STUDY GUIDE 2008–2009 for International Students
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STUDY GUIDE 2008–2009 FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PUBLISHER Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences Administrative Services P.O. Box 505 FI-94101 Kemi Finland Tel. +358 (0)10 383 50 Fax +358 (0)10 251 120 Edited by Pia-Maria Lausas Graphic design and layout Ville Pesola ISSN 1237-5519 PRINTING WORKS Tornion Kirjapaino 2008 CONTENTS WELCOME FROM THE RECTOR 4 ABOUT FINLAND 5 Finland’s History at a Glance 7 HIGHER EDUCATION IN FINLAND 8 KEMI-TORNIO UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES 9 STUDyiNG AT KEMI-TORNIO UAS 10 ECTS SYSTEM 12 ADMissiON AND REGISTRATION 14 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2008–2009 16 ACADEMIC AUTHORITIES 17 INTERNATIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMMES 18 Degree Programme in Business Information Technology 18 Degree Programme in Business Management 20 Degree Programme in Information Technology 22 Degree Programme in Social Services 24 Master’s Programme in International Business Management 26 STUDENT SERVICES 28 Internationalisation 28 Tutoring 29 Student Union KETOAKKU 30 EDU TOKEM FI Channels and Vehicles of Communication 31 Library and Information Services 31 Virtual Studies 32 WHAT IT TAKES TO COME AND STUDY 33 IN FINLAND AND KEMI-TORNIO UAS? Before Leaving Your Home Country 33 Arrival in Finland and Kemi-Tornio Region 35 Everyday Issues 36 Accommodation Health Care Money and Banking Civil Registration Phone Calls Internet Postal Services Media Transportation Working in FInland Living Expenses KEMI-TORNIO REGION 42 CONTACT INFORMATION 44 LINKS WORTH CHECKING 45 FEW WORDS TO GET BY 46 ANNEX EDU TOK E M FI 4 WELCOME FROM THE RectOR THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LifE Ask anyone who has graduated a few or more Succeeding in academic studies requires you years ago. They will tell you how they miss their a thirst for knowledge, motivation, initiative, time at school. Being a student is a very special communication skills and effective working. period in your life. So make the best of it! However, you are not left alone with your Studying is about learning, achieving efforts. We do our best to help you to reach your professional competencies and preparing goals. You can always turn to student tutors, yourself for the working life. On top of international coordinators, teachers, or student that studying abroad is about gaining new service personnel for guidance and support. experiences, building self-confidence, exploring new cultures and widening perspectives. In Study Guide 2008–2009 you find basic information on studying at Kemi-Tornio Our mission at Kemi-Tornio University of University of Applied Sciences and the student Applied Sciences is to provide you a dynamic services you are entitled to. This Guide also and innovative learning environment where comprises practical information and sheds light you can enhance your skills and abilities and on Finland and Kemi-Tornio region. build a strong professional identity to meet the challenges of the international job market. Student life is about getting to know yourself, who you are and what you enjoy doing. That is In the Academic Year 2008–2009 we start 16 why I advice you to reserve some spare time for Bachelor’s degree programmes four of which new friends and recreational activities, sports are international and conducted in English and culture, something interesting available for everyone in Kemi-Tornio region. Enjoy every • Degree Programme in moment while you are living it. Business Information Technology • Degree Programme in I wish you good luck with your studies. Business Management Hopefully years from now you will look back on • Degree Programme in your student days and say that it indeed was the Information Technology best of all times. • Degree Programme in Social Services. We also offer three professional Master’s Degree Programmes one of which is conducted Riitta Käyhkö in English Rector • Master’s Degree Programme in International Business Management. EDU TOKEM FI 5 ABOUT FINLAND WHERE ARE WE? Finland is located in northern Europe between that you are not in the immediate vicinity of a the 60th and 70th parallels of latitude. One house. However, it is forbidden to litter, cause quarter of Finland’s total area lies north of the any damage, disturb other persons or animals Arctic Circle (napapiiri in Finnish). in the area or make open fire without the landowner’s permission. The topography of Finland is flat with For further information on Everyman’s right visit the exceptions of high rounded fells in Lapland, website of Finland’s environmental administration the northern part of the country. Thousands of www.ymparisto.fi (> www.environment.fi > Nature lakes, rivers and streams as well as forests and conservation > Nature, recreation and tourism > woods dominate the Finnish landscape. The Everyman’s right) three most common trees are pine, spruce and birch. WHAT´S THE TiME? 338 km², Finland is the seventh Finland is two hours ahead of Greenwich Total area Ahead of the largest country in Europe Mean Time (GMT) and one hour ahead of time Central European Time (CET). 