The Rector of the National Defence University approves applicants to degree studies and grants them rights to study. The Defence Command nominates all foreign students, and the Rector of the National Defence University grants them rights to study.
The National Defence University may interrupt a student’s studies at the student’s own initiative. Studies may be interrupted at the University’s initiative for a fixed term of one year maximum at a time. The Rector has the right to make decisions involving the interruption of a student’s studies or loss of their right to study.
Study guidance is provided to help students learn how to learn, to support their studies and to assist them in the drawing up of their personal study plan and/or personal competence development plan.
Students have primary responsibility for own their studies, working on their competence and drawing up of a personal study plan. At the beginning of their studies, degree students (excl. General Staff Officer Degree) draw up a personal study plan to be specified as their studies progress.
Students must identify any factors that hinder their learning or make it more difficult. They must improve their skills and how they work in cooperation with the guidance personnel.
• The education coordinator gives guidance and advice in matters involving the structure of the degrees, ways of completing and planning them as well as improving students’ studying skills.
• The course secretary gives advice in various practical matters, such as those involving the study data administration system, and helps with study and degree certificates and practical services for students (remunerations during studies, travel costs etc.)
• The teachers give subject-matter guidance.
• The course leader monitors the progress of studies as a whole.
Students may contact the course leader or education coordinator in charge of the degree level concerned, if they have challenges in their studies or learning difficulties. If necessary, discussion help is also available from the National Defence Forces military chaplain or Santahamina Health Centre.
The National Defence University’s internal order is military. Military order means clear chains of command and procedures, openness, initiative, military discipline, and observing service orders and generally observed standards.
Military order provides the NDU with uniform conduct and procedures. Military order also covers the position of superiors and command authority. Command authority refers to the right of giving personal orders and commands to someone for which they are accountable.
The military orders typically part of this culture do not apply to civilian students. However, they are required to know military order in practice and observe it in their conduct, because they undergo their studies with soldiers.
At the beginning of their studies, students admitted to the National Defence University must give a written commitment of serving in the Defence Forces or the Border Guard for the length of time that the degree took them starting from their date of graduation. The Defence Command Personnel Division determines the required commitment times more specifically.
If a person resigns or is given notice during the time he/she has committed to serve for reasons other than illness, incapacity for service at sea or lack of aptitude for flying, they must reimburse the state for the cost of their studies.
Bachelor of Military Sciences students are cadets by service rank and belong to the regular personnel of the Defence Forces. However, they are not in a public-service relationship with the FDF. The Act and Decree on Military Discipline apply to students pursuing studies leading to an appointment as an officer.
Students pursuing Bachelor of Military Sciences studies required for an officer’s post are entitled to free education, studying and training equipment, health care, accommodation, meals and clothing. In addition, these students are paid a daily allowance, two trips between the location of their educational institution and home or domicile per each full study month. Remunerations are also paid to those entitled to them due to demanding service circumstances.
Cadets are also entitled to a digital student card (Slice). It serves as an official student ID card with which you can get student discounts from VR, Matkahuolto and HSL, for example.
Bachelor’s degree students may obtain financial assistance from Kela for university studies. The financial assistance granted to cadets includes a government guarantee for a student loan and possibly also housing assistance. Cadets are not eligible for students' financial aid, because the daily allowance paid by the National Defence University exceeds the limit for receiving financial aid. For more information on receiving and applying for financial assistance from Kela, see the Kela website .
A person applying to the National Defence University is obligated to take a drug test before admission. On the order of the National Defence University, students are obligated to take a drug test when studying or undergoing training part of the studies.
Master’s and General Staff Officer’s degree students who are officers in the Defence Forces or Border Guard regular personnel are ordered to study at the National Defence University, so they receive a salary for their studies.
During their studies, the students are entitled to free instruction, studying and training equipment, health care and accommodation or, if they live in the capital region, a storage space for keeping their equipment, a space for changing clothes and studying independently.
A daily allowance is paid for the duration of the course to those entitled to it. Trips back home are remunerated once every other week to those entitled to it.
Civilian students enjoy the same position and students’ social support as those studying in universities referred to in the Universities Act. The rights and obligations of a person completing university studies are defined in the Act, decrees and the National Defence University Regulation.
Students completing university studies are entitled to Kela’s financial aid for students as provided for in the Act on the financial aid for students (65/1994) The students on the Executive Assistance Programme pay a health care fee per semester to Kela. Students are entitled to services provided by Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö (YTHS) during their studies (excl. the orientation year).
