The degree diploma is applied for with an online application form once all studies have been completed, the completion entries have been entered in the study register and the thesis has been saved on Theseus. The degree diploma application must be submitted as an attending student within the validity period of the study right. Please contact the Study Affairs Office if your study right is about to expire before all your studies can be entered in the study register.

You will receive the link to the online application form after you have submitted AVOP feedback survey. It is mandatory to fill out the survey.

 Before applying for a degree, please read through the following checklist: 

• You are registered as an active student and have discussed about graduation with your PSP coach.
• All required studies have been logged in Peppi. 
• Your thesis has been completed and approved. It has been graded and evaluated.
• You have saved your thesis in Theseus. 
• You have passed the maturity test and it has been registered. 
• Language tests (certificates for language proficiency can be found in Peppi) have been passed (any exemption must involve a separate decision by the head of education) and they are marked as follows: 
  • A second national language, oral and written (allowed assessments include Satisfactory, Good, Exempt) 
  • A foreign language (English) (allowed assessment Assigned or Released) 
• The required number of internship credits (at least 30 ECTS). 
• Any interpreting skills demonstrations are registered and graded. 
• Any loans from the library have been returned and all payments have been made. 

Good to remember 

• The date of your graduation will be the date when you submit your application. 
• Graduates are reported to Kela once a month. 
• The 18-day rule, i.e. you must study at least 18 days per month in order to receive a study grant. Please note this when you submit your application. 
• Access to information systems generally expires 30 days after the completion of studies. 
• Humak hosts graduation celebration in December and in June. The event is held online. The names of the last semester’s graduates will be published in the graduation celebration. The graduates won’t receive their degree diplomas in the event, since the digital diplomas are sent to the graduate on Peppi.

You have the right to register as absent during your first year of study only if 

• you are obligated to perform a service under the Conscription Act, the Civil Service Act, or the Law on Voluntary Military Service for Women.
• you are on maternity, paternity, or parental leave, or you are unable to start your studies due to your illness or injury. 

The reasons mentioned above do not diminish the time period of your study entitlement. The reason for your absence must be verified by an official document. 

If you are absent during the first year of study due to military service, civil service, or women’s voluntary military service, or if you are on maternity, paternity, or parental leave, you have the right to register as absent for a second year (two semesters) during the rest of your studies (this absence does not diminish the time period of your study entitlement). 

If you have been absent during the first year of study due to an illness or injury, you can register as absent during your later study years as follows: 

• You are absent during the later years of your studies due to military service, civilian service, or women’s voluntary military service, or if you are on maternity, paternity, or parental leave, the end date of your studies will be postponed by the length of your absence.
• If you are absent during the later years of your studies for a reason other than the ones mentioned above, the timeframe of your study entitlement is diminished, and the end date of your studies is not postponed due to the absence.

You can verify your statutory absence with the following certificates:

• Service under the Conscription Act, the Civil Service Act, or the Act on Voluntary Military Service for Women 
• An entry order (Finnish only), which proves that the military service occurs during the academic year in question. 

Maternity, paternity, or parental leave 

Kela’s certificate of paid maternity, paternity or parental benefits or, if the certificate does not yet exist, a medical certificate of pregnancy or equivalent certificates of statutory parental leave from the authorities of other countries. Paternity leave can only be proved with a Kela certificate of paternity leave. 

Personal illness or injury 

A certificate of a paid sick leave or, if such a document cannot be presented, a medical certificate. The medical certificate must indicate the illness or injury in question and state that the illness or injury in question prevents the commencement of studies. 

The document certifying the reason for the absence must be submitted electronically to Humak’s Application Services using this form no later than 14 days after the notice of absence has been made in the Oili service.

Students must register each year for the academic year as either present or absent. Registration for the academic year is done in Peppi between April 1 and July 31. Changes to the registration information for the spring semester can be made between November 15 and December 31.

As soon as registration is possible, registration information can be provided in Peppi’s student desk under Studies – Registration. There is also a video that shows how to enroll for a semester in Peppi. You can only register as absent if there are periods of absence left. 

The registration information provided is binding, and no changes can be made to the registration information afterwards. The registration information affects e.g. student benefits and the obligation to pay the student health care fee. 

If you fail to register, you will lose your study entitlement at Humak. A certificate of termination will be submitted by the Study Affairs Office to the person who has failed to register. If you failed to register, but intend to continue your studies, you must apply separately for the re-granting of the study entitlement, for which a processing fee of 50 euros will be charged. The re-granting of your study entitlement is applied for with this form.

If you have registered yourself as present for the first academic year, you can be absent for one academic year (two semesters) for any reason during the later years of your studies. This absence will not diminish the time period of your study entitlement. In addition, you have the right to be absent if you are performing a mandatory military service under the Conscription Act, the Civil Service Act, or the Act on Voluntary Military Service for Women, or if you are on maternity, paternity, or parental leave. This absence due to statutory reasons will not diminish the time period of your study entitlement.

Please submit a document proving your statutory absence using this form, notify the Study Affaits Office by email opintotoimisto@humak.fi, and register yourself as absent in Peppi. You can be absent for the whole academic year or for one semester.

