STUDY AT

ÅBO AKADEMI UNIVERSITY

Inspiring – International - Individual

FINLAND

• Independent 6.12.1917• Member of EU 1995• Surface area of 338 000 sq. km.

- 70 % forest

- 10 water; 190 000 lakes and approximately

as many islands. Europe’s largest archipelago

• Population 5.2 million • Swedish speaking minority of 6

%• Climate: mild winters along the

coast and relatively warm summers with almost 20 hours of daylight

FACTS ABOUT FINLAND

• The Finnish flag was designed in 1918 by Eero Snellman and Bruno Tuukkanen.

• The European currency EURO is in use in Finland as well as in most European Union member countries

• Tarja Halonen, Finland’s current president, is also the first women to be elected President in Finland

• Åbo Cathedral is over 700 years old. The history of the Cathedral over the centuries is closely linked with that of the people.

ÅBO - TURKU

• Åbo is the oldest city in Finland and the first capital of the whole country. Today it is the capital of its region, the Southwest Finland.

• In 2009 Åbo will be celebrating her 780th birthday

• The name Åbo refers to the first settlers by the river, "å".

• Turku originates from a Slavic word "turg" - meaning a market place.

• South-West Finland has 450 000 inhabitants. In Åbo the population exceeds 170 000.

• European City of Culture in 2011

ÅBO AKADEMI UNIVERSITY

Founded 1918 Swedish-language university Multi-faculty university,

seven faculties Today 7.500 students, over

600 international students 900 doctoral students Two campuses: Åbo and Vasa Small and personal university

www.abo.fi http://portal.abo.fi/student/en/

exchange

Vasa

Å bo

KEY WORDS

- Top quality education and research

- An acknowledged position at the forefront of research in biotechnology, computer science, chemical combustion, human rights, material sciences and process chemistry

- Friendly and welcoming environment in the oldest university town in Finland

- Close to the unique, beautiful archipelago with over 20.000 islands

CAMPUS MILIEU

• Situated in the old parts of Åbo/Turku

• Campus combination of donated residential homes and old factory storehouses as well as modern buildings

• Museums and archives • Three adjacent

university campuses

FACULTIES

• Arts• Mathematics and

Natural Sciences• Economics and Social

Sciences• Technology• Theology• Education• Social and Caring

Sciences

Faculty of Arts

• The oldest and second largest faculty with 1 600 students

• A great variety of departments and study programmes within languages, history, psychology and a large number of cultural subjects such as comparative literature, comparative religion, musicology, nordic ethnology and nordic folkloristics.

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

• Founded in 1918• Activities:

• Bio-sciences• Exact Sciences, i.e.

chemistry, geology, mineralogy and physics

• Mathematical sciences

• BioCity Science Park• Husö Biological

Station

Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences

• The Faculty of Political Sience was founded in 1918. The School of Economics and Business Administration at Åbo Akademi was founded in 1927

• Social Sciences include information studies, economics, political science, public administration, public law, international law, civil law, sociology, statistics, international organisations and women’s studies

• Economic sciences include accounting, commercial law, economics, international marketing, organisation and management and maritime law

• Institute for Human Rights

Faculty of Technology

• Two departments: • chemical engineering • information technologies

• Founded in 1920 as Faculty of Chemical Engineering, named changed in 2006

• Main specialisation areas are computer science, information systems, process chemistry, process system engineering and pulp and paper technology

• The faculty has a centre of excellence in scientific research appointed by the Academy of Finland: Process Chemistry Group (PCG).

Faculty of Theology

• The smallest faculty at the University

• The education itself not confessional but the faculty primarily trains for example clergymen to meet the needs of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church

THE VASA CAMPUS

Faculty of Education Teacher training in Swedish Education for vocational teachers

and study counsellors Increasing amount of courses

taught in English Faculty of Social and Caring Sciences

Political Science and Media studies Health Care Administration and

Didactics of Caring Sciences Master Programme in Media

Studies Institute for Finland-Swedish

Social Research and CoE Democracy from a citizen perspective

SYSTEM OF STUDY

• Bachelor’s degree 180 credits (3 years)

• Master’s degree 120 credits (2 years)

