Welcome event for exchange students Spring 2017
Programme 1. Where are we now? Introduction to Finland and to Aalto University 2. What happens next? Practicalities about studies 3. Make the most out of your stay! Hope to see you again!
Who are here today? Exchange students Erasmus+ (majority), Erasmus+ Global Mobility, bilateral exchange agreements Students at the School of Electrical Engineering: Communications Engineering Electronics and Electrical Engineering Automation and Systems Technology Bioinformation Technology Students at the School of Science: Industrial Engineering and Management Computer Science Life Science Technologies Engineering Physics and Mathematics
Part 1: Where are we now? Introduction to Finland and to Aalto University Aalto University More than a Degree
Aalto University A merger of three leading Finnish universities in January 2010 University of Art and Design Helsinki founded 1871 Helsinki School of Economics founded 1911 Aalto University is a community of: 80,000 alumni 20,000 students 5,000 faculty & staff with 370 professors Helsinki University of Technology founded 1849
Aalto University name celebrates diversity and innovative method The name "Aalto University" is a tribute to a courageous, overarching renaissance man, Finnish architect, designer and academic Alvar Aalto He distinguished himself in not only the fields of technology and economics, but also art The name has been chosen to reflect the concept, spirit, values and goals of the new university Alvar Aalto Architect Aalto University Where science and art meet technology and business
Aalto University schools School of Arts, Design and Architecture School of Business School of Chemical Technology School of Electrical Engineering School of Engineering School of Science Otaniemi campus
Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) 1849-2010 Established in 1849 in Helsinki In 1877 a university main building was built on the Hietaniemi square, Helsinki where it still stands Planning for a new campus area in Otaniemi, Espoo began in the 1950 s The University moved officially to Otaniemi in 1966 Otaniemi was mainly just farmland until the construction began The Main Building and the Library are designed by Alvar Aalto
Aalto University Campuses Aalto University Campus Tour The main campus of Aalto University is located in Otaniemi, Espoo. Additional campus areas are located in the districts of Arabia and Töölö in Helsinki. The University also has operations in the cities Mikkeli, Lahti, Vaasa and Pori in Finland. The plan: all Aalto schools will gradually be transferred to the main campus in Otaniemi, and new buildings for Aalto ARTS and Aalto BIZ will be built in the next few years. The objective with the campus is to create an interactive research and study environment where work, study, hobbies and everyday life are intertwined.
Aalto SCI in 2016: Master s students from 60 countries 10
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Interested in doing a Master s at Aalto? More information: studies.aalto.fi All Master s programmes are taught in English You can apply if you are on your final year of BSc studies and will graduate before 31st July Exchange studies at Aalto can be considered an advantage in the selection Suitability of the degree and performance the most important criteria Good grades and sufficient amount of credits from Aalto = extra advantage!
Part 2: What happens next? Practicalities about studies
Regarding the actual studies
Arrival and orientation
Academic year Officially from the beginning of August to the end of July Teaching from early September to the end of May Five teaching periods, exams in the end and in-between the periods (Evaluation week) Academic year 2016-2017: Autumn term: 5 September 17 December 2016 I teaching period: Mon 12.9. Fri 21.10. II teaching period: Mon 31.10. Fri 9.12. Spring term: 2 January 27 May 2017 III teaching period: Mon 2.1. Fri 10.2. IV teaching period: Mon 20.2. Fri 31.3. V teaching period: Mon 10.4. Fri 19.5.
