Beginning the studies

Welcome to study at Xamk!

You can find information on the following study-related topics on this website:

New student’s checklist

helps you to remember the most important things before the studies begin.

New Student’s Checklist

 

Information package for new students

is available here in electronic form. You’ll get a hard copy of it in the beginning of studies too.

Information package for new students

 

Confirming the study place


There are two phases in confirming the study place: accepting the study place and enrolling as student.

Confirm your study place by 11 December 2018 (3 pm Finnish time) through the link you have received by email, or if you have a Finnish social security number and Finnish online banking credentials, mobile certificate or an electronic ID-card by logging in to the My Studyinfo -service. If the study place has not been confirmed by the deadline, you will lose the study place reserved for you.

Confirming a study place is a binding choice, and you cannot cancel or change your choice later. When you confirm a study place bindingly, all your other study programmes will automatically be cancelled.

If you are offered a study place to a lower preference study programme and are on a waiting list for one or more of your higher preferences, you can confirm the offered study place and if you want, choose to remain on a waiting list for your higher preferences. Waiting lists are used until 18 December and in some study programmes they are not used at all.

If you have confirmed a place and chosen to remain on the waiting list, but you wish to cancel your place on the waiting list for your higher preferences before 18 December, you can contact the higher education institution that you have applied to. They will make the change for you, and the lower preference becomes your bindingly confirmed study place. Please note that this is only possible if you have not yet been accepted to any higher preferences, and you do not want to wait for the results any longer. If you have access to the My Studyinfo -service, you can make the change there yourself.

See more information about confirming a study place and choosing to remain on a waiting list on Studyinfo.fi service.

Help and instructions

Detailed instructions for confirming the study place electronically are available on Studyinfo.fi service.

If you cannot confirm the study place electronically, please contact the Admission Services at Xamk: admissions@xamk.fi.

Admission results

The higher education institutions publish the admission results according to their own schedules from the end of October onwards.  All results in the joint application are published by 29 November 2018 and a notification of result is sent by all applicants by email then. You can find up to date information about your result by logging into My Studyinfo service or you can contact the Admission Services.

You can be notified of your results before 29 November if:

  • you have been accepted to your highest preference,
  • you have been accepted to one of your lower preferences and cannot be accepted to higher preferences
  • you have been accepted to a lower preference but the results of your higher preferences are unfinished
  • you have not been accepted.

When you are admitted to study at Xamk, you will receive an email from the Studyinfo.fi service and from Xamk Admission Services. You may receive either one of the emails first. The email from Xamk includes instructions for beginning the studies.

The email from Studyinfo.fi service includes the link for confirming the study place. The email is sent automatically within 24 hours after the information about your admission has been published.

See more information on Studyinfo.fi.

Registering as student

  • Enrol as an attending or non-attending student when confirming the study place. The link for enrolment appears on the screen after you have accepted the study place bindingly.
  • The deadline for the enrolment is 11 December 2018 (3 pm Finnish time).
  • Note: if you confirm the study place but choose to remain on the waiting list for higher preferences, enrol as student only after when it has been confirmed where your future study place is.
  • You are granted study right when you have been accepted as a student to Xamk and you have enrolled as an attending or non-attending student.

Enrolment during the studies

  • All students are required to enrol for attendance or non-attendance every academic year during the enrolment periods given in the academic year timetable of Xamk.
  • Academic year is the time between 1 August and 31 July.

Enrolment and tuition fees

  • The admission is conditional if you are liable for paying the tuition fee: you first confirm your study place and pay the tuition fee by the given deadline. You enrol as an attending student after the payment has been received at Xamk.
  • The Admission Services notifies you by email when the payment has been checked and will ask you to enrol as student through the electronic service.