• Postgraduate degrees: Licentiate and Doctor

• Lectures, exercises, essays, exams, seminars, independent study courses

• Study advising and mentoring system

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

NORDPLUS ERASMUS FIRST ISEP Bilateral

agreements Coimbra Group

TEACHING IN ENGLISH

Courses and Programmes in English

Programmes offered through cooperation between the universities in Turku/Åbo

ECTS Transcripts

STUDY PROGRAMMES IN ENGLISH

which offer a full year course load (60 ECTS in English)

Business Studies Biosciences Chemical Engineering English language and

literature Environmental studies Finland-Swedish

Studies Human Rights

STUDY PROGRAMMES IN ENGLISH

Information technologies

Law (Turku Law School)

Political and Social Sciences

The course catalogue Study in English is updated every year. Please see

www.abo.fi/student/en/exchangepublications for more information

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES

IN ENGLISH

• Chemical Engineering• Electronic and Mobile

Commerce• International Human

Rights Law• Biomedical Imaging• Embedded Computing

• http://portal.abo.fi/student/en/sokstudieplats

• admission@abo.fi

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH

Centres of excellence appointed by the Academy of Finland: Process Chemistry Centre Center for Functional Printable Materials (2008-)

Åbo Akademi is also a partner in the following CoE: Molecular Imaging in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Foundations of European Law Polity Research

Strong research areas in 2006-08: Democracy. A citizen perspective Printable Electro-Magnetic-, Optical, Chemical, and Bio-

Functionalities - Center of Excellence for Functional Materials (FunMat)

Behavior Genetics of Sexual Dysfunctions, Aggressive Behavior and Mediating Hormones

Cell Stress, Signaling and Survival-Center of Excellence in Cell Stress.

STUDIER PÅ SVENSKA

•Skandinaviska språk•Litteraturvetenskap•Svenska som modersmål

Undervisningsspråket vid Åbo Akademi är svenska. Information om kurser inom samtliga ämnen vid akademin finns på www.abo.fi.

SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Welcome Guide, Survival Guide

Orientation course Student tutor

system Individual

academic advising sessions

Ongoing support

SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Computer facilities Libraries Career Services Language courses Sports and leisure

activities

HOUSING

• Housing guaranteed for exchange students

• Student hostel• Family housing• single rooms• shared apartments• from 220 euro

STUDENT UNION

Membership compulsory Student identity cards Health care Cafeterias and canteens

with subsidised meals Student associations Starting packages Student choirs and

orchestras Support functions Legal advising Student’s rights issues

STUDENT LIFE

• Active student union• Versatile student

culture• More than 60 student

associations• ESN for international

students• Excursions, parties,

language exchange, traditional student festivities (e.g Shrove Tuesday and Valpurgis)

BUDGETING

• Tuition free of charge• Student Union fee 96 euro• Various deposit fees for

e.g. starting packages and keys

• Approximately 220 euro for housing per month

• Finnish students do not for example buy their own books, but use the undergraduate library

• Living expenses estimated to 550-650 euro/month (includes housing)

LIVING IN FINLAND• In winter, the mean temperature is

below 0°C (32 °F), but warm air flows can raise the daily high above 0°C (32 °F). The temperature can drop to -25°C (- 13 °F) or even -35°C (-31 °F) in the islands and coastal regions. Mild climate.

• In spring, the mean daily temperature rises from 0°C (32 °F) to 10°C (50 °F).

• In summer, the mean daily temperature is around 20°C (70 °F). Heat waves, with a maximum daily temperature exceeding 25°C (77 °F), occur on an average of 10 to 15 days per summer in southern and central Finland

• In autumn, the mean daily temperature remains below 10°C (50 °F).

ACADEMIC YEAR

AUTUMN TERM 2008• Arrival Day 25 - 26 August • Orientation course

27-19 August• Registration from 20 August• Classes begin 1 September• Classes end 19 December

SPRING TERM 2009• Arrival Day 3-4 January • Orientation course 5, 7

January• Registration from 2

January• Classes begin 7 January• Classes end 29 May

APPLICATION DEADLINE

• 31 May for autumn term• 1 November for spring

term

WELCOME TO

ÅBO AKADEMI UNIVERSITY