Courses and the Learning Agreement there may be limits to the number of students admitted there may have been changes to the study programme etc. the administration does not have a complete picture of your previous studies you are responsible for making sure that you fulfill the prerequisites for the course Check the notes on your LA Check later / upon arrival = course organized by another school / unit, access could not be confirmed at the moment OK, limited intake = the course has a limited number of seats and other than exchange students may be prioritized
Learning Agreement ORIGINAL Learning Agreement has been checked before your admission (note: the signed Learning Agreement does not automatically guarantee access to a course.) CHANGING your Learning Agreement: check with your home university first! 1. Check the prerequisites of the course in MyCourses 2. Check if it is possible to join the course Does it overlap with other courses in your schedule? limited number of participants or other limitations: access not guaranteed 3. Register for the course in WebOodi 4. Update your learning agreement (Aalto s or your own university s template) and get a signature and stamp from your exchange coordinator 5. Send the updated learning agreement to your home university There is no hurry with the changes unless your home university demands it, you can even do them just before departure. Questions? See you at the IT Lecture at 14:00-16:00 in the afternoon! (Main Building, Otakaari 1, computer room A046)
Grading credits (cr) (opintopiste, op) 1 cr = 1 ECTS = 27 hours (including lectures, assignments, home work etc.) B.Sc. degree = 180 credits, 3 years M.Sc. degree = 120 credits, 2 years 1 semester = approx. 30 credits (note: spring term is longer!) 1 teaching period = 12 credits 60 cr/year is a rather heavy work load generally students do less. Grading scale is 1-5 (5 = excellent, 1 = satisfactory, i.e. lowest pass grade) Or just pass/fail Courses graded with pass can not be converted into a numerical grade Failed courses do not show on the Transcript of Records
A typical course at Aalto University One lecture is usually 90 minutes An academic quarter Lectures start always a quarter past: If the lecture time is 10-12, it means 10:15 11:45 Lectures usually twice a week Courses usually run for one or two periods, sometimes the whole academic year More info in Teaching Methods at Aalto University in your enrolment folder
Exams At least two exams per year per course Exams take place on the evaluation weeks at the end of each study period. Registration is mandatory! Exam lasts typically 3 hours Essay questions, calculations, multiple choises etc. Take your student card, pencil and eraser with you into the exam hall. Calculators and dictionaries are allowed depending on the exam. Examination regulations https://into.aalto.fi/display/enmastersci/examination+regulatio ns
Registering for courses and exams Course registration In Weboodi https://oodi.aalto.fi/e/ Opens 28 days before the period and closes 7 days after the course has started MyCourses https://mycourses.aalto.fi is the platform for course material, news and course information. It is the information channel during the course. Exam registration In WebOodi (https://oodi.aalto.fi/e/) Registration is mandatory only registered students can sit the exam Registration opens 60 days before the exam at the latest and closes seven days before the exam NOTE: Sepate registration for courses and exams: You have to register also for the course exam! Cancellation is possible in WebOodi 7 days before the exam
Where to find information? Study Guide http://studyguides.aalto.fi/ My Courses https://mycourses.aalto.fi/ WebOodi https://oodi.aalto.fi/e/ Into https://into.aalto.fi/display/en mastersci/homepage
Studying at a Finnish University: freedom vs responsibility individual student has a lot of freedom in planning his studies for example, as an exchange student you can choose quite freely which courses you are going take freedom and flexibility come with responsibility make sure you pick the right courses and see to it that they do not overlap with each other there are not that many lectures and attendance is not always mandatory there are a lot of assignments and other independent work make sure you reserve enough time for those
Exam rules Online pre-registration mandatory Exams can be retaken (as long as your right to study is valid) Absolutely NO TALKING during exams If you need anything, raise your hand and tell the supervisor Only bring writing material (i.e. pen/pencil and eraser) and student card/passport, unless told otherwise Exam rules very strict: Suspected violations always reported and investigated. Can be reported to home university. Disciplinary action taken if needed. Be careful to use citations and references correctly
