The one study right rule
Lead paragraph
The one study right rule applies to application rounds that begin after 1 August 2026 and in which students are admitted to programmes starting on or after 1 January 2027.
The one study right rule means that a student’s study rights at the same or lower level will be terminated if they accept a new study right leading to a degree.
If a student has a study right for a two-cycle degree (Bachelor’s + Master’s), where the lower degree is not yet completed, both the study right for the lower degree and the study right for the higher degree will end at the same time.
The one study right rule aims to provide as many people as possible who do not yet hold a degree or have a previous right to study with the opportunity to complete a higher education degree.
When accepting a study place, the applicant will be shown which study rights will end upon acceptance of the study place. In other words, previous study rights are only terminated once the applicant accepts the new study place. The decision to accept a new study place, and thereby terminate previous study rights, is binding. It cannot be changed afterwards.
The provisions are not retroactive: if a student has multiple study rights when the law enters into force, they do not need to give them up. It is also still possible to complete more than one higher education degree as consecutive courses.
The provisions apply to universities’ lower and higher university degrees, universities of applied sciences’ bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees from universities of applied sciences. Doctoral degrees, commissioned education degrees, international joint and double degrees, and degrees from the National Defence University and the Police University College are excluded.
New UAS Bachelor’s Degree (AMK) study right
| Study rights to be terminated | Study rights NOT terminated |
| UAS Bachelor's | UAS Master’s |
| University Bachelor’s | University Master’s |
| Combined University Bachelor’s + Master’s |
New UAS Master’s Degree (YAMK) study right
| Study rights to be terminated | Study rights NOT terminated |
| UAS Bachelor's | |
| UAS Master’s | |
| University Bachelor’s | |
| Combined University Bachelor’s + Master’s | |
| University Master’s |
Explanations:
UAS Bachelor’s Degree (AMK): Bachelor’s degree from a University of Applied Sciences
UAS Master’s Degree (YAMK): Master’s degree from a University of Applied Sciences
University Bachelor’s Degree: Bachelor’s degree (university)
Combined University Bachelor’s + Master’s Degree: Combined bachelor’s and master’s degree
University Master’s Degree: Master’s degree (university)