Enrolment for non-attendance


You can enrol for non-attendance for the first academic year for the following reasons only and prove the legal grounds for your non-attendance with the given documents :

  • Completing military service, civilian service or voluntary military service for women in Finland
    * service under the Conscription Act (1438/2007), Non-Military Service Act (1446/2007), or Act on Women’s Voluntary Military Service (194/1995)

    • required document: Call-up order
  • Maternity, paternity or parental leave
    • required document: Kela’s certificate regarding maternity, paternity or parental allowance period or, if the certificate has not yet been received, a medical certificate regarding the pregnancy or corresponding certificates from the authorities of other countries regarding statutory parental leave
  • Personal illness or injury that prevents you from studying
    • Sickness allowance decision or, if no decision exists, a medical certificate. The medical certificate must state which illness or injury the student suffers from, and that this condition prevents the student from beginning their studies on 1 January 2019.
    • Obstacles caused by the practical arrangements required by the illness or injury: an adequate clarification, e.g. a certificate from the student housing foundation that the student is on the waiting list for an apartment required by his or her injury.

The documents proving the legal grounds for your non-attendance must be delivered to Xamk Admission services by the deadline for accepting the study place. The documents must be submitted in Finnish, Swedish or English. You can submit the documents through the same electronic service that is used for submitting qualification certificate copies, see instructions and link under ”Certificate copies”.

If you postpone the beginning of the studies based on the above given grounds, please follow these steps by the given deadlines:

  1. Confirm the study place
  2. Enrol for non-attendance
  3. Submit the document proving the legal grounds for your non-attendance.

If you are liable to pay tuition fee for the studies and have legal grounds for non-attendance, submit the document proving the legal grounds for your non-attendance and contact the Admission Services after confirming the study place. You are not required to pay the tuition fee for the period of non-attendance.

If you enrol for non-attendance for the first study year but fail to submit sufficient proof of the legal grounds for the non-attendance, you will be registered as an attending student.

Please note, that the degree programme you have been admitted to may not have an intake for new students every year.

As a student enrolled for non-attendance

  • you cannot pursue studies during the time of non-attendance (chargeable open UAS studies are
    possible, registering the credits as replacements or accreditations as part of the degree after
    enrolment for attendance only).
  • you have no right for the Kela financial aid or the daily supported meal.
  • you are also not entitled to any student benefits (e.g. travel discounts, use of the school’s internet
    facilities etc.)

As an non-attending student, you are yourself responsible for the continuation and progress of your studies because the courses offered to students can vary from one academic year to another.

 

If you enrol for non-attendance for the spring semester 2019, we will send you information by email during April-May 2019 about next year’s enrolment and beginning the studies.

Certificate copies


Copies of the final qualification certificates used for applying must be submitted through the electronic service below, if they have not submitted on the application form on Studyinfo.fi during the application preiod. It is fine to submit a photo of the certificate, if the quality of the photo is sufficient.

If you accept the study place electronically and choose to remain on the waiting list for a higher preference: submit the certificate copies only after when it has been confirmed where your future study place is.

Submit the certificate copies for joint application in autumn 2018 here (recommended browsers: Firefox or Chrome)

Submitting the certificate copies is the applicant’s responsibility. Please note that

  • as regards qualification certificates from outside Finland, a copy of the graduation certificate in the original language and a copy of an official English/Finnish/Swedish translation are required.
  • certificate copies are not required from applicants who have completed the matriculation examination in Finland in 1990 or later (we have access to the information on the national database).
  • if you have completed the general upper secondary school syllabus in Finland but not the matriculation examination, submit a copy of the final certificate from your high school (lukion päättötodistus).
  • employment certificates are not required.
  • if you are a refugee or in a refugee-like situation and are unable to submit documentary evidence of your qualification, you must submit an official decision attesting to your refugee status (a decision on asylum or a residence permit granted on the basis of a need for protection) instead of your qualification certificates.

If not able to use the electronic service

If you are unable to deliver the certificate copies electronically, send them by post to:

South-Eastern Finland UAS / Admission Services
Paraatikenttä 7
45100 Kouvola, Finland

The documents must arrive at the Admission services by the given deadline so please reserve enough time for the postal delivery.

Required certificate copies in the Bachelor’s degree programmes:
  • Qualifications completed in Finland: final/graduation certificate in original language and official English/Finnish/Swedish translation, if the original is not written in one of those languages
  • Finnish general upper secondary school certificate, if the Matriculation examination is not completed
  • Finnish vocational upper secondary qualifications, Finnish post-secondary or higher vocational diplomas and further or specialist vocational qualifications
  • European / International Baccalaureate and Reifeprüfung Diplomas
  • Those enrolled for non-attendance: certificate on the legal grounds for the non-attendance

 

Please note: if you have submitted the required certificate copies on your application form on Studyinfo.fi or in the entrance examination, it is not necessary to deliver them again.

