Where can I find courses?

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.

This page provides information on where you should search for courses at different stages of your studies.

If you are not yet familiar with the terminology of university studies, please see the vocabulary for new students.

I wish to browse the courses now available

If you wish to explore currently available courses, begin with the following websites:

  • Courses – If you wish to search for interesting courses from the studies offered by the University as a whole 

    • You can search for courses with specific terms or refine the search results, for example, by date, target group or language of teaching. You can access course pages by clicking on the course title in the search results. Course pages provide detailed information on courses and include a link to their Moodle areas, if any.
  • Courses offered by degree programme – If you wish to explore the courses offered by a specific degree programme or study track
  • Optional studies – If you wish to know what optional studies are offered by, for example, other degree programmes
  • Open university studies – If you wish to explore open university studies
  • Language Centre studies – If you wish to explore the studies offered by the Language Centre
  • Swedish-language studies – If you wish to study in Swedish
  • Courses available to exchange students - if you wish to explore the courses available to exchange students

I already know what studies I will complete, and I wish to view the course information and register

For basic information on each course as well as the content added by the teacher, please see the course pages in the Studies Service section “Courses”. You can view the information without logging in or registering, but some of the content added by teachers to the course pages may be available to course participants only. The course pages also give you access to information on the degree requirements the courses meet. Before registering, please always check the information on the course pages because teachers may update the pages after they have been published. 

When you know which course you wish to complete, add it to your study plan and register for it in Sisu. Information on registration is available at How do I register for my courses and exams?

You can find the course pages through the search available at Courses or from Sisu. After registration, you can find the link to the course page in the Studies Service calendar (requires login).

I wish to learn more about the courses offered by my degree programme in the next academic year

Teaching programmes are published in two parts: preliminary versions in March and the actual programmes usually in June.

Preliminary teaching programmes

  • Published in March
  • The preliminary teaching programmes of degree programmes are published on this page. To access them, select your degree programme from the menu at the top, and the teaching programme will appear at the bottom. If you are an exchange student, please also see the instructions in the section I wish to search for courses available to exchange students.
  • The Language Centre’s preliminary teaching programmes are published on the Language Centre’s website.
  • Open university courses can be found in the preliminary teaching programmes of degree programmes and the Language Centre. You can also find course details on the helsinki.fi website at Preliminary information about upcoming courses.
  • Preliminary teaching programmes contain the following information:
    • The courses you can complete in the upcoming academic year and the teaching periods in which they are offered
    • The course implementation and completion methods (you can find more information on the page How are studies completed?)
    • The course languages
    • The courses included in open university education and the courses available to degree students free of charge or subject to regular rates
    • The courses open to exchange students

Actual teaching programmes

  • The actual teaching programmes for the autumn and spring terms are published in Sisu and on the Courses section of the Studies Service. Usually they are published by the end of June.
  • Summer courses are published in Sisu and on Courses, usually in early March. Information on open university courses can also be found on the helsinki.fi website at Open university: Summer studies
  • Before registering, please check the information on the course pages. Teachers may update the pages after teaching programmes have been published. You can find links to the course pages in Sisu and on Courses and, after you have registered, in the Studies Service calendar.
  • Actual teaching programmes contain the following information:
    • Detailed information on course implementation and completion methods (you can find more information on the page How are studies completed?)
    • Course timetables and venues
    • Course teachers
    • Registration details
    • Any other details

I’m looking for open university studies

You can find information on open university studies on the Open University website. It includes information on:

  • courses offered during the academic year in specific degree programmes and on specific topics 
  • preliminary information on upcoming studies
  • information on registration and course fees

In the Courses section of the Studies Service, you can view open university courses by selecting ‘Courses open for all’ in the target group menu. As a rule, information on courses offered in the next academic year will be available from the end of June (summer courses from the end of March).

In addition, open university courses are included in the teaching programmes of degree programmes and the Language Centre. For information, please see the section above.

I wish to search for courses available to exchange students

If you are an exchange student, finding and choosing courses suitable for your learning agreement, and knowing which courses you can take can be tricky. To help you find your way, we've put together a separate page on courses for exchange students. Visit the page to learn how and where to find courses suitable for exchange students.

Preliminary teaching programme for academic year 2024-2025

  • Master's Programme in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology

Below you can find the preliminary teaching programme of your degree programme for the next academic year. Please note that the programme may still be amended. Actual teaching programmes will be published, as a rule, by the end of June in Sisu and in the Studies Service course search. This table will not necessarily be updated after the actual programmes have been published.  

Further information on open university courses offered in summer 2025 will be updated on the Open University website early 2025 .  

Additional information on the publication of teaching programmes can be found under I wish to find out more about the courses offered by my degree programme in the next academic year.

