8 January

2013

Olli Oamkilainen 1

Orientation to Exchange Students

Student Services at Oulu University of Applied Sciences

8.1.2013

Sami Niemelä

International Relations Officer

sami.niemela@oamk.fi

Persons to contact in the SCHOOLS

– Student couselling:

– International co-ordinators

– Academic counselling: Heads of Degree Programmes, tutor teachers

– Practical matters:

– Student Affairs Offices (e.g. enrolment, exam arrangements,

schedules, study affairs, meal subsidy cards…)

– Heads of Study Affairs (’opintoasiainpäällikkö’)

– Planning Officers (’suunnittelija’)

– Secretaries

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International Services at Oulu UAS Rector’s Office:

– Head of International Activities Mr. Allan Perttunen

– International Relations Officer Ms. Marjo Pääskylä

– Teacher and staff exchange

– ECTS Information Packages

– International Relations Officer Mr. Sami Niemelä

– Student exchange

– Accommodation of exchange students

– Planning Officer Ms. Tiina Ovaska

– International Practical Training

Schools:

– International Co-ordinators, planning officers and/or assistants

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Registration and other documents

– Registration Form for Exchange Students to be filled in together

with the international co-ordinator of the school

– Learning Agreement (esp. Erasmus students) between student and

his/her home and host institution (a realistic plan about studies to be

completed at Oulu UAS. NB! Changes has to be approved both by

home and host institution).

– Transcript of Records (in English) A report of student’s study

attainments and grades (conversion between Finnish and ECTS

systems)

– Letter of Confirmation for the home institution confirms the length of

stay

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Credit system

– The Finnish credit system complies with the European Credit Transfer

and Accumulation System (ECTS) so that the Finnish credits are

equivalent to the ECTS credits.

– Higher education studies are measured in credits (cr). Courses and

study modules are credited according to the amount of work they

require from a student to attain the required objectives. A student’s

average study effort of 1,600 hours required for the completion of

studies during one academic year corresponds to 60 credits.

26 – 27 h of student’s work effort equals with 1 ECTS cr.

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Assessment of studies

– Grading scale

Finnish grade / ECTS grade

5 / A excellent

4 / B very good

3 / C good

2 / D satisfactory

1 / E sufficient

0 / Fx or F Fail

Many assignments and courses can also be assessed on the scale pass/fail.

– Assessment regulations: http://oiva.oamk.fi > Information about studies > Knowledge assessment

– Same rules and regulations for exchange students as for Finnish degree students

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Curriculum in English

– Courses taught in English:

– www.ouas.fi/english/ects course catalogue / course search

– http://www.oamk.fi/english/exchange_opportunities/student_exchange/

studies_in_english/ (studies on offer currently for the exchange

students)

– Courses can be chosen from another school of Oulu UAS, but

there may be restrictions or prerequisites for attendance

– For further information contact the international co-ordinator of the

school or the head of the respective degree programme

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Students’ cards

– ’Opiskelijakortti’ = student card of SAMOK (= The Union of Students in

Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences)

– Available through the Oulu UAS Student Union OSAKO

– Address: Kajaanintie 32 D 61, 90130 OULU

– Membership fee 31 EUR/academic year or 15 EUR/term (incl.

card fee of 6 EUR) for those staying max one term at Oulu

UAS

– http://www.osakoweb.fi/english/

– ‘Ateriatukikortti’ = Meal subsidy card

– Available through international co-ordinators and student affairs

offices (not needed if you already have a SAMOK student card).

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Sports Pass

– Sports Pass 35 EUR/academic year, or autumn term 21 EUR, spring

term 25 EUR.

– Available through the student union OSAKO and Sports Services

(Kajaanintie 32 D 61), or through field-specific student

associations’ sales points. Can be paid in cash only.

– Some sports free of charge, others at reduced price

– Sport courses & services for personal well-being

– Further information: http://www.oulunkorkeakoululiikunta.fi/

– Sports Officer Aki Hentilä, tel. 040 582 6016.

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Meals at student restaurants

– At least one student restaurant in every school of Oulu UAS

– Additionally – 7 student restaurants at the University of Oulu campuses

– Lunch Restaurant Sammakko, Saaristonkatu 22

– Lunch Restaurant Vanilla, Torikatu 34-40

– Lunch Restaurant Minttu, Hallituskatu 7

– Lunch Restaurant Preludi, Lintulammentie 3

– Antell Restaurant ODL, Albertinkatu 18

– Sodexo Fasaani, Oulu Vocational College, Pikisaari

– Sodexo Joutsensiipi, Oulu Vocational College, Kaukovainio

– Kisälli, Oulu Vocational College, Myllytulli

– Oulu Teacher Training School (Oulun normaalikoulu)

– Oulu University Hospital

– Kastelli Research Centre

– VTT Technical Research Centre

– With a meal subsidy card the price of a normal warm meal is max 2.60 EUR/meal (incl. meal subsidy 1.94 EUR/meal – once a day)

– Cheapest meals at Oulu UAS’s student restaurants from 1.23 EUR

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Higher education libraries

– Libraries at Oulu University of Applied Sciences

– 8 libraries in the schools of Oulu UAS (Oulu, Raahe & Oulainen)

– Library card from the library free of charge / register your SAMOK

student card to function as a library card

– Oulu University Libraries (main library Pegasus in Linnanmaa

Campus)

– Library card from the library / register your SAMOK student card to

function as a library card

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Public libraries – Oulu Public Library

– Separate library card, but you can register your SAMOK student

card to function as a library card, too

– Main Library – Provincial Library, Kaarlenväylä 3 (near the Market

place)

– International newspapers and magazines, literature in foreign

languages, music recordings, films, free internet terminals and

PCs.

– 21 branch libraries in the suburbs and residential areas of the City

of Oulu

– Raahe Public Library, Rantakatu 45, Raahe

– Separate library card

– Notice that there are different lending rules in different libraries!

8 January 2013 13

Health care services in Oulu – In cases of acute illness international students whose stay in Oulu lasts at

least 2 months and who are studying full-time are entitled to use the services of the Kontinkangas Student Health Care Centre (Kajaanintie 48, 90220 Oulu, Building A, floor 3B)

– Visits to a doctor or public health nurse are by an appointment only (applies also to the public health nurse on duty!)

– EU citizens: a health care centre fee of 13.80 EUR will be charged for the three first visits to a doctor within a calendar year

– Non EU citizens: fee for a visit to a doctor 143.58 EUR, visit to a nurse 58.55 EUR (check current fees with the student health care centre when making appointments

– Penalty fee 33.90 EUR will be charged if you do not use, nor cancel a reserved appointment at least on the previous working day

– Appointments at tel. (08) 5584 6310 Mon, Tue, Thu 8:00 – 16:00, Wed and Fri 8:00 – 14:00.

8 January 2013 14

Health care services in Oulu

– Outside the opening hours of the students’ health care centre (evenings and weekends), you can use the services of the emergency unit of the Oulu University Hospital: Kajaanintie 50, entrance A1, tel. (08) 315 2655.

– During on-call hours an emergency fee of 27.50 EUR per visit will be charged.

– You can go to the emergency unit without an appointment.

– Accidents and emergencies service telephone 112 (to call the police, ambulance, or firebrigade, free from all telephone subscriptions)

– More information on health care (also dental and mental health care): https://oiva.oamk.fi/tietoa_opiskelusta/opiskelijapalvelut/terveydenhuolto/ http://oamk.fi/english/exchange_opportunities/student_exchange/health_care/

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Health care and insurance I

– Students from EU/EEA countries/Switzerland

– European Health Card proving that they are covered by the health care system of their own country

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559&langId=en

– Entitled to the same health care benefits as Finnish citizens (with the same terms and fees)

– (Private) travel insurance

– Acute travel time illnesses

– Travel time accidents

– Luggage & personal belongings

– Third-party liability (esp. for trainees!)

8 January 2013 16

Health care and insurance II

– Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens:

– Third-country nationals who will come to Finland to study or for a student exchange or traineeship are required to have a health insurance. The insurance must cover the whole duration of studies in Finland.

– The insurance must have been taken before leaving for Finland and details of comprehensive health insurance cover must have been attached to the residence permit or visa application.

– Comprehensive insurance cover means insurance which includes the types of treatment and costs that are covered by municipal health care services and the health care system of Finland (in practice financial cover for health care expenses min 100 000 EUR).

