Demarcation of Study Time

Targeted completion times for degrees at the University of Turku

The duration of study rights

• A student accepted for Bachelor's and Master's degree or Licentiate in Medicine or Dentistry has the right to complete the degree two years past the targeted competion time of the degree.
• Students accepted only for a Bachelor's degree have the right to complete the degree one year past the targeted completion time.
• Students accepted only for a Master's degree have the right to complete the degree two years past the targeted completion time.
• University Act (Yliopistolaki 558/2009, 41§)

The starting point of the studies is considered to be the academic year when the study place has been received.

• Non-attendance for max. four semesters is not counted in the maximum time allowance for the completion of a degree. 
• University Acy (Yliopistolaki 558/2009, 41 §)

• Since the autumn semester 2015 there has been changes to rules for new Bachelor's and Master's Degree students to register as a non-attending student. It is possible to register as non-attending only for specific reasons, please read more from here. Non-attendance for max. two semesters is not counted in the maximum time allowance for the completion of a degree.
• Changes to University Act (Laki yliopistolain muuttamisesta 39 ja 41 §:n muuttamisesta 324/2015)

How registration with the University affects your study time

• If you have neglected registration, the counter will run as if you were registered as attending.
• Registration status as non-attending is not counted once there has been a decision for extension or additional time. 
• A temporary suspension of studies is considered equal to non-attendance as stated in 18c § of the Universities Act.
• If the student's attendance status in the register changes during a semester, the status of the last day of the semester will be decisive.

• Information on registration will be sent from the student centre Disco after the decision of the Faculty.
• When a study right is re-activated, you may be required to pay a re-registration fee (decree of the Ministry of Education, Valtioneuvoston asetus 1082/2009, 4 §)

Even without the legislative reasons for extension of study time, it is possible to apply for additional time to the study right. Additional time is applied from your faculty.

The most important prerequisite for granting additional time is the aforementioned personal study plan (HOPS).

• The studies yet to be taken and the estimated date of their completion must be stated in the plan.
• In addition, the reasonableness of the granting will be judged: additional time is granted if the student is able to complete his/her degree in a reasonable time.

The following matters are taken into account while making the decision:

• the amount and extent of studies already completed
• studies yet to be taken in comparison with the targeted completion time of the degree
• possible additional time granted earlier

The basis for the personal study plan is that the remaining studies continue with a rate of at least 30 ECTS per academic year.

• If you wish to compile a study plan with a slower rate of study, attach an explanation regarding the underlying reasons
• Please read also the following chapter of life situation

Life situation

• If you are appealing to such reason (illness, societal activity, student exchange, internship etc.), you must enclose appropriate documents with the application form.
• There should be a connection with this reason and the delay of your studies.
• Working during your studies is not a valid reason.

Additional time may not be granted

• If you have not started your studies or you do not have a reason for delay (for example a personal reason), the decision can be negative.
• If you have already been granted additional time, but you have not made a progress with your studies, there usually will be a negative decision for your new application.

Desicion

• The Faculty will inform you of the decision.
• Additional time is granted as semesters. Additional time is granted for one semester at minimum and for four semesters at maximum.
• Even if the completion of the degree would require more than four semesters according to the study plan, additional time is nevertheless granted for four semesters only. The remaining additional time must be applied for separately.
• Possible legislative reasons for absence (compulsory and voluntary military services, family leaves) are taken into account also during the additional time as long as you notify the Student Centre Disco according to the instructions.
• Your new study time will be updated in Nettiopsu and you'll receive registration information if necessary.

Use the electronic application form for applying additional time. If you don’t have an active utu-ID, use the paper form instead.

NB! Make sure you have all required attachments before the deadline to be able to submit the application in time. For applying you need the transcript of records (pdf-transcript from Nettiopsu), personal study plan (in the electronic personal study plan system or as a separate document), if your thesis is unfinished, also a statement from your thesis supervisor on the situation of your thesis. 

• Information coming soon

Together with the application for additional time the student needs to fill in personal study plan (docx) including courses and a schedule on how the degree is going to be completed.

If there have been special reasons for the delay of studies, the student should also enclose a clarification of them (e.g. medical certificate).

