Exam instructions at the Open University

Open University courses have three types of examinations: classroom exams, ‘EXAM’ e-exams, and remote exams. The type of examination as well as exam times and locations can be found in the course descriptions. 

Please note that all courses do not have examinations. For example, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture rarely has courses that can be completed by examination, but instead uses other completion methods, such as writing a final essay. For details, see the course description. 

Classroom exams

The classroom examination is the traditional form of exam written on paper and held in Espoo on the Otaniemi campus at a set time. 

The exam practices vary depending on which party organised the exam. To find out the organiser (i.e. the Open University, an Aalto University school, or the Language Centre), see the course description. 

Open University examinations are held between the hours of 16.00 and 19.00. Students taking the exam must arrive no later than 30 minutes after the start; in other words, 16.30 is the latest time that exam-takers will be permitted to enter the exam hall. You can leave at 16.35 at the earliest. Examination lengths vary between courses. In general, they take about 2 to 3 hours to complete. 

Open University examination halls are located on Otaniemi campus in the Undergraduate Centre. The street address is: Otakaari 1, Espoo. 

If the course is organised as a degree course, you can find the examination location and times in the course description via the Sisu link. Examinations are not necessarily held in the evenings, and they might take place in a building other than the Undergraduate Centre.  Always inspect carefully the information about the examination. 

More information about classroom exams

EXAM – the electronic examination system

EXAM is a form of testing performed on computer in a monitored space on Otaniemi campus. 

You can choose the date and time of the exam by indicating it within the period of availability. The period of availability of these e-exams is usually one week. The EXAM rooms are located on the Aalto campus in Otaniemi. Their opening hours usually follow the opening hours of the respective buildings.

More details about EXAM e-exams

Remote examinations

Remote (online) exams are generally taken in the MyCourses learning environment within a given time frame or at a scheduled time and date. The remote exams may include written tasks, multiple-choice questions or combinations thereof.

If a course exam is held remotely, the course description or the MyCourses page for the course will tell more about it. Ask the course teacher for advice, if necessary. 

By registering for a course, you will be automatically registered for the course examination (i.e. final exam, abbreviated KT) and any interim examinations. Therefore, you do not need to register for the first examination of the course.

Re-examinations must be registered for separately. 

Registration for re-examinations is done on Sisu.

1. Log in to Sisu using your Aalto username and password.
2. Select ‘Registration’ from the upper bar. 
3. Under ‘Active completion rights’, select the course related to your re-examination. Click ‘Select course unit’.
4. Select the exam you want from the list and press the ‘Register’ button.
    

Exam registration is in order when you have registered in Sisu. The status of your registration may appear as a candidate until the end of the exam registration period, after which the status will change to accepted.
If you have difficulties registering for an exam, contact [email protected].

If a language course includes a final examination, it is held during the last lesson or as otherwise indicated by the teacher. The teacher will inform students how any final examination will be arranged. It is possible that some exams must be registered for separately. For the options regarding re-examination, see the course description. 

Registration ends seven days before the exam date, so remember to register in time! If you don’t register, your exam will not be graded.

Teachers have four weeks to evaluate an exam or assignment; the time is counted from the last day for taking the exam or submitting the assignment. You can check the examination results in Sisu (log in with your Aalto user ID).

Courses whose evaluation is based mainly on work performed during the course hold a final exam and one session for a re-examination. Courses evaluated mainly on the basis of a final exam may hold, in addition to the final exam, two re-examination sessions. If you fail to complete the course on any of the designated exam dates, you must register for the course again.

If you are unhappy with your exam results, please contact the course teacher immediately after being informed of the grade. If you do not have the contact details of the teacher, you can get them at the Open University office. The teacher is obligated to explain what evaluation criteria was used and how it applied to your case.

Students dissatisfied with the decision made by the teacher may appeal against the decision in writing to the Aalto University Academic Appeals Board within 14 days of receiving notice of the decision. For specific instructions, read about Academic appeals, available on the Student Guide site. See ‘Right to appeal against the grading’ of a student attainment, which is near the top of the instructions. Appeals against a grade that are submitted after the deadline may not be processed.

Should you have any questions regarding examinations, please contact the Open University office by email at [email protected] or by calling the Open University’s Student Services number.

If you need individual study arrangements for taking an examination, contact the Open University’s Student Services at [email protected] no later than two weeks before the exam, but preferably at the beginning of the course.

If you need the individual arrangements, they are to be reasonable and justified for medical reasons. Examples of such reasons may include dyslexia, a sensory impairment, a mental health condition or a learning difficulty. Examples of individual arrangements include extended time or a private space for taking the exam, an assistive technology device, or an alternative method for completing the exam. Individual arrangements must be agreed beforehand.

Further information about individual study arrangements