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 studyrelated 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
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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
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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
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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/gradu
ation/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
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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/