The basis for the personal study plan is that the remaining studies continue with a pace of at least 30 ECTS per academic year. If the student wishes to compile a study plan with a slower pace of study, he/she will need to attach an explanation regarding the underlying reasons.

In case the student's master's thesis is not complete, the student must attach the thesis instructor's statement to the application. The statement can be an email from the thesis instructor, where the instructor states that the proposed schedule of thesis completion is feasible.

If the completion of the degree would require more than four semesters according to the study plan, additional time is nevertheless granted for four semesters only. The remaining additional time must be applied separately.

Please, use the electronic form for study time application.

Medical Certificate can be returned to the Faculty of Law by mail:

Faculty of Law
Head of Student Affairs Katja Arola
20014 Turun yliopisto.

or by email: katja.arola@utu.fi. In this case please use your own utu-email for sending the attachment.  

Together with the application for additional time the student needs to fill in personal study plan including courses and a schedule on how the degree is going to be completed.The basis for the personal study plan is that the remaining studies continue with a pace of at least 30 ECTS per academic year. If the student wishes to compile a study plan with a slower pace of study, he/she will need to attach an explanation regarding the underlying reasons.

If there have been special reasons for the delay of studies, the student should also enclose a clarification of them (e.g. medical certificate).

In case the student's master's thesis is not complete, the student must attach the thesis instructor's statement to the application. The statement can be an email from the thesis instructor, where the instructor states that the proposed schedule of thesis completion is feasible.

The application for additional time and personal study plan should be returned to the Faculty of Medicine: Faculty of Medicine, Head of Student and Academic Affairs Henriikka Salminen, 20014 University of Turku.

Personal study plan

• The personal study plan is done in the electronic personal study plan system. You can use paper form as well if you are unable to use the system. 
• The personal study plan should include the study attainments missing from your degree and the schedule how the degree is going to be completed.
• The personal study plan has to be approved and signed by the teacher tutor.
• The personal study plan has to be attached to the application; the link to the electronic system is not adequate.

Statement from the thesis’ supervisor

If you have started your thesis, the statement from your supervisor is to be enclosed with the application.
The statement should include:

• The state of the thesis at the moment
• Estimated completion time of the thesis
• If the thesis is the only study attainment lacking from the degree, but you haven't started it yet, the scheduled plan approved by the supervisor is to be enclosed with the application.

The application form along with the enclosures will be sent by e-mail to opo-ml@utu.fi or by mail to Faculty of Science and Engineering, Study advisors, 20014 Turun yliopisto. The application can also be returned to the Faculty office for Academic and Student Affairs, Natura 1st floor.

More information from the Faculty study advisors: opo-ml@utu.fi

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Use the electronic application form for applying additional time. If you don’t have an active utu-ID, use the paper form instead.

NB! Make sure you have all required attachments before the deadline to be able to submit the application in time. For applying you need the transcript of records (pdf-transcript from Nettiopsu), personal study plan (in the electronic personal study plan system or as a separate document), if your thesis is unfinished, also a statement from your thesis supervisor and a report on the situation of your thesis.

Students at Turku School of Economics must enclose the following documents to the application:

1. Personal study plan

• The study plan is done in the electronic personal study plan system (see the intranet for user instructions)
• If your study right has already expired, and you don’t have an active utu-ID, add the personal study plan as a separate file to your application
• The study plan must include the studies included in the degree as modules (major, minor, language studies, other studies) and also detailed information on the schedule for completing the remaining courses
• See the degree requirements from the electronic study guide

More information on the personal study plan: tseopintotoimisto@utu.fi.

2. Statement from your thesis supervisor

If your thesis is unfinished, you are required to provide a statement from your thesis supervisor. The statement can be for example an email from the supervisor.

It must include the following information:

1. situation of your thesis
2. has the thesis progressed during a possible previous additional time
3. estimate from the supervisor: is it possible to complete the thesis within the applied period of additional time

3. Report on the situation of your Master’s thesis

• name of your thesis supervisor/s
• information on participating in or completing the thesis seminar (group meetings)
• stage of your thesis and a schedule for completing the thesis (a short research plan, including the schedule)