The following documents can be used to prove a statutory absence:

Service under the Conscription Act, the Civilian Service Act, or the Act on Voluntary Military Service for Women

A conscription order (Finnish only) certifying that the military service will take place during the relevant academic year.

Maternity, paternity, or parental leave

Certificate of maternity, paternity, or parental leave from Kela or, if no such certificate exists, a medical certificate of pregnancy or equivalent certificates from other countries’ authorities for statutory parental leave. Paternity leave can only be certified by a Kela certificate of paternity leave.

During your period of absence, you are not entitled to study, receive guidance or have your studies entered in the study register. You are also not entitled to student benefits, YTHS services, meal allowances, or other student benefits (e.g. travel discounts). You can cancel your student financial aid at Kela’s E-services.

As an absent student, you must ensure that you register for the following year in accordance with the timetable.

If you are absent from your first year of study due to mandatory military service, civilian service, or voluntary military service for women, or if you are on maternity, paternity, or parental leave, you have the right to register as absent for a second academic year (two semesters) for any reason during the subsequent your studies (this absence does not diminish the time period of your study entitlement).

If you have been absent during the first year of study due to a personal illness or injury, you can only register as absent in subsequent years of study for the above-mentioned statutory reasons.

You must complete your degree studies within the target time period plus one additional year, or you will lose your right to study. 

Upon application, you may be granted a discretionary extension to complete your studies. 

Granting discretionary extension requires that:

• no more than 60 credits are missing from the degree,
• the student presents a goal-oriented and feasible plan for completing the remaining studies, and
• graduating within the additional time is realistic.

Discretionary extension will not be granted if the student already has the credits required for the degree, or if the scope of completed studies significantly exceeds the scope of the degree.

When granting discretionary extension, the student’s life situation is taken into account. Special grounds for granting discretionary extension include, among other things, illness or disability of the student or their dependant, an exceptionally difficult life situation, positions of trust and other civic participation during studies, and elite sports. Grounds related to life situation must be verified with a reliable document. Employment or hobbies are not considered special grounds.

Specific health reasons etc. may mitigate the extension criteria. 

Length of Discretionary Extension

Discretionary extension is generally granted once and for a maximum of two semesters (one academic year). Discretionary extension is granted in full semesters. The length of the discretionary additional time is determined by the remaining studies to be completed on a full-time basis: 30 credits or fewer = one semester, 31–60 credits = two semesters.

A second period of discretionary extension may be granted if the student has completed studies during the first additional time period and can present new special grounds. If there is no evidence of study progress, the aforementioned special grounds related to life situation may be accepted as justification.

Applying

If your study right expires on 31 July, you may apply for siscretionary extension between 1 April and 15 May. If your study right expires on 31 December, you may apply for Dsscretionary extension between 1 October and 15 November. Discretionary extension is applied for using this form.

The application must include:

1. A goal-oriented and feasible personal study plan (approved by a PSP coach or study counsellor) specifying the studies to be completed and the schedule for finishing the degree.
2. An account of the reasons for the delay in studies.
3. Where necessary, supporting documents relating to life situation grounds.
4. A receipt of the application fee.

A student who has been granted discretionary extension is not able to register as absent. Exceptions to this include the student’s military service/civilian service, maternity, paternity or parental leave, leave taken in connection with the adoption of a child, and the student’s inability to pursue their studies due to their own illness or disability.

A processing fee of 50 euros is charged for processing the application (Government Decree 1440/2014). Pay the fee to the account: FI80 1378 3000 2038 08 NDEAFIHH and write your name and the text “harkinnanvarainen lisäaika” (= a discretionary extension) in the message. Attach a receipt of the payment to the application. The application will not be processed without the payment. 

The decision on discretionary extension is made by the Head of Administration. The student will be notified of the decision on a timely submitted application by email — by 15 December for the autumn semester and by 15 June for the spring semester.

The opportunity to study on another campus can be discussed with your PSP coach. In principle, a student may only undertake studies in another regional unit if this is necessary for the progress of the student’s studies.

The Director of Education may, for particularly serious reasons and upon request of the student, grant the student a transfer from one regional unit, or from one profile of the same degree, to another. This can take place at the earliest after the first year of attendance, if there is room in the study group. Applications for a change of regional unit or degree profile are made by means of this form. The application is open 1-15 May and 1-15 November every year.

If you decide to terminate your studies permanently before graduation, you must file a resignation notice. Discuss your resignation with your PSP coach before making the announcement. 

Resignation is binding and if you wish to continue your studies later, you will have to re-apply as a student through a joint or separate application. Re-applying as a student can be tricky, because the joint application process favors first-time applicants. It is often a better option to complete a degree once it has been started.

If the challenges in the completion of your studies are temporary, it is advisable first to find out your chances of becoming absent. Read more in the section “Absences during your studies”. Please keep in mind that in many situations it is possible for you to apply for a discretionary extension if there is a valid reason your studies have not progressed. 

You can find the resignation form here. Humak announces the resignation to Kela.