Remember to take the original certificates with you in the beginning of studies. The certificate copies sent in advance are verified by checking them against the original certificates.

Information about study right

Right to study

The University of Applied Sciences (UAS) studies are regulated by the University of Applied Sciences Act and Decree defining e.g. the right to study and the enrolment for attendance and
non-attendance (Act 932/2014/§ 28-30).

You have a right to complete the studies leading to a UAS degree according to the guidelines stipulated in the degree programme and its curriculum, as well as in the degree regulations.

The regular study time is determined by the extent of the degree. The notified time of non-attendance that is in accordance with the regulations explained before will not be included in the maximum time of taking the studies.

Extent of the degree Regular study time Time of study right
240 cr 4 years 5 years
210 cr 3,5 years 4,5 years
90 cr 3 years 4 years
60 cr 2 years 3 years
Double degrees based on DD agreement regular study time + 1 year

Certificate on the study place

You can use the admission letter sent from Xamk by email as a certificate of your study place.

 

Losing the right to study

If you have not enrolled for attendance or non-attendance or do not deliver the required documents proving the legal grounds for your non-attendance by the set deadline, you lose your
right to study.

A student who has failed to enrol, has a right to apply for restoration of study right from the head of the department. It is not possible to restore the study right if the student’s study time has ended. There is a handling fee in the amount of 50 euros collected for processing the application (Council of State Decree 1440/2014 § 3). The application is handled after the fee has been paid.

If you have not completed the studies in the given time, you lose the right to study, unless the UAS for a particular reason extends your time for completing the degree.

Appeal

According to the legislation in Finland, an applicant has a right to request for adjustment to the decision concerning student selection within 14 days of publishing the results of student admission.

If you believe that there has been a mistake in the student selection and the admission criteria have not been applied correctly, you must first contact admission services at the university of applied sciences where the student admission decision has been made. If the decision was made at Xamk, contact: admissions@xamk.fi.

If this does not clarify the matter, you can make a written request for adjustment to the decision regarding student admission.

A request for adjustment must specify the name and contact information of the person making the request, the decision that the request for adjustment concerns, the points of the decision that adjustment is sought for and  the grounds for the request for adjustment. If necessary, supporting documents can be attached to the request.

The request for adjustment concerning student selection at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is addressed to the Examination committee and delivered to:

South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
Examination committee
Paraatikenttä 7, 45100 Kouvola

or

by email to tutkintolautakunta@xamk.fi, topic of the message stating “Request for rectification for the Examination committee”.

Programme-specific information

Game Design

Instructions for beginning the studies in the Game Design programme in Kouvola.

Read more

Wellbeing Management

Instructions for beginning the studies in the Wellbeing Management programme in Mikkeli.

Read more

Studying at Xamk

GETTING the username FOR XAMK SERVICES

If you have online banking codes from a bank in Finland, you can get Xamk username by login in to authentication service before the studies begin. The username for new students are available in the service from Thu 13 December 2018 onwards, provided that you have confirmed the study place and enrolled as an attending student.

The service uses online banking codes from a bank in Finland for authentication and to activate your Xamk username you need to change your password there.

While applying for the username you also accept the network rules. Please note: write down the username you get from the service.

If you start changing the password in the service, you have to follow the procedure until the end. In case you face problems either in authentication or in creating an own password, please try again later. If it still will not succeed, you can create a service desk help request at xinfo.xamk.fi.

Note. The user codes for students selected through the supplementary application are available in the service appr. 1-2 working days after the student has confirmed the study place and enrolled as an attending student.

Bring the details (username &password) of your user account with you when you come to start your studies. You will need them to be able to log in to our services and systems.

Access to Student intranet with your username

With the username you can access Student, the intranet for Xamk students, at https://student.xamk.fi. During the studies all news, instructions and other information is provided for students through the intranet service. You will receive more information about the service in the beginning of studies but it’s possible to start familiarising yourself with it already in advance. You can also download a mobile app called Tuudo for free from the app store of your phone and login with the username.

