Bachelor-level path studies

Prerequisites

Path studies are in principle available for all, regardless of educational background. We expect you to be at least 18 years of age when starting your studies. Good written and verbal English language skills are required. 

All bachelor-level path studies are full-time, which means most teaching takes place on our campuses and the students are expected to be on site either in Lahti or Lappeenranta. 

Applicants from non-EU/EEA countries: Please note, that as a path student you are not a degree student and it is therefore not possible to get a long-term student residence permit to Finland on the basis of studying Open UAS path studies. If you're interested in our degree programmes, please check our Application page. 

Registration

Registration for path studies requires strong authentication with Finnish banking codes, a mobile certificate, the hightrust.id application, or a certificate card. If you don't have any of the above, please contact avoinamk[@]lab.fi  Read more about e-identification

Once the content descriptions of the path studies have been published, you can access them by clicking on the link to the path study programme of your choice in the table below. 

During the registration period: 

1. Add the path study programme of your choice to shopping cart
2. Go to the shopping cart
3. Go to register
4. Authenticate your identity
5. Fill in the registration form
6. Click Enroll

Language testing

We will arrange English language tests for those who register for English Bachelor-level path studies. That's because studying in English requires fluent spoken and written English.

The language test will be conducted as a phone or an online interview. Passing the test is a prerequisite for you to be able to start the path studies. 

English bachelor-level path studies starting in August, 2025

We reserve the right to changes.

Things to consider when enrolling on bachelor-level path studies in health care

If you plan to enroll for a path study programme eventually leading to a degree in the field of health care, you have to assess your own suitability to the field before enrolling, on the basis of your health and functional capacity. Read more about health and functional capacity required for studies.

Health care path students do not undertake a traineeship during their path studies, but take other studies instead.

NOTE! If you have already completed a degree in nursing, public health nursing or midwifery, you cannot enrol on the paramedic nurse path studies. The path study programme consists of first year studies of the nursing degree and you would have to complete all the first year's studies again.

After the registration period

The result of the draw will be announced after the enrolled students have taken the language proficiency test. 

You must confirm your study place by paying your autumn semester student fee within 7 days of receiving your acceptance letter. If you do not wish to take up the place offered, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer a place to the person who is on reserve. 

Student fee

Studying at Open University of Applied Sciences is subject to a fee.

There is a semester-based fee for path studies. The fee is 100 € per semester + VAT 0%. The path studies typically take two semesters to complete, so the all-in-all cost of the path studies is €200 + VAT 0%.

All fees are non-refundable.

If you are not able to complete the path studies within two semesters, please contact avoinamk[@]lab.fi. Depending on your circumstances, your study right may be extended by one semester, but you will be charged a new semester-based fee. In order to extend your study right, you will need to provide evidence of your progress.

Other important information

Full-time and part-time at the same time

As a bachelor-level path student your goal is to complete 55 ECTS credits during one academic year. This means you have to commit to your studies full-time. Path students study in the same groups with the degree students.

However, you can't apply for KELA's study grant, because from their point of view you are considered to be a part-time student. Therefore, before registering to path studies, you should consider if studying full-time is financially possible for you.

Unemployment and path studies

If you are unemployed and considering path studies, please contact your local employment services before registering. There are certain preconditions to meet if you wish to receive unemployment benefits while studying.

Former studies

If you have former bachelor-level studies, you can't include them in your path studies. They can be credited, subject to approval, towards your degree AFTER you have been accepted to a degree programme. 

Study guidance

Key actors of study guidance are your teacher tutor, course teachers, study counsellors and student services. If you have questions regarding studying at Open UAS in general, please contact avoinamk[@]lab.fi.

Separate application based on open UAS studies

After completing path studies at Open UAS, you can apply for a LAB Degree Programme by separate application based on Open UAS studies.

Students from non-EU/EEA countries

If you are admitted as a degree student after completing path studies (i.e. first-year studies, no additional studies via Open UAS are available), the tuition fee for students from the non-EU/EEA countries per academic year is 8000 € for Bachelor’s Degree Programmes. Because of your path studies you are entitled to have 20% discount of your first year tuition fee. 

For your first year as a degree student no scholarships are available.

A student must complete 60 credits (in bachelor's degree) or 20 credits (in master's degree) per academic year to be eligible for the 50% scholarship for your second year as a degree student. This policy will be applied until the end of the study time after the first year as a degree student. The credits completed during your path studies will not be considered.
 

More information about tuition fee here.