Right to study
As a student, you get the right to study when you accept a study place and register as present or absent for the academic year.
On this page
Right-to-study period
The studies leading to a Bachelor’s degree are planned to be completed in 3.5 years (210 credits) or 4 years (240 credits), after which the student is entitled to study for one additional year.
The studies leading to a Master’s degree are planned to be completed in 2 years (60 credits) or 2.5 years (90 credits), after which the student is entitled to study for one additional semester.
Scope of degree and right-to-study period
240 credits – 5 years
210 credits – 4.5 years
90 credits – 3 years
60 credits – 2.5 years
If you fail to register for the academic year during the registration period, you will lose your study right. To regain it, you must apply for the restoration of your study right (see further information below).
Discretionary extension period
If you have not completed your studies within your right-to-study period, you can apply for a discretionary extension to complete your degree.
- An extension may be granted for special reasons, as a general rule only once and for a maximum of two semesters in degree education, or for one semester in professional teacher, special needs teacher and guidance counsellor education.
- You must apply for an extension before your study right expires.
- You cannot register as absent while studying on an extension.
- An extension will not be granted if you have already completed all the studies required for your degree or programme.
Applying for extension period
Before applying for an extension, please contact your Guidance Counsellor. To apply, you need to provide a feasible plan for completing your studies. The extension application is available on the Pakki homepage under the Aini icon. Applications can be submitted from 1 April to 31 July and from 1 October to 31 December.
Application processing fee
A processing fee of €50 is charged when you submit your application. The processing fee is based on Government Decree 1440/2014, Section 3.
If you do not graduate during the extension period, you can complete the studies missing from your degree through the Open University of Applied Sciences. You can also reapply for a study right (see Re-granting the right to study).
Paytrail Oyj is a collecting payment service provider and an authorized Payment Institution working in cooperation with Finnish banks and credit institutions. Paytrail Oyj will be shown as the recipient on your bank or credit card statement. Paytrail Oyj will forward the payment to the merchant. More information is available at the bottom of this page.
Re-granting the right to study
If you are a former HAMK student and your degree was left incomplete during your previous right to study or an additional discretionary study period, you can apply for a new right to study to complete the degree in the same or a corresponding degree programme.
- You can apply for a study right through HAMK’s separate application based on an incomplete higher education degree in Studyinfo.fi after your previous study right has expired.
- The study right can only be granted once, and you cannot apply for an extension.
- If you are studying with a re-granted study right, you cannot register as absent.
See the link below for more information about eligibility, admission criteria, and the application process.
- You are a former student of HAMK or another Finnish higher education institution, and your degree was left incomplete in a Finnish higher education institution, and your previous right to study has ended.
- You have a maximum of 60 credits missing (Bachelor’s degree) or 30 credits missing (Master’s degree).
- Your completed studies can be accredited towards the degree, and you can complete the remaining studies at HAMK.
If you do not complete your degree during the period of your reinstated right to study, you can complete the remaining studies required for your degree through the Open University of Applied Sciences. Once you have completed all the required studies, you can apply for a right to study through the application process for completing an unfinished degree in order to receive your degree certificate. However, you cannot complete any new studies after this point.
If you are missing more than 60 ECTS credits (Bachelor’s degrees) or 30 ECTS credits (Master’s degrees), you can first study at the Open University of Applied Sciences and apply for a study right later (see: Studying in open UAS after the right to study period has expired).
Book an appointment with the programme’s guidance counsellor to review your missing studies.
Autumn application period: 1 August – 30 November (studies start in autumn semester)
Spring application period: 1 December – 31 May (studies start in spring semester)
Apply via Studyinfo.fi under Application based on an uncompleted degree in higher education:
- Select the same or a corresponding degree programme from HAMK’s options.
- Review the programme page and admission criteria.
- Complete the application form. Remember the Attachments.
Your study right will be granted from the beginning of the application period during which you apply for a study right. Therefore, it is important that you apply during an application period when you are actually able to continue your studies and complete your degree
If you started your studies at HAMK on or after 1 August 2015, you must pay a processing fee of €50 and attach the payment receipt to your application. You can find the payment link on the application form. The processing fee is based on Government Decree 1440/2014, Section 3.
Paytrail Oyj is a collecting payment service provider and an authorized Payment Institution working in cooperation with Finnish banks and credit institutions. Paytrail Oyj will be shown as the recipient on your bank or credit card statement. Paytrail Oyj will forward the payment to the merchant. More information is available at the bottom of this page.
As of 1 January 2025, citizens of countries outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland are required to pay an application fee when applying to higher education in Finland. If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland and apply for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme at a university of applied sciences in Finland, you must pay an application fee of €100.
The application fee does not guarantee admission and is non-refundable, even if you cancel your application or are not offered a study place.
Read more: https://opintopolku.fi/konfo/en/sivu/application-fee
Studying in open UAS after the right to study period has expired
If your right to study at HAMK has expired, you can register as an open university student. First check whether you can apply for a re-granted study right (see Re-granted study right).
The tuition fee options are:
- 250 €/one semester (i.e. 1.8.-31.12. or 1.1.-31.7.)
- 400 €/one academic year (i.e. 1.8.-31.7. or 1.1.-31.12.)
- You can also choose to pay 15€ per credit point if it is cheaper than the time-based fee (the fee is valid for one semester).
Time-based payment methods are not linked to the number of credits to be taken. Tuition fees are invoiced after enrolment.
- Agree on open studies with your degree guidance counsellor
- Open the enrolment form
- Authenticate
- Authentication is done through the Suomi.fi service using either online banking credentials, mobile authentication or a certificate card.
- If there is a problem with Suomi.fi login, we recommend clearing the cache or using the browser’s private mode (incognito).
- Only in exceptional cases, i.e. if you do not have any authentication method suitable for Suomi.fi or if you cannot authenticate after clearing the browser cache or using incognito mode, you can choose an alternative registration form and bypass the authentication.
- Fill in the enrolment form
- Select to enrol I am a former HAMK degree student
- Choose your preferred payment method
- Tell us which studies you are taking at the Open University of Applied Sciences or attach an annex listing them (these must be agreed with your degree guidance counsellor in advance).
- Fill in the details of the registrant (authentication will complete part of the information)
- Save the form – you will receive a confirmation of your registration form by email
Once your registration has been received, you will receive further instructions by email. Please note that as an Open University of Applied Sciences student, you will receive a new student number and will no longer have access to the Pakki view of your previous degree studies.
For more information on these practices, please contact your guidance counsellor.
Resignation from studies
Not everything always goes according to plan, so you might be considering ending your studies and giving up your right to study. Please discuss with your guidance counsellor before making a final decision. They may be able to suggest different options that suit your situation, such as the possibility to use your right to be absent.
When you resign from your studies, you give up your right to study. The resignation must be submitted using the electronic resignation announcement.
When paying application fees
Payment Service Provider
Paytrail Oyj is a collecting payment service provider and an authorized Payment Institution working in cooperation with Finnish banks and credit institutions. Paytrail Oyj will be shown as the recipient on your bank or credit card statement. Paytrail Oyj will forward the payment to the merchant. For complaints, please contact the website the payment was made to.
Paytrail Oyj
Innova 2
Lutakonaukio 7
40100 Jyväskylä
Phone: +358 207 181 830
Business ID 2122839-7
https://www.paytrail.com/en/consumer/information-about-paying