deadlines.

    As the consequence of the resignation the student loses the membership of the student union and the student discounts.

    A resigned student gets a resignation certificate with a free transcript of records. Costs for Copies of Transcripts of Records