Applying for a student card

After receiving your username and password, you can order a student card by becoming a member in the Student Union Kaakko. Submit the membership application through Kaakko website. You need your student number for the application, please find instructions for it below. The student card can be used for many purposes: it is your library card, payment card for student priced lunch and card for logging in to the printer/scanners on campus.

This is how you find your student number: Log into Peppi service at https://opiskelija.peppi.xamk.csc.fi > Open your profile by clicking your name on the top right corner of the page > Settings > Student number is the number sequence of 7 numbers given on the top of the page after your own name, e.g. 1800123.

 

Requirements for your new password:

  • minimum length: 10 characters
  • do not use characters ä, ö and å
  • you are recommended to include a capital letter and a number in the password, to make it more secure.
  • do not include your name or date of birth in the password

In case you do not have online banking codes from a bank in Finland and cannot access the authentication service, you will receive your user code in the beginning of studies. Be prepared to have your official ID (e.g. passport, Finnish driver’s licence) with you then.

 

Study guide

Curricula and content of studies in the degree programmes

Find out more

Bring your own device

Students primarily use their own devices like laptops in the studies. There are given recommendations for the device and support available also before the studies begin.

Find out more

Studying at Xamk

See e.g. the academic calendar with schedule for tuition 2018-2019

Read more

Beginning your studies after non-attendance?

Information about enrolment as student and the right for non-attendance for those who have been admitted as students earlier

Read more

Read up on these topics too!

ACCOMMODATION


Degree students arrange housing themselves prior to their arrival in Finland, Xamk cannot offer accommodation for students.

Most of the student residences have the basic furniture including bed, desk, chair, and table and benches in the kitchen. Make use of all the second hand shops available for other things you will need: mattress, pillow, blanket, dishes etc!

Arrival and Xamk campuses

Getting to Kouvola and Mikkeli

  • If you are travelling via Helsinki Airport, you most likely will prefer to use a train connection.
  • If you are coming from Helsinki city center or other cities in Finland, please, check Matkahuolto or Onnibus web-pages for the options.
  • If you are arriving from St. Petersburg, you can consider taking the Allegro train to the Kouvola train station (with a connection to Mikkeli travel centre).
  • Try to arrange your flight or other arrival in Helsinki early enough so you can reach Kouvola/Mikkeli not too late in the evening.
  • You should arrive in Kouvola/Mikkeli 2-4 days before the studies begin.

Useful links:

 

XAMK and campus locations

Kouvola

Mikkeli

Student union Kaakko


Student Union Kaakko is present on all four campuses of South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences: Mikkeli, Savonlinna, Kouvola and Kotka. Any member of Student Union Kaakko may apply to become an active operator in the student union. The work to promote and support student life is important and interesting – if you would like to join, keep your eyes and ears open year-round so that you will not miss the application process. When joining student union you’ll also receive an official student card that gives you access to numerous student discounts.

The undertakings specified in the Universities of Applied Sciences Act will continue to be the most important responsibilities of the student union: it acts as a link between its members, promoting their social and intellectual objectives and efforts, as well as their objectives related to studies and students’ position in society. For its part, the student union prepares students for an active and critical citizenship and promotes social awareness. South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences has various bodies and steering groups that include representatives from Student Union Kaakko.

For example following bodies include student representatives: South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Ltd’s Board of Management, Financial Aid Committee, Examination Committee and also other teams and task forces in our uas. Student representatives have an important role in this work, as students themselves are the only experts on student life. They provide the other members of the team, mainly representing the UAS staff, with important information. Student Union may also where necessary, participate in carrying out the responsibilities provided for in the Health Care Act concerning the provision of student health care and of the Health Insurance Act concerning the basic health care of students.

More information on student union and on becoming a member: http://opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi/en/

Residence permits

Residence permits

You must find out what permits you need before coming to study at Xamk. In case you are accepted as a student and need a residence permit for the studies in Finland, you should submit the residence permit application and book the appointment to Finnish embassy or consulate immediately after receiving the notification of admission. Note that the visit to the embassy is required for identification and fingerprinting and the processing of your application only begins after the visit. Also the estimated processing time for the application begins from the time of your visit.

