Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have any questions? You may find answers to various questions and situations here.

Contents of this page

Registration

Why do I need to register in advance?

This is to ensure that there are enough participants for the course. If there are not enough people who have registered in advance, the course will be cancelled. Some courses have a limited number of places, so priority will be given to those who register first.

I registered online, but I didn’t receive a confirmation email. Why?

There may be a typo in the email address you provided, or your inbox may be full. In these cases, the confirmation email will not have been delivered. It is a good idea to check the spelling of your email address before submitting your registration.

I have signed up for the course. Why haven’t I received a reminder?

The college does not notify students when a course begins. It is the responsibility of each student to make a note of the timetables for their own courses. The college will only notify students if a course is cancelled or if there are changes to the course schedule.

Cancellation

Why does registration need to be cancelled in advance?

If you register or cancel at least five working days before the course starts, we will know in good time whether there will be enough participants. On the other hand, if the course is popular, the place vacated by the person who cancels can be given to someone on the waiting list. An invoice will be sent based on your registration.

I signed up, but I won’t be able to attend the course. Can I give my place to a friend?

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. As there may be a waiting list for any cancelled places, in the interests of fai ess, any such place will be allocated to the first person on the waiting list.

I’ve signed up for a year-long course, but I can’t make it every time. Can a friend attend in my place on those occasions?

As registration is on a personal basis, you cannot attend on behalf of someone else.

My child doesn’t want to continue in the study group. Can I study in my child’s place, as the tuition fee has already been paid?

You cannot register on behalf of another family member either, as registration is personal.

Invoicing

I received a reminder invoice even though I didn’t attend the course. Why?

Failure to attend does not constitute a cancellation. An invoice will be sent based on your registration. Cancellations must be made in person at least 5 working days before the course starts, either by telephone or email (kansalaisopisto@keuruu.fi).

I signed up for two different courses and the invoices arrived in separate envelopes. Why?

Invoices are issued on a course-by-course and individual basis. Invoices are not printed or posted by the adult education centre; instead, this is handled via a postal service. For technical reasons, there is only one invoice per envelope.

I paid for the course using ePass, but I still received an invoice for the course fee. Why?

Please indicate your intention to pay via staff benefit schemes (ePassi, Smartum, Edenred) when registering; if registering online, select this option under ‘Payment method’. This will allow us to expect payment via your staff benefit scheme. However, if you have received an invoice for the course, please note the following:

1. Payment must be made within two weeks of the course starting. If payment has not been made by then, we will send an invoice for the course, after which staff benefit payments will no longer be accepted.
2. If you are not paying for the course via ePass or Smartum using the payment link for online payments, you must contact the college office to find out how to verify your payment via the ePass or Smartum app. When paying via Edenred, you must always contact the college office.
3. Staff benefits cannot be used to pay for just any course; they are restricted to courses related to sport and culture (according to the tax authority’s guidelines). We have indicated in the course descriptions if a particular course cannot be paid for using staff benefits.
4. You cannot use your staff benefit to pay for a course for a child, family member or friend, as the benefit is personal. We therefore do not accept payment via the staff benefit scheme if it has been used to pay for another person’s course.

Payments

Why are some courses more expensive than others?

For some courses, the college has to pay higher-than-usual fees for venue or equipment hire. The teacher may be a specialist whose salary costs are higher than usual.

The college cancelled the course even though there were enough participants. Will I get a refund of the course fee?

Course fees will only be refunded if the course is cancelled in its entirety. A refund will only be issued if the course fee falls into a lower fee bracket based on the actual number of hours taught, and the refundable amount is at least €10. This refund policy applies, for example, if a teacher is unable to teach for an extended period and a replacement cannot be found. If a course is cancelled because the number of students has fallen below the minimum, the course fee will not be refunded.

Academic year and holiday periods

Why are the terms so short?

If the terms were longer, fewer courses could be offered and the range of courses would be more limited.

Why does the college have autumn and spring holidays?

The adult education centre is an educational institution and therefore follows the same procedures as schools.

Communication

I received a text message from the college. Why can’t I reply to it?

The messages are sent as group text messages via the Fonecta system. The technical setup allows the college to send messages, but it cannot receive replies.

I heard that the college had sent a text message about the course being cancelled. Why didn’t I receive the message?

Messages will be sent to those who provided their mobile phone number to the college when they enrolled. If a phone number is missing or incorrect, the message will not be delivered.

I have signed up for a short course. Why haven’t I been reminded about it?

The college does not notify students when a course begins. It is the responsibility of each student to make a note of the timetables for their own courses. The college will only notify students if a course is cancelled or if there are changes to the course schedule.

Getting to know each other and changing groups

I’m not sure if the course is right for me. Can I try it out for free before I decide whether to enrol?

You may attend a trial session for a study group running for a full term or academic year only on the first day of the course. If you decide not to continue, please remember to notify the college office yourself within 7 days of the trial session. There is no opportunity to try out shorter courses.

The other course taught by the same teacher suits me better. Can I switch to the teacher’s other group?

The course fee varies depending on the course. You can switch to another group if there is a place available, but you will be sent a new invoice for the course fee.

I have read the guidelines for students, but my personal circumstances are currently exceptional and I would hope that some flexibility could be shown in my case. What should I do?

You are welcome to contact the college. However, we would ask you to bear in mind that the college has around 3,000 students each year and, to ensure fair treatment for everyone, we have established standard guidelines and rules which we follow.

Equipment and supplies

Why doesn’t the adult education centre provide equipment for students to use? For example, it’s a hassle to have to bring your own exercise mat.

The college’s groups usually meet on school premises. There are differences between schools regarding the use of equipment. As a general rule, students are responsible for purchasing the books and other materials they need for their studies themselves.

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