Research of Otus 

In the field of higher education research, OTUS's work focuses mainly on students. Already from the 1910's, there have been various kinds of research interests concerning students. Main interests through the years have been the number of students, their socio-economic status and examination times. Research on students' and their associations' role in society have also been significant parts of studentresearch.

The work of Otus is focused in four main categories:

1. The students' socio-economic status and well being

The Finnish common state-funded study grant system consists of study grant, study loan and a housing allowance. Regardless of the low level of study grant, interest in taking a study loan has decreased among students compared to 1990's. At the same time working during studies has increased. Studies have thus been observed to prolong and delay. OTUS has done several surveys and statistical studies on students' subsistence, use of government grants and student loans and students' social background. For example, in 2000 Peter Blomster examined changes in subsistence during studies, students' earnings and the use of study grants during 1960-2000.

2. Examination times

In Finland the prolongation of studies and dropping out have been major issues in higher education politics since 1960's. In 1990-1993 Jussi Silvonen examined graduate students examination times and the issue was reviewed again in 1998, when OTUS conducted a background survey for the Finnish Ministry of Education on duration and advancement of the university studies in Finland.

3. Exchange students, internationalisation

Otus has carried out studies on students who have studied abroad, foreign students in Finland and students who have studied in two or more universities in Finland.

4. Student housing

OTUS has examined student housing, its' expenses, students' wishes concerning their housing and building of student apartments. Student housing was also the subject of OTUS's first doctoral dissertation in 2000 by Petri Lempinen, who studied housing from the culture-historical perspective in the context of Turku student village in years 1959-1980.

So far, all publications have been published in Finnish and only some of them have summaries in English.