Studies after graduation at the University of Eastern Finland - alumni study right

If you have graduated from the University of Eastern Finland, you can complement your studies after graduation with the alumni study right. The alumni study right is free of charge, and you can activate it as soon as your graduation is saved in Peppi.

Who is the alumni study right for?

You can apply for the alumni study right if you have completed one of the following degrees at UEF:

• a Master’s degree on 1 August 2019 or thereafter.
• a Bachelor’s degree that does not grant the right to complete a Master’s degree on 1 August 2019 or thereafter. These programmes are for example:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy (farmaseutin koulutusohjelma, programme in Finnish)
  • Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Early Childhood Teacher Education (varhaiskasvatuksen opettajan kandidaattikoulutus, programme in Finnish)
  • Other Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
• a postgraduate degree (licentiate or doctoral degree) on 1 January 2020 or thereafter.

The alumni study right is defined in the Education Regulations (15 §).

The alumni study right only applies to graduated degree students. It does not apply to students who are studying or have studied with a non-degree study right.

What can you study when you have an alumni study right?

With the alumni study right, you can:

• complete minor subject studies that are freely available to all studets
• minor subject studies for which you received the right to study during your degree studies.

Check the list of minor subjects at the university. Any restrictions on participation are specified in the curricula.

You are entitled to receive an official transcript of academic records for the studies you have completed. If your studies form a study module, request that they be compiled and assessed. If you have completed a subject teacher study module (intermediate or advanced studies), request a separate certificate. For more information, contact your faculty’s contact person.

How long is the alumni study right valid?

The alumni study right is a non-degree study right.

You can activate it once your degree is completed and your graduation is recorded in Peppi. The alumni study right is free of charge and is valid until the end of the academic year in which you complete your degree plus the following two academic years – a maximum of three academic years in total. The study right always ends two years after the last day of the academic year in which you graduated.

Example: If you have graduated at any point during the 2024–2025 academic year (1 August 2024 – 31 July 2025), your alumni study right would be valid until 31 July 2027.

You cannot apply for an extension to the alumni study right.

How to apply for the alumni study right?

• Make sure your graduation is recorded in Peppi.
• Fill in the electronic application form

If you are unable to fill the electronic form, please contact the Student and Learning Services’ customer services (contact information at the bottom of this page).

Annual registration

You do not need to register annually. Your attendance will be marked automatically for the full duration of your alumni study right.

UEF user account and access rights

You will have the same UEF account and access rights to IT systems as you had as a degree student. These access rights remain valid for the full duration of your alumni study right.

Student union membership and student benefits

You may join the student union if you wish – membership is voluntary.

Please note that with the alumni study right, you are not entitled to the following:

• Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS) services (you are also not to pay the healthcare fee for students in higher education (opens in new tab) to KELA (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland).
• student discounts on public transportation (VR or Matkahuolto)
• student-priced meals at the university campus restaurants (Kela meal subsidy)
• Sykettä sport services.

More information about the benefits of the student union membership.

If you wish to join the student union, you can request payment instructions from Student and Learning Services’ Customer Service when you activate your alumni study right or at a later time.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for recognition of prior learning with the alumni study right?

This depends on the studies and the nature of the recognition:

• Inclusion: In most cases recognition of prior learning by inclusion is not possible.
• Substitution: This is assessed on a case-by-case basis depending on the content of the studies.

Can I go on a student exchange or complete an international traineeship?

You cannot apply for a student exchange or an international traineeship with the alumni study right. UEF’s exchange programmes, networks, and bilateral agreements are available only to degree students.

Can I complete cross-institutional studies (courses organised by another higher education institution)?

In many cases yes, but there may be restrictions in the curriculum or in the cross-institutional studies agreement. Check with your subject coordinator or amanuensis.

Can I hold both a degree study right and an alumni study right at the same time?

As a rule, no, but exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

A course has a limited number of participants and quotas for different student groups. Will I be accepted?

Check the participation limitations and quotas in the course curriculum.

Can I take courses in my former main subject, optional or not optional?

If the course has a limited number of participants, you can take it if there is still space available on the course.

What language courses can I take?

At the Language Centre, you can take:

• optional language courses
• courses that are part of the Finnish as a Second Language minor subject module.

You cannot take courses that are part of a degree programme, as they are not included in any minor subject module. You also cannot take courses offered through the KiVANET network with the alumni study right.

Further information:

For more information about the studies available to you, contact your study coordinator (HOPS advisor) or the following faculty contacts:

Philosophical Faculty: Riikka Myllys
Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology: Maarit Merimaa-Piirainen
Faculty of Health Sciences: Susanna Järvelin-Pasanen
Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies: Annikki Honkanen and Anne Korhonen
Language Centre: Lauri Tolkki and Satu Karhapää-Puhakka

You can find the contact information in UEF Connect.

Applying for the study right and registration: For more information, contact Student and Learning Services’ Customer Service: