Beginning the studies

Tuudo is a mobile app designed to help students in their everyday life. You can already now find new student’s checklist on Tuudo – it helps you to remember the most important things before the studies begin.

Download Tuudo app free of charge from the app store of your phone (Google Play Store, Apple App Store).
Open Tuudo and select South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences – Xamk from the list of institutions.
Select “Proceed” in the New student section (no login required).
Select “For New Students” from the menu.

You have access to some of the other sections on Tuudo as well, but not yet all of them. Later, when you have Xamk username at use, you can log in to Tuudo by selecting “Log in with student account” from the menu.

Information package for new students

is available here in electronic form (PDF file) during the autumn. A a hard copy of it is available in the beginning of studies too.

published during autumn 2020

Information on coronavirus

Xamk updates the info page with current instructions concerning the coronavirus situation.

See the info page here

Admission results

Higher education institutions publish admission results gradually according to their own schedules. If you have access to My Studyinfo service (Finnish personal ID number and online banking codes with e-identification enabled, mobile certificate or an electronic ID-card needed), you can follow your results in real-time.

All results in the Joint Application, Autumn 2020 will be published by 27 November 2020.
At Xamk, results will be published gradually in October-November, as soon as the result is available for the degree programme in question.
You will receive a notice by email both from the Studyinfo.fi service and Xamk Admission Services, when you have been offered a study place at Xamk.

When all the results in the joint application have been published (27 Nov 2020), you will receive an email with a link to the admission results letter. This letter is sent to all applicants. The letter includes the admission results of all the study programmes you have applied to in joint application. You can see this information also on My Studyinfo service.

Students may be admitted from the waiting list until 15 December 2020. Please note that all study programmes do not use waiting lists and the amount of places on the waiting list may be limited.

Notices of admission

You will receive a notice by email both from Xamk Admission Services and the Studyinfo.fi service, when you have been admitted to study at Xamk. You may receive either one of the emails first.

The email from Xamk Admission Services includes the official admission letter that you can use as proof of your study place e.g. when applying for housing or a residence permit.

The email from Studyinfo.fi service includes the link you need for confirming your study place, and is sent automatically within 24 hours after the admission result has been published.

Confirming the study place and enrolling for the studies

There are two phases in confirming the study place:

1. accepting the study place and

2. enrolling as student

3. If you have been asked to provide certificates about your qualifications in the notice of admission you receive from Xamk, upload the required documents to your application form on Studyinfo.fi after enrolling as student.

Accepting a study place is a binding choice, and you cannot cancel or change your choice later. When you confirm a study place bindingly, all the other higher education study programmes you have applied to in the joint or separate applications will automatically be cancelled.

Please also remember that if you don’t confirm the study place by the given deadline, you will lose the study place offer.

1. Accept or decline the study place offer and enrol as student through Studyinfo

by 4 December 2020, 3 pm Finnish time.

If you are admitted from the waiting list or in supplementary application, you must confirm the study place within 7 days from the notice of admission.

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.

Note that you can only confirm one study place per academic semester. This means that if you are accepted to several study programmes beginning in spring semester 2021 (1 Jan – 31 Jul), you need to choose which place you wish to confirm. Please read more about the one place per term provision on Studyinfo.fi.

2. 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.

Please note however that if you are liable to pay tuition fees, your enrolment for attendance will be registered automatically after the fee has been paid (see instructions below).

You are granted a study right when you have been accepted as a student to Xamk and you have enrolled as an attending or non-attending student. All students are required to enrol for attendance or non-attendance also during studies, it is done every academic year during given enrolment periods. 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. Your enrolment for attendance will be registered automatically after the payment has been received at Xamk.
The Admission Services notifies you by email when the payment has been checked and the enrolment registered.

Do you want to postpone the beginning of studies?

It is possible to postpone the beginning of studies by confirming the study place and enrolling for non-attendance. You can enroll for non-attendance for the first study year for the following reasons only:

You need to complete military service, civilian service or voluntary military service for women in Finland.
You are on maternity, paternity or parental leave.
You are unable to begin your studies due to illness or disability.

Instructions for
non-attendance

3. Upload the required qualification and employment certificates to your application form on Studyinfo.

Information about your qualifications used for applying is checked and the student selection is conditional until the check-up is complete. Qualifications are verified either from the national database in Finland or from the certificate copies submitted on the application form.

