Working group proposes carrots and sticks to encourage early graduation

A working group at the Ministry of Education wants to impose limits on the time students spend on university studies. Under the plan, which would take effect in 2005, the normal amount of time taken to complete studies could be exceeded by a maximum of two years. In most cases this would place a seven-year limit for a higher, master's-level degree. The working group also wants to require a personal study plan for each student to prevent students from taking on too diverse an array of courses. Tuition would continue to be free for full-time students studying for a degree. However, mandatory fees are planned for supplementary studies undertaken when a person already is at work. The working group is also calling for a number of other ways to keep students to their schedule, including making more efficient use of time and trimming the content of the subject matter. The academic year would also be longer: the autumn term would begin on the first of September and end on December 15. The spring term would be extended to the end of May. The proposals of the working group are part of broader government plans to extend the amount of time that Finns stay at work.