Instructions for application to study as a non-degree visiting student
- Application form (pdf)
Please read the instructions carefully before filling in the application.
Right to study
Language of Instruction
Fees
Application
Registration
Release of your personal data
Courses at the Language Centre
Certificate of completed studies
Student union benefits
Health care
Financial aid
Credits
Regulations of the Faculties:
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Education
Turku School of Economics
Addresses and Contact information
Non-degree studies are on the one hand intended for those who have completed an academic degree and wish to supplement it, on the other for anyone irrespective of educational background e.g. to improve professional skills. Non-degree studies (not leading to a degree) at the University of Turku are comparable in status to open university teaching.
This right to study does not, consequently, lead to a degree at the University of Turku and the credits for courses and study modules completed as a non-degree student may only later be recognised in a degree by specific decision of the faulty.
The right to study is usually valid for three academic years. The length of the right to study is mentioned in the decision given by the faculty. Please note that the right to study is only valid for the courses or programme in the decision. If the intended studies have not been completed during the validity of the right to study, an extension of one academic year may be granted upon application.
Because non-degree studies do not lead to a degree, visiting students may only participate in courses or the programme to which he/she has been accepted.
The main language of instruction at the University of Turku is Finnish. There are some courses arranged in English (see the faculty information).
For more information about studying in English please refer to our webpages at: http://www.utu.fi/en/studying.
Non-refundable tuition fees for the academic year 2010–2011 were:
- €10 / ECTS credit (1 opintopiste)
- €250–500 / Study module (see the faculty information)
A bank receipt of the paid tuition fee must be submitted to Student Services. The right to study becomes valid only after verification of payment.
Applications to study as a non-degree visiting student must be submitted by using the appropriate application form. A separate form, with enclosures, must be filled out for each subject area or programme.
Enclosures: In the 'grounds' section of the application form, or in a separate letter, you must state how the studies will contribute to your degree, qualifications, or professional skills. If applying from abroad, you should also enclose a detailed study plan or ECTS Learning Agreement as well as a transcript of records containing all your previous university studies.
The Faculties of Humanities, Mathematics and Social Sciences, and Education recommend that students start their studies in autumn semester, as it may not be possible to begin courses in spring semester. Applications should be submitted to the faculty concerned or to the Language Centre (address: name of the faculty/Language Centre, University of Turku, FI-20014 TURKU, Finland). Please write "Application to study as a visiting student" on the envelope.
Information on the decision and tuition fees, where relevant, will be sent to the applicant at the address given on the application form.
Applicants who are required to pay a tuition fee must submit a receipt of payment to Student and Admission Services in person or by post: Student and Admission Services, FI-20014 TURKU, Finland. First-time registration is recorded in the student data system after payment is verified. Registration is automatically recorded in the student register for as long as the right to study is valid. All accepted students must notify Student Services about their current address in Finland.
After registration, a basic information data sheet will be mailed to the student. This data sheet is for the verification of your personal information. The receipt of tuition payment is then returned. If you do not receive a basic information data sheet, please check your registration at Student and Admission Services.
Please note that your name and address may be released for certain non-commercial study-related purposes, for example to those carrying out surveys or to organisations or authorities. You may opt not to have your personal information released by ticking the appropriate box in the application form, logging into NettiOpsu, or by informing Student Services.
Courses at the Language Centre
Non-degree visiting students can be admitted to courses at the Language Centre only if the resources and facilities allow. A separate form must be filled out for each course. Only a limited number of visiting students can be accepted to most of the courses. Finnish for Foreigners beginners level courses and Japanese courses are not offered as non-degree studies. Non degree studies are not the basis for students to be accepted into the university. For further information, please see the website: kielikeskus.utu.fi/en/studying/participation
Certificate of Completed Studies
When a student has completed all the studies included in the right to study, the faculty concerned will issue a certificate. In order to obtain this certificate, the student must submit a transcript of records to their faculty's office. Certificates are issued by the individual departments at the Faculty of Medicine, and the transcript should be submitted to the office of the department in question.
Visiting students accepted to the university are not eligible to join the Student Union of the University of Turku. This means that visiting students are not entitled to Student Union services and benefits of the student card.
Health care services at Finnish Student Health Service centres are available ONLY for members of the Student Union.
EU/EEA-citizens who have the European Health Insurance Card (or equivalent E-128 or E-111 form) are entitled to the same municipal health care at the same prices as the Finnish citizens. The card gives access to medical care at Municipal Health Care Centres in Finland. Students can get the card from the social security authorities in their home country.
According to the directive of the Ministery of the Interior, non-EU/EEA citizens, who will be coming to Finland for studies or student exchange are required to have valid health insurance in order to obtain a residence permit . The University of Turku strongly recommends that all students take private health insurance in order to avoid any higher costs that could happen due to an accident or injury.
Non-degree visiting students, irregardless of citizenship, are not eligible to apply for scholarships offered by the University of Turku funds, international scholarships granted through the university, nor State financial assistance or study loan.
All courses are measured in credits (opintopiste in Finnish). One credit corresponds to one ECTS credit. 60 credits normally represent the workload of one year's worth of full-time studies.
REGULATIONS OF THE FACULTIES
The Faculty of Humanities offers the English-language Baltic Sea Region Studies programme.