You have been asked to upload certificate copies required in Joint Application, Autumn 2020 to your application form already during the application period. If any certificate needed in student selection is missing from your application form, Xamk Admission Services will notify you about it by email.

The missing certificate copies must be uploaded to your application form on Studyinfo by 7 December 2020, 3 pm Finnish time. If you are graduating during the autumn of applying and information about your qualification is not available in the KOSKI service, you have to upload your certificate on Studyinfo by 28 December 2020, 3 pm Finnish time.

Uploading certificate copies on the application form

The certificate copy can for example be a photo you take of the certificate with your mobile. Please make sure the quality of the photo is sufficient and add the name of your qualification in the file name.

You can access your application form through My Studyinfo service or through the link you received in the confirmation email after submitting your application. Upload your certificate copies in the “Certificates required in connection with student selection (UAS)” section on the application form.

Entering Finland

Residence permit

Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. You can begin the student residence permit application online at Enterfinland.fi. Remember that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate as part of this process. Start your residence permit process as soon as possible, carefully following the immigration authorities’ instructions and regulations, so that you can receive your permit in good time before your studies begin!

You can find detailed information and advice on the residence permit requirements and procedures on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website.

NB! Missions of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs have interrupted the receiving and processing of residence permit applications on 19 March 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). These exceptional arrangements are still in effect in many missions.

While abroad, you can still submit your application through the Finnish Immigration Service’s Enter Finland online service. Your application will be accepted for processing once the exceptional arrangements are no longer in effect and you have identified yourself.

Please follow the Finnish Immigration Service’s Corona page and their page on effects of the coronavirus outbreak on customers who are abroad for further updates.

You can also follow Studyinfo’s COVID-19 information page for further updates.

Step-by-step guide for starting your immigration process during COVID-19 outbreak:

Prepare for the application by checking you have all the necessary attachments and information before you begin.
Create your user account in Enter Finland online service
Fill in the application form for student residence permit carefully and accurately. Also attach all the required documents. This will help the Immigration service when they will process your application later.
Please follow the bulletins issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on the ministry’s web page. Book a time for identification immediately when the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has announced that the exceptional arrangements are no longer in effect. You can find a list of Finland’s embassies and other missions online.
Pay and submit your application
Visit the selected authority to identify yourself
Follow the processing of your application

EU Citizens

If you are a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you don’t need a residence permit to enter Finland.

Please see information about the EU citizens registration procedure on Finnish Immigration Service website https://migri.fi/en/i-am-an-eu-citizen.

British citizens

If are a British citizen and you arrive in Finland for the first time after 31 December 2020, you must apply for a residence permit in the same manner as other persons coming from non-EU countries.

Please see information and Brexit-related instructions on Finnish Immigration Service website https://migri.fi/en/brexit/en.

Instructions on travelling

Entry regulations and self-isolation upon arrival

It is good to note, that many countries continue to restrict inbound passenger travel, and that exceptional visa regulations, for example, may be in force. Check updated entry regulations from the authorities of the country of your travel destination.

Persons arriving in Finland from abroad must restrict non-essential close contacts and self-isolate for 10 days. Please find here the recommendations for passengers arriving in Finland by Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (PDF). Please follow the website thl.fi/matkustajaohje for possible updates.

Travel arrangements and insurance

We highly recommend you to make the travel arrangements as late as possible to avoid any situations which might cause extra costs to you. You are always recommended to take out a comprehensive travel insurance. It is particularly important now that you make sure your insurance policy provides sufficient coverage.

Programme-specific information

Kouvola Campus

Game Design

Kouvola Campus

International Business Management

Kotka Campus

Naprapathy

Studying at Xamk

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.

When you have got your username for Xamk services, you can also order an electronic study certificate in Peppi system. Login to Peppi at https://peppi.xamk.fi (use other browser than Internet Explorer) > Orders > Select the document > Select the language and press Order > Download the electronically signed study certificate from the Documents tab. The study certificate includes instructions on how to verify the electronic signature.

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 Director of Education for the study programme. 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 euro collected for processing the application (Council of State Decree 1440/2014 § 3). The fee is paid electronically when submitting the application.

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.

Getting the username for Xamk services

If you have online banking codes from a bank in Finland, you can get Xamk username by logging in to the authentication service before the studies begin. The username for new students is available in the service from 1 December 2020 onwards (within appr. 1-2 working days after the student has 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 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 your own password, please try again later. If it still will not succeed, you can create a service desk help request at xinfo.xamk.fi.

Have the details (username & password) of your user account ready when you are starting 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://peppi.xamk.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:

the password must be at least 10 characters long
use large and small letters, numbers and/or special characters like: !?:;()=+*-#.

NB! Some special characters, as @ and %, could cause log in problems!

Please do not use:

your own name
date of your birth or the rest of your Finnish personal ID
ä, ö, or å letters
previous passwords
an easy-to-guess password

In case you do not have online banking codes from a bank in Finland and cannot access the authentication service, you will get your username from the student affairs office in the beginning of studies at the latest.

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.

Joining student union as a member is the official and for this reason the recommendable way to receive the official student statement and student card, which gives you access to numerous student discounts and makes your life much cheaper and easier in Finland. The student card also works as a smartphone app (android and IOS) under the app called slice.fi.

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.

More info about the student card and the Student Union Kaakko from:

https://www.opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi/en/home/

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 and holiday periods

Find our more

Beginning your studies after a year of absence?

Information about enrolment for those who have postponed the beginning of studies.

Find the info here

Student health care service

From 1 January 2021 onwards, all degree students (bachelor and master degrees) enrolled for attendance in higher education can use the health care services provided by FSHS. Students can use the health care services also in other towns than where the studies are located in. There are also remote services and consultations available.

All students who are entitled to FSHS services are required to pay the health care fee annually to Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, regardless if they use the services or not. Kela is a government agency that provides basic economic security for everyone living in Finland.

Students beginning the studies in January 2021 need to pay the fee on their own initiative for spring semester 2021 by 31 January 2021 according to instructions given by Kela.

Check out up-to-date information on the health care fee and instructions for paying are available at https://www.yths.fi/en/fshs/fshs-2021/!

Accommodation

Degree students arrange housing themselves prior to their arrival in Finland. Student housing is available through local student housing organisations. Xamk cannot offer accommodation for students.

Student housing in Kouvola: www.kouvolanasunnot.fi/opiskelijat/students
Student housing in Mikkeli: www.moas.fi

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!

See more info on student housing and travelling to the campus cities on the programme-specific info pages

Tuition fees and scholarships

Your liability for paying the tuition fee has been checked in the application process. The tuition fee is to be paid by the deadline for confirming the study place according to instructions given in the admission letter.

The scholarship scheme at Xamk is mainly based on student’s progress in studies. Additional scholarships are granted on the basis of studies in Finnish language.

You can find more information about the fee and scholarship policy from www.xamk.fi/tuition-fees.

Funding your studies

Financial aid for Finnish students

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

Kela financial aid is available in the form of study grant, government guarantee for a student loan and housing supplement (available on certain conditions only). The qualifying conditions for student financial aid are: full-time study, academic progress and need of financial assistance. Students in bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes are also eligible for discounted meals.

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

Students are eligible for general housing allowance on the same terms as everyone else. Find out more from Kela website: in Finnish / in English

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

Adult education allowance can be granted to employees and entrepreneurs who have at least eight years of employment history. You need to have been employed by your current employer for at least one year before the beginning of the studies to be supported, and you also need to leave your work on part-time or fully unpaid study leave.

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. Find out more on TE-services website in Finnish / in English

If you need advice on the above described possibilities for funding your studies, please contact the Admission Services at admissions@xamk.fi.

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) appr. EUR 300-400
lunch (canteen on campus) EUR 60
self-cooked food EUR 100
books and material EUR 40
incidental expenses EUR 90
Total EUR 590-690

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 advised to plan the personal finances on it. Finding a part-time work may be difficult, 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.

Friend Family Programme

Programme offers international degree students the opportunity to get to know Finland and Finnish culture, language and lifestyle through local families and their everyday lives.
It is based on mutual understanding and voluntariness between the student and the family. The aim of the programme is to promote internationality and the knowledge of different cultures.

What do we expect from the student?

Commitment to the programme
Student is initiative and eager for getting to know Finnish culture
Student is responsible for his/her own life (studies, any payments, housing, free time hobbies and other things)

What to do with the family?

The best way to get to know Finnish culture is to spend time with the family
You can decide together what kind of activities you would like to do together according to your schedule and resources
The most important thing is common time with the friend family

You will learn more about our Friend Family Programme in the beginning of 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.