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Free Open UAS studies at Metropolia with a study voucher – study modules and individual courses for applicants without a study place

The purpose of the new study voucher is to give young people who were not admitted to higher education an opportunity to explore university-level studies, discover different fields, and build their skills before the next application round. Metropolia University of Applied Sciences offers both ready-made study modules and individual courses that can be paid for with the voucher.
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Starting 5 August, the study voucher can be used to pay for a wide range of studies offered by Metropolia Open University of Applied Sciences. Introduced by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, the new study voucher enables eligible young people who were not offered or did not accept a study place in higher education to complete open higher education studies free of charge.

The voucher is available to young people under the age of 29 who completed their first upper secondary qualification in Finland between 1 December 2025 and 31 July 2028, applied through the national joint application system for higher education, but were not offered or did not accept a study place.

The study voucher can be used to pay for open higher education studies in which teaching is provided entirely or at least partly in Finnish or Swedish.

Read more about the voucher and how to use it.

Ready-made study modules from several fields

Metropolia has developed a selection of ready-made study modules that can be completed using the study voucher. These include 15-credit introductory study packages designed to help students explore different fields, gain confidence in choosing a career path, and get a head start on future degree studies.

Almost all introductory study packages are delivered online, allowing students to study from anywhere in Finland.

Study modules are available in Culture, Business, Health Care and Social Services, and Technology. Note that the pages are in Finnish:

Culture

The Culture introductory studies allow students to explore creative industries such as music, media, event technology, video production, and cultural heritage.

Business

Business introductory studies provide opportunities to develop skills in areas such as social media, digital marketing, and sales.

Health Care and Social Services

Students can learn about professions including paramedic, physiotherapist, podiatrist, optometrist, dental hygienist, and midwife.

Technology

Technology introductory studies offer a flexible way to explore fields such as construction and information and communications technology (ICT) without committing to a degree programme.

Individual courses also available

In addition to the ready-made study modules, the voucher can also be used to pay for individual courses in Metropolia’s Open UAS online store in Health Care and Social Services, Culture, Technology and Business. Use the tag "Study Voucher Studies."

How to use the study voucher

Eligible students can activate their voucher from 5 August by:

  1. Creating an account on the Opin.fi service.
  2. Activating the study voucher in Opin.fi.

After activation, you can search for and enroll in studies that can be paid for with a study voucher in the Opin.fi service on the Study Voucher page or in Metropolia Open University of Applied Sciences' online store by using the tag "Study Voucher Studies."

Supporting the transition to higher education

The study voucher is a temporary initiative by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture aimed at making the transition from upper secondary education to higher education smoother and providing an alternative pathway for young people who were not admitted to a degree programme.

The voucher serves as a payment method for open higher education studies and can be used to complete up to 30 ECTS credits over a period of two years. The vouchers become available to eligible students on 5 August 2026.

The national Opin.fi service brings together open higher education studies offered by Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences and also serves as the platform for activating and using the study voucher. Once the voucher has been activated in Opin.fi, students can enrol in studies through Metropolia Open UAS's online course shop and use the voucher as payment.

Further information

Aija Saarinen
Specialist
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Aija.Saarinen [at] metropolia.fi (Aija[dot]Saarinen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)

Kimmo Leiviskä
Specialist
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Kimmo.Leiviska [at] metropolia.fi (Kimmo[dot]Leiviska[at]metropolia[dot]fi)

The purpose of the new study voucher is to give young people who were not admitted to higher education an opportunity to explore university-level studies, discover different fields, and build their skills before the next application round. Metropolia University of Applied Sciences offers both ready-made study modules and individual courses that can be paid for with the voucher.