AALTO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARTS, DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE Helsinki Finland V09/06/17 13:20 Exchanges Portfolio
KEY FACTS Subject Area Graphic Design Language Languages of instruction are Finnish, Swedish and English. Students are required to have a minimum B2/C1 language level in English. Academic Calendar Semester 1 Semester 2 Late August to Late December Early January to End of May Module Catalogue Have a look through the module catalogue for modules available to exchange students. Fiancial Support As a UK Erasmus student, you are entitled to receive an Erasmus Grant for your time away at a participating Erasmus institution.
CONTENT 4 5 7 8 9 The City The University Accomodation & Living Contacts Student Experiences
4 HELSINKI, FINLAND Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and great green parks. The city s rhythm is laid back yet at the same time refreshingly active in terms of both the number and quality of restaurants and nightclubs. The capital of Finland is a compact city easily explored on foot. Design, architecture, culture and shopping are all great exploration angles and large park areas, forests, lakes, and the coastline with numerous islands sprinkled off it make certain there s no shortage of natural presence. Needless to say, there s something going on in Helsinki every day of the year. Finns might seem a bit quiet and reserved at first, but meet them in a bar and you ll discover a whole new dimension to the people. Finns love to party, and weekend nights in central Helsinki is where it s most evident. From sweaty rock shows to classy cocktail lounges, there s enough supply in night-time Helsinki to cater for all preferences. The archipelago of Helsinki consists of around 330 islands, providing beautiful set-ups for days at the beach or weekend camping trips. Many of the islands, such as Suomenlinna and Pihlajasaari, can be reached by a regular ferry from early morning until late at night. A third of Helsinki is covered in green areas. Along with a score of sports grounds, they offer great possibilities for outdoor activities and relaxation. The large Central Park and its forests spread out just outside the city centre. MORE INFO aalto.fi visitfinland.com visithelsinki.fi Population 620,982 Currency Euro Time difference GMT+2
AALTO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARTS, DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE Aalto-yliopisto Cooperation and interaction between the different disciplines represented at the school challenge technology-driven thinking and put greater emphasis on a human and user-centred approach in the creation of new environments. Our research in the field of design and media is world class and on a strong international standing in both art and architecture. Other leading research areas pursued at our school include design, digital media, audiovisual presentation, art research, visual culture and wellbeing construction, as well as community and urban construction. The school has active links to the surrounding society, business and industry, and the culture sector. Our partners include the best Finnish and international universities and centres of expertise. Aalto University is the place where science and art meet technology and business. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture is part of Aalto University, which is a multidisciplinary university operating in the fields of technology, business and commerce, and the arts. Aalto builds on Finnish strengths and its objective is to become one of the leading universities in the world as a unique entity. 5 aalto.fi Guide for International Students University Videos
Erasmus code SF ESPOO12 No of students 12,113 Style of study Student-centred learning that emphasises creativity and critical thinking. The final grade for the course can either be based on the final exam alone or on a combination of the final exam and course work. Grade system Finnish Grade ECTS Grade Descriptor 5 A/A+ Outstanding 4 A Very good / Excellent 3 B Satisfactory 2 B- Good 1 C Pass 0 D/F Fail Application Times Please note that you have to apply to the exchange programme in your current year by 20 December. Applications for the host university must be submitted between April and May or September and October (depending on the Trimester), in the year following your initial application. Going abroad in Trimester 1 Going abroad in Trimester 2 Initial Application Form Host University s Form Initial Application Form Host University s Form 20 December (current year) April May (following year) 20 December (current year) September October (following year) 6
ACCOMODATION & LIVING Living Costs The average cost of living for students in Helsinki is around 800 per month. However, the actual costs will vary depending on your lifestyle. Accommodation 250-450+/per month Food 170-320+/per month Transportation 20-30/per month Phone 20-40/per month Entertainment 50+/per month Coffee (regular) 2-3 A cinema ticket 9-14 Meal in a restaurant 12-30 More on Cost of Living in Helsinki Numbeo.com Main student housing providers for our incoming exchange students are the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki region, HOAS (hoas.fi) and Aalto University Student Union, AYY (ayy.fi). The apartments are located in Espoo and Helsinki, all with public transportation connections to the university campuses. Due to the limited number of these apartments Aalto University, HOAS or AYY unfortunately cannot guarantee housing for all exchange students. The earlier you apply the better chance of getting housing you have. Transport Helsinki region has a wide network of public transportation connecting all three campuses of the Aalto University. The public transportation network consists of busses, trams, local trains and the metro. The VR operates local and long distance trains. The Journey Planner provides passenger information for public transportation in the Helsinki region. Exchange students are entitled to the student discount, with which the monthly tickets costs around 25 for Helsinki (including Arabia campus) and 50 for the wider Helsinki region (including Otaniemi Campus). However, Helsinki Metropolitan Areas are very bike friendly. 7
CONTACT FOR INCOMING STUDENTS If you re interested in the programme or you have any queries, please contact the Edinburgh Napier University s Global Mobility team first: studyabroad@napier.ac.uk 0131 455 4574 or 0131 455 3412 napier.ac.uk/exchanges AALTO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARTS, DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE Student Service Office Arabia Campus Hämeentie 135 A 4th floor in-exchange-arts@aalto.fi +35 850 358 0886 8
STUD ENT EXPERIENCES experience new culture & lifestyle Student Feedback Photos from students 9
All images sourced from the university s official website and social media accounts, except where noted otherwise. Notice something that we need to fix or update? Please email us studyabroad@napier.ac.uk