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Exchange Student

Welcome to gain an international experience through a student or traineeship mobility at Oulu University of Applied Sciences

Welcome to Oamk!

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. 

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.

Academic Year

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. 

  • Autumn term (1st semester)
    mid-August – December 
  • Spring term (2nd semester)
    January – May 

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 

  • Arrival: 20.8. – 21.8. between 10 am and 8 pm  
  • Orientation days: 22.8. – 23.8.  
  • Exchange duration: 22.8. – 20.12. 
  • Rental period: 1.8. – 31.12. 
  • Autumn vacation: 21.10. – 25.10. 
  • Christmas & New Year vacation: 21.12. – 6.1. 

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 

  • Arrival: 2.1. between 10 am and 8 pm 
  • Orientation days:  3.1. & 7.1. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • 3.1. – 2.5. (business, information technology, engineering, natural resources, music) 
    • 3.1. – 16.5. (visual design, journalism, dance) 
    • 3.1. – 2.5./9.5./16.5. (programme for HNU Master-level students, depends on courses!) 
  • Rental period: 1.1. – 31.5.  
  • Epiphany: 6.1. 
  • Winter vacation: 3.3. – 7.3. 
  • Easterholiday: 18. – 21.4. 

Health and Social Care 

Full term: 

  • Arrival: 2.1. between 10 am and 8 pm (regular term and mobility period 3) 
  • Orientation days: 3.1. & 7.1. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • 3.1. – 23.5. (health and social care, professional teacher education) 
  • Rental period: 1.1. – 31.5. 

Midterm (only health and social care, except physiotherapy and social services): 

  • Arrival: 20.2. between 10 am and 8 pm 
  • Midterm orientation day: 21.2. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • Mobility period 3: 3.1. – 4.4. (orientation days for full term!) 
    • Mobility period 4: 21.2. – 23.5. 
  • Rental periods: 
    • Rental period MP 3: 1.1. – 30.4. 
    • Rental period MP 4: 20.2. – 31.5. (moving in 21.2.) 
  • Winter vacation: 3.3. – 7.3. 
  • Easterholiday: 18.4. – 21.4. 

Autumn 2025 

  • Arrival: 19.8. – 20.8. between 10 am and 8 pm  
  • Orientation days: 21.8. – 22.8.  
  • Exchange duration: 21.8. – 23.12. 
  • Rental period: 1.8. – 31.12. 
  • Autumn vacation: 20.10. – 24.10. 
  • Christmas & New Year vacation: 24.12. – 6.1. 

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 

  • Arrival: 2.1. between 10 am and 8 pm 
  • Orientation days:  5.1. & 7.1. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • 5.1. – 1.5. (business, information technology, engineering, natural resources, music) 
    • 5.1. – 8.5. (visual design, journalism) 
    • 5.1. – 15.5. (dance) 
    • 5.1. – 1.5./8.5./15.5./22.5. (programme for HNU Master-level students IEIM, depends on courses!) 
  • Rental period: 1.1. – 31.5.  
  • Epiphany: 6.1. 
  • Winter vacation: 2.3. – 6.3. 
  • Easterholiday: 3.4. – 6.4. 

Health and Social Care 

Full term: 

  • Arrival: 2.1. between 10 am and 8 pm (regular term and mobility period 3) 
  • Orientation days: 5.1. & 7.1. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • 5.1. – 22.5. (health and social care) 
  • Rental period: 1.1. – 31.5. 

Midterm (only health and social care, except physiotherapy and social services): 

  • Arrival: 19.2. between 10 am and 8 pm 
  • Midterm orientation day: 20.2. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • Mobility period 3: 5.1. – 6.4. (orientation days for full term!) 
    • Mobility period 4: 20.2. – 22.5. 
  • Rental periods: 
    • Rental period MP 3: 1.1. – 30.4. 
    • Rental period MP 4: 19.2. – 31.5. (moving in 19.2.) 
  • Winter vacation: 2.3. – 6.3.  
  • Easterholiday: 3.4 – 6.4. 

Autumn 2026 

  • Arrival: 18.8. – 19.8. between 10 am and 8 pm  
  • Orientation days: 20.8. – 21.8.  
  • Exchange duration:  20.8. – 23.12. 
  • Rental period: 1.8. – 31.12. 
  • Autumn vacation: 29.10. – 23.10. 
  • Christmas & New Year vacation: 24.12. – 6.1. 

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 

  • Arrival: 4.1. between 10 am and 8 pm 
  • Orientation days:  5.1. & 7.1. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • 5.1. – 3.5. (business, information technology, engineering, natural resources, music) 
    • 5.1. – 14.5. (visual design, journalism) 
    • 5.1. – 21.5. (dance) 
    • 5.1. – 3.5./7.5./14.5./21.5. (programme for HNU Master-level students IEIM, depends on courses!) 
  • Rental period: 1.1. – 31.5.  
  • Epiphany: 6.1. 
  • Winter vacation: 8.3. – 12.3. 
  • Easter holiday:  26.3. – 29.3. 

Health and Social Care 

Full term: 

  • Arrival: 4.1. between 10 am and 8 pm (regular term and mobility period 3) 
  • Orientation days: 5.1. & 7.1. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • 5.1. – 21.5. (health and social care) 
  • Rental period: 1.1. – 31.5. 
  • Epiphany: 6.1. 
  • Winter vacation: 8.3. – 12.3. 
  • Easter holiday:  26.3. – 29.3. 

