Time: 1 September 2025 – 31 July 2026. Studies begin on 1.9.2025 with network orientation. Please notice that participation in the orientation days is mandatory for all students.
Place of Study: South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), Savonlinna campus, Savonniemenkatu 6, Savonlinna. Please note that studying will take place online until October 17th.
Scope: on average 60 ECTS credits
Target group: All who are interested in these studies. The students must be fluent in English and have basic computer and Internet skills.
Credited in degree: Bachelor of Engineering, Bioproduct technology
Enrolment period: 21 July – 28 July 2025. The enrolment form will open on 21 July at 9 am Finnish time (UTC+3).
Number of student places: 5
Price: Semester fee EUR 230, EUR 460 for the whole academic year. The customer pays the fee for the first semester when confirming their open path student place. The fees for the following semesters will be charged each semester. You can read more about our payment policy here.
Please note that accepting a place is binding. The fee for the first semester of the accepted study place is not refunded, even if you cancel your study place or discontinue your studies.
However, if you will not be starting your studies or decide to discontinue your studies later, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can remove you from the courses included in the studies. This way, there will not be a record of incomplete studies in your data. If you discontinue your studies during a semester, you will be charged the fee for the semester. The fees for the semesters following the discontinuation will be cancelled. You must inform us of the cancellation/discontinuation atavoinamk@xamk.fi.
Xamk’s degree students cannot enrol for open path studies.
Learning outcomes (objectives):
The goal of open path studies is to complete, on average, 60 ECTS credits of core competence studies included in the degree programme in one academic year. By completing at least 50 ECTS credits, you have the right to apply to become a degree student in the degree programme.
Contents and methods:
The learning outcomes and requirements of open path studies correspond to those of programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree. In the beginning of your studies you can make a personal study plan (PSP) together with your Studies Coordinator, taking into account your previous studies and your own wishes and goals. In open path studies, there is no credit transfer for previous studies. However, if you are admitted as a degree student, the studies you have completed may be accepted as part of the degree. The studies are conducted in the same group as degree students.
Full-time studies take place mostly from Monday to Friday. Studies in the degree programme in Bioproduct Technology are organised on Xamk’s Savonlinna campus and in the Fibre Laboratory as well as in the leading companies in the field. The Fibre Laboratory is a Xamk research unit which focuses on the research, development and innovation of industrial processes in cooperation with companies in the fields of pulp and paper technology, water treatment processes and refining of biomaterials.
The focus of Xamk’s bioproduct technology engineering education is process technology, especially the utilization of wood raw material for versatile products. This all happens as part of a circular economy, where natural resources are used sustainably and efficiently over and over again. Process technology is used to transform natural resources into products that serve our everyday needs, such as magazines, textiles, medicines and biofuels.
For further information on the studies, please contact:
Principal Lecturer Jarkko Männynsalo, jarkko.mannynsalo@xamk.fi
For further information on degree studies, see:
Bachelor of Engineering, Bioproduct Technology
Link to the curriculum:
Bioproduct Technology, full-time studies | Study Guide, XAMK
Changes to enrolment for open path studies
It is not about speed, but only the points you get from the Motivation and readiness for higher education studies course!
After enrolling for open path studies, you must complete a course on Motivation and readiness for higher education studies, aiming to assess your study-related motivation, knowledge, and skills. The course’s scope is 1 ECTS credit, equivalent to approximately 27 hours of work for the student. Instructions for completing the motivation course will be sent by email on 29 July 2025. The course must be completed within one week (between 30 July and 5 August 2025).
Students are selected on the basis of the points they receive from the Motivation and readiness for higher education studies course. In the case of even scores, selected students will be determined by drawing lots. The course will be scored automatically. An approved completion requires that at least 30 % of your answers are correct.
After completing the Motivation and readiness for higher education studies course, all who have enrolled for the open path studies are notified of the selection results by email by 7 August 2025. Those who are selected must confirm their student place by 11 August 2025 at 3 pm by following the instructions they receive by email.
The selected students must pay the fee for the first semester when confirming their open path student place. The student place can only be confirmed by paying the semester fee (by 11 August at 3 pm). If all who are selected do not confirm their student place by the deadline, some of those on the waiting list can receive a place. They will be notified of this by email.
Remember to also check your spam folder for possible emails from us.
Cancellation terms
Please note that enrolment for Xamk Pulse studies is binding, and it is not possible to cancel a student place free of charge. The fee for the first semester will be paid when enrolling, and the fees for the following semesters will be charged at the beginning of each semester.
BYOD – Bring your own device
The BYOD policy demands students to use their own laptops. Read more here.
Study grants
Studying at the Open UAS does not entitle you to a study grant or other student benefits or discounts. In case you intend to study unemployed, please contact your local employment office (TE-toimisto) before you begin your studies.
Additional information
In case the studies begin in one of our campuses, you should bring the following documents with you on the first day of studies: passport/residence permit or official Finnish ID.
Residence permit
Students who live outside the EU and the EEA need a residence permit to study in Finland. However, the residence permit is not issued based on studies at the Open University of Applied Sciences. More info here.
From path studies to degree studies
1. You can apply to be a degree student in the Bachelor of Engineering, Bioproduct technology degree programme in the joint application during your open path studies if you meet the admissions criteria. More information here.
2. It is also possible to apply to be a degree student without a formal qualification in a separate application procedure organised by Xamk. This is possible after you have completed 50 ECTS credits at Xamk. More information is available here. The credits you have completed will be recognised as a part of your degree. Please note that if you are admitted as a degree student, the tuition fee for students outside of the EU/EEA is EUR 10,700 per academic year for bachelor’s degrees and EUR 13,500 per academic year for master’s degrees. More information on tuition fees is available here.
Additional information about the enrolment
The office of Xamk Open University of Applied Sciences, email openstudies@xamk.fi.
You will receive an email before your studies begin with information about starting your studies.
OUAS reserves the right to make changes.
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is audited by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC).