GUIDE FOR NEW STUDENTS

My Study Info service sends a student selection notice to those selected to study.

You must accept the study place and register for attendance / non-attendance by set date. If you are accepted from the reserve list, the deadline will depend on when you receive notification of your study place. You can accept the study place and register as a student in the My StudyInfo service.
 
If you are unable to accept the study place in the My StudyInfo service, please send an e-mail to admissions@lapinamk.fi.

The application services of the Lapland University of Applied sciences (Lapland UAS) send an information letter to all new students by e-mail.

Please pay attention to the following matters after you have been accepted to study in Lapland UAS and are transferring from open UAS to Lapland UAS as a degree student:

1. If your username at the open UAS is based on your student number (in the form A1234567), it will stop working 2 weeks after your right to study at the open UAS expires. Access to the systems (e.g., e-mail, Moodle, K drive, O365, GAFE) and to their information and documents with this id will cease. In this case, you will have to archive the information and documents you need from your email, the university’s server (K drive) and cloud services before your right to study at the open UAS ends (Cloud service instructions, Email instructions, Office 365 email configuration, Office 365 email archiving, Archiving OneDrive files)
   The data and documents in Moodle are automatically transferred to the new degree student user ID (see Student user IDs in the Guide for new students).
   
   
2. If your username at the open UAS is based on your name (in the form flastnam), you will continue to use the same username when studying for a degree, in which case the information in the systems will remain unchanged.
   
   
3. When you start your studies for a degree, registering for study unit implementations in Peppi service is performed with the degree student’s user ID. If the enrolment period has ended, you can ask the instructor responsible for the study unit for help. You can also register via Tuudo (mobile app).
   
   
4. When you become a degree student, the student affairs office mark the studies completed at an open UAS as credit transfers during the first academic year.
   
   
5. Students can print student certificates, transcripts, etc. from Peppi’s Atom service with an electronic signature. In other practical matters related to studying, you can get help from the student affairs office of the expertise group.
   

A student starting their studies must register for attendance/non-attendance when accepting the study place.

 After accepting a study place, students may only register as non-attending without the non-attendance period consuming the normative duration of the studies if they, during their first academic year,

1) complete service in accordance with the Conscription Act (1438/2007), Non-Military Service Act (1446/2007) or the Act on Women’s Voluntary Military Service (194/1995) 

 Document: Conscription card (Finnish only), which proves that the student’s military service will take place during the academic year.

2) are on pregnancy or parental leave

Documents:  Kela certificate of pregnancy or parental allowance period or, if it is too early for the certificate, a medical certificate of the pregnancy. Paternal leave can be proved with a Kela certificate of paternal leave or, if the baby has not been born yet, a medical certificate of the partner’s pregnancy. Equivalent certificates from the authorities of other countries regarding statutory parental leave are also accepted.

3) are  unable  to  start  their  studies  due  to  an  illness  or  disability

 Documents: Sickness allowance decision or, if such a decision has not been issued, a medical certificate. The medical certificate must indicate the nature of the illness or disability and that it prevents the student from starting their studies. A sufficient account regarding the obstacles caused by the practical arrangements required by the illness or disability, such as a student housing foundation certificate that the student is in queue for a special flat required by their  disability. The student’s own statement is not sufficient. The account must also  indicate how the matter will be arranged. A disability is a permanent state; invoking a disability alone is not sufficient. The student must invoke another temporary reason related to the disability.

 

For further information: admissions@lapinamk.fi

 

If you have not attached copies of your certificates to your application during the application period, please upload them to your application by the indicated date. 

If you have problems uploading, send an e-mail to admissions@lapinamk.fi

All the information provided in the joint application by students who have accepted their study place is compared to their certificates. The UAS may revoke a student admission if the applicant has entered incorrect information in the application, and the correct information would not entitle them to the study place. If you do not deliver the requested copies to the UAS, your student admission will be revoked. Copies will not be returned.  

Present your original certificates

The original certificates you used in the joint application will, if necessary, be compared to the copies you provided. Finnish certificates of eligibility to apply are primarily checked using the KOSKI- and SURE-services.  Students accepted to bachelor's degree programmes, who do not have a Finnish secondary degree/higher degree, must present the original certificates on which the admission is based at the campus in Rovaniemi or Kemi, no later than September 25, 2024.

Please notice that if the Lapland UAS cannot verify the original certificates, you will lose your study right.

For further information: admissions@lapinamk.fi

Finland has quite strict rules concerning immigration. Rules and regulations may differ depending on if you are a non-EU citizen, European Union citizen or citizen of the Nordic countries.

Apply residence permit / visa from Finnish immigration services

You will need a residence permit for studies if your studies take longer than 90 days. The permit is granted for the entire duration of your studies. Read more about studying in Finland from Finnish immigration services- websites from here.

Guide from Digital and Population Data Services Agency for Finnish personal identity code here.

It is possible to apply a residence permit for studies, if your studies lead to a degree or you are coming to Finland as an exchange student. More information about applying for a student residence permit you may find from here.

If your studies mainly consist of distance learning online and doesn't require you to stay in Finland, you cannot get a residence permit for studies. So, if you hope to visit Finland for a shorter time, check if you can get visa from here.

Need for residence permit? Check these videos and guide: How to get residence permit -video watch here  

Remember these when you apply for a first residence permit for studies -video watch here  

How to apply for a first residence permit for studies- guide, helps you for using the online service ENTER FINLAND. The guide gives you instructions on how to apply for a permit and helps you to make a personal checklist for the application process. Click here to start.

Student´s family members

A student’s family member can apply for a residence permit for Finland. The following people, among others, are considered family members of a Finnish citizen and a foreign national who is not an EU citizen: a spouse, a registered partner, a child under 18 years of age. Read more about how to apply and what kind of sufficient financial resources is needed from here.

Finnish personal identity code

When you get a residence permit for Finland, you will be automatically registered in the Finnish Population Information System and receive a Finnish personal identity code at the same time. If not, you can also get a personal identity code in Finland at the nearest Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Read more about registering as a resident from here.

Municipality

Obtaining a personal identity code does not automatically register you as a resident of a specific locality, so you will not receive a municipality of residence. It is important to you to have a municipality of residence to be able use city or municipal services. Municipal services include, for example, health care, education and early childhood education. More information about municipality of residence from here.

Instructions to registration of a foreign student in the Population Information System from here.

Make a notification of your move

Remember to notify about your moving to the authorities of the country which you are moving away. Moving away from your home country, can affect for example social security, pensions and taxes. Source: InfoFinland -websites  

Apply an apartment

Please note that it is very important to apply an accommodation on time and have it ready before arriving in Kemi or Rovaniemi. The beginning of each semester is a busy time and student housing will be filled up very quickly.

Accommodation in Rovaniemi

• Domus Arctica -säätiö DAS. More information available here.
• Housing companies. More information available here.
  
  

Accomodation in Kemi (more information coming soon)
 
Notifigation of moving

When you move to Finland, submit a notification of move using the instructions on Digital and population data services agency-webpages from here.
If you move to Finland from another Nordic country, the instructions on the moving you may find here.

Make a notification of move. 

Information on accommodation.
  

How to pay your tuition fee? Check here!

Studying at Lapland UAS is often independent of time and place, which is why students must have a laptop. Our students can download Microsoft Office products on their computers for free (Mac version does not contain Microsoft Access), but they are responsible for the maintenance of their terminal device. Please remember to always install the latest updates to your device to protect your data. For more demanding data processing and special applications, the computers of the UAS are used. 

During your studies make sure that you have access to USB headsets and broadband internet.

Suitable computers for studying:
• A Windows or Mac laptop
• Tablet computer with Windows operating system

Not suitable for studying:
• tablet without Windows operating system
• Linux operating system

Note! Minimum laptop requirements for an engineering student in the ICT field:

• At least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB or more recommended)
• 64-bit Intel or AMD processor, 4 cores or more and support for virtualization
• 64 bit Windows operating system, Home or Pro (not Starter)
• A separate graphics card with at least 4GB of display memory
• At least 500 GB of storage space
• Mac OSX or Linux are not suitable, nor are devices with M1 or similar processors
  
  
  

Settings for WLAN at campuses before starting studies 

The Lapland UAS uses the EDUROAM WLAN network for students’ own laptops and mobile devices.  

Instructions on connecting to EDUROAM here. 

Help with settings when studies have started:

The service number for students with problems getting access or having other issues should call this number: +358 40 484 4488 or send a email to this address: servicedesk@luc.fi.

About the Finnish student health services (FSHS)

Students who are registered as attending for the current term and are studying for a bachelor's or master's degree are entitled to FSHS services. Please note, