Study opportunities for postgraduate students from other universities
The University of Turku offers several possibilities for postgraduate students from other universities to apply for a fixed-term study right to complete individual courses.
See the options below and apply accordingly.
1. Collaboration between the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University
The University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University have a separate agreement that allows doctoral researchers to participate in their courses, free of charge.
All faculties participate in the organisation of the courses of the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS), and Åbo Akademi’s doctoral researchers are welcome to attend these courses (with the exception of English language courses offered by the Centre for Language and Communication Studies). You can browse UTUGS’s general course offerings in the study guide.
In addition, some doctoral programmes’ own courses are open to Åbo Akademi’s doctoral researchers. Please check the course information in the study guide, and when in doubt, contact the coordinator of the respective doctoral programme.
If you are a doctoral researcher at Åbo Akademi University, you may apply for a study right to University of Turku courses via the electronic form.
2. Doctoral+
The University of Turku is a part of the Doctoral+ agreement, which enables postgraduate students to apply for course-specific study rights between the participating universities. Based on the agreement, no fees are charged from the applicant or the home university.
Participating universities:
- Aalto University
- University of Helsinki
- University of Eastern Finland
- University of Lapland
- Hanken School of Economics
- University of the Arts Helsinki
- University of Turku
- Åbo Akademi University
You can browse UTU’s course offerings in the study guide. If you are a doctoral researcher at one of the above universities, you may apply for a study right to University of Turku courses via UTU’s electronic application form.
3. Doctoral Network
The national Doctoral Network offers free courses open to all doctoral researchers from the participating universities.
Participating universities:
- Aalto University
- University of Eastern Finland
- University of Jyväskylä
- University of Lapland
- LUT University
- University of Oulu
- Hanken School of Economics
- Tampere University
- University of Turku
- University of Vaasa
- Åbo Akademi University
The courses are listed on the site Doctoral courses in Finland.
If you are a doctoral researcher at one of the above universities, you may apply for a study right to Doctoral Network courses at the University of Turku via UTU’s electronic application form.
4. Non-degree study rights
If your home university is not part of the Doctoral+ agreement or the Doctoral Network Courses, you may apply for a non-degree study right at the University of Turku.
- This study right is subject to a fee.
- Application follows the instructions on UTU’s non-degree study right webpages.
Duration of the study right
- If the study right is granted for a course in the autumn semester, it will be valid until the end of the academic year (end of July).
- If the study right is granted for a course in the spring semester, it will be valid until the end of the calendar year.
Application requirements and processing
- You must be registered as an attending postgraduate student at your home university in Finland to apply.
- Applications are processed by the faculty organising the course.
- Once granted, the study right is recorded in the University of Turku’s student and study information system (Peppi). You will be notified by the Student Centre Disco once your study right has been recorded, along with instructions for activating your UTU user account.
- With the UTU user account, you can log in to Peppi to register for courses and download your transcript of records. You will need the transcript in order to transfer completed courses to your home university degree.
- Please note: being granted a study right is not the same as course registration. You must also register separately for the course in Peppi.
NB! The national JOO agreement (Flexible Study Rights Agreement between Finnish universities) will end on 1 January 2026. No new JOO study rights will be granted. If you already hold a JOO study right, you may complete your course according to the terms of the granted right.
