How To Apply
In order to apply for the exchange study or traineeship mobility, see instructions for the application process at How to Apply for Exchange.
Welcome to gain an international experience through a student or traineeship mobility at Oulu University of Applied Sciences
Welcome to study in an international learning environment, alongside other exchange students from our partner universities worldwide and our own degree students from Finland and beyond.
In order to apply for the exchange study or traineeship mobility, see instructions for the application process at How to Apply for Exchange.
The academic year at our university consists of two terms. Our terms are further divided into two teaching periods per term. The teaching periods are separated by an autumn holiday in the autumn term and a winter holiday in the spring term. We also follow the Finnish public holidays.
Your exchange period or official duration will always be confirmed in our admission email and relevant mobility documents such as the acceptance, enrolment and confirmation letter. Official mobility periods do not include travel days.
Autumn 2024
Spring 2025
For students staying for the academic year 2024-25, studies in spring 2025 will commence approx. as of 7.1.2025.
Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Natural Resources, Media & Performing Arts
Health and Social Care
Full term:
Midterm (only health and social care, except physiotherapy and social services):
Autumn 2025
Spring 2026
For students staying for the academic year 2025-26, studies in spring 2026 will commence approx. as of 7.1.2026.
Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Natural Resources, Media & Performing Arts
Health and Social Care
Full term:
Midterm (only health and social care, except physiotherapy and social services):
Autumn 2026
Spring 2027
For students staying for the academic year 2026-27, studies in spring 2027 will commence approx. as of 7.1.2027.
Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Natural Resources, Media & Performing Arts
Health and Social Care
Full term:
Midterm (only health and social care, except physiotherapy and social services):
We offer full-/long-term physical mobilities for studies in all fields and short-term physical mobilities in health and social care during our academic year. Find out more about these under “Studies”!
In addition, we offer short- and long-term blended mobilities (a combination of virtual + physical studies) in certain fields. Contact us and your home university for further information.
A traineeship mobility as a long- or short-term physical mobility is a great opportunity to gain professional skills as part of your degree studies. Get to know our traineeship opportunities under “Traineeships”!
We offer a number of webinars on Zoom designed for students planning and coming for an exchange at our university. Students and staff are welcome to attend any webinar or obtain the slides afterwards, if available. Due to privacy issues and the interactive nature of our webinars, we can’t usually record them. Any questions or need a tailored webinar? Contact us at incoming.students@oamk.fi.
We offer our application webinars during the application period. We present our exchange programmes and help you understand the application process and requirements.
We offer our welcome webinars some time before the mobility and semester. We prepare students for their time at our university. These sessions cover essential information to help you settle in and make the most of your experience.
If you are arriving for the regular autumn (1st semester)/spring term (2nd semester) or mobility periods in spring, our peer tutors and staff members are welcoming you to Oamk during the arrival day hours at PSOAS Routa dormitory.
If you are coming at other times, e.g. for a traineeship or blended mobility, or are staying at another place than the PSOAS Routa dormitory, please consult the section “Arriving at other times and/or places”.
Please note that you have to cover your own travelling expenses in all cases.
Consult our website on travel connections to Oulu. Purchase flexible tickets and use environmentally-friendly means of transportation. Make sure that your health and travel insurance is adequate.
Check and follow relevant official authorities’ and your transportation company’s guidelines for safe travel. Take along all required documents such as ID card/passport etc. Inform your peer tutor about your trip.
Consult our website on travel connections within Oulu. Arrive at the Routa dormitory (Tutkijantie 2, 90570 Oulu) between 10 am and 8 pm on arrival days. Our welcome committee is waiting for you at the entrance with your room key and your enrolment certificate from Oamk.
Take part in orientation days, meetings and events we offer to welcome you and help to settle in your new living and studying/working environment.
If you are coming for a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) or any other blended or a short-term physical exchange at exceptional times during terms:
If you are coming for a traineeship at exceptional times during terms:
If you are coming for a regular term or mobility period, you are staying at PSOAS’ Routa dormitory, but are exceptionally arriving at other times:
If you are coming for a regular terms or mobility period but are exceptionally staying at another place than at PSOAS’ Routa dormitory:
Participation in orientation days is mandatory if you are coming in the frame of a physical mobility for studies; you have to be physically present in Oulu. Orientation days are an excellent way to start your exchange and get to know each other. On the first day of orientation, you’ll get all the info you need about living in Finland and Oulu. Then on the second day, you’ll get to find out more about your studies.
