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University of Helsinki,

Facts

 Language of instruction: English/Finnish  Number of students currently enrolled: 30,000  Semester 1: Late August – Late December  Semester 2: Early January – Late May  Link to the academic calendar: https://guide.student.helsinki.fi/en/article/academic-year-and-teaching-periods  Important information: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions/how-to- apply/exchange-studies

About the

Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is the oldest and largest institution of academic . The University of Helsinki has 11 faculties, and it provides teaching on four campuses in Helsinki: the City Centre, , and . In international university rankings, the University of Helsinki is the only Finnish university to consistently rank in the top 100 of international university rankings.

Website: https://www.helsinki.fi/en

Hear about previous exchange students’ experiences by clicking on the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBP7_BNj7NY

What to expect

Application process If you are allocated for an exchange at the University of Helsinki, you will be officially nominated by the Study and Work Away team and will then be provided with detailed application instructions directly by the University of Helsinki. You can ONLY apply if officially nominated. Notes of Guidance for Exchange students University of Helsinki

The application period normally runs from mid-March through to mid-May. Please check the exact application deadlines on the partner institution’s website: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/studying/how-to-apply/exchange-studies

Type of Application: The application is completed online.

Academics

Course/ credit load One full year of study should equate to 60 ECTS (1680 hours of study). One semester of study should equate to 30 ECTS

Courses available Information on courses suitable for exchange students: https://studies.helsinki.fi/instructions/article/course- selection

Course enrolment Course lists will normally be published at the beginning of March for the following academic year. Students studying Law or Physics should apply through the Academic restrictions subject-specific agreement with the University of Helsinki.

There is a wide range of courses taught in English but the number of places available for exchange students may be restricted. Therefore, it is very important for students to be flexible about the course choices. You will be required to choose the majority of your courses from one faculty, and you can be only accepted by the Faculty closest to your educational background in order for you to do well during your exchange studies. Also, note that you need to have sufficient prior academic background in the disciplines taught. Courses from the following degree programmes are not available through this agreement:  Faculty of Medicine  Faculty of Veterinary Medicine  Faculty of Law  Courses which have a code beginning with KIK-EN or ENG- = Bachelor's Programme in Languages (study track: English) and Master's Programme in English Studies  Politics, Media and Communication, Global Political Communication It may be difficult to gain access to high-pressure courses in the Faculty of Educational Sciences and at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

2 These guidance notes were correct at the time of publishing, 26 October 2020. Help us keep this information accurate by sending any feedback to the Study and Work Away team at [email protected] Notes of Guidance for Exchange students University of Helsinki

Priority is usually given to those exchange students who are enrolled at the University of Helsinki in the degree programme offering the course. Detailed information concerning the rights of exchange students and other non-degree students to participate in courses is best obtained from the degree programme's staff. Restrictions which are marked above are non-negotiable.

Please research the suitability of the University of Helsinki for Previous Students your degree programme. Courses and programmes at your home and host institution may have changed since other students studied there. However, please find below some examples of the degree programmes of students who went on exchange to the University of Helsinki in previous years:  Law  Physics  Geography

Your final course selection must be agreed and approved with your Exchange Coordinator and any course changes made whilst you are away must have their approval.

Accommodation

University Exchange students coming through an official exchange accommodation programme apply for housing in the Mobility Online application system. Please see more information on how to apply for housing as an exchange student here: https://guide.student.helsinki.fi/en/article/how-apply- housing-exchange-student

Application process Nominated students should apply for University accommodation through the online system. The application period normally runs from mid-March to mid-April (to mid- May for EU/EEA citizens).

Private accommodation The ESN Uni Helsinki provides useful links for those who are interested in securing private accommodation: https://esnunihelsinki.com/news/useful-links-apartment- hunting

Costs

Estimated cost of living Estimated cost of living is between €700 and €1,000 per month https://guide.student.helsinki.fi/en/article/living- helsinki#paragraph-3645

3 These guidance notes were correct at the time of publishing, 26 October 2020. Help us keep this information accurate by sending any feedback to the Study and Work Away team at [email protected] Notes of Guidance for Exchange students University of Helsinki

Insurance Students studying at one of our European partner institutions should apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) provides preventive health care, medical care, mental health care, and oral health care for Bachelor and Master’s students at the university. In order for you to have access to the FSHS services, you must be a member of the Student Union (HYY). For more information on the FSHS services, opening hours and possible fees please see the FSHS website. For up to date information on using UK issued EHIC cards after Brexit please see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-finland#healthcare

Banks Most exchange students do not open a bank account in Finland, and use the internet banking from their home country instead. If you need to open a bank account, the bank may ask you to provide a passport, Reference letter from your own bank in your home country/previous country of residence, and Bank account statements for the past 3 months. Please contact the bank for details The use of credit cards in Finland is fairly common so you shouldn’t have trouble using a VISA/American Express/Mastercard. You should be able to transfer between UK and Finnish bank accounts if you have your IBAN and SWIFT codes, however, your bank may charge you.

Other

Employment Those with EU passports should not face any barriers to employment. Non-EU/EEA students face restrictions on the hours they can work and will need to apply for a work permit. For up to date information on working in Finland after Brexit please see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-finland#working- in-finland The orientation programme is organised by your faculty. Orientation Exact dates and times are available on the Orientation and Tutoring website.

Visas Based up on the country of citizenship, students may need to apply for an entry visa. All non‐European/European Economic Area (non‐EU/EEA) students will have to apply for a residence permit to legally reside and study in the Netherlands for a semester or full year. Apply for a residence permit as soon as possible. The processing time for the permit can be over a month (even 2-3 months in China), so it is important that you apply as early as

4 These guidance notes were correct at the time of publishing, 26 October 2020. Help us keep this information accurate by sending any feedback to the Study and Work Away team at [email protected] Notes of Guidance for Exchange students University of Helsinki

possible. More information available in the Permits section. When you apply for a residence permit, please ask to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System. By doing so, you will receive a Finnish personal identity code already before arrival, which will make your life in Finland easier.

Disability Statement Some destinations may be more accessible than others for disabled students. If you require any adjustments due to disability or specific learning difficulty, and you wish to study abroad then please contact the European team in the Study and Work Away service at [email protected]. We will work together with you to explore the help available at your host institution. It might also be helpful if you discuss this with your Personal Tutor and the Disability Office.

What other students had to say about the University

The best part?

The exceptionally good method of teaching. It involved minimum stress and in-depth understanding of studied subjects”

The greatest challenge?

Very long essays: from 2000 to 7000 words.”

Advice for future exchange students

Accommodation

Choose Unihome accommodation because it's close to the university campus.”

General advice

Pack warm clothes, prepare for writing a lot of essays, go on trips organised by the Erasmus group.”

5 These guidance notes were correct at the time of publishing, 26 October 2020. Help us keep this information accurate by sending any feedback to the Study and Work Away team at [email protected]