Open university enrolment and fees

1. Enrolment for open university students
2. Enrolment for degree students of University of Helsinki
3. Enrolment to a massive open online course (MOOC)
4. Enrolment for the citizens of Ukraine 

1. Enrolment for open university students

1. Select the course to which you wish to enrol.
2. See the course page to find out whether enrolment for the course has begun or when enrolment for the course will begin, and whether there are places available.
3.  Click the “Go to enrollment” button.
4. Click the “Register for course” link.
   • If you have an active University of Helsinki user account, use your user account to log in.
   • If you do not have a University of Helsinki user account, identify yourself with the Suomi.fi e-Identification service.
   • If you cannot use the Suomi.fi e-Identification service, choose: “Continue without logging in”.
5. Complete the enrolment form or supplement/edit the information you have previously submitted. 
6. Pay the study fee online to confirm your enrolment. 
7. You will automatically receive an email confirming your enrolment.
8. Activate your University of Helsinki user account before your studies begin. The username will not be sent to you separately, but rather you will gain access to it by activating your user account well before your studies are due to begin. Please note that activating a user account requires strong electronic identification or identification in person in the University of Helsinki. Further information and instructions: University of Helsinki user account  
9. See also: Student checklist  
10. See also: Enrolment and payment terms  

2. Enrolment for degree students at the University of Helsinki

1. Select the course for which you wish to enrol.
2. See the course page to find out whether registration for the course has begun or when enrolment for the course will begin, and whether there are places available. 
3. Start the enrolment from Sisu: first add the course to your study plan, if it is not visible there already. Then select a completion method and teaching in the open university. Finally, Sisu will guide you to the course page for you to enrol there.
4. Log in the course page (Studies services) with your University of Helsinki username and password.
5. Click “Go to enrolment”.
6. Complete the enrolment form or supplement/edit the information you have previously submitted. 
7. Pay the course fee online to confirm your enrolment.
   • Summer studies and certain courses taught collaboratively during the academic year are free of charge to attending undergraduate students of the University of Helsinki. 
   • If you wish to participate in an open university course in order to raise the grade of previously completed studies, you must always pay the study fee for the course. Before enrolment, please contact avoin-student@helsinki.fi. 
8. You will automatically receive an email confirming your enrolment.
9. See also: Student checklist  
10. See also: Enrolment and payment terms  

3. Enrolment to a massive open online course (MOOC) 

• Enrolment practices for MOOCs vary by course. 

• In most cases you begin your studies in the online learning environment of the course. The necessary information is available on the course page of each MOOC. 

• You can participate in a MOOC free of charge. If you want to receive credits for the MOOC that you have completed, you will be asked to pay a fee at the end of the course. Some of the University of Helsinki’s MOOCs are completely free of charge. Information about the course fee is available on the relevant course page.

• Further information in Instructions for students: MOOC-courses

• See the MOOCs available

4. Enrolment for people who have fled Ukraine because of the war and are receiving temporary protection.

The open university courses are free of charge for people who have fled Ukraine because of the war and are receiving temporary protection. The enrolment is free of charge until 4.3.2025. More information:.Open university courses free of charge for those fleeing from Ukraine due the war and granted temporary protection

• The open university charges a fee of €15 per study credit (cr).
• Fees are paid online at the time of registration. Information about payment methods is available on the Paytrail website (NB! American Express is not accepted at the University of Helsinki).
• Some courses may carry additional material fees. Any such fees will be mentioned on the course page and must be paid at the same time as the course fee.
• The course fee grants you the right to attend the classes, examinations or other modes of completion indicated on the relevant course page.
• Your employer can pay your course fees by purchasing open university gift cards (information in Finnish).
• Fees, cancellation terms and practices for studies organised at partner institutions of the open university vary by organising institution.
• Read more: Open university enrolment and payment terms

Some open university courses are freely available to all or specific groups of students.

• Introductory courses (information in Finnish) are offered free of charge to acquaint participants with specific disciplines and university studies.
• Summer courses are free of charge to University of Helsinki undergraduate students. However, please note the following:
  • You must be an attending undergraduate (first- or second-cycle) student at the time of registration.
  • You may be charged for any course material.
  • You will be charged for raising your grade: to raise the grade of an open university course you have previously passed, you must always pay the course-specific fee. Before registering, please send an email to avoin-student@helsinki.fi.
  • Summer courses are not free of charge to doctoral researchers.
• MOOCs (massive open online courses) are free of charge. You must pay the open university course fee only if you want to have credits for the MOOC registered in the University of Helsinki student records. Some MOOCs are completely free of charge. Further information in the Studies Service: MOOC courses | Open university
• Until 4.3.2025, all open university studies are free of charge for for people who have fled Ukraine because of the war and are receiving temporary protection. More information:.Open university courses free of charge for those fleeing from Ukraine due the war and granted temporary protection

• Enrolment for open university studies is always binding. In principle, enrolment fees are non-refundable.
• If you are unable to begin your studies due to illness, contact us without delay: avoin-student@helsinki.fi. We will refund within approximately one month any amount of a course fee that exceeds 75 euros. A doctor’s or nurse’s certificate is required.
• If the University of Helsinki has to cancel the course due to insufficient enrolment or for similar reasons, we will refund 100% of the course fee and credit your account within approximately one month.
• Further information: Enrolment and payment terms