Non-degree studies

Supplement your degree and obtain professional and research qualifications. At the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, you can supplement a previously completed degree in the field through a right to complete non-degree studies.
Right to complete non-degree studies

Eligible applicants for the right to complete individual courses or study modules include the following:

  • Holders of a university degree or upper secondary level qualification who wish to supplement and upgrade their degree. The application must be accompanied by a copy of the degree certificate and the transcript of studies, as well as a statement on the purpose and objective of the non-degree studies.
  • Individuals who wish to upgrade or acquire vocational qualifications. The application must be accompanied by a statement by the applicant’s employer or an equivalent statement on the relevance of non-degree studies to the upgrading of professional qualifications.
  • Individuals in research positions who wish to upgrade their scientific qualifications. The application must be accompanied by a statement by the research group director or another equivalent person on the relevance of non-degree studies to the upgrading of scientific qualifications.

No rights to complete non-degree studies will be granted to university students pursuing a degree. Students of Finnish higher education institutions can apply for a right to study under the flexible study right scheme JOO or separate student exchange agreements concluded by degree programmes and their home university. Students who are pursuing a university degree abroad can apply for such a right through exchange agreements and systems.

No rights to complete non-degree studies are granted for courses offered by the Open University. Open University instruction complies with Faculty degree requirements and corresponds to the teaching offered by the Faculty.

Applying for non-degree studies

Applications for non-degree studies can be submitted twice a year using an electronic form.

2025 application periods are 1. - 15.4.2025 at 15:00 (for courses in autumn) and 1. - 15.10.2025 at 15:00 (for courses in spring 2026)

Decisions

The dean decides on the granting of rights to study based on statement from the educational programme or the teacher responsible for the study period or module. The right to complete non-degree studies will be granted depending on the teaching resources and the amount and grades of the applicant’s previous studies, together with other documentation mentioned above. As a rule, the right to complete advanced studies cannot be granted to applicants who have not completed basic and intermediate studies in the discipline in question.

The decisions are notified to applicants by e-mail in June (spring term) and November (autumn term). If the applicant is granted the right to study, it usually becomes valid at the beginning of the next term. As a rule, the right to study of those accepted in the spring application process becomes valid on 1 August, and of those accepted in the autumn application process, on 1 January. Applicants can request on their applications for their right to study to become valid before the beginning of the following term, outlining the reasons for their request.

The duration of the right to complete non-degree studies is two academic years. If a student fails to complete the studies within this time, but wishes to continue to study, they must apply again during the application period for the right to complete non-degree studies, and they will also be charged another fee for non-degree studies.

Fees for non-degree studies

Non-degree studies are subject to a fee. The course fee is €15 per credit (cr) for studies up to 35 cr and €10 per cr for studies between 36-60 credits. The payment details will be sent to students with their letter of acceptance.

Infor­mation on the Fac­ulty teach­ing

To browse and view information on the teaching provided by the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, use the course search engine. The latest information on teaching is available in Sisu, in which you can search for course information, for example, with the course name, abbreviation or registration code (identifier). You can search for information both in Sisu and on the course pages without logging in.

Service address

viikki-student@helsinki.fi