Non-degree supplementary studies - Visiting Students
The visiting student or a person in non-degree supplementary studies has a different status than degree and exchange students
The visiting student (erillisopiskelija)
According to section 8, paragraph 1 of the University Act (645/1997), education leading to a university degree in Finland will be free of charge for the student. Paragraph 2 however stipulates, that open university and continuing professional education shall be subject to the provisions of the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State (150/1992), thereby having tuition fees for these studies. Further information about the tuition fees of visiting students can be found in section 24 of the University Regulation. However, a student who has graduated from the University of Turku with a higher academic degree, may supplement his/her degree within three years after completion free of charge.
Because a visiting student is only supplementing his/her studies not meant for a university degree at a Finnish institution of higher education, studies cannot exceed that of what courses or programmes the student paid for. Not having the status of a degree student at the university means that the student may only participate in the courses or programmes to which he/she has been accepted.
A visiting student may be a Finnish or foreign resident of Finland wanting to further his/her education or a student from abroad wishing to take university courses for a degree that are unavailable at the home university. The university, however, cannot make a differentiation between visiting students from abroad and local students, according to the stipulation of what is defined as a visiting student in non-degree supplementary studies.
Services and facilities available for visiting students
In addition to the common university use of Student Services and the study register, visiting students have the right to use the following university and university related services:
- Student Housing
- Library Services (including theTYY Library)
- Computing Centre
- University Sports
- Language Centre (limited availability)
- Language Circles
- Academic Career Services
NB! Visiting students are NOT eligible to join the Student Union and therefore are not entitled to use the services of the Finnish Student Healthcare Service (FSHS) or the services provided by the Student Union (e.g. Starting Package, student-priced lunches, discounts in public transport etc.)
For more information about what is available for visiting students, please contact Student Services, your faculty international officer or the individual professors and instructors at the department.
For information about academic (e.g. grades, exams, transcripts) and limited practical (e.g. housing, banks) issues please see information for exchange students. N.B. Visiting students are not eligible for JOO-studies. Click here for health care.
Why a visiting student is ineligible to join the Student Union
Section 40 of the University Act states, that it is compulsory for all university students who have been admitted into programmes leading to a lower or higher university degree to be a member of the Student Union. Section 24 of the University Regulation states furthermore that if a student does not have the right to a higher academic degree, studies may be supplemented through non-degree or Open University education. This means that even though the visiting student is in the student register and may earn university credit, the student's non-degree status cannot allow membership into the Student Union.
Exchange students have the opportunity to join the Student Union because there has been a formal contract drawn up between the home university and the Finnish university. Because the exchange student is studying for a degree of higher education at his/her home university, the contract that provides for exchanges between Finland and the host country legally treats the exchange student as a degree student, therefore allowing membership into the Student Union.