Midterm (only health and social care, except physiotherapy and social services): 

  • Arrival: 18.2. between 10 am and 8 pm 
  • Midterm orientation day: 19.2. 
  • Exchange duration: 
    • Mobility period 3: 5.1. – 6.4. (orientation days for full term!) 
    • Mobility period 4: 19.2. – 21.5. 
  • Rental periods: 
    • Rental period MP 3: 1.1. – 30.4. 
    • Rental period MP 4: 18.2. – 31.5. (moving in 18.2.) 
  • Winter vacation: 8.3. – 12.3. 
  • Easter holiday:  26.3. – 29.3. 

Studies

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.

Traineeship

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”!

Meetings & Events

Webinars

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 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.

Arrival & Arrival Days

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. 

  • Autumn 2024:
    20-21 August between 10 am and 8 pm 
  • Spring 2025: 
    2 January (full term) between 10 am and 8 pm or 
    20 February (short term) between 10 am and 8 pm. 

1. Book your trip

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.

2. Have a safe trip

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.

3. Arriving in Oulu and at the Routa dormitory

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.

4. Orientation days, meetings and events

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: 

  • PSOAS’ Routa dormitory and student housing is not available for BIP students or any other blended or a short-term physical exchange students. Please make your own housing arrangements – consult our “Accomnodation” website with further links to potential short-term housing providers. There is furnished housing available in Oulu on the private market. Book your housing well in advance. Be prepared to obtain the keys etc. and proceed to the place of your accommodation on your own. 

If you are coming for a traineeship at exceptional times during terms: 

  • PSOAS’ Routa dormitory is normally not available for trainees. You may nevertheless enquire about its availability with PSOAS and incoming.students@oamk.fi. By default, however, please make your own housing arrangements – consult our “Accomnodation” website with further links to potential short-term housing providers. There is furnished housing available in Oulu on the private market. In any case, book your housing well in advance. Be prepared to obtain the keys etc. and proceed to the place of your accommodation on your own.

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: 

  • You should plan your stay so that you can arrive during the arrival days and times, in autumn 20 – 21 August 2024 between 10 am and 8 pm, and in spring 2 January and 20 February 2025 between 10 am and 8 pm. It is possible to come at other times only for exceptional reasons. Rental periods are binding! 
  • You can move in to PSOAS’ Routa dormitory in autumn already as of 1 August 2024, as the rental agreement starts then. In spring, you can move in at the earliest as of 2 January or 20 February 2025 depending on your stay. Please note that PSOAS cannot guarantee that your apartment is empty, cleaned and keys are available before the aforementioned dates. 
  • If you come at a time other than our arrival days and/or times, you must transfer and check in to the Routa dormitory on your own. Get your key from PSOAS’ Lounge at the Linnanmaa campus during PSOAS’ opening hours (Mon-Tue & Thu-Fri 9 am – 4 pm, Wed 10 am – 4 pm). There may be different opening hours during summer and by the turn of the year. If you are arriving in the night, you may need to stay at a hotel or hostel – the Oulu Airport is closed between 2 and 4 am so you cannot stay overnight at the airport. 
  • A trusted person such as a fellow exchange student already staying in the Oulu/Routa dormitory, or your peer tutor, if available, can help you get the key if you arrive early or late. You have to agree about the details with the trusted person (e.g. Goin’ app or our WhatsApp group). Remember also to email PSOAS’ Housing Office and authorise the trusted person in charge well in advance. In addition, please inform incoming.students@oamk.fi, as we have your apartment key and other relevant information at our disposal during our arrival days and times.
  • Remember to pick up your folder respectively your enrolment certificate from Oamk. It will be available at the Routa dormitory during our arrival days and times. If you would like your peer tutor or another trusted person (e.g. a fellow exchange student) to collect your folder from Oamk on your behalf, please authorise the person at incoming.students@oamk.fi.

If you are coming for a regular terms or mobility period but are exceptionally staying at another place than at PSOAS’ Routa dormitory: 

  • Normally, we recommend to obtain housing from PSOAS’ Routa dormitory based on Oamk’s apartment quota for exchange students.
  • If you want to stay elsewhere, please make your own accommodation arrangements. There is furnished housing available in Oulu on the private market. Be prepared to obtain the keys etc. and proceed to the place of your accommodation on your own. 
  • Remember to pick up your folder respectively enrolment certificate from Oamk. See above.

Orientation Days

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.

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.

Check In, Up & Out Meetings 

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:

  • Autumn 2024: Wednesday, 16 October at 17.00 Finnish local time, via Zoom. Participation in the meeting is mandatory. We have planned it around teaching schedules, but if there is a conflict, prioritise your studies or traineeship. We will share slides after the meeting.
  • Spring 2025: to be announced in February 2025

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: 

  • Letter of confirmation (by email after your exchange) 
  • Transcript of records (you should obtain it by yourself after the assessment of all of your courses) 

See more under “Mobility administration & documentation”

Kickoff & Wrap Up Meetings 

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.

Contact

If you have any questions regarding exchange opportunities at Oamk, please reach out to us at incoming.students@oamk.fi