These instructions are for degree students pursuing Bachelor's or Master's degree studies which begun on or after 1 August 2005, on which legislation on the normative duration of studies applies.
In the duration of a study right is not counted non-attendance due to
- statutory reasons
- other reasons for a maximum of two terms (or, if your studies began before 1 August 2015, four terms)
The non-attendances don't have to be on consecutive terms. If you have multiple active study rights, you don't have to register as attending or non-attending simultaneously to all of them. You may instead register as attending for one degree programme and as non-attending for another at the same time.
If you study on an extended study right, non-attendance does not have effect on the length of the extension.
Statutory non-attendance
Statutory reasons are
- conscription
- non-military service (civil service)
- voluntary military service for women
- pregnancy leave, parental leave (earlier maternity, paternity or parental leave) and leave due to adoption
You may register as non-attending due to statutory reasons for an unlimited amount of terms without consuming the duration of your degree. Hand in a certificate of the statutory reason (see below) for non-attendance to Kaisa House Student Advice while your study right is still valid. You can also hand it in afterwards, but before your study right has expired. If your study right has already expired the statutory reason can no longer be considered.
A statutory reason can only be registered for a term you are registered for as non-attending. One day of a statutory reason during a term you are registered for as non-attending is enough for the whole term to be registered with a statutory reason. If you were registered as attending or forgot to register for a passed term, the registration status cannot be changed afterwards to non-attendance with a statutory reason. Such terms will consume the duration of your study right.
Proof of a statutory reason
For a non-attendance to be registered as non-attendance with a statutory reason you should hand in a certificate showing the duration of the statutory reason. You ca do it also later during your studies, but you need to do it while your study right is still valid.
Accepted certificates are
- a military passport
- a non-military service certificate that shows the start and end dates of the service
- a decision from Kela about pregnancy or parental allowance (in earlier decisions maternity, paternity or parental allowance) or equivalent certificates of statutory parental allowances from officials of other countries
Please note that, if you were allowed deferral for the first year of study due to reasons other than those mentioned above, the non-attendance consumes your study right the same way as other non-attendance (se below).
Other non-attendance
You may register as non-attending for other than statutory reasons for two or four terms without consuming the duration of your study right. After accepting your study right you don't need to separately hand in any proof to the university about that kind of non-attendance. You just need to register as non-attending for the term.
You may register as non-attending without consuming your validity of the study right
- for two terms if your study right began on or after 1 August 2015
- for four terms if your study right began before 1 August 2015
If you register as non-attending for more terms than that, it affects the duration of your study right.