69% forest, 10% water, 8% cultivated Of the total area land and 13% other Setting the Daylight Saving Time (or summer time) is clocks twice in effect from the last Sunday on March to a year the last Sunday of October. Maximum 1 157 km north to south, 542 km east to west distances 24-hour timetable is commonly used. For 12/24 example 8.00–16.00 means the same as with Sweden in the west (614 km), with from 8 am. to 4 pm. Land border Norway in the north (736 km) and with Russia in the east (1 340 km) WHO ARE WE? Highest point Halti, 1 324 m The Finns form a distinct linguistic and ethnic population bearing features from both eastern Longest river Kemijoki river, 483 km and western Europe. Finnish language, with Estonian and Hungarian, belongs to the Finno- 188 000 lakes, 180 000 islands and 35 Ugric group of languages. Blue and green national parks with the area of 884 600 ha The population of Finland is 5.3 million people. It is Everyman´s right (jokamiehenoikeus) Families with one child are the most common; in Finland to go hiking in the forest even if it accounting for 43% of the 590 000 families is private property. You are also allowed to with children. Demographic data indicates that pick wild berries and mushrooms, providing the Finnish population is aging. Nowadays the EDU TOKEM FI 6 number of children under 15, as a proportion house has a sauna of its own. In an apartment of the population, is 17% which is equal to house there is a common sauna the residents the proportion of elderly people (over 64). The can visit according to the sauna schedule. average life-expectancy of Finnish women is 83 There are public saunas in swimming halls with years and of men 76. indoor swimming pools, water slides, water massage, jacuzzi and so on. Population 5.3 million people What do you do in a sauna? To learn more visit the website of the Finnish Sauna Society www.sauna.fi Population 4.1 ‰ growth Density WHAT DO WE DO FOR LiviNG? 17 people inhab./km2 The Finnish economy has grown strongly in Main 91% Finnish (suomi), 5% Swedish (ruotsi), recent years. Finland’s GDP has increased in languages 0,03% Lappish (saame) real terms by over 50 percent over the past Main ten years. The ratio of R&D investments to 82% Lutheran, 1% Orthodox religions domestic output in Finland is among the highest in the world. To learn to know some famous Finns in politics, culture, science and sports visit virtual.finland.fi (People/famous_finns.asp) Gross domestic 164 billion euros (2007) product (GDP ) HOW DO WE LivE? 26% industry, 18% real estate Although a total of 4.3 million Finns, 82.3% and business activities, 11% trade, 10% transport, storage and GDP by of the population live in urban areas in the communications, 8,6 health and industry southern part of the country, many people have social work, 6,0% construction, 4,8% summer cottages in the countryside. education, 4,8% administration, 2,6% agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing 41% of households live in single-family 23% electrical and optical equipment, Residential residences, 14% in attached or semi- 15% pulp, paper and paper products, Exports buildings detached houses and 15% basic metals and fabricated metal 43% in blocks of flats products Summer 475000 cottages Finnish monetary unit is the euro (€) Monetary unit which is divided into 100 cents Saunas over 2 million For further information onFinland’s economy visit the It is likely that the Finns have had the sauna website of the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK for about two thousand years. In the past the www.ek.fi first building put up in a farmyard was usually a sauna. Nowadays practically every Finnish EDU TOKEM FI 7 FINLAND’S HISTORY AT A GLANCE about 8000 The end of the ice age. Early settlers (hunters, fishermen and food gatherers) arrived in Finland B.C following the retreat of the continental ice-sheet. For a long time they were thought to be the first inhabitants in Finland. However, latest archaeological findings suggest that there have been settlements in Finland before the ice age, over hundred thousand years ago. 1155 The first crusade. Led by the King Eric the missionaries arrived in Finland from Sweden. Finland became part of the Kingdom of Sweden for 600 years. 1543 Mikael Agricola’s ABC Book, the first book written in Finnish language, was published. 1640 The oldest institution of higher education, the Royal Academy of Turku, was founded. Nowadays it is known as the University of Helsinki. 1808–1809 The Finnish War between Sweden and Russia.