Orientation for International Students

• Practical Issues

• Academic Culture

Päivi Rastas and Valtteri Kiviö, admissions@utu.fi

Studying at the University of Turku & Registration of

Foreigners to Finland

Facts about Finland

• Finns drink the most coffee per person in the world.

• Finland is home to little creatures called the Moomins.

• Finns thinks that small talk is usually unnecessary.

• There are more saunas than cars in Finland

• Finland has the most heavy metal bands in the world, 55.3 bands per 100 000 people.

Academic community

• Students are not considered customers but equal members of the academic community > easiness in approaching the staff (office hours!)

• Students are an important part of the decision making processes at the university• Student representation in

programme committees, faculty work groups etc.

• Faculties have different periods and different systems in study-related matters and practices.

• Practices vary also between the departments and even inside the subjects!

• In this presentation we tell how everything works in general.

• Remember also your programme’s own info session!

• If in doubt, you can always contact the teachers orcoordinators.

8 Faculties – all different

Academic culture

Punctuality and timing• ”Academic Quarter” • 12 - 14 = 12.15-13.45• 12.00 – 13.00 = 12.00-

13.00

Informal interaction withprofessors• firstname.lastname@utu.fi• Office hours• During/after lessons

• Freedom to make decisions on your studies (timetables, minors, the interest of research)

• Responsibility of the progress of your studies

• Basic rights guaranteed by administration: objectivity, lawfulness, equality

• No insurance provided by the university for students (exception: e.g. lab work, field course)

Academic freedom and responsibility

• Academic counselling• From programme coordinator, teachers, study psychologists.

• Mental wellbeing• Support services for students• Early support for students• Services outside the University

• Programme Coordinators

• Tutor

• Student Union & student organisations

• Also available: Career Guidance Services, Job Seeking Guidance, Services for Students with Disabilities and Students with Special Needs, CampusSports, Study Psychologist…

Help and information

Academic year

Autumn Semester

• 1 August - 31 December

• Periods I and II

• Teaching ends around 20.12.

Spring Semester

• 1 January – July 31

• Periods III and IV

• Teaching starts around 10.1. and ends in April/May (may vary between faculties)

• 1 credit (cr) = 1 opintopiste (op) = 1 ECTS

• 1 ECTS = 27 hours of work • (including lectures, seminars, reading, writing, and independent

work)

• The recommended workload for one Academic year equals to 60 ECTS• 30 ECTS during one semester.

• How many credits can I take?

• How many credits do I need to take?

Credits

Grades

UTU ECTS

0 Fail F

1 Sufficient E

2 Satisfactory D

3 Good C

4 Very good B

5 Excellent A

or pass/fail (cannot be converted to a numeric evaluation)

IT services, courseregistration etc.

• You need it for everything: • reading your emails• access to the UTU intranet• registering to the courses by using Peppi study system. You’ll find the enrollment

timetable from the study guide by clicking the course information.• for using the study systems of UTU – Moodle, ViLLE learning platform, TEAMS, UTU

zoom etc

• You can activate your UTU account with Finnish online banking credentialsor mobile ID at https://idm.utu.fi/utu_idm/index_en.html or if you don’t haveone, in online video identification service Signicat.

• If you use Signicat, please log in https://signicat.utu.fi/, use your personalaccess code sent to you by email and follow the instructions. You need yourpassport during the activation.

• If you have any problems during the process, please contact IT-serviceshelpdesk@utu.fi

UTU IT account

• Teachers and other university staff know only your utu-email→ all information is sent there!

• Teachers’ email addresses are usually of the formfirstname.lastname@utu.fi

• When writing an email at mail.utu.fiyou can search for other people’sutu-email addresses

UTU email - mail.utu.fi

Peppi, what it is all about?

• The Study System

• Student’s desktop, student.peppi.utu.fi

• Your personal information (can be edited to some extent, for example address)

• Semester enrollment

• Study guide

• Enrollment for courses and exams

• Looking at credits and downloading a transcript

• Personal study plan

See more information. Ask your programme coordinator.

How does Peppi look like

• https://studyguide.utu.fi

• In Peppi you can find all the courses available for you

• The teaching schedules are also found in Peppi under thecourse description (under ’implementations’)

• You can read more about Peppi at https://intranet.utu.fi/index/studyguide/

Study Guide Peppi

Example of a course page

teaching schedule

number of

credits

responsible department

course code

If some info is missing,

contact the person in

charge!