– The insurance has to be issued by a reliable and solvent company or institution

8 January 2013 17

Health care and insurance III

– SIP Insurance Package

– Finnish higher education institutions have jointly negotiated an economical travel/health insurance package for their students that is available for purchase online.

– Fee: 1.18 EUR/day or 431 EUR/365 days (1 year) - this insurance can be purchased by the day with a minimum of 25 EUR coverage plus an administration fee of 3.50 EUR (= min 28.50 EUR for min 21 days).

– Further information is available at http://www.studyinfinland.fi/living_in_finland/before_your_arrival/international_student_health_insurance

– You can obtain this insurance at http://www.sipinsurance.eu/

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8 January 2013 Olli Oamkilainen 19

Coldness / climate – Mean temperature: January -9.6°C, July +16.5°C

– Average rainfall 450 mm/year

– Weather extremes: the highest measured temperature +33.3°C (1957) and the lowest -41.5°C (1966).

– Snow cover on average 5 months. Wind chill effect / wind chill index http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_chill http://legacy.fmi.fi/src/tuotteet/PakkasenPurevuus/index.php interaktiivinen taulukko (interactive chart)

– Weather forecasts for Oulu (and other localities in Finland): http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/weather/Oulu http://www.foreca.com/Finland/Oulu

– Protect yourself against cold weather! Instructions can be found e.g. in International Activity Centre Villa Victor’s guide leaflet: http://www.ouka.fi/villavictor/english/pdf/Kylmaopasenglanniksi.pdf

– ”There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!”

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Public transportation – A single ticket within the former City of Oulu are is 3.30 EUR (valid for

one hour, one onward transfer allowed)

– A 24-hour ticket within the former City of Oulu costs 11.80 EUR

– Students are entitled to a 25% discount on the monthly season tickets:

– Season tickets: 30 days 47.50 EUR, for students 36.00 EUR

– Serial tickets: 20 trips 40.00 EUR, 40 trips 71.00 EUR

– For travel to Oulunsalo (airport), Haukipudas, Kiiminki and Yli-Ii the

bus fare is based on distance of the journey

– First purchase of the season and serial tickets at the customer service

of Stockmann Department Store (Kirkkokatu 14, 3rd floor on Rotuaari).

– A valid student card/enrolment certificate and passport must be

produced when purchasing the card for the first time.

– All season an serial tickets are loaded to a smart card. After the

first purchase the cards can be reloaded on the bus

– Timetables and routes: www.koskilinjat.fi or www.linjakas.fi/en 8 January 2013

21

Oulu Citybus – A Citybus operates in and around downtown of Oulu on three lines.

– All lines start from Toripakka bus stop (in front of Tourist Information, Torikatu 10) and run via the Oulu Railway Station:

– A Värttö (Downtown – Värttö – Downtown)

– B Medipolis (Downtown – Kontinkangas/Medipolis – Downtown) passes by Oulu UAS School of Health and Social Care

– C Limingantulli (Downtown – Limingantulli – Downtown)

– A Citybus single ticket costs 1.50 EUR (40 trips 45 EUR, 30 days 33.25 EUR). Tickets are valid for a change to another Citybus within one hour. A transfer from a normal local bus to a Citybus is possible also within an hour, but a transfer to a normal local bus with a Citybus ticket is not allowed (if it is needed you can buy a normal local bus ticket on the Citybus)

– Timetables and routes: www.ouluncitybussi.fi

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Cycling in Oulu – Oulu is nationally and internationally renowned for its extensive cycle

path network.

– There are well over 600 km of well-maintained cycling paths in Oulu.

– Oulu belongs as the only Finnish city to the international Cities for Cyclists network

– There are fewer cyclists in colder months but appoximately 30% of those cycle in summer, cycle also in winter (with equal proportions of men and women)

– Cycling to school and back is easy: main routes are ploughed and sanded on weekdays by 7 am.

– Usage of a reflector, head lights (when it’s dark) and a helmet are compulsory

– Studded tyres are recommended for winter cycling (not compulsory)

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8 January 2013 Olli Oamkilainen 24

Photo: Marjo Pääskylä

Cycling in Oulu

– Links and maps:

– Cycling routes

– Pedestrian and cycle paths

– A printed cycle path map can be picked up either in downtown in

the Tourist Information/Oulu10 (Torikatu 10) or in City of Oulu

Environment Building / ’Ympäristötalo’ (Solistinkatu 2 in Taka-

Lyötty).

– How to get a bike?

– Ask around Otokylä (students going home etc.)

– Second-hand stores

– Bike shops

– Police auction (later in spring)

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8 January 2013 Olli Oamkilainen 26

Residence in Finland

(EU/EEA/Swiss citizens) – Students from EU/EEA countries/Switzerland do not need a residence

permit, but they must register their right to reside in Finland if their stay lasts for longer than three (3) months. The registration has to be done within three (3) months of arrival in Finland.

– Registration fee of 50 EUR will be charged upon submitting the registration

– EU/EEA/Swiss citizen’s registration must be done at a local Police Department in Finland. A written certificate (in Finnish) will be given to registered persons. It must be shown to the authorities upon request.

– Students from the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) must register their temporary residence in Finland at a local Register Office (’Maistraatti’) under the inter-Nordic Migration Form, if their stay in Finland exceeds 3 months (no need to register at the Police Department). If a Nordic citizen moves to Finland from another country than a Nordic country, the registration procedure is the same as that of other EU/EEA citizens.

8 January 2013 27

Documents for EU citizen’s registration

– The following documents must be submitted to the police when

registering one’s right to reside in Finland (EU/EEA/Swiss citizens):

– Completed registration form (available at the Police Department)

– Valid passport or other acceptable travel document (e.g. an EU ID

card approved as a travel document)

– A passport photograph

– Enrolment certificate from Oulu UAS

– Account of applicant’s means of (financial) support

– Registration fee 50 EUR (can be paid in cash or with the most

common payment cards)

8 January 2013 28

Residence in Finland

(Third-country nationals)

– Third-country nationals (= other than EU/EEA/Swiss citizens):

– A residence permit has to be acquired before leaving for Finland!

– You’ll have the right to stay in Finland for the duration of your

studies. If the studies last for over a year, the residence permit is

granted for maximum of one year at a time. The permit has to be

extended annually. In Finland the applications for extension of a

residence permit are submitted to the local Police Department

– The fee for extension of a residence permit (students 116 EUR,

others (e.g. trainees) 156 EUR) is charged when submitting the

application at the local Police Department.

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Police Department

– OULU:

– Oulu Police Department (Oulun Poliisilaitos)

Aliens Affairs Office (Ulkomaalaisasiat)

Rata-aukio 2, ground floor

(at the back of the Licence Services Office)

Telephone service: Mon, Wed – Fri 8:00 – 11:00, tel. 071 876 5776

No telephone service on Tuesdays.

– NOTICE! As of 10 December 2012 all licence and registration

services are available only by an appointment

8 January 2013 30

Working along Studies

(EU/EEA/Swiss citizens)

– No worker’s residence permit needed

– The right to reside in Finland has to be registered (as described

before).

– No limitations for type of work, nor for working hours

8 January 2013 31

Working along studying

(Third-country nationals)

– Work is allowed within certain limits on a valid residence permit for

studies in Finland:

– if the work is practical training included in the degree, or

– if the amount of work does not exceed 25 hours a week (on

average)

– full time employment may be undertaken during holidays when the

university of applied sciences does not arrange teaching as such;

in practice this is usually during summer (1 May – 30 September)

and Christmas holidays (15 December – 15 January).

– Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students are not allowed to work full-time

during semesters without a worker’s residence permit.

8 January 2013 32

Further information on residence permits

– Finnish Immigration Service

– Postal address: P.O.Box 18, FI-00581 HELSINKI, FINLAND

– Visiting address: Panimokatu 2 A, Helsinki

– Customer service address: Lautatarhankatu 10, Helsinki

– E-mail: maahanmuuttovirasto@migri.fi (official registry e-mail

address)

– Customer service Mon – Fri 9:00 – 15:00 at tel. 071 873 3400

– Student residence permits, telephone service Tue – Thu

10:00 – 11:00 at tel. 071 873 3720

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8 January 2013 Olli Oamkilainen 34