Business Studies Essentials

Business Studies Essentials, 28 ECTS

The University of Vaasa Open University offers in total six basic business courses in English during the academic year 2023–2024. These courses provide an overview of the most central themes of economics. Students can apply for each individual course separately, more detailed information about course curriculum and the application process below. 

Business Studies Essentials (28 ECTS in total) consists of the following courses:

• Introduction to International Business, 3 ECTS
• Leading People, 5 ECTS
• Essentials of Accounting, 5 ECTS
• Managing Contemporary Organisations, 5 ECTS 
• Principles of Finance, 5 ECTS
• Principles of Marketing, 5 ECTS

Who can apply?

Open University courses are open for anyone interested. Please note, that during the academic year 2023–2024 the six courses in Business Studies Essentials are primarily targeted to those living in Finland due to temporary protection (e.g. the Ukrainians). Business Studies Essentials are not addressed to exchange students or degree students at the University of Vaasa. Instead, the degree students and exchange students can enrol to degree students’ implementations in Peppi.

Application for the courses taking place in autumn semester 2023 will begin in August and for the spring semester 2024 in November 2023. Apply individually for each course that you wish to attend to. You can choose only one or multiple courses.

Please note, that in order to complete the courses, you will need a computer and Internet connection as well as sufficient knowledge in English. In some courses, participating in teaching requires the use of camera and microphone. Before application, we recommend you to take a self -assessment test to determine your current level in English language. The recommended level for these English courses in Business Studies Essentials is B2.

Self-assessment test in English language

Before application, we recommend you to take this English test for self-assessment. You can use this test to help determine if you have sufficient language skills (B2) to complete the Business Essentials courses taught in English at the Open University of the University of Vaasa. This test does not provide you with any certificate and is for self-assessment only. Once you begin, you will have 30 minutes to complete the test.

You can take the test here

If you score
0-5 points, your level is 0-A1
6-11 points, your level is A1-A2
12-17 points, your level is A2-B1
18-24 points, your level is B1-B2
25 points, your level is B2 or higher

If your test score is below 25 points, we recommend you to participate in English language courses that are organised via SIMHE-studies.

Apply for each individual course separately

During the academic year 2023–2024 the six courses in Business Studies Essentials are primarily targeted to those living in Finland due to temporary protection (e.g. the Ukrainians).

• Apply separately and instantly for every course you wish to attend to. You'll find the links to the course descriptions and application links below.
• For the courses held in autumn semester of 2023, you can apply in August. For the courses held in spring semester of 2024, you can apply in November 2023. 
• To be able to do the application you'll have to attach the decision for temporary protection to your application form.
• The application period for a course ends always two (2) weeks before the course starts. Only applications received within the application period are taken into account.
• The courses have a limited number of places. The places will be filled in the order of application, taking into account the following:
  • The student selection is conditional until your application information and the attachments have been reviewed. Student selection may be dissolved if the necessary attachment is not provided or if the applicant has provided incorrect information in their application.

Autumn 2023

Leading People, 5 ECTS (18.9.2023 ─ 19.11.2023)

This course is an introduction to leadership. The objective of this course is to introduce the participants to the concept of leadership and provide them knowledge and skills in order to understand leadership as an individual, dyadic, group and organizational level processes in different organizational contexts. What does leadership mean? What are the main concepts related to leadership? What are the main attributes of an effective leader? How do people accomplish goals together? How does the global context and culture influence leadership? How can organizations develop future leaders? How could you develop yourself into becoming a good leader?

Please note, that this course has a mandatory pre-assignment! Pre-assignment to be submitted before the first teacher-led session. DEADLINE for pre-assignment is 17.9.2023.

You can find more information about the course and application instructions here:

Open uni, Leading People, Business Studies Essentials, autumn 2023 (free of charge for those who have been granted temporary protection)
* application period 9.8.2023 10:00 ─ 4.9.2023 16:15

There are a couple of places for other students, subject to fee, on the course as well. You'll find more information about the course implementation here: 

Open uni, Leading People, autumn 2023 (subject to a fee)
* enrolment period 9.8.2023 10:00 ─ 7.9.2023 16:15

Introduction to International Business, 3 ECTS (3.10.2023 ─ 17.11.2023)

The course concentrates on general characteristics of global business environment and five main areas of IB: 1) International Management, 2) International Human Resource Management, 3) International Marketing, 4) International Entrepreneurship, and 5) International Sustainability

You can find more information about the course and application instructions here:

Open uni, Introduction to International Business, Business Studies Essentials, autumn 2023 (free of charge for those who have been granted temporary protection)
* application period 9.8.2023 10:00 ─ 19.9.2023 16:15

There are a couple of places for other students, subject to fee, on the course as well. You'll find more information about the course implementation here: 

Open uni, Introduction to International Business, autumn 2023 (subject to a fee)
* enrolment period 9.8.2023 10:00 ─ 2.10.2023 16:15

Essentials of Accounting, 5 ECTS (9.11.2023 ─ 11.12.2023)

The list of the topics to be covered in the course is as follows:

1. Accounting in action
2. Introduction to the conceptual framework
3. The double-entry accounting system
4. Adjusting the accounts
5. Preparing basic financial statements
6. Introduction to management accounting

You can find more information about the course and application instructions here:

Open uni, Essentials of Accounting, Business Studies Essentials, autumn 2023 (free of charge for those who have been granted temporary protection)
* application period 9.8.2023 10:00 ─ 26.10.2023 16:15

There are a couple of places for other students, subject to fee, on the course as well. You'll find more information about the course implementation here: 

Open uni, Essentials of Accounting, autumn 2023 (subject to a fee)
* enrolment period 9.8.2023 10:00 ─ 8.11.2023 16:15

Spring 2024

Principles of Finance, 5 ECTS (20.2. ─ 4.4.2024)

Essential concepts for financial theory and practice, including the time value of money, risk and return, investment strategies, and corporate financial practices such as project valuation, capital budgeting and financial analysis.

This course aims to help students develop an understanding of the core principles and concepts of finance that will build solid foundations for the additional study of the subjects of Corporate Finance, Investments, and Financial Markets, and give them useful practical skills to apply financial techniques to real world problems.

You can find more information about the course and application instructions here:

Open uni, Principles of Finance, Business Studies Essentials, spring 2024 (free of charge for those who have been granted temporary protection) 
* application period 1.11.2023 10:00 ─ 13.2.2024 16:15

There are a couple of places for other students, subject to fee, on the course as well. You'll find more information about the course implementation here:

Open uni, Principles of Finance, spring 2024 (subject to a fee)
* enrolment period 1.11.2023 10:00 ─ 19.2.2024 16:15

Principles of Marketing, 5 ECTS (9.4. ─ 21.5.2024)

The subjects covered on the course include:

1. the role of marketing,
2. marketing process,
3. consumer marketing and BtoB-marketing,
4. marketing mix,
5. digital marketing, and
6. sustainable marketing

You can find more information about the course and application instructions here:

Open uni, Principles of Marketing, Business Studies Essentials, spring 2024 (free of charge for those who have been granted temporary protection) 
* application period 1.11.2023 10:00 ─ 1.4.2024 16:15

There are a couple of places for other students, subject to fee, on the course as well. You'll find more information about the course implementation here:

Open uni, Principles of Marketing, spring 2024 (subject to a fee)
*enrolment period 1.11.2023 10:00 ─ 9.4.2024 16:15

Managing Contemporary Organisations, 5 ECTS

(The course has been cancelled)

We have listed instructions for Open University students regarding user accounts, Moodle online learning environment, Peppi- student information system etc.

You can find all the instructions on this website.

After you have completed the course(s), all the grades will be registered in Peppi -student information system. Please note, that the Open University does not automatically send  transcript of your studies to you. Instead, you can order an official electronic transcript of your studies straight from Peppi.

You can find your grade in Peppi by logging into https://opiskelija.peppi.uwasa.fi with your user account and by choosing either ‘PSP’ on the front page OR Studies > Completed studies from the top menu of the front page.

You can also order an official electronic transcript of your studies from the Study certificates tab or from the front page with the ‘Transcripts of records’ button. The transcript appears in the Documents section and can be downloaded from there to your device.