Do you need assistance with applying for admission or planning your studies? Please contact us via email at open.studies.tau [at] tuni.fi or by phone at +358 294 520 881. You can reach us by phone from 12:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday. Please check below for any changes in our service hours.
How to register for Open University courses
This page provides you with instructions for registering for courses offered by the Open University, along with information on our study fees and payment terms. Before registering for courses, please read these instructions carefully.
Changes to registration in spring 2025 – check the registration method on the course page
Starting from the spring of 2025, students will register for the majority of Open University courses through the Sisu system. The instructions on the page apply to this new registration method.
These instructions do not apply to courses for which admission is based on the completion of prerequisites or students’ aptitude. For these courses, students apply for admission through the Open University’s admission service.
All course and module pages include a direct link to the appropriate registration or admission service, when registration is active.
Please note! The deadline for applying for courses with rolling admissions in the academic year 2024–25 is 30 April 2025. Course offering for the academic year 2025–26 will be published in June.
How to register
- 1
Search for courses that match your interests
Explore the Open University’s course offerings online.
- 2
Check registration dates and course prerequisites
When you find courses that interest you, visit the course pages to check the registration dates. Seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so please be sure to register on time.
In addition, the course page will indicate if certain prerequisite courses must be completed before registering for the course.
- 3
Check our study fees, payment terms and cancellation policy
Study fees are shown on the course pages. Please be aware that your registration is binding, and you will not be able to transfer or postpone your study right. Our study fees are non-refundable unless the cancellation is due to medical reasons.
- 4
Once registration opens, add the courses you wish to attend to your cart
When registration is ongoing, all course pages include a direct link to registration on Implementations. Clicking on the link will take you to the Sisu system. Add the course you wish to attend to your cart and, if necessary, select your study groups.
- 5
Pay the study fee
Admission to courses depends on fees being received by the Open University.
- 6
Confirm your registration
After paying the study fee, confirm your registration by verifying your identity using the Suomi.fi online identification service. You can also verify your identity using an existing Tampere University user account.
We will send you a confirmation email to the address you provided during registration (check your Spam folder if you cannot find the email in your Inbox). If you completed the confirmation process after paying the study fee, you do not have to re-confirm your registration. If you are unable to verify your identity electronically, we will provide you with more instructions by email.
- 7
Activate your user account and complete mandatory information security training
Before you begin your studies, you need to activate your Tampere University user account, which you need to access our student systems, and complete our mandatory online course on information security. We will provide you with detailed instructions via email.
- Activate your user account
- Complete the mandatory information security course
Read more about activating your user account and completing information security training
FAQ: registration
When can I register for courses offered by the Open University?
Registration is open four times a year, typically before each teaching period begins. As the registration dates vary, please be sure to always check the deadline on the relevant course page. For courses that are completed independently, you can register at any time during the academic year.
Summer 2025
- Registration is open from 1 April to 30 April 2025, starting at 8:00.
- Teaching: 12 May to 17 August 2025
Autumn 2025, 1st teaching period
- Registration opens on 6 August 2025 at 8:00.
- Teaching: 25 August to 12 October 2025
Autumn 2025, 2nd teaching period
- Registration opens on 15 September 2025 at 8:00.
- Teaching: 20 October to 7 December 2025
Spring 2026, 3rd teaching period
- Registration opens on 10 November 2025 at 8:00.
- Teaching: 5 January to 22 February 2026
Spring 2026, 4th teaching period
- Registration opens on 26 January 2026 at 8:00.
- Teaching: 2 March to 31 May 2026
Summer courses in 2026
- Registration opens on 1 April 2026 at 8:00.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- The closing date for applications is 31 May 2026.
Can I register for courses that have already started?
Yes, it is possible to join some courses after the registration deadline if places are available. To inquire about available places, please email open.studies.tau [at] tuni.fi. New students will not be admitted to foundation courses, which are designed to prepare candidates for admission to university, after registration has closed.
Can I buy Open University courses as a present to someone else?
Yes, you can pay the study fees on behalf of someone else. Select and pay the courses in the Sisu system and forward the email with a confirmation link to the person who will complete the courses. This person will need to confirm the registration by following the instructions provided in the email.
Are there prerequisites for Open University courses?
Some courses may have prerequisites. For example, students may be required to complete an introductory course before progressing to the next course. As a rule, either mandatory or recommended prerequisites are defined for intermediate courses. Before you register for a course, you must make sure you have completed the prerequisites listed on the course page. If prerequisites are required, they are always listed on the course page.
How long can I study at the Open University?
When you register, you will be granted a study right to complete a specific set of courses. Each course follows its own schedule (including teaching timetables, exams and other completion methods), which may be shorter than the duration of your study right.
I am a staff member or a degree student at Tampere University. Do I have to register in a different way?
See the instructions on the intranet page Open University and Open University of Applied Sciences (access requires a TUNI user account)
What do the terms “course” and “course implementation round” mean?
A course is typically worth 5 ECTS credits. A course focuses on a specific theme but may contain different sections. A single course may be available through different modes of completion that require students to attend lectures or online sessions, prepare an essay or sit an exam.
When you register for a course, you must select the specific course implementation round based on your preferred mode of completion. The schedule for different course implementation rounds may vary. The course details will specify which implementation rounds are available and when.
Pricing policy
- Foundation courses that are designed to prepare candidates for admission to university and can lead to direct entry into an academic degree programme, courses supporting studies, and introductory courses are free of charge at the Open University.
- The study fee charged for basic courses, intermediate courses and other courses €20 per ECTS credit.
- Advanced courses are priced at €30 per ECTS credit.
Study fees are shown on the course or module page.
They are based on the Finnish Universities Act (558/2009, in Finnish) and the Government decree on fees charged for participating in activities provided by universities (1082/2009, in Finnish) and the amendment of Section 2 of this decree (199/2024, in Finnish). Study fees are exempt from VAT Value Added Tax Act 1501/1993, 39§, in Finnish). As public receivables, the Open University’s study fees are recoverable without a court order or decision (Act on the Enforcement of Taxes and Public Payments 706/2007, in Finnish).
Tampere University reserves the right to make changes to the curriculum.
Open University's payment terms and cancellation policy
When do I have to pay the Open University’s study fees?
Admission to courses depends on fees being received by the Open University. Study fees are paid during registration.
What are the acceptable payment methods for the Open University’s study fees?
Study fees are paid online via Paytrail. Payment methods include online banking services of Finnish banks, credit cards, MobilePay and Walley (for payment by invoice or in instalments).
Can I pay the study fee in instalments?
Our study fees can be paid in instalments through the Walley payment solution.
Can I cancel my registration?
Registration for a course is always binding after the study fee has been paid. Study fees are non-refundable, and it is not possible to postpone or extend your study right.
Refunds are only available for health-related reasons (a medical certificate is required).
If you are unable to start your studies due to medical or health-related reasons, please deliver a written request for a refund, along with a medical certificate, to Tampere University’s Student Affairs Office immediately after you become aware of your inability to start your studies. Your study right must be valid during this period. You will receive a refund for the portion of the study fee that exceeds €75.
What should I do if I have enrolled in a course that requires prerequisite which I have not completed?
Some courses have prerequisite requirements, and these are always mentioned on the course's website. Your previous studies may be checked during your enrolment. If you lack the required prerequisite studies, you will be directed to a course that does not require them. The course fee will not be refunded in this situation, even if it differs from the fee you paid when you registered.
Will my study fee be refunded if the course is cancelled?
If Tampere University cancels a course, for example, because the minimum number of students has not registered or other reasons attributable to organisation, the study fees will be fully refunded.