Participation in administrative and student organisation activities as part of studies

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.

Why should I take part in the activities of administrative bodies and student organisations?

As a student, you have the opportunity to actively contribute to influencing the University’s operations.

Students are part of the University community. Through involvement in the activities of University administration or student organisations, you can meet and interact with other students, teachers and researchers as well as other University staff.

In such activities, you can develop your interaction skills and recognise your competencies and expert identity. Skills in interaction and project management, along with knowledge of the principles of administration, are important professional abilities. These can be attained through administrative and student activities during your studies.

How many credits can I earn and how can I use them?

Participation in these activities can yield between one and five credits for each degree completed at the University. If completing a doctoral degree, you can receive the number of credits indicated in the curriculum of your doctoral programme.

Your degree curriculum includes career orientation and expert identity studies. Taking part in the activities of administrative bodies and student organisations is one way of completing these studies. You cannot, however, complete all studies in career orientation and expert identity by way of such activities.

The curriculum of your degree programme may include compulsory career orientation and expert identity studies, such as teaching practice. You may not be able to substitute these compulsory studies. In such cases, you can include the credits earned for participating in administrative and student body activities in your optional studies.

Which activities accrue credits?

You can apply for and receive credits in accordance with the following principles:

  How many credits can I earn? What are the requirements for participation or activities? What are the relevant administrative bodies or organisations, and where can I get information on them?
A multi-member administrative body as defined by the Universities Act, the Regulations of the University of Helsinki or the Regulations on Degrees and the Protection of Students’ Rights at the University of Helsinki

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as an appointed member or deputy member: one credit

Attendance is required in no less than half of all meetings.

These administrative bodies include the University Board, the University Collegium, a faculty council, the board of an independent institute such as the Board of the Language Centre, the Advisory Board of the Teacher Training Schools, a teaching skills committee, the Academic Appeals Board and the steering group of a degree programme. Also see the Flamma page Administrative bodies.

Membership in previous similar administrative bodies, such as the Board of the Open University or a department council will also be considered if no more than 10 years have passed since participation.

Another multi-member body established by a decision of the rector, vice-rector or faculty

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as an appointed member or deputy member: one credit

Attendance is required in no less than half of all meetings.

These administrative bodies include the Academic Affairs Council, the Research Council as well as an admissions board. Also see the Flamma page Committees with links to, for example, faculty bodies.

Membership in previous similar administrative bodies will also be taken into consideration if no more than 10 years have passed since participation.

The board of an organisation or student nation under the Student Union of the University of Helsinki

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as chair, deputy chair or treasurer: three credits

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as secretary: two credits

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as an appointed member: one credit

Attendance is required in no less than half of all meetings. Fulfilment of specific duties and active participation are required. For a list of the organisations, see the Student Union website.
The official of an organisation under the Student Union

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as an appointed official: one credit

Fulfilment of specific duties and active participation, such as organising events, are required. For a list of the organisations, see the Student Union website.
The Student Union’s Representative Council or committee

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as chair or deputy chair of the Representative Council: two credits

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as chair, deputy chair or treasurer of a committee: two credits

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as a member: one credit

Attendance is required in no less than half of all meetings.

Representative Council of the Student Union

Committees of the Student Union

Board of the Student Union

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as chair: three credits

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as a member: two credits

Attendance is required in no less than half of all meetings. Board of the Student Union
Volunteer teams for events organised by the Student Union, such as anniversary celebrations

Service as a member of a fixed-term event team: one credit

Active participation in meetings and event organisation is required.  
A subject-specific national or international student organisation

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as chair, deputy chair, treasurer or secretary: three credits

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as an appointed member: one credit

Attendance is required in no less than half of all meetings. Fulfilment of specific duties and active participation are required.  
A subject-specific national or international student organisation

Service of no less than one academic year or calendar year as an appointed official: one credit

Fulfilment of specific duties and active participation, such as organising events, are required.  

If you have served in an administrative body or student union (or organisations under the auspices thereof) of another university or university of applied sciences, you can earn credits in accordance with the same principles.

How do I apply for credits?

You can apply for credits by submitting an application to the Student Services point of your degree programme.

Please attach to your application a certificate of participation in the activities of an administrative body or student organisation. Certificates are provided on the following grounds:

  • In the case of service as a student representative appointed or nominated by the Student Union as well as service in the Board, Representative Council, committees or volunteer teams of the Student Union, please request a certificate from the Student Union’s office secretary.
  • In the case of participation in organisation or student nation activities, please request a certificate from the chair, secretary or another party in the organisation or student nation issuing the certificate.
  • In the case of service in a subject-specific national or international student organisation, please request a certificate from the chair, secretary or another party in the organisation issuing the certificate.

For the award of credits, the certificate must indicate the following:

  • Your role, such as a student member or chair
  • Your duties, such as organising events as an event coordinator
  • In the case of credits for which active participation is required, for example, actively taking a stance on the organisation of studies in a degree programme in the role of academic affairs representative
  • In the case of required attendance in no less than half of all meetings, for example, attending six of eight meetings in the role of student member. If some of the meetings were held over remote connections, attendance denotes participation in such meetings remotely.

Submit your application only when you wish to include the credits and completed studies in a specific degree. You cannot supplement credits previously awarded with a new application for the same degree, with the exception of credits awarded, and studies completed, before 1 August 2023, which you can supplement with a new application.

Please note that the following factors affect whether you can receive credits:

  • Credits can be awarded only once for service in the same position in the same administrative body or student organisation. In other words, if you have served as the secretary of the board of your subject- or faculty-specific organisation for one year, you can only earn credits for this service for one degree, such as your bachelor’s degree.
  • For your application to be processed and to receive credits, participation in the activities of University administration or student organisations must have taken place no more than 10 years ago. You furthermore cannot include the credits earned for participating in the activities of administrative bodies or student organisations if they were awarded more than 10 years ago.
  • The credits awarded must fit into your degree. If you have already completed all of the studies required for your degree and exceeded the scope of your degree by 10%, your application will not be considered and you will not receive credits. In other words, if you already have 200 credits that you wish to include in your bachelor's degree, which has the scope of 180 credits, you cannot include in it credits for participation in the activities of administrative bodies or student organisations. If your right to study became valid before 1 August 2017, you can earn credits for such participation, as in this case the number of credits to be included in your degree is not limited.

How will my skills be graded?

Your skills will be graded on a pass/fail basis.