On this page, we have categorized studies under various topical themes to help you find the right studies for you according to your interests.
Pick the course that best supports your personal growth and learning goals or study all courses within a theme for a broad understanding of its concepts.
Through these studies, you can strengthen your professional expertise in various fields, gain a deeper understanding of Finnish society, improve your job-seeking skills and personal brand, and expand your language abilities. Your studies might even inspire a whole new direction for your career!
Please note that these courses do not form any study programmes or modules. Therefore, no certificates or diplomas are given upon completion. However, students can always get an official transcript of records of their completed studies.
The studies come in three types: scheduled, flexible and nonstop.
- Scheduled: The course has a fixed schedule, and you should check this before registering
- Flexible: The course can be studied online at your own pace but within a fixed timeframe
- Nonstop: The course can be studied online at your own pace year-round
Browse our themes
Ideal for: People seeking to develop their work life skills or looking for a career change.
What you'll learn: The studies in this theme help you apply for a job, build your personal brand and boost your language skills. Through these studies, you can even find a totally new direction for your career!
Studies:
- Career planning (autumn 2025, spring 2026) 2 ECTS, flexible
- Commercializing One’s Knowhow 2 ECTS, flexible
- Job seeking self-study course (autumn 2025, spring 2026) 1 ECTS, flexible
- Academic and Professional English 1 (autumn 2025) and Academic and Professional English 2 (spring 2026) (2 ECTS each), scheduled
Ideal for: People with an international background who want to find employment in Finland.
What you'll learn: The theme includes studies that introduce students to Finnish working life and provide the skills required to succeed in it.
Studies:
- Finnish 1A (spring 2026) 2 ECTS, flexible
- Finnish 1B (spring 2026) 2 ECTS, scheduled
- Finnish for Work 2 ECTS, scheduled
- Basics of Finnish Working Life (autumn 2025, spring 2026) 1 ECTS, flexible
- Career planning (autumn 2025, spring 2026) 2 ECTS, flexible
- Job seeking self-study course (autumn 2025, spring 2026) 1 ECTS, flexible
You might also be interested in:
Ideal for: Immigrants, anyone interested in the Finnish society.
What you'll learn: This study module offers a multidisciplinary introduction to Finnish society, culture, and the Nordic welfare model. These studies explore themes such as equality, education, health, environment, and active citizenship in the Finnish context.
Studies:
- Introduction to Finnish Health and Social Services System 5 ECTS, flexible
- What is Society? 5 ECTS, flexible
- Finnish Education and Society 5 ECTS, flexible
- Religious and Non-Religious Diversity in Finland 5 ECTS, nonstop
- Basics of Finnish Working Life (autumn 2025, spring 2026) 1 ECTS, nonstop
- Active Citizenship and Non-Formal Education 5 ECTS, flexible
Ideal for: Individuals interested in understanding global crises and how they affect both societies and personal lives. Suitable for those seeking tools to navigate uncertainty and build resilience in times of change.
What you'll learn: A multidisciplinary approach to global crises and their impacts on societies and individuals.
Studies:
- Introduction to Global Health MOOC 3 ECTS, nonstop
- Perspectives of Nursing Science in Global Crises Management 5 ECTS, scheduled
- Circular economy as a societal change (MOOC spring 2026, essay) 3+2 ECTS, scheduled
- Development crisis and globalization 2 ECTS, scheduled
- Existential wellbeing in plural societies 5 ECTS, nonstop
- Spiritual and psychological approaches to ecological crisis: Fear, Care and Hope 5 ECTS, nonstop
Building a sustainable nature-based future (25 ECTS)
Ideal for: For anyone who wants to understand fundations of sustainability
What you'll learn: These studies look into the basics of sustainability from a nature-based perspective
Studies:
- Biodiversity.now A and B (A for spring 2026, flexible; B for autumn 2025, scheduled) 2 + 3 ECTS
- Climate Change –eLearning, 2 ECTS, nonstop
- Sustainable.now 5 ECTS, nonstop
- Nature Based Solutions 2 ECTS, flexible
- Circular economy as societal change (autumn 2025, spring 2026) 3 ECTS, scheduled
- European forest bioeconomy 5 ECTS, flexible
- Mining, society and sustainability 3 ECTS, scheduled
Living Sustainably on a Fragile Planet: Health, Psychology and Education (29 ECTS)
Ideal for: studies are ideal for those seeking to advance sustainable development through health, education, and psychological well-being, using a human-centered and multidisciplinary approach to ecological challenges.
What you'll learn: The courses offer insights into global health, ecological crises, and the role of adult education and tourism in promoting sustainable development. Learners will gain tools to understand and respond to the challenges of living sustainably on a fragile planet, both at individual and societal levels.
Studies:
- Introduction to Global Health 3 ECTS, nonstop
- Perspectives of Nursing Science in Planetary Health 5 ETCS, nonstop
- Spiritual and Psychological Approaches to Ecological Crises: Fear Care and Hope 5 ETCS, nonstop
- Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Business 6 ECTS, nonstop
- Adult Education promoting sustainable development (autumn 2025, spring 2026) 5 ETCS, nonstop
- Environment, Groups and Well-Being 5 ETCS, scheduled
Sustainable and Responsible Business (25 ECTS)
Ideal for: For everyone interested in promoting sustainable and responsible business practices.
What you'll learn: These studies highlight how environmentally sustainable practices can shape tourism, supply chains, finance and reporting, and cooperatives.
Studies:
- Nature-Based Economy 1 ECTS, nonstop
- Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Business 6 ECTS, nonstop
- Supply Chain Management 6 ECTS, scheduled
- Sustainable accounting and finance 6 ECTS, scheduled
- Sustainable co-operative business model 6 ECTS, flexible
Ideal for: Professionals in the health care sector who wish to deepen their understanding of challenges related to health on a global scale.
What you'll learn: These studies provide a multidisciplinary and globally oriented approach to health, society, and sustainability, with emphasis on planetary well-being and Finnish health systems.
Studies:
- Introduction to Global Health 3 ECTS, nonstop
- Perspectives of Nursing Science in Global Women's Health 5 ECTS, scheduled
- Perspectives of Nursing Science in Planetary Health 5 ECTS, nonstop
- Perspectives of Nursing Science in Global Crises Management 5 ECTS, scheduled
- Introduction to Finnish Health and Social Services System 5 ECTS, flexible
Ideal for: International students, health professionals, research staff and analysts working with clinical, public health or registry data.
What you'll learn: Practice‑oriented studies that build quantitative skills for the health sciences.
Studies:
- Biostatistics I 3 ECTS, scheduled
- Epidemiology I 2 ECTS, scheduled
- Biostatistics in epidemiology I 2 ECTS, flexible
- Biostatistics in epidemiology II 3 ECTS, flexible
In addition to the themes presented on this page, our Open University offers various other studies as well. If you want to browse the whole study selection, follow this link to our study search.