Finnish immigration service’s notice – Instructions for applying for a residence permit (pdf)

It is good to know that the following actions will increase your possibilities to have a decision on your permit application before the studies begin:

  • submit the application in good time and deliver the needed attachments
  • use the electronic services for applying.

You are also recommended to request a Finnish personal identity code to be issued with your residence permit.

 

Health insurance

Insurance policy which covers you during your travel to/from Finland and during your stay in Finland is strongly recommended for all foreign students. If you are of non-EU/EEA nationality, health insurance is obligatory when you are applying for your student residence permit. Without an insurance, a residence permit cannot be granted.

Though you can take out insurance from an insurance company in your home country, it may be better to ask for suitable insurance from an international insurance company. Finnish missions (embassies and consulates) and the Finnish police can give you further advice. Some examples for companies are listed on Finnish Immigration Service website http://migri.fi/en/insurance where you can find more information on the insurance requirement.

One option for the insurance is the company MARSH/SIP, with whom the Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences have negotiated an insurance package for international students. The aim is to provide the necessary insurance coverage for higher education students at a reasonable price. See further information at www.sipinsurance.eu.

General information about the insurance and health care in Finland is available at www.studyinfinland.fi/practical_matters/insurance_and_health.

Tuition fees

If you are required to pay tuition fees for the studies, please note that you need funds to pay the tuition fee and your living expenses (6720 euros for one study year).

See the instructions for applying for a residence permit for information on how to prove means of income for the permit application.

Information about the tuition fees at Xamk is available on our website www.xamk.fi/tuition-fee.

If you are required to pay the tuition fee, you will receive instructions for the fee in the notice of admission. You are asked to pay the fee by the deadline for confirming the study place. You are not able to enrol as student before the payment has been received at Xamk and it is therefore important that you take care of the fee as soon as possible. Further instructions will be given in the admission letter.

Funding your studies

Financial aid for Finnish students

Information about Kela financial aid for students: in Finnish / in English

  • The period for the financial aid at Xamk is 9 months/academic year (September-May). You have a limited amount of financial aid months at your use. The amount depends on the extent of the degree and if you have received financial aid for higher education studies before. You can apply for the financial aid with one application for the regular study time. Xamk financial aid advisors help students in matters related to Kela financial aid (contact: opintotuki@xamk.fi).
  • If you are not a Finnish citizen and have come to Finland for study purposes, the general rule is that you cannot get financial aid from Finland. The eligibility criteria for financial aid from Kela is available on their website (Financial aid for foreign students).

General housing allowance

Information on the adult education allowance (aikuiskoulutustuki): in Finnish / in English

If you are unemployed or about to lose your job in Finland, consult your TE services office for information on the possibility for independent study supported by unemployment benefit.

The cost of living

Students have to pay for their own living expenses (including food, accommodation, clothing and social activities) and costs for books and other study material.

When planning your studies in Finland it is important to know the costs for the living and studying and to arrange sufficient funding for your studies.

Costs for basic necessities per month are estimated to be:

  • housing (student apartments) EUR 270-380
  • lunch (canteen on campus) EUR 60
  • self-cooked food EUR 100
  • books and material EUR 40
  • incidental expenses EUR 90
  • Total EUR 560-670

In addition, costs per month for clothing, travelling, commuting or social activities should also be considered. An average Finnish student spends a total of EUR 600-800 monthly.

Working while studying

In the full-time studies there are requirements for presence on lectures and other practical study methods daytime, during weekdays. Though students may work part-time during the studies, one is not adviced to plan the personal finances on it. Finding a part-time work may be diffcult, especially without knowledge of the Finnish language.

Students with a residence permit for studies have a limited right to work during the academic year, see Finnish Immigration Service website for more information: http://migri.fi/en/studying-in-finland . Also then the main purpose of the stay in Finland is studying and making progress in the studies.

Start building your career in Finland

Career planning is a continuous process that helps you manage your learning and development. This is a model for international students starting their studies and heading for employment in Finland.

This model helps you better understand the study path in the Finnish universities of applied sciences and guides you to working life in Finland.

We hope this model is a useful tool during your studies in Finland!

 

For more information, please see www.xamk.fi/kilkaseng.

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