Course registration (under PSP-Personal Study Plan)

• Finding the course information• Study Guide should have it all• You can also try www-pages

• Course timetables• Teaching schedules are in Study Guide• Course timetables and teaching schedules are found in the course

descriptions.

• Course registration• is often online in Peppi or sometimes in Moodle • may be done by going to the first lecture• may only require an email to the teacher

• Check the information from your programme!

Finding your way to studies - in short

Covid-19

https://www.utu.fi/en/information-on-coronavirus

• Please only come to campus if you have followed the FINENTRY instructions, see https://www.finentry.fi/en/.

• The aim is to ensure the health and safety of all students and staff, while restoring students’ social contacts and safe physical communality.• University’s instructions on coronavirus situation.

• Restricted entry to buildings (entrances are locked, but can be opened with your printing tag/electronic key).• Desinfectant dispensers on campus, use of masks mandatory inside buildings (unless you are alone in the

space), keep a safe distance from others.

• Opening hours of the libraries are updated on the libraries’ websites.

• In the autumn, the faculties offer all students as much teaching as possible on campus. • It is possible to organise teaching and other events for the University community and guests so that the

space-specific maximum number of people is not exceeded.• Check the Study Guide (opas.peppi.utu.fi) for information on teaching arrangements of individual courses, or

contact your degree programme coordinator if you have further questions on how your faculty organisesteaching.

• If you are in Turku, please see the city of Turku website for information related to Covid-19: for example what to do if you experience symptoms, information on testing and vaccinations, recommendations and restrictions etc.

Covid-19 precautions

• The coronavirus helpline of the City of Turku, tel. +358 2 266 2714. You will get more instructions.

• In Rauma, Corona helpline +358 44 403 5234

• Stay in your room/apartment and avoid contact with others as much as possible. • Avoid contact with people outside your

household when you are waiting for a coronavirus test and the results of a coronavirus test.

• If you are diagnosed with a coronavirus infection, it is important to find out where you were infected and who else may have been infected by you. Download the Koronavilkkuapp!

• Follow isolation and quarantine instructions given to you by the Health Officials.

• In case of emergency call 112

If you feel sick

Source: THL, https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/symptoms-and-treatment-coronavirus

Registration with theUniversity and as a foreigner in Finland

• Done by paying the Student Union membership fee (53 € for thewhole academic year). Deadline 31st of August.• New students (admitted in 2021): Registration done in Studyinfo.fi• Students who were admitted in 2020: Registration done in the Peppi-

system (student.peppi.utu.fi).

• New students: Once your registration and study right have beenentered into the University’s register, you will receive a confirmation from disco@utu.fi• After you receive the confirmation, you can order the student card and

activate your UTU user account.

• Students admitted in 2020: after succesful registration in Peppi, disco@utu.fi will not send you any further confirmation. Yourregistration information is automatically updated in the Peppi system, after which you can activate your UTU account etc. if youhaven’t already. If you have problems with registration, pleasecontact disco@utu.fi.

• Further instructions available on the University’s website for registration.

University registration

• Student Union membership is compulsory by law in Finland.• Student Unions represent students and work together with the

University to ensure the best possible studying environment to all. • The Student Union of the University of Turku, TYY.

• www.tyy.fi

• Q&A session with the Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY) today at 16 (4 pm) on Zoom (link in the programme PDF!)

• ALSO: remember to pay the compulsory Student Health Care fee to Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland).• Deadline 30 September.• 35.80 € paid to Kela once per term (spring and autumn), i.e., twice a

year. • Entitles you to the services of the Finnish Student Health Service,

FSHS.• Instructions on the Kela website.

• Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) maintains its regional Population Information System.

• Registers foreigners and issues Finnish ID Codes

• Purpose of the Finnish ID Code• used especially in the activities and information systems of the

authorities

• university database → compilation of governmental statistics.

• opening a bank account

• NB! Obtaining an ID Code is obligatory to all students.

Registering as a foreigner in Finland and Finnish ID code

• By appointment only when you are in Finland

• In Turku Itsenäisyydenaukio 2, in Rauma Aittakarinkatu 21

• https://dvv.fi/en/foreigner-registration you’ll find instructions and the registration form (fill in before your visit to DVV)

• https://dvv.fi/en/service-locations find your town and you’ll find thelink to the booking system

• Under Personal law services → International registrations

• Send your Finnish ID Code from your UTU e-mail to disco@utu.fi

• Make sure that DVV assigns you a municipality of residence when you visit them. This will entitle you to municipal services in your home municipality.

