Pursuant to the Vice Rectors decision (201/452/2017), LUT’s students can be granted an extension for one academic year at a time. The decision on the extension is made by the person responsible for the degree programme. The following principles apply to decisions on extensions.

The main criterion for an extension is the student’s ability to complete his or her studies within a reasonable time limit. The number of completed courses, previous extensions and the progress of studies over previous extensions are factors that affect your chances of being granted an extension.

In the decision on an extension and the requirements for progress, the following situations are taken into consideration:

1. student’s illness or difficult circumstances, *
2. participation in societal activities during the studies,
3. systematic top-level athletic training, or
4. preparing for a top-level artistic performance.

 
If any of the aforementioned grounds apply to you, explain them in your application and attach relevant documents.

* If an illness or difficult circumstances have repeatedly affected the student’s ability to study, an extension can be granted if a doctor’s certificate is presented to show that the student is now able to continue with his or her studies.

Working while studying does not constitute an acceptable reason for slow progress of studies or grounds for an extension. If it is realistic for you to complete your degree within the extension granted to you, you will not be entitled to another extension after it.

When you apply for your first extension, the requirements are:

• you must present a feasible plan for the completion of your studies. The planned rate of studies is about 45 ects credits per year if you are applying for an extension for an academic year or 23 ects credits per term if you are applying for an extension for one term.
  and
• you have completed about half of the credits required for your degree (300 ects credits are required for a bachelor’s degree + master’s degree, 180 ects credits for a bachelor’s degree and 120 ects credits for a master’s degree).

An extension is granted for an academic year at most.

If you have completed less than half of the credits required for your degree and you cannot present any of the aforementioned circumstances as a reason for your slow progress, you are not eligible for an extension.

You can be granted a second extension lasting no more than an academic year.

The requirements for a second extension are:

• you have completed at least 45 ects credits per academic year over the first extension, if the extension was granted for an academic year, or 23 ects credits per term if the extension was granted for a term, and you have completed all the courses required for the first extension.
  or
• you have made significant progress with your thesis.

After a third extension, new extensions are only granted for a term at a time.  An extension can be granted if:

• you have completed 45 ects credits per academic year over the previous extension, if the extension was granted for an academic year or 23 ects credits per term if the extension was granted for a term, and you have completed all the courses required for the previous extension.
  or
• you have made significant progress with your thesis.

If the progress of your studies does not meet the requirements specified above and you do not have a valid reason for the slow progress, you will not be granted another extension.

If you are not granted an extension, you can continue your studies at LUT’s open university or on the basis of a right to take specific courses. You may be granted this right if there is space on the course and the course is not available via the open university. You can apply for the reinstatement of your right to study when your degree is only missing a thesis.

If you are not granted an extension because of your slow progress with your thesis, you can apply for the reinstatement of your right to study once you can show that you have made significant progress with your thesis (for example, you have submitted the manuscript for your thesis to your examiner). If your application is rejected, contact your study programme’s student counsellor for additional advice and instructions.

If you are not happy with the decision, you can request for rectification with the rector. You must deliver a written appeal with reasons (for example, the conditions for an extension are met) to LUT’s document services within 14 days of the receipt of rejection.

Should the appeal also be rejected, you can lodge a further appeal with the Eastern Finland Administrative Court.

If you register as non-attending during your extended study right, the absence is counted in the duration of your studies. Absence due to military service or family leave also uses up the time allocated to your studies.  Military service or family leave do not automatically extend the duration of the extension, but you should mention them in any new application for a further extension so that they can be taken into consideration in the decision. Read more from here.