All other instruction at the basic degree level (Bachelor's and Master's level) is usually in Finnish. The modern language departments, however, give instruction in their target languages as well.
The Faculty of Humanities does not, as a basic rule, accept visiting students from abroad. Priority is given to exchange students coming from the partner institutions of the University of Turku. Visiting students of the faculty can only participate in certain, restricted programmes or courses.
The Department of Finnish offers the Suomen kieli ja kulttuuri programme for international students with previous studies in the Finnish language. A good knowledge of Finnish is a prerequisite for this programme.
Tuition fees:
- Credit 10 EUR
- Basic Studies 250 EUR
- Intermediate Studies 350 EUR
- Advanced Studies 500 EUR
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
The language of instruction at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is usually Finnish, but courses in English are also available. A visiting student can apply for courses and study modules in all subjects. Applicants are expected to have a basic knowledge of the subject they are applying for. Also a good command of the language of instruction is essential. Please note that even if an applicant meets the minimum requirements, there may be further admission restrictions due to limited resources and facilities.
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences can accept visiting students from abroad only in special cases and on strong academic bases.
Tuition fees:
- Credit 10 EUR
- Basic Studies 250 EUR
- Intermediate Studies 350 EUR
- Advanced Studies 500 EUR
The language of instruction at the undergraduate level is Finnish. The Faculty of Medicine does not, as a basic rule, accept visiting students. Visiting students of the faculty can only participate in certain courses and clinical training periods.
Please contact the faculty's International Officer for more information about tuition fees and requirements.
The Faculty of Law offers a cooperative organisation, Turku Law School, with in-struction in English. This organisation is operated by the three universities in Turku.
An international student applying to Turku Law School should be registered as a law student at a foreign institution of higher education (studies should be recog-nised in the degree the applicant is pursuing in his/her home country), or have completed a LLB or LLM degree from an institution of higher education (a letter of recommendation from a present employer is required). A good command of the English language is also essential.
A non-degree visiting student can take up to 30 credits at Turku Law School. These must be courses that are organised by the Faculty of Law of the University of Turku. Two best applicants will be accepted from applications that have arrived by the deadline.
Tuition Fees:
- general studies in Intermediate Studies 100 EUR
- other optional studies in Intermediate Studies 135 EUR
- Turku Law School studies 100 EUR / 6 ECTS
The Faculty of Law is unable to offer visiting students Turku Law School study modules organised by Turku School of Economics.
The language of instruction at the basic degree level (Bachelor's and Master's level) is usually Finnish. The Faculty of Social Sciences does not, as a basic rule, accept visiting students. Priority is given to exchange students coming from the partner institutions of the University of Turku. Visiting students of the faculty can only participate in certain, restricted programmes or courses. Applicants are expected to have a basic knowledge of the subject they are applying for. Also a good command of the language of instruction is essential.
Tuition fees:
- Credit 10 EUR
- Basic Studies 250 EUR
- Intermediate Studies 350 EUR
- Advanced Studies 500 EUR
A non-degree visiting student can study Educational Science (basic, intermediate and advanced studies), Special Education (basic studies) or Adult Education (basic and intermediate studies). The language of instruction is Finnish and the applicant must be fluent in Finnish.
The Faculty of Education offers the Learning, Learning Environments and Educa-tional Systems Master's Degree Programme in English. A visiting student can apply for single courses of the programme. For some courses prior studies in the field of education or in another field related to education are required. A good knowledge of English is essential.
At the discretion of the faculty, visiting students may also be admitted to other courses and modules.
Tuition fees:
- Credit 10 EUR
- Basic Studies 250 EUR
- Intermediate Studies 350 EUR
- Advanced Studies 500 EUR
A non-degree student is a person registered at Turku School of Economics at University of Turku who has been admitted to pursue certain courses in certain subjects by the Director of Turku School of Economics. Director’s decision is based on the statements of the main teachers. Applications are turned down mainly due to full teaching groups. Courses that can be taken at the Open University are generally not accepted in the non-degree study scheme.
A person can be admitted to pursue non-degree studies free of charge if
- He/she has pursued a degree in Turku School of Economics
- He/she is a person who has pursued a degree in University of Turku can be admitted to pursue non-degree studies free of charge for the next three academic years followed graduation.
A person can be admitted to pursue non-degree studies for charge (10 €/ECTS credit) if
- He/she has passed the matriculation examination or equivalent foreign examination or
- He/she has graduated from a vocational institute or a non-university institution/polytechnic.
The extent of non-degree studies
Non-degree studies can be taken in maximum two (2) subjects. The maximum extent of studies per subject cannot be more than 25 ECTS cr and the maximum total of the two subjects is 50 ECTS cr. Non-degree studies cannot contain Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis. These restrictions do not concern the persons applying in category A or those who wish to supplement their studies in order to be able to apply for postgraduate studies.
The university gives a separate certificate of the pursued courses.
Validity of the right to pursue non-degree studies
The right to pursue non-degree studies is valid for two (2) years from the beginning of the semester following the application semester.
Addresses and Contact Information
For further information on admission as a non-degree visiting student, please contact the Faculty.
More information about language courses arranged by the Language Centre, please contact the amanuensis (tel. +358 (0)2 333 5419)
For information on open university courses, please contact the Centre for Extension Studies, tel. +358 (0)2 333 5980