Bachelor's Degree Path Studies

Make sure to understand the difference between Open UAS path studies and pathway studies organised for tailor-made international student groups.

Study skills

Make sure that you have required study skills (e.g. language skills, academic writing skills, teamwork skills) for managing the studies in university of applies sciences and proceeding in studies together with the student group.  

The required language skills in degree programmes taught in English should be at least at an upper-intermediate level (spoken and written English). This corresponds to level B2 of the Common European Framework of reference for languages.

NOTICE! For Degree programmes in Nursing and in Social Services you are also required to have Finnish language skills (level B1 or better).

Health recommendations

If you are applying to study in Laurea Nursing or Laurea Social Services you must have a sufficient good health status and functional capacity so that you are capable of completing practical assignments and work placement periods as part of the studies. You can read more about the health requirements at the required certificates page under the title Health Cer­tifi­cates (for Nursing and Social Services only). Other part of that page does not concern path studies applicants.

Study fee

The study fee for path studies is 400 €. The fee should be paid when accepting the study place. The study fee grants you study entitlement for one academic year during which the path studies must be completed. The start of path studies cannot be postponed, and no additional time can be granted for completing them. It is not possible to register as absent during path studies.

The path study fee will not be returned at any parts after you have accepted the study place. Only if you get a study place in degree programme in Laurea in the same semester, you will get the refund. Degree or path studies in another UAS doesn't entitle for a refund because you can be a Open UAS student in Laurea at the same time. 

If you are planning to study with unemployment benefit, find out the possibilities before accepting the study place. TE services negative decision for the benefit doesn't entitle for a refund of the fee for path studies. NOTICE! Required certifications for the TE services are filled only when the path studies has begun. Please check the contact details of your campus's Study Services and coordinate with them to complete the form. 

Benefits and services

You are assigned a personal tutor teacher and you will receive the same guidance and counselling as degree students.

Path students are subject to the same rules as degree students and generally have the same rights and responsibilities as degree students. Path students have access to almost all the same Laurea services as degree students.

Path students can also identify and recognize prior competence through Recognition of prior studies and Demonstration of competence:

• Any prior learning acquired in higher education studies can be demonstrated by means of a certificate or a transcript of records, in which case the process for Recognition of prior studies will be used. Please note that recognized prior studies are not eligible for the separate application based on Open UAS studies.
• Competence acquired in other ways (e.g. at work or in hobbies) can be demonstrated using different methods which have been agreed upon in advance. In this case, the process for Demonstration of competence will be followed. Credits earned through demonstration of competence are eligible for the separate application based on Open UAS studies.

Prior competence can be identify at the beginning of studies at guidance discussions with the teacher tutor.

As a path student, you are not eligible for Kelas financial aid for students (study grant) or other student benefits, such as student housing, Kela’s meal subsidies or travel discounts in public transport.  You can have meals at Laurea's campus restaurants at a discounted price by showing your student certificate at the restaurant's cashier. You can obtain the student certificate at the beginning of your studies from the Study Services.

For other forms of financial aid, please contact your local TE services.

Enrolment

Bachelor’s Degree Path Studies in English start in the autumn with enrollment occuring in July and August. Bachelor’s Degree Path Studies in Finnish have enrolment twice a year. 

NOTE! You cannot apply for path studies for the same degree programme at Laurea if you have an active path study right at Laurea for that particular degree programme.

Separate application process based on Open UAS studies

You may apply to become a degree student through a separate application process when you have earned 60 credits at the end of the application period (in spring by 31st of July and in autumn by 31st of December). Check the application periods and instructions on the S​eparate applications for full-time degree programmes page. The separate application based on Open UAS studies is carried out through the Studyinfo service. 

Path studies must be completed during one academic year. If you can't complete the 60 credits during the path study year, you can gain the missing credits by choosing studies from the Open UAS study offering and paying a new Open UAS study fee (by credit or semester fee). Note that in this case you cannot continue as a path student with your group. If you need help choosing studies at the Laurea Open UAS, book a personal guidance appointment with the Open UAS. 

More information about Open UAS studies and enrolment is on Open UAS page.

Questions?

Contact us openuas@laurea.fi