Courses for Exchange Students at the City Centre campus

The instruction belongs to the following themes

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.

Here you can find a list of courses offered at the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences.

Faculty of Arts

You can find courses from preliminary teaching programmes offered by different study programmes by clicking on the course list links below.  

  • When selecting courses, you should choose the majority of your courses from the degree programme (or the study track) that has the exchange agreement with your home institution.
  • If you are applying based on a university-wide exchange programme, you should choose the majority of your courses from the degree programme (or the study track) which is closest to your educational background.

In addition, there are several courses that are open for all degree and exchange students. You can find them on the preliminary list of courses open for exchange students in academic year 2024-2025 (please note that some restrictions are also listed). 

Course descriptions for most courses can be found on the Courses search using the course code or name when searching (unless the course is taught for the first time). However, please note that "suitable for exchange students" tab on the Courses search does not work for courses at the Faculty of Arts. Please only pay attention to the lists on this website when looking for information whether the course is open for exchange students.

Advanced Bachelor's level students are usually allowed to take Master's level courses. However, there are some exceptions regarding some of the study tracks in the Bachelor's and Master's programme in languages and the Master's programme in English Studies. Please find information about the restrictions below.

When looking for courses, notice that only courses offered in periods I & II are available during autumn semester and courses offered in periods III & IV during spring semester. Please, pay attention also to teaching language and if needed, availability for exchange students.

Bachelor's programmes

Master's programmes

Other courses which are suitable for all exchange students

Faculty of Educational Sciences

The availability of courses may vary from semester to semester. The availability depends on current curriculum of the Bachelor's and Master's programmes in Educational Sciences, as well as the Master's programme in Changing Education.

Please note that:

  • If you don't have previous studies in Educational Sciences, the only course available to you are Uncover Finnish Education I and II (3 + 2 cr).
  • There may be a limited number of places available for exchange students in these courses.
  • Participation requirements may apply, such as prior knowledge in certain areas (e.g. special education courses).

The courses can be in high demand, and priority is given to exchange students enrolled in the Faculty of Educational Sciences. So if you are enrolled in another faculty, it may be challenging to secure a spot in these courses. Additionally, you should have sufficient prior academic background in the field of Education. As places in courses are limited, you may need to adjust your Learning Agreement after arriving if a course is full.

To register for courses, please follow the instructions on how to create a study plan and register for courses in Sisu (the study information system at the University of Helsinki).

Courses for Exchange Students at the Faculty of Educational Sciences in 2023-2024

Please note that the list of courses offered to exchange students may be subject to change before the start of the autumn semester 2023.

Course Offerings for Autumn Term 2023:
Study unit Code Study unit name Scope Langue of instruction Teaching period Course suitable for exchange students,
Course level
EDUMCE02 Uncover Finnish Education I (MOOC) 3 cr English 1-4

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE02 Uncover Finnish Education II 2 cr English 1

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

PED002 Introduction to Educational Psychology 5 cr English 1

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF level 6, Bachelor’s level

EDUMCE06 Educational Psychology as an Engine for Change 5 cr English 1

Suitable for exchange students

EQF7, Master’s level

PED0061 Didactics 2 cr English 1

Suitable for exchange students

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE26 Finnish Early Childhood Education 5 cr English 1

Suitable for exchange students

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE000 Studia Paedagogica 5 cr English 1-2

Suitable for exchange students

EQF6, Bachelor’s level

EDUKCE21 Finnish School and Subject education 5 cr English 2

Suitable for exchange students

EQF6, Bachelor’s level

EDUM238 Individual differences in learning and development 5 cr English 2

Suitable only for exchange students who have completed a minimum of 25 cr in Special Education studies as a prerequisite.

