Non-degree studies in Law

If you are interested in applying for the right to complete individual law courses, see our course offer from Instructions for students Course catalogues or Course search.

The right to pursue non-degree studies may be granted to persons who are not entitled to complete a degree at the University of Helsinki. Applicants for non-degree studies may be granted the right to complete a maximum of four courses included in the valid curricula of a Bachelor or Master of Laws degree. Faculty of Law general studies, language studies and basic studies or practical skills studies cannot be completed as non-degree studies. As a rule, applicants cannot be granted the right to complete advanced studies or moot court competitions as non-degree studies.

The right to pursue non-degree studies will not be granted for studies which will be available at the Open University during the term following the submission of the application. The right to pursue non-degree studies will not be granted to students whose home university offers equivalent courses.

Students pursuing non-degree studies are not enrolled as full-time students at the University of Helsinki and do not enjoy the same benefits as enrolled students. Students admitted to pursue non-degree studies do not have the right to complete a degree at the University. The right to study is restricted to those studies for which it has been granted.

The next application period is 1 April to 15 April 2025 until 3 p.m.

Eligible applicants include the following:

• Students from another university, university of applied sciences or other educational institution who intend to incorporate the completed studies into a degree to be awarded by the home institution (the application must be accompanied by a study plan approved by the home institution). As university students belong under the scope of the JOO Flexible Study Rights Scheme, they must primarily apply for non-degree studies in law through the JOO system.
• 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 diploma and a statement on the purpose and objective of the non-degree studies.)
• Professionals wishing to upgrade their 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 competence.)
• Open University students, if the Open University does not offer the studies applied for. Such students must have completed at least 30 credits of studies in law at the Open University by the closing of the application period (the application must be accompanied by a statement on the purpose and objective of the non-degree studies).
• As of 1 January 2016, applicants who have received a conditional decision from the National Agency for Education on the recognition of the eligibility provided by their studies completed abroad for positions requiring the degree of Master of Laws (The application must be accompanied by a copy of the conditional decision made by the National Agency for Education on the recognition of the comparability of degrees.)

Applicants may also include other supporting documents with their application. Applicants for an extension or applicants who have previously been granted the right to complete non-degree studies must enclose with their application the dean’s decision on their previous right to complete non-degree studies. Applications for the right to complete non-degree studies cannot be edited after the application deadline.

Non-degree studies are subject to a fee of €15 per credit. Fees will not be reimbursed to students who fail to complete a course.

At the Faculty of Law, the right to pursue non-degree studies is applied online using an e-lomake form.

• Application form for those, who apply with the basis of a conditional decision from the National Agency for Education
• Application form for those, who apply with the basis of either completion of a degree, professional qualification, open university students, application for additional time or other

Application form is available only during the application period.

If teaching for a course is provided in English only, applicants can demonstrate that they have the required skills in the language.

If you need advice, please contact the Students services in Porthania.

The director of development at Teaching and Learning Services decides annually on the application dates for non-degree studies. The Faculty of Law accepts applications for the right to complete non-degree studies during application rounds in the spring.

Applicants will be informed about decisions by email.

The Faculty decides on granting the right to complete non-degree studies. When deciding whether to grant the right, the Faculty consults the relevant discipline coordinator and, if necessary, the course coordinator. When making the decision, the Faculty will also consider the teaching resources of the discipline, the grounds given by the applicant and the information the applicant provides on his or her previous learning, including previous studies. The right to complete non-degree studies will be granted for no more than two years at a time starting from the term following the submission of the application. The right to complete non-degree studies will be entered into student records for the duration of its validity. After the right has been recorded, the student must register for the relevant course by the registration deadline.

Applicants seeking the right to pursue non-degree studies in order to complete supplementary studies to obtain a decision for the recognition of their degree may be granted that right by virtue of a conditional decision by the National Agency for Education. The right to complete non-degree studies may be granted for more than four courses.

For compelling reasons, the right to complete non-degree studies can be extended by a year. The extension must be applied for during the application round preceding the termination of the right. Applicants for an extension or applicants who have previously been granted the right to complete non-degree studies must enclose with their application the dean’s decision on their previous right to complete non-degree studies. After the extension has expired, the student can apply for a new right to complete non-degree studies. The new right is subject to a fee.