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We offer studies in business, law, nutrition science, social and health care management, social psychology, statistics and work and organisational psychology. You can complete a full basic studies module or individual study units, with no age limit and no previous education required. All studies are online, so you can study flexibly alongside work wherever you live, and you receive a certificate from the university that organises the studies. Please note that all our open university studies are taught in Finnish, and the course materials and exams are also in Finnish. The studies therefore suit you if you have a good command of Finnish. If you would like to study in English, see all our courses taught in English, and if you would like to improve your Finnish, take a look at our Finnish language courses. Courses Frequently asked questions Registration Which subject interests you? If you want to…Exploreunderstand how people behave in organisationsBusiness, Work and organisational psychologylearn about employment, contract or family lawBusiness, Lawlearn the basics of statistical researchNatural scienceslearn more about the self, identity and mental healthSocial psychologydeepen your knowledge of nutrition for work or for yourselfNutrition sciencedevelop as a manager in social and health care servicesSocial and health careunderstand groups, interaction and social phenomenaSocial psychologydevelop wellbeing at work, competence and HR managementWork and organisational psychologyapply for a university degree programme laterBenefits of open university studies Subjects Business Business studies are organised in cooperation with the University of Vaasa. You study organisational behaviour, in other words what affects how people act in groups and organisations, as well as areas of law that are central to business, such as employment law, contract and tort law and environmental and energy law. The studies include online lectures, assignments and an exam. Who is it for? Anyone who wants to strengthen their business and legal knowledge for working life, for example in management, HR and expert roles. Read more in Finnish • Register for business studies Law Law studies are organised in cooperation with the University of Turku. In family and inheritance law you learn the basics of the law on relationships, children, guardianship and inheritance and how to recognise typical situations and the legal questions related to them. Teaching is online, and the exam is a supervised Moodle exam at our building in Töölö. You can also study areas of law related to business in our business studies. Who is it for? Anyone interested in law, for example people working in social, family and financial counselling and people applying to study law. Read more in Finnish • Register for law studies Natural sciences In natural sciences you can study the basics of statistics in cooperation with the University of Vaasa. You learn the stages and key concepts of statistical research, how to describe data with tables, charts and statistics and the basics of probability and statistical inference. Teaching is online, and in some groups the lectures and exercises are live. Who is it for? Anyone who needs statistics in their studies or work, for example when working with research data or preparing for degree studies. Read more in Finnish • Register for natural sciences studies Nutrition science Nutrition science studies are organised in cooperation with the University of Eastern Finland. Nutrition science examines the role of nutrition in promoting health and treating illness and the importance of eating for wellbeing. You study the basics of nutrition, nutrition and lifestyle, foods in the diet and the sociocultural dimensions of eating. The studies are scheduled online studies in Moodle. Who is it for? Teachers, social and health care staff, people working in sport and exercise, food services and the food industry and anyone interested in nutrition and wellbeing. Read more in Finnish • Register for nutrition science studies Social and health care Social and health care studies are organised in cooperation with the University of Eastern Finland. The studies in multidisciplinary social and health care management combine social and health care administration, information management and health economics. You learn about the service system, management, health economics, information management, data protection and documentation. You can complete the whole module or individual study units. Who is it for? Experts working in social and health care and in wellbeing services counties, whatever their role or position. The studies can also lead to master’s programmes at the University of Eastern Finland. Read more in Finnish • Register for social and health care studies Social psychology Social psychology studies are organised in cooperation with the University of Eastern Finland. Social psychology examines how people’s actions, ways of thinking, emotions and identity are shaped in relation to communities and society, as well as phenomena related to interaction and group processes. The studies cover the basics of sociology, working life and wellbeing and the self, mental health and identity, for example. Who is it for? Anyone interested in interaction between people, group dynamics and social phenomena. The studies are useful in social and health care, teaching and guidance and in development and HR roles, for example. Read more in Finnish • Register for social psychology studies Work and organisational psychology Work and organisational psychology studies are organised in cooperation with the University of Eastern Finland. You learn the key concepts, theories and applications of work psychology, organisational psychology and personnel psychology, such as job performance, recruitment, learning in organisations and competence development, as well as the changing world of work and research in the field. You can complete the basic studies in work and organisational psychology (25 credits), the personnel psychology module (20 credits) or individual study units. Who is it for? Anyone interested in working life and the diversity of work. The studies are well suited to developing your own competence, for example in management, HR and development roles. Read more in Finnish • Register for work and organisational psychology studies What are the benefits of open university studies? At the open university you can take university studies with no age limit and no previous education required. Many students want to strengthen their competence and develop professionally: the studies can complement your professional skills and improve your chances when looking for work or changing career. They also help you prepare for university entrance exams. You receive a certificate for your studies from the university. If you are later admitted to the university as a degree student, you can include the studies in your degree. Once you have completed a certain amount of studies, you