 

Code
Course unit name
Scope (cr)
Teaching period
Teaching language
Mode of teaching / Method of completion
Open university studies
Open to exchange students
Open to other degree programmes
Additional information on target groups
MMB-101 MSc thesis seminar in microbiology and microbial biotechnology 3 cr Throughout all periods In English (also opportunity to present in Finnish) online teaching (not time-bound) only for degree students no no -
MMB-102 Literature examination for MSc 7 - 10 cr Throughout the periods Finnish, Swedish, English Moodle exam only for degree students no no -
MMB-103 Master’s Thesis 30 cr around the year Finnish, Swedish, English other independent work only for degree students no no -
MMB-105 Brock literature examination 5 cr around the year Finnish, Swedish, English home exam only for degree students no yes -
MMB-106 Teaching practice 1 - 10 cr any time Finnish, Swedish, English teaching and discussion with the responsible teacher only for degree students no no -
MMB-107 Advanced bacteriology project in a research group 10 - 12 cr any time Finnish, Swedish, English Report only for degree students - - -
MMB-108 Practical training and report 5 cr any time Finnish, Swedish, English Report only for degree students - - -
MMB-109 Advanced biotechnology project in a research group 10 - 12 cr The schedule of the course is agreed with the supervisor(s) of the project Finnish, Swedish, English other independent work - research plan, laboratory notebook and report only for degree students - - -
MMB-110 Advanced environmental microbiology project in a research group 10 - 12 cr any time Finnish, Swedish, English Report only for degree students - - -
MMB-111 Advanced food microbiology project in a research group 10 - 12 cr any time Finnish, Swedish, English Report only for degree students - - -
MMB-112 Advanced mycology project in a research group 10 - 12 cr any time Finnish, Swedish, English research plan, laboratory note book and report only for degree students - - -
MMB-113 Advanced virology project in a research group 10 - 12 cr The scedule of the course is agreed with the supervisor(s) of the project. Finnish, Swedish, English research plan, laboratory note book and report only for degree students - - -
MMB-114 Exploratory microbial research, lab course 15 cr 1.-2. period English contact teaching only for degree students no no MMB students
MMB-117 Environmental microbiology - lab course 5 cr 3. period English contact teaching only for degree students no yes Primarily MMB students
MMB-125 Advanced microbial bioinformatics project in a research group 10 - 12 cr any time Finnish, Swedish, English Report only for degree students - - -
MMB-201 Microbial ecology 5 cr 3. periodi English blended teaching (including both contact and distance teaching) only for degree students yes yes -
MMB-301 Food Microbiology –literature examination 5 cr around the year Finnisg home exam only for degree students - - -
MMB-303 Food microbiology - lab course 5 cr 4. period English contact teaching only for degree students no yes Primarily MMB students, also FOOD students
MMB-401 Seminar in evolution of microbial pathogenesis 5 cr 2. period English contact teaching both for degree students and open university studies yes yes Primarily Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology master students. Secondarily exchange students, if there is space on the course and the student has appropriate previous studies.
MMB-403 Seminar in molecular microbiology 5 cr 3. period English contact teaching only for degree students yes yes Primarily Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology master students. Secondarily Genetics and Molecular Biosciences master students, Molecular Biosciences and Biology bachelor students as well as exchange students, if there is space on the course and the student has appropriate previous studies. Recommended for completion primarily in the 1st year of master studies or secondarily 3rd year of bachelor studies
MMB-404 Innate immunity -laboratory course 5 cr 3.-4. period English contact teaching only for degree students yes yes Primarily Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology master students. Secondarily Genetics and Molecular Biosciences master students, Molecular Biosciences and Biology bachelor students as well as exchange students, if there is space on the course and the student has appropriate previous studies. Recommended for completion primarily in the 1st year of master studies or secondarily 3rd year of bachelor studies
MMB-406 Bacteria-host interactions - laboratory course 5 cr 1.-2. period English contact teaching only for degree students yes yes Primarily Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology master students. Secondarily Genetics and Molecular Biosciences master students, Molecular Biosciences and Biology bachelor students as well as exchange students, if there is space on the course and the student has appropriate previous studies.
MMB-502 Microbial biotechnology - lectures & seminar 5 cr 1. period english contact teaching only for degree students no yes Primarily Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology master students.
MMB-503 Production of recombinant proteins - lab course 5 cr 3. period english contact teaching only for degree students no no Primarily Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology master students.
MMB-504 Microbial Genetics and Evolution - lecture course 5 cr 4. period English contact teaching only for degree students no yes -
MMB-505 Principles of RNA Biology 5 cr 1. period English contact teaching only for degree students yes yes Primarily Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology master students. Secondarily Genetics and Molecular Biosciences master students, PhD students, Molecular Biosciences and Biology bachelor students, and exchange students; provided there is space on the course and the student fulfills preknowledge requirements.
MMB-701 Sienten biologia 5 cr 4. periodi Finnish contact teaching only for degree students yes yes -
MMB-803 Virological tools - lab course 5 cr 3. period English contact teaching only for degree students no yes Primarily MMB students. Open also for other students interested in virology if there is space on the course. Previous laboratory work experience on microbial genetics required (e.g. MOLE-213C).
MMB-805 Viruses lectures 5 cr 3. period English contact teaching only for degree students yes yes -
MMB-901 Microbial Metagenomics 5 cr 2. period English contact teaching only for degree students no yes Primarily Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology master students.