Programme & selected times and venues
Material
3 – 7 January (full term, on-site only) and 21 February (short term, health and social care, on-site only). To be updated in December 2024.
We will arrange a series of online / on-site meetings throughout our terms. These meetings are compulsory if your study timetable allows. Trainees and double degree students are also welcome to attend! The purpose is to give everyone the opportunity to get together, discuss questions and ideas, and reflect on your exchange in an informal way. The check in meeting will take place shortly after our orientation days, the check up meeting around the middle of the term and the check out meeting a few weeks before the end of the term.
The online check in meeting is mandatory for all exchange students starting the exchange at the beginning of the regular term. We will schedule the online meeting normally in the first week after the orientation days.
The meeting is mandatory, but if you have timetable conflicts, prioritise your studies etc. The meeting will not be recorded but slides will be shared afterwards.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions at the beginning of your exchange, whatever may be circling in your mind. We will go through the mobility documents, remind you to register your postal address, take care of registration and obtain the personal identity code, if applicable. We will also have reflection tasks to guide you in your exchange learning experience.
You are welcome to join our online check up meeting for questions about your exchange at Oamk and our interactive tasks to facilitate to reflect on your exchange experience. We will normally invite you for an online meeting mid-term, usually in the week before the autumn/winter vacation:
The check out meeting is mandatory for all exchange students approximately two weeks before the end of the term or your stay. It may be arranged either online or on-site.
Check from your mobility documentation what kind of documents you need for your home university at the end or after your exchange. Email possibly required documents from your home university to incoming.students@oamk.fi before the meeting. You will get the following digital documents from our university on Oamk’s templates:
See more under “Mobility administration & documentation”
If you are coming for a long- or short-term physical mobility for traineeships or are exceptionally undertaking studies at other times, we will have at least a kickoff meeting at the beginning and a wrap up meeting shortly before the end your exchange.
If you are coming for a long- or short-term physical mobility for traineeships:
At the beginning of your exchange, we will go through administrative matters with our services and traineeship-related matters with your supervisor/mentor from Oamk. If possible, we will also involve a third party representative, in case your traineeship is at another place than at Oamk.
We will send an Outlook calendar invitation after your admission. At the kickoff meeting, you will attend the first part and get the floor to ask questions about mobility administration and documentation. We can also clarify the roles and responsibilities of you as a trainee, our services and your supervisor/mentor from Oamk or relevant parties.
After the mobility part, you will meet your Oamk supervisor/mentor to go through practical matters of the traineeship such as the content and work tasks, supervision and guidance. You may also agree on the reporting and evaluation etc. and check the traineeship agreement. We will send a memo and checklist and to do list after the kickoff meeting’s first part.
If you are exceptionally undertaking studies at other times:
We will agree with you about a kickoff meeting if need be. If possible, take part also in regular follow-up meetings.
If you are coming for a long- or short-term physical mobility for traineeships:
At the end of your exchange, you will attend a wrap up meeting with your Oamk supervisor/mentor. If possible, we will also involve a third party representative, in case your traineeship is at another place than at Oamk.
We will remind you and your Oamk supervisor/mentor etc. by email about the wrap up meeting approx. 2 weeks beforehand. We are also ready to help to fill in and share the traineeship agreement for the parts required after your mobility. At the meeting, you will discuss your work and reporting. You will evaluate the knowledge, competences and skills you acquired and document these in your after the mobility documents for your traineeship.
Your Oamk supervisor/mentor or you will circulate the after the mobility documents to all parties, including your home university. Your Oamk supervisor/mentor will issue also the credits for your traineeship as completed (pass or grade). You may obtain Oamk’s digital transcript of records yourself.
If you are exceptionally undertaking studies at other times:
We will agree with you about a wrap up meeting if need be. If possible, take part also in regular follow-up meetings.
If you have any questions regarding exchange opportunities at Oamk, please reach out to us at incoming.students@oamk.fi.