Every spring, many students graduate after years of hard work. However, the effects of graduation in terms of the student card often come as a surprise. The validity of the student card is based on the study right which ends upon graduation. As a result, the student card stops working shortly after graduation. Tuudo cannot influence the visibility of the card, since its availability is determined by information received from the educational institution.
According to the latest user survey (April 2026), the student card is the second most-used feature in Tuudo at institutions where it is available. This is hardly surprising, as the student card allows users to access student-priced lunches as well as many valuable benefits and discounts, such as discounted tickets from VR and Matkahuolto.
It is completely understandable that students want to hold on to these benefits for as long as possible. It is therefore quite common that when the card no longer appears in the app, Tuudo’s customer support receives many messages about it. The most common response to these inquiries — often surprisingly to the student — is this: your study right is no longer valid, and therefore the card is no longer visible.
Student Card Visibility for New Students
At the beginning of a semester, the card does not automatically become visible immediately after accepting a study place. Instead, it appears only once the student’s study right has officially started, the student has registered as attending, and any related fees have been paid. After this, the attendance information is transferred from the educational institution to Tuudo within a few days.
For new students, the student card becomes visible on the first day of the month in which studies begin. For example, a student starting their studies in autumn will gain access to the student card from August 1st, even if the actual start date of studies is later in August.
Student Card Visibility for Graduating Students
Tuudo receives information about students’ study rights directly from educational institutions. Tuudo does not independently decide who can see the student card. The visibility of the student card is based on specific criteria, the most important of which is having a valid right to study.
A common misconception is that the study right automatically continues until the originally announced end date of studies. For example, at universities, students may have up to seven years to complete their degree. If a student continues their studies during those seven years and remains registered as attending, the student card will continue to function normally. However, if there is still one year of study right remaining but the student graduates, the study right also ends upon graduation, and the card stops working.
The student card also does not automatically remain valid until the end of the semester. For example, if a student has registered as attending for the academic year ending on July 31st but graduates already in early June, the right to study ends upon graduation. Please note that the graduation date does not necessarily mean the day you receive your diploma, but rather the date on which the graduation information is entered into the student information system. This information may also be recorded retroactively.
The student card remains available in Tuudo for a short period after graduation, at least until the month following graduation. If the student office records the graduation date retroactively, the card may appear to disappear earlier than expected.
Tuudo Customer Support
During springtime, Tuudo’s customer support receives a particularly high number of messages regarding student cards. If the disappearance of your own card is confusing, the first thing to check is whether it is related to graduation and therefore the end of your study right, or whether, as a new student, your study right has not yet officially begun. It is also worth making sure that you have registered as attending for the semester.
If none of the above seem to explain the disappearance of the card, you can send a support request through the Feedback & Support section of the Tuudo app.
