Studying at the University of Tampere

Anna Tuusa

Coordinator of International Education

http://www.uta.fi/studies/

Structure of the presentation

• Who can advise and help me with study-related issues?

• How to plan my studies?

• How to complete my studies?

Who can help you?

• Study-related problems• Teaching staff and international coordinators and

advisers in schools

• Heads of study affairs

• Other problems• Tutors and the Student Union TAMY

• Centre for International Education staff

Where to find information?

• UTA webpages• http://www.uta.fi/admissions/newstudents.html• http://www.uta.fi/studies/• UTA’s intranet website: https://intra.uta.fi

• Homepages of the schools• Notice boards (Schools & International Office)• Mailing lists (is-list, lists of the schools)• News and events

• http://www.uta.fi/english/news/index.html

Guide book & website

• ECTS Survival Guide 2014–2015• Study Guide• Practical Guide

• www.uta.fi/studies website• general information on study practices• how to plan your study schedule• completing course units and taking examinations• degrees and legislation• services at the University

Teaching Schedules

• https://www10.uta.fi/opas/teaching/• Names, times and locations of lecture courses

and seminars offered in English and in other foreign languages during the academic year

• A link to study modules that can be completed through independent study Descriptions of course units in the curriculum

Curricula guides

• http://www.uta.fi/studies/curricula/ Contents and structures of study modules taught

in English Not all course units are offered as lecture courses

or seminars every academic year Some course units can be taken through

independent study, i. e. by taking an exam or writing an essay

Making a study plan – exchange students• Home university’s requirements & Learning

Agreement• Letter of Acceptance from one School only• Despite this, you can freely take courses in other

Schools• NB! general qualifications (previous or equivalent

courses taken, knowledge of the language of instruction) and free places

Making a study plan – degree students

• Curricula Guides • During the Orientation course:

• Introduction to Academic Culture and Degree Studies, 27 August and 8 September

• General information on making a study plan in individual Schools on Wednesday

• Programme orientation

Personal Study Plan HOPS

• HOPS or PSP is a personal study plan which the student makes and develops with her/his mentor in the school

• Facilitates the planning of studies and the monitoring of progress in studies

• Supports student guidance and counselling• Compulsory for all degree students

Academic year

• Two-semester system, each consisting of two periods

• Autumn Semester 2014• Period I: 1 Sep -24 Oct 2014• Period II: 27 Oct -19 Dec 2014

• Spring Semester 2015• Period III: 7 Jan - 13 March 2015• Period IV: 16 March - 31 July 2014

• Information on the academic year in the web: http://www.uta.fi/studies/academiccalendar.html

Finnish credit system

• in line with the European ECTS credit system• 1 Finnish credit = 1 ECTS credit• 1 academic year = 60 credits• 1 semester = 30 credits• The working hours include lectures, practical

work, seminars, exercises, independent study, written examinations, and research.

Course units

• all instruction is planned, arranged and taken in course units

• course units carry a certain number of credits, usually five

• course unit may include several types of work: lectures, seminars, independent reading, and examinations

Completing course units

Often, students complete courses by• attending a lecture course and taking an examination at

the end of the course, or by• attending a lecture course, reading text books and taking

an examination at the end of the course, or by• attending a seminar and doing some related coursework

However, attending lecture courses and seminars is not the only way to complete course units and

to proceed in your studies.

Completing course units

Alternative options for fulfilling the requirements• Attending a course and writing a reflective

course diary• Reading text books and taking an examination

on a general school examination day or as an electronic exam

• Writing an essay on the topics defined by the lecturer

Teaching methods & assessment

Lectures• Often no registration required (excluding, e.g.

the School of Language, Translation, and Literary Studies; the Language Centre.)

• Written examinations at the end of the lecture course, usually no registration required

Teaching methods & assessment

Seminars• Usually registration required• (A) seminar paper(s) and/or presentation

Writing an Essay • Ask the Examiner!

Teaching methods & assessment

Book examination• Lists of books to be examined can be found in

the curricula guide or by contacting the teacher directly

• Registration required 7-10 days prior to the examination day (NettiOpsu/registration envelope)

Teaching methods & assessment

Book Examination • Taken on general school examination days• Results in two weeks on School Notice

Boards/NettiOpsu• When taking an examination, please follow the

examination rules!• http://www.uta.fi/studies/examinations/index.html

Teaching methods & assessment

Electronic Exam Service at• https://tenttis.uta.fi• you can make a reservation to take an exam and

also cancel reservations• instructions for taking an electronic exam• exams on set books and exams on lecture courses

•If you have any questions concerning exams or the literature, please contact the teacher directly!

Maturity test - degree students

• maturity test based on the thesis is compulsory for all degree students and it should be taken after the completion of the thesis

• main aim: to verify that the student has written the thesis him- or herself

• http://www.uta.fi/studies/studying/degrees/graduation/maturity_test.html

Grading Scale and Assessment

Grades at the University of Tampere• 5 Excellent• 4 Very good • 3 Good• 2 Satisfactory• 1 Sufficient

ECTS Grades

• A Excellent• B Very good• C Good• D Satisfactory• E Sufficient

Transcript of Records

• The Registrar’s Office• In English with Finnish credits• In English with ECTS credits

• Exchange students: an official Transcript of Records will be sent to your home address free of charge after your exchange period remember to leave your home address to the Registrar’s Office before departure

• Degree Students: a Diploma Supplement, including a Transcript of Records, will be given to you alongside your Degree Certificate when you graduate

Finnish Language Courses for International Students

• courses from elementary to advanced level • open to all degree and exchange/visiting

students• See the

• Curriculum: https://www10.uta.fi/opas/opintoKokonaisuus.htm?rid=6878&uiLang=en&lang=en&lvv=2014

• Teaching Schedule: https://www10.uta.fi/opas/teaching/teaching.htm?kieli=en&ots=315&lvv=2014&ops=133

Studying in Tampere Region (UNIPOLI)

• A joint project of • University of Tampere, • Tampere University of Technology - TUT• Tampere University of Applied Sciences TAMK

• Offers exchange students a possibility to select studies crossing the institutional borders of the universities in the Tampere region

• Support for international degree students in career planning and jobseeking

• Check the UNIPOLI website for more information: http://www.unipolitampere.fi/