Dishonest behaviour = practice where the student's purpose is to give false representation of his/her own or other student's knowledge and in an attempt to influence the grading of the course Examples of dishonest behavior include cheating in an exam, copying someone else's project work or taking an exam for someone else For instance, if a student cites someone else's text, images or programming code as part of his/her work, the cited part must be marked clearly Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof (Especially 3.1 Types of violation) https://into.aalto.fi/display/enregulations/aalto+university+c ode+of+academic+integrity+and+handling+violations+the reof Picture: http://www.onlykidshangers.com/wp/2012/11/dont-give-your-children-negative-attention/mother-scolding/
General practicalities regarding your stay in Finland
Accommodation Any questions about your accommodation? - please turn to your Housing Office HOAS or AYY (Student Union) HOAS service point In Kamppi, street address: Pohjoinen Rautatienkatu 29, opening hours: 9.00-16.00 kamppi@hoas.fi Student Union (AYY) service point Street address: Otakaari 11, Espoo (on the other side of Alepa) Calling hours: 9.00-11.00 on weekdays Opening hours: 12.00-16.00 on weekdays, 9.00-16.00 on the first weekday of every month. Also possible to reserve a meeting time. asuntotoimisto@ayy.fi
A touch of bureaucracy EU citizens have to register at the Finnish Immigration Service office in Helsinki within 3 months from arrival Take the certificate of student status with you Read more and book a time at www.migri.fi Registering at the local register office Maistraatti If you stay for one year or more If you need the Finnish personal identity code (e.g. for work) Take your residence permit / registration certificate with you
Student Card Available for members of the Student Union = Student Union fee must be paid (59 ) Apply online at elisalompakko.fi/opiskelijakortti costs 15,10 Required: a passport photo in electronic format and a credit card or a Finnish online banking account If not possible to apply online, contact AYY service point you can use the stamped copy of the AYY payment receipt as a temporary student certificate in the student cafeterias and Student Health Care Services Note: other benefits only with the official Student Card
Travel Card For local transportation in the capital region (Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa, Kirkkonummi, Kerava, Sipoo) Buses, metro, local trains, trams Personal travel card with student discount from HSL Service points - Helsinki: Railway Station and Pasila - Tapiola: Cultural Centre - Leppävaara: Library Exchange students get the student discount (50 %) Application must be stamped by the university
Health Care and Health Insurance Student Health Care Services (YTHS in Finnish) for AYY members only (only weekdays, basic healthcare, no emergency or hospital service!) European Health Insurance Card Public municipal health care Private health insurance Private clinics Students responsible for obtaining appropriate health insurance; university does not provide insurance However, all enrolled students are covered by an accident insurance at the University (if an accident takes place during class etc.) Emergency number in Finland is 112
Part 3: Make the most out of your stay! Hope to see you again (where and when?)
Get the most of your stay in Otaniemi and in Finland
Finland is expensive....but being a student is not! There is a whole range of discounts and benefits you can enjoy as a student in Finland Lunch at Campus cafeterias: starting from 2,60 Excellent libraries available for all (no need to buy books) Housing: 250-400 (private apartments starting from 600 ) 50 % discount for all public transport, both local and long distance Unisport: gym, fitness, dance classes, badminton, floorball, squash etc. on six campuses in the region a six-month card for students costs 66 euros (11 a month) Discounts at the hairdressers, bookstore, movies etc.
Feel the extreme!
Nuuksio National Park in Espoo
Before departure Transcript of records Aalto University does not automatically send the transcript to you or to your home university after departure send us e-mail and request for it Confirmation of arrival/departure (mainly for Erasmus students) Arrival date = enrolment date (best to have it signed now but can be done later) Departure date = date when it s signed or max. 1 week in advance Other documents If there are any other documents required by your home university to be signed by us, please remember to bring them along with you. Note: your Aalto username (including access to WebOodi and MyCourses results page) generally expires when your study right expires (for spring semester students, this is 31 st July) make sure that you complete all your courses while your study right is still valid!
You will notice that time flies when you are an exchange student so make the most out of your stay! be prepared for an adventure, which will not always be easy reserve time to reflect on your experience when its coming to its end. Farewell event for exchange students will be organized at the end of the spring semester more information will be given later. See you there!
Questions? Remember the IT Lecture at 14-16:00! (Main Building, Otakaari 1, computer room A046)
Welcome! We hope you will have the time of your life! PS: When in doubt, remember to check the Welcome Guide!