Apply for more time for your studies

Are your studies taking longer than planned for one reason or another? You can apply for extra time to complete your degree.

Check back in Peppi system to keep up to date with your degree completion deadline. When you have less than 6 months left of your study right and you need more time to complete your studies, fill in the application. To qualify for extra time in which to complete your degree you are required to present a demonstrably feasible graduation plan.

You may apply for 1 to 4 additional terms with a single application. If you still need more time to complete your degree, you will need to submit a new application.

The fee for processing an application for an extension of the study right is 50 euro (Government decree on fees to be collected)

The application processing fee is paid to the account of the University of Lapland:
Recipient: University of Lapland
IBAN: FI90 5640 0220 2453 23
SWIFT: OKOYFIHH
Reference: 632876

If you pay the fee from other than Finnish bank account, please use the following details:
IBAN: FI90 5640 0220 2453 23
SWIFT: OKOYFIHH
Reference: 632876
Bank: Pohjolan Osuuspankki Koskikadun konttori
Address: Koskikatu 12, PL 8206, 96101 Rovaniemi, Finland

Please note that the amount has to be paid in total to the university account. Please check with your bank about possible transfer payments that might be deducted from the amount.

Attach the receipt of payment to your application for extension.

NB! If you need an extension for non-degree study right, please contact the teacher or coordinator of the programme. Do not use this form or pay the application processing fee in this case.

Applying for extension if you are required to pay tuition fees

If you are required to pay a tuition fee and have received a scholarship for your studies, please note that scholarships are available for a period of two years only.

If you need an extension to your study period, extensions may be granted upon application, but please note that you will be financially responsible for the full tuition fees of the extension period you choose to apply for as well as all other expenses associated with your study.

Extension to maximum period of study

An extension to maximum period of study may be granted upon application, provided that your plan for completing your degree – which you are required to present along with your application – is demonstrably feasible. Your application for an extension will be considered in light of the number of credits completed so far, the number of credits remaining to complete your current degree, as well as any previous applications for an extension you may have made. The duration of the extension beyond the maximum period of study that may be granted also depends on individual circumstances such as:

• illness or some other difficult personal situation
• societal engagement in a role that requires a considerable contribution of the student’s time and effort outside study hours
• participation in an international student or trainee exchange programme
• being a student with the status of an active elite athlete.

Take these steps to apply for an extension

1. Fill out the application form for extension of time to complete a degree and include in your application:
   – a detailed list of missing studies
   – a schedule for completing the above-mentioned studies and the entire degree
2. Submit the form by 30 April if your right to complete the degree expires on 31 July, or by 30 October if your right to complete the degree expires on 31 December. You can submit your application also later than the dates mentioned above but please note that it is possible that there might not be enough time to process your application before your study right expires.Please do not attach a medical certificate or other sensitive information to your application. If necessary, the person processing your application will ask you for a more detailed explanation or proof of the reasons for the delay.
3. You will receive the decision by email within about a month of submitting your application.

If you have questions about the process for applying for extension, please contact lisaajat@ulapland.fi.

Extension granted

If you are granted an extension, you are required to complete your registration for the academic year by the registration deadline.

You are encouraged to familiarise yourself with and make use of our guidance services. We will support you to successfully complete your degree.

Extension denied

If you have completed only a few credits and have presented no sufficient proof to indicate why you have been unable to make normal progress with your studies, your application for an extension will not necessarily be accepted. If you already have applied for and been granted an extension once or more often, additional extensions will not be granted if your progress has been clearly slower than what has been set out in your previous plan(s) for completing the degree and you have not presented an acceptable reason for the lack of progress.

Appealing against a decision

If your application has been denied, you may initiate an appeal by filing a request for rectification addressed to the relevant faculty. The request for rectification is to be submitted within 14 days of receiving the decision, the date of receipt excluded.

The faculty’s decision rejecting an appeal may be appealed against by submitting a written appeal to the Administrative Court of Northern Finland within 30 days of notification of the faculty’s decision.

If you have lost your right to study due to having missed the deadline for applying for an extension to complete your degree, you may apply for reactivation.

The fee for processing an application for a reactivation of the study right is 50 euro. (Government decree on fees to be collected)

The application processing fee is paid to the account of the University of Lapland:
Recipient: University of Lapland
IBAN: FI90 5640 0220 2453 23
SWIFT: OKOYFIHH
Reference: 632876

If you pay the fee from other than Finnish bank account, please use the following details:
IBAN: FI90 5640 0220 2453 23
SWIFT: OKOYFIHH
Reference: 632876
Bank: Pohjolan Osuuspankki Koskikadun konttori
Address: Koskikatu 12, PL 8206, 96101 Rovaniemi, Finland

Please note that the amount has to be paid in total to the university account. Please check with your bank about possible transfer payments that might be deducted from the amount.

Attach the receipt of payment to your application for reactivation.

How to apply for reactivation

• Fill out the application form for reactivating the study right, and include a list of the remaining credits toward your degree along with your planned degree completion schedule.
• Submit the completed form.

You will receive the decision by email within about a month of submitting the application.

If you have questions about the process for applying for a reactivation of the study right, please contact lisaajat@ulapland.fi.

Decisions

Once your right to study has been reactivated, you are required to pay the following fees: the student union membership fee and the full tuition fee (if applicable).  You will receive instructions on registration and paying the fees from Student Services if the reactivation of your study right is granted.

If the faculty finds that your plan for completing the degree is not feasible, your right to study will not necessarily be re-activated.

Appealing against a decision

If your application has been denied, you may initiate an appeal by filing a request for rectification addressed to the relevant faculty. The request for rectification is to be submitted within 14 days of receiving the decision, the date of receipt excluded.

The faculty’s decision rejecting an appeal may be appealed against by submitting a written appeal to the Administrative Court of Northern Finland within 30 days of notification of the faculty’s decision.

If you decide to withdraw from the university before having completed your degree, you are required to notify the university of this by completing and submitting the Notice of forfeiting the study right form to the Student Services.

After having received the completed form, we will enter the information into your academic records and notify your faculty accordingly. Your right to study will cease on the date of notification.

When you give up your right to study, any option for your higher degree will also expire from the date of notification. Once you have withdrawn, you can no longer continue to study for your degree or apply to have your study rights restored. If you wish to return to your studies at a later date, you must apply for a place through the normal student selection procedure.

We can withdraw your right to study if the conditions laid down by law are met. The law on the withdrawal and reinstatement of study rights entered into force on 1 January 2012 as the SORA legislation. We apply the University Law on the Withdrawal of Study Entitlement to Social Work, Teacher Training and Art Education courses.

The SORA laws allow higher education institutions and training providers to intervene in situations relating to unsuitability and safety issues concerning students. In particular, this is intended to improve the safety of minors, the safety of the learning and working community and the legal protection of individual students.

We can withdraw your right to study if

• you have repeatedly or seriously endangered the health or safety of another person in the course of your studies and have proved to be manifestly unfit to perform practical tasks or practical training related to your studies or
• it is obvious that you do not meet the conditions for admission as a student due to your state of health or functional capacity or
• you have already concealed information at the application stage which could have prevented your selection as a student.

The SORA provisions are a body of legislation comprising the Vocational Education and Training Act (630/1998), the Vocational Adult Education and Training Act (631/1998), the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (351/2003) and the Universities Act (558/2009), which cover issues such as obstacles to admission, withdrawal and reinstatement of study rights and drug testing. They are legislation of the Ministry of Education and Culture which entered into force on 1 January 2012.