A study voucher is a means of payment that you can use to pay for open studies at Finnish higher education institutions. The study voucher is intended for people under the age of 29 who have graduated from upper secondary education in Finland and applied to higher education in the joint application but have not received or accepted a study place at a higher education institution.
You can use the study voucher at your own pace over a period of two years: you do not need to use the entire voucher at once.
The study voucher is a fixed-term pilot project of the Ministry of Education and Culture that should continue until 2028. This page will be updated with the most up-to-date information on the study voucher as details are confirmed.
Aalto University will hold a separate study voucher information session at Aalto University’s Otaniemi campus for upper secondary graduates who did not receive a higher education study place in the...
With a study voucher, you can study courses offered in Finnish and Swedish from Aalto Open University’s offering. You can choose individual courses according to your interests in business, engineering, arts, or languages, or complete a study module. You can also take Open University pathway courses, and by completing them you can apply for admission to degree studies in engineering or business. Also explore the pre‑curated thematic modules, which include studies related to a specific theme and make it easy to get started with your studies.
Do you want to explore studies at Aalto or are you looking for inspiration for your studies? Thematic modules help you get started easily.
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At Aalto Open University you can complete study modules
Open University path in technology is available only in Finnish or Swedish. In order to complete Open University path one has be fluent in Finnish or Swedish.
You can receive a study voucher if you meet the following conditions:
The first study vouchers will be granted to eligible individuals who have applied as first-time applicants to higher education in the second joint application of spring 2026 (10–24 March 2026).
Please note that study voucher is only available to those who have completed their upper secondary school in Finland.
If you are entitled to a study voucher, you can activate it in the Opin.fi service from 5 August 2026 onwards, once the results of higher education selections in the joint application have been confirmed and acceptance from waiting lists has also ended.
You do not need to apply separately for the study voucher and activating it does not commit you to anything. You can choose yourself which studies you enrol in and use the voucher at your own pace.
The study voucher covers studies taught in Finnish and Swedish at Aalto University Open University.
At Aalto Open University, you can choose from
You do not even need to know exactly what you want to study. The study voucher offers an opportunity to explore different fields and what it is like to study at a university. The study voucher is suitable both for people who already know what they are applying for and for those who want to try out different fields.
If your goal is to apply to Aalto University as a degree student, it is worth familiarising yourself with different fields of study and degree programmes on the Studying at Aalto page. Through Aalto University’s Open University path studies you can apply to become a degree student in the field of business or technology.
If you do not yet know where you want to apply later, take your time exploring the course offering of the open university. There are studies available in business, technology and arts, as well as a wide range of language courses from beginner level to advanced studies.
In addition, the open university staff provide study guidance by email, telephone, video call and on site at Aalto University’s Otaniemi campus.
The Open University exists for everyone. Its study selection includes high-quality university courses for all kinds of learners, regardless of age, background or level of education.
Aalto University Open University offers a diverse range of courses that are part of Aalto's degree programmes, representing all of Aalto’s study fields: art, technology and business. In addition, the Open University’s course selection includes a wide range of language and communication studies.
Please note that the study voucher is only available for students who have completed their secondary education in Finland. You can use the study voucher only to register for Open University courses taught in Finnish and Swedish.
The study voucher will be launched in August 2026.
How to pay with a study voucher:
National guidelines can be found on Opin.fiNational guidelines can be found on Opin.fi
The staff of Aalto University Open University will be happy to tell you more about the study opportunities at the Open University and provide guidance in choosing your studies.
You can receive study counselling on studying at the Open University by phone, via Teams or by separate appointment on the Otaniemi campus. Counselling is available for example regarding open university pathways, starting your studies or practical matters related to studying at the Open University.
The study voucher is valid for two years from when all results of the joint application process are confirmed and acceptance from the waiting list has also ended.
For 2026, the final results of the second spring joint application process will be confirmed and acceptance from the waiting list will end on 4 August 2026, and the study voucher can be activated on the following day. Thus, the first study vouchers will be valid until August 2028.
The earlier you start using your study voucher, the more you will be able to benefit from it during the two-year period. You can enrol in studies as long as your voucher is valid. You do not need to complete your studies within the validity period of the voucher. You can check the validity of your own study voucher in the Opin.fi service.
You can find the recording of the study voucher webinar held on 8 June below. If the video is not visible, check that you have accepted cookies. Please note that the video is available only in Finnish.
Studying at the Open University offers opportunities to, for example, get acquainted with university studies and different subjects, improve professional competencies and working life skills, gain a scientific background for current phenomena, and enter degree studies via the Open University pathway. Open University courses are offered both online and as on-campus teaching. The studies are part of Aalto University’s curriculum, so if you later complete a degree at Aalto, you can include the completed courses in your degree.
Read here how your studies at the Open University will proceed, from choosing your course to receiving your final grade.
The study voucher is a 30-credit payment instrument for open higher education studies. The first study vouchers will be introduced in August 2026. Explore the planned study voucher below!
In addition to Open University studies, Aalto University offers other learning content that does not require a study voucher. For example, courses offered through the FITech Network University are free of charge for all Finnish citizens and residents of Finland. Through FITech, you can take courses from Aalto and other Finnish universities of technology across various fields of engineering. Explore the options below!
Aalto University’s extensive lifewide learning portfolio ranges from individual courses to full degree programmes.
FITech offers courses organised by Finnish universities of technology free of charge.
Click here for contact details for Open University services and personnel.
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