Open university

Student counselling
As a study path student, you are entitled to student guidance. When you need guidance related to the contents of the open studies, contact the teacher in charge of the course/module or the student counsellor of the degree programme. If you need information about enrolment or practicalities, contact  openuas@hamk.fi.

Study methods
There are two different ways to study HAMK’s Open Studies, 8-16 and 18-100 methods. The 8-16 method is studying in the daytime and on weekdays. 18-100 studies are multiform studies organised outside office hours so that you may participate in them alongside your job. Study methods

Student services
You receive guidance about studying practicalities from the student affairs officers (studentservices@hamk.fi). Student counsellors and teachers help you with questions about guidance of studies. You can find degree programme’s study advisor from degree programme’s website, e.g. Applicants > Degree Programme > Contact information and teacher’s contact information in an implementation plan of the course. Other services available are IT services and library services.

IT services
You will receive a student ID and password (according to the contact information you give when enrolling) for using HAMK’s email and other electronic services. Check IT-services website for further information.

Library services
HAMK library and information services are at your service in HAMK units and online as well. You may get a library card to HAMK library from any campus. Be prepared to show your identification when picking up the card.

Student feedback
We collect feedback during the studies, so that we are able to develop our HAMK Open UAS education. Study path students give feedback via Pakki. Open studies students can provide course/module feedback via a browser at https://pakki.hamk.fi/spark

Open Studies = courses or modules from Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees studies

Study Path at HAMK = first academic year studies of a Bachelor’s degree or first semester studies of a Master’s degree which you start without being a degree student. The aim of a Study Path student is to become a degree student and to get the completed and approved studies credited towards a degree at HAMK University of Applied Sciences.

Course = study unit which includes a certain amount of training and student work.

Module = a larger study unit that consists of 15 credits.

Credit / ECTS = the extent of a study unit. 40 hours study week is about 1,5 ECTS / credits.

Learning outcomes = depicts what kind of knowledge the student has after having completed the study unit

Academic year = begins in August and ends in July (studying mainly in September – May). Summer studies from beginning of May to August 31.

Semester = autumn and spring semester. Autumn semester begins in September and ends in December. Spring semester begins in January and ends in May.

Moodle learning environment = is a web based learning environment. In Moodle you study and teamwork with other students. Learning materials are also available in Moodle.

RPL process = The Recognition of Prior Learning and Skills Recognition process consists of recognition and accreditation of learning and subsequent credit transfer, validation of learning through skills demonstrations and exemption from compulsory language studies.

BYOD – Bring Your Own Device = HAMK recommends that students use their own laptops. At the HAMK campus area you can use our wifi network. See more about BYOD

Puro – In the service, higher education students and study path students can check their study attainments and degree information. The information is retrieved from the national data supply of higher education institutions (VIRTA). Check your summer study attainments in the Puro service and submit them through the service to be entered in the study register of your own higher education institution.

Failure to pay will immediately terminate the right to study. Study fees are collectable.

Course / module fee
​The tuition fee for open studies is 15 Euros/credit. For example, a 5 credit course costs 75 Euros. ​The tuition fee is paid at the same time as registration (payment methods include online payment, credit card, Mobile Pay, Pivo, Walley-invoice). Other possible costs include material and excursion costs.

Tuition fee for study paths
The fee for Bachelor´s level study paths is 400 €. In Master’s level study path studies, the tuition fee is paid according to the extent (150€/10 credits or 225€/15 credits). The tuition fee for Study paths will be invoiced after the enrolment has been accepted. A payment link for the tuition fee will be sent to the approved registrant by email. Payment of the fee confirms the study place.

Tuition fee for HAMK’s students who have lost their right to study
HAMK student fees are based on time: 0.5 years / 250 € and 1 year / 400 €.  The fee is not tied to the number of credits. The student may pay a credit-based fee if it is less expensive than a time-based fee. The tuition fee for the studies will be invoiced after approval.

​Other possible costs include material and excursion costs.

If you plan to apply as a degree student after completing the study path please note:

Degree students with citizenship in countries not within the EU/EEA, or Switzerland, are required to pay tuition fees for university studies in Finland. Tuition fees apply to degree programmes taught in English since autumn 2017.

The cancellation has to be made to study secretary promptly in writing.

If you cancel your enrolment at least 14 days before your studies begin, you are entitled to a refund of payments.
Send an email to studentservices(at)hamk.fi (please note that during summer holidays and Christmas season there may be a slight delay in processing these payments).
If you cancel your enrolment later than 14 days before the beginning of your studies, we will charge the study fees in full. Also, if you do not cancel your enrolment
and drop out right from the start or during your studies, we will charge the study fees in full.

We may waive the study fees in full or partially:
– if you are enrolled in HAMK’s Open studies and they offer you a degree student place before you start your Open studies.
– if you are enrolled in one of HAMK’s Study Paths and they offer you a degree student place in any Finnish higher education institution before you start your Study Path at HAMK.

We reserve the right to make changes due to e.g. low number of participants, possible changes in schedules, teacher or place of instruction.

Assessment of studies
The assessment of studies is knowledge-based and based on the assessment criteria in the learning outcomes.

As a general rule, grading is based on a numerical scale from 5 to 0 as follows:

• 5 (excellent)
• 4 – 3 (good)
• 2 – 1 (satisfactory)
• 0 (fail)

The pass/fail scale is used in certain separately determined cases as follows:

• H (approved)
• 0 (fail)

The teacher must award grades no later than one calendar month after the course’s or module’s completion date indicated in the implementation plan. Grades are entered in the credit record database. Students who have not completed all assignments included in the course to an acceptable standard within this period of time will be awarded grade 0, or the course can be evaluated with minor extent. Grade 0 indicates that the student’s performance or work is unfinished and the course is uncompleted. The student completes the course or module during the period of the implementation. Otherwise the student needs to contact the teacher of the course for further information about resits. If needed, ask for help from your student affairs secretary.

The studies are valid for ten years.

Certificates
Information about your completed studies can be found on Oma Opintopolku at https://opintopolku.fi/koski. If you also need an official, signed transcript, send the request to studentservices@hamk.fi. After completing the study path courses, download the electronic transcript via the student’s desktop Pakki.

If you need a certificate of registration for TE Services, contact the Student Affairs Office.