The demarcation of study time is applied at the University of Turku for study rights beginning 1 August 2005 onwards (University Act 558/2009, 40§, 41§).
Demarcation of study time means that you have a certain number of years you can use for the completion of your degree.
- This includes targeted completion times for degrees and some additional years. In addition, registration with the university may affect your study time.
- You can check your study time in Peppi or contact the Student Centre Disco by email disco@utu.fi. Please remember to tell you study right number in your message to Disco.
Targeted completion times for degrees at the University of Turku
Targeted completion times for degrees at the University of Turku
- In general, the targeted completion time for Bachelor's and Master's degree studies in 2-cycle eduation is five academic years. The targeted completion time for students of Psychology ans Dentistry, however, is five and a half academic years and for students of Medicine the targeted study time is six academic years.
- The targeted completion time for lower (Bachelor's) degree is three academic years.
- The targeted completion time for higher (Master's) degree is two academic years. The exception to this is the targeted completion time for a Master's degree in Psychology, which is two and a half academic years.
- The targeted completion time for Licentiate in Medicine in 1-cycle education is six academic years.
- The targeted completion time for Licentiate in Dentistry in 1-cycle education is five and a half academic years for new students starting from 1 August 2011. The time is five years for students who started their studies earlier.
- University Act (Yliopistolaki 558/2009, 40§)
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 completion 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.
Registration with the University affects your study time
Time counted for the study time
- Semesters in which you are registered as attending.
- Semesters when you are not registered as attending or non-attending at all, i.e. when you have neglected the registration for the academic year.
- Registration as non-attending for the third time (third semester), if your previous registrations as non-attending student were not due to statutory reasons. See below for more details.
- Semesters in which you have been registered as non-attending student or have not registered at all when studying on additional time granted by your faculty .
The enrolment status of a semester is determined by the status on the last day of that semester.
Time not counted for the study time
Rules for study rights that begun autumn 2015 or later:
- Non-attendance for max. two semesters (one year) is not counted in the maximum time allowance for the completion of a degree.
- Since the autumn semester 2015 new Bachelor's and Master's Degree students can register as a non-attending students only for specific reasons, please read more from here.
- Changes to University Act (Laki yliopistolain muuttamisesta 39 ja 41 §:n muuttamisesta 324/2015)
Rules for study rights that begun spring 2015 or before:
- Non-attendance for max. four semesters (two years) is not counted in the maximum time allowance for the completion of a degree.
- University Acy (Yliopistolaki 558/2009, 41 §)
Semesters during which you are registered as non-attending due to statutory reasons as defined in the University Act (e.g. military service) are not considered as part of your targeted study time to complete the degree. For more details, see the page "Extension of Study Time Based on Statutory Reasons ".
Applying for additional time or extension
If it seems that you will not be able to complete your degree on time you should apply for extension of your study time or additional time.
- Applications for additional time are processed in Faculties. Please find application forms and more information at the application page. The application time is 1 - 31 March if your study time is ending on 31 July. The application time is 1 - 31 October if your study time is ending on 31 December.
- Extension of study time can only be granted for specific statutory reasons. You can apply for an extension at any time during your studies after the end of the reason for absence. However, you must notify the extension to the STudent Centre Disco while your study right (the actual period of completion of the degree) is still in force, not after the end of the study right or when studying in additional time.Please see more information on the extension to study right page.
If you apply by the due date, your application can be processed so that there will be no break to your study right.
It is possible to re-activate your study right
If the study right has been inactivated due to demarcation, it is possible to re-activate it.
- It is possible to apply for additional time from the Faculty. Please read the specific instructions of applying for additional time below.
After the Faculty's decision of re-activation you can register with the University
- 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 §)