Free Open University studies for the unemployed, laid-off and Uniarts Helsinki alumni

Offering courses free of charge is the university’s way of lending a helping hand for people who are currently in a tough spot in the creative sector.

Uniarts Helsinki will offer Open University studies free of charge for people who are unemployed or laid-off next spring. During the 2021 spring term, there will also be a quota for Uniarts Helsinki’s alumni who can complete entrepreneurship and career skills studies free of charge.

By making these studies available for free, Uniarts Helsinki hopes to support workers and entrepreneurs in the creative fields, as well as job seekers from other fields, too.

“The coronavirus pandemic has severely weakened the job opportunities of people working in the creative fields and increased the unemployment rate in the arts sector. We wanted to lend a helping hand for this group of people. The Open University courses that we are offering are well-suited for the continuing education of a person working in the creative industries. Self-employment and career skills coaching is in high demand in the field,” says Uniarts Helsinki’s Vice Rector Lauri Väkevä.

How to receive the fee waiver if you are unemployed or laid off

In spring 2021, people who are unemployed or laid off can participate in studies organised by Uniarts Helsinki’s Open University free of charge. The fee waiver will not apply to instruction that is organised by the university’s partner institutions.

Registration for the spring term’s studies will begin on Tuesday, 24 November, and end either on 8 or on 14 December, depending on the course in question. The fee waiver will apply to course registrations made during the aforementioned time period.

Anyone who is unemployed or laid off at the time of the registration is entitled to complete Open University studies free of charge. Before registering for studies, students are advised to contact a TE Office to check whether the studies affect their unemployment benefits.

Mention that you are unemployed or laid off in the registration form and attach a certificate of your status. You can get this certificate from the e-services provided by TE Services. Students will be selected to courses based on course-specific selection criteria. The selection criteria (prior studies, letter of motivation, proficiency test, order of registration) are mentioned in the course descriptions.

Browse the Open University’s course selection in spring 2021

How to receive the fee waiver if you are an alum of Uniarts Helsinki

During the 2021 spring term, Uniarts Helsinki will offer its alumni the chance to complete entrepreneurship and career skills courses free of charge at the Open University by applying a quota of ten alumni per course.

Registration for studies in entrepreneurship and career skills is between 24 November and 8 December. The fee waiver will apply to course registrations made during the aforementioned time period.

Mention that you are an alum of Uniarts Helsinki in your registration form. Students will be selected to courses based on course-specific selection criteria. The selection criteria (prior studies, letter of motivation, proficiency test, order of registration) can be found in the course descriptions. The language of instruction is Finnish.

The following courses, available as online studies, will apply the alumni quota:

More information

avoin@uniarts.fi

Read more about Open University studies