can apply to become a degree student through the open university pathway. What is studying at the open university like? All studies are online and taught in Finnish. They include online lectures, assignments, group work and independent work with literature in the university’s online learning environment (Moodle). Some lectures are live on Zoom or Teams and some are recorded. There can be a substantial amount of independent work, so please make sure you set aside enough time for your studies. In the larger basic studies modules, tutors or group tutors hold online sessions where you get guidance on your studies and study skills and can share experiences with other students. Students are admitted in order of registration. Registration You can register for basic studies modules and for individual study units, unless the course details state otherwise. Students are admitted to individual study units within a basic studies module if places are left. In addition to registering with us, you must register as a student at the open university that organises the studies. Once it is confirmed that the studies will go ahead, we will send you a link for registering with the university. If the university’s fee is not included in the price, you pay it by online banking when you register with the university. After that your registration is binding and cannot be cancelled. If registering with the link does not work, please contact the study secretary for your subject at the open university. What do the studies cost? The fees consist of fees charged by Helsingin aikuisopisto and by the university, and they vary from subject to subject. For some studies the university’s registration fee is included in the price, and for others you pay the university’s share separately when you register with the university. The price is always shown in the course details in the registration system. The fee usually covers the period during which the module or study unit is taught. Trade union member discounts: If your trade union (Pro, Jyty or MVL) supports the studies, choose your union’s discounted price when you register. The unions do not cover the university’s registration fee. Read more about trade union member discounts Study voucher for young people: Some basic studies modules can be paid for with the study voucher for young people (nuorten opintoseteli). Read more about the study voucher (in Finnish) Culture and sport benefits: Open university studies cannot be paid for with Edenred or Epassi benefits. Exams, credit transfer and certificates Most exams are online exams in the university’s Moodle or in the electronic EXAM system, and the exam format and schedule are always given in the course details. Some studies have a supervised exam at our building in Töölö (Runeberginkatu 22–24). For exams and resits held at our building, you must register at least 10 days before the exam unless otherwise stated, and you must always bring an ID. Exam results and other study credits are usually visible in the university’s student information system (such as Peppi or Sisu) within a month of the exam. If you would like previous studies to be recognised, please submit an application for credit transfer to the open university that organises the studies. You can request an official transcript of records from the open university’s student services. Cancelling your registration If you would like to cancel your registration, please email toimisto@helao.fi. Will I get a refund? If you cancel your registration at least 7 days before the course starts and you have not registered with the university, we will refund the fee you have paid. When is the fee not refunded? We do not refund the fee if you have registered with the university you cancel less than 7 days before the course starts you have registered for the course but do not take part you stop taking part in the course. Does the university refund its fee? Registration with the university is binding, and the university does not refund its fee. See also Finnish language courses: improve your Finnish. Courses taught in English: all our courses taught in English. Languages: language courses from beginners to advanced. Courses for groups: training tailored to the needs of your workplace. You can also complete open university online studies alongside work: an article about studying online. Good to know How you study: All studies are online. You need a computer and a working internet connection. Language of instruction: All open university studies are taught in Finnish, including the materials and exams. Registering with the university: In addition to registering with us, you register as a student at the university that organises the studies. We will send you a registration link once it is confirmed that the studies will go ahead. Payment: Open university studies cannot be paid for with culture and sport benefits. Your trade union may support your studies. Read more about trade union member discounts Free study skills webinars: Opiskelutaidot.fi offers free webinars in Finnish for open university students on mindfulness and self-compassion, interaction on online courses and performance anxiety. Frequently asked questions Can I take open university studies in English? No. All our open university studies are taught in Finnish, including the materials and exams. See all our courses taught in English. Do I need previous education to study at the open university? No. There is no age limit and no previous education is required. Can I study alongside work? Yes. All studies are online, and the basic studies modules are designed so that you can complete them alongside work during one academic year. There is a lot of independent work, so please set aside enough time. Can I register for an individual study unit? Yes, unless the course details state otherwise. Students are admitted to individual study units within a basic studies module if places are left. Can I pay with culture or sport benefits? No. Edenred and Epassi benefits cannot be used for open university studies. If you are a member of Pro, Jyty or MVL, you may get a discount. Can I use the studies in a degree later? Yes. You receive a certificate from the university, and you can include the studies in your degree if you are later admitted to the university. You can also apply to become a degree student through the open university pathway once you have completed a certain amount of studies. Can I cancel my registration? You can cancel your registration by email until you have registered with the university. Registration with the university is binding. Read more about cancelling. Any questions? Nuppu Tuononen provides study guidance on open university studies at Helsingin aikuisopisto: 050 421 0894, nuppu.tuononen@helao.fi. The university that organises the studies answers questions about the content of the subject. For questions about registering with the university, Moodle and progressing in your online studies, please contact the study secretary or education planner for your subject at that open university.