Digital and Population Data services Agency in Turku and in Rauma

• If you do not wish to make an appointment with DVV beforehand, you can also visit the DVV in Turku on one of theirfreely open ”pop-up” days for new international students:

• 14-16th September (Tue-Thu), between 9:30-12 and 13-15:30 o’clock.

• During the pop-up days you do not need to book an appointmentbeforehand.

• You might have to queue for a little while, but the queue should movequite swiftly.

Pop-up Open Days at DVV in September

• Take with you

• passport / official ID card. NB! driving license isn’t valid as an official ID in Finland!

• residence permit card (non-EU/EEA students) OR certificate which proves the Finnish Immigration Service has registered your right of residence (EU/EEA students)

• UTU study certificate

• your lease (your Finnish address)

• pre-filled registration form (https://dvv.fi/en/foreigner-registration)

• For non-EU/EEA citizens: If you got the ID code with the residence permit you have to do all thisanyway.

DVV registration process for students

Reminders & good-to-knows!

What’s next?

• Remember to provide your educational documents to theUniversity by 15 September.• Follow the country specific requirements.

• Upper secondary credentials

• Degree from higher education

• If you are unable to provide the documents by the deadline, youcan get an extension. Please contact admissions@utu.fi for this.

• If you need to bring the originals to the University, please contactadmissions@utu.fi to set up an appointment. • You can also bring them to the Student Centre Disco service desk during

its open hours, which you can check on the Disco website.

• You can receive all the documents back that you have provided us. If thestudent never retrieves their documents, we will officially keep them for 2 years, after which they can be disposed of.

Providing original documents

Meet people, go outside, enjoy Turku!• Meet other students and your tutors online and

offline and take part in events.• If you have not contacted your tutor yet, it is

recommended that you do it now! If you require moredetails, you can ask your degree programmecoordinator.

• Go outside! • Having meetings and events outside is safer corona-

wise. • No matter whether you are outside or inside, do

remember to follow the coronavirus instructions and restrictions.

• There is no bad weather, just wrong clothing. ☺

• Use public transport, walk, or cycle to take a look around town.• Recommendations for what to do and see in Turku for

example through these links:• Study in Turku

• Kiss my Turku

• Monday 30.8. at 16 (4 pm): Meet up with Student Organizations for Students in Turku!• Organized on an online platform (wonder.me)• More info will be sent to your e-mail!

Orientation continues

• Today• Take a look at the recorded

presentations and videos from thelibrary, Campus Sport, the Rector’sgreeting etc., available on ourorientation website! https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/accepted-students/orientation

• Information session for scholarshipholders.

• Thursday• 10-12:30 lectures on academic writing

and Finnish language and society.

• Friday: Welcome Fair on campus 11-13 (on top of the University Hill)

Become an UTUambassador!

UTUambassadors: a glimpse to the studentlife at UTU

The UTUambassadors are an international and interdisciplinary group of motivated students who share their experiences as international students on our social media channels. They also assist the University in marketing and recruiting efforts and represent the University at events, providing a student perspective to different topics.

utuambassadorRead their thoughts on the Student Life at UTU blog

Watch their videos on Youtube

New people

“The best thing was the

people I got to meet. By

interacting with other

people I was able to grow

and learn a lot of myself.”- Mária, Slovakia

Skills

“Communication is one of the positive outcomes I got from the ambassador year. I learned how to better use

digital media.”

- Eman, Egypt

Experiences

“Participating in different

events broadens the

understanding of the

university values and how

the things are done.”- Olha, Ukraine

Becoming one of the UTUambassadors is a unique opportunity to

grow, develop your skillset and expand your personal networks.- Kristaps, Latvia

U I RSITY TUR U

What would

I do?

Share your student life on your own social media

Take over the @uniturku Instagram account

Create videos or blog posts

Chat with prospective students

Participate in international events

Join UTUambassador get-togethers

Arrange events for new students

U I RSITY TUR U

Apply to the programmeby 12 September!

Answer the questions on the online application

Wait for an invitation to a group interview

www.intranet.utu.fi/

ambassadors-apply

Attach 2 examples of social media posts