EQF7, Master’s level

PED004 Support for Learning and Well-being 5 cr English 2

Suitable for exchange students

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE32 Neuroscientific approach to artistic and practical subjects 5 cr English 2

Suitable for exchange students

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE30 Visual Research Methodology in Educational Sciences 5 cr English 2

Suitable for exchange students

EQF7, Master’s level

SUST-001 Sustainability Course (MOOC) 3 cr English 1, 2 (online)

Suitable for exchange students

EQF6, Bachelor’s level

Course Offerings for Spring Term 2024:
Study unit Code Study unit name Scope Langue of instruction Teaching period Course suitable for exchange students,
Course level
           
EDUMCE25 Educational Leadership 5 cr English 3

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

PED001 Social, Cultural and Philosophical Foundations of Education 5 cr English 3

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

ECUMCE11 Antiracism in Education 5 cr English 3

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE05 Neuroscience in educational sciences 5 cr English 3

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE27 Practical Observation and Comparative Reflection of Preschool, Elementary School and Early Childhood Education 5 cr English 3

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUK045 Education and Social Justice 5 cr English 3-4

Suitable for exchange students

EQF6, Bachelor’s level

EDUMCE000 Studia Paedagogica for Exchange students 5 cr English 3-4

Suitable for exchange students

EQF6, Bachelor’s level

EDUMCE22 Craft, Design, and Technology Education 5 cr English 3-4

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

SUST-002-EDUK Sustainability Education 2 cr English 4

Suitable for exchange students

EQF6, Bachelor’s level

EDUKCE21 Finnish School and Subject education 5cr English 4

Suitable for exchange students

EQF6, Bachelor’s level

EDUMCE07 Curriculum Theory: Understanding Curriculum and Education Policy 5cr English 4

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE04 Education and Global Justice 5 cr English 4

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE24 Education for Democratic Intercultural Citizenship: Teachers' Moral Competence in Pedagogical Encounters 5 cr English 3

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

EDUMCE29 Visual Attention in Learning 5 cr English 4

Suitable for exchange students,

EQF7, Master’s level

SUST-001 Sustainability Course (MOOC) 3 cr English 3, 4 (online)

Suitable for exchange students

EQF6, Bachelor’s level

Faculty of Law

Courses from the Faculty of Law are only available to the faculty's own exchange students.

You can find courses from the preliminary teaching programmes by clicking on the programme list links below.

When choosing courses please pay attention to 

  • Teaching period (autumn term = periods I & II, spring term = periods III & IV)
  • Teaching language
  • Is the course open for exchange students 

Course descriptions for courses can be found on the Course pages using the course code or name when searching. Remember to choose the right Faculty/degree programme and English as the language for the course when searching. 

Bachelor students may take optional courses from the Master's of Law, the Global Governance Law and the International Business Law programmes as long as the prerequisites are fulfilled.

Bachelor's programmes

Master's programmes

Faculty of Social Sciences

You can find courses from preliminary teaching programmes offered by different study programmes, by clicking on the course list links below. When choosing courses, please pay special attention to the teaching language and to the teaching period (I & II are available during autumn semester September-December and courses offered in periods III & IV during spring semester January-May). Incoming exchange student, pay also attention to the column Open for exchange students.

Please note that there are restrictions regarding course access offered by some of the degree programmes. These restrictions are described in the preliminary teaching programme tables and below:

  • Master students in their own field are prioritized for master level courses.
  • Courses from the following degree programmes are only available to the faculty's/degree programme's own exchange students: Politics, Media and Communication and Global Politics and Communication. These can also be students coming via university-level agreements, as long as the student is admitted to the faculty/programme and has sufficient prior academic background in the disciplines taught.

Notice that you may select courses from several programmes both at the Faculty of Social Sciences as well as Swedish School of Social Science. However for master level courses you will need to have sufficient background in the specific field. As reference material, you can use this list of all the courses on offer for exchange students. Please do note the restrictions mentioned above.

Course descriptions, possible prerequisites and the name of the teacher for courses can be found through the Courses search using the course code or name when searching (unless the course is taught for the first time).

Bachelor's programmes

Master's programmes

Swedish School of Social Science

Please see the list for courses for exchange students below.

When choosing courses please pay attention to 

  • Teaching period (autumn term = periods I & II, spring term = periods III & IV)
  • Teaching language
  • Is the course open for exchange students

Bachelor's programmes

Bachelor's programme in Social Sciences (journalism, sociology, political science, social psychology, social work)

Master's programmes

Master's programme in Social Sciences (journalism, sociology, political science, social psychology, social work)

Faculty of Theology

You can find courses from preliminary teaching programmes by clicking on the course list links below. Notice that courses offered in periods I & II are available during autumn semester and courses offered in periods III & IV during spring semester.

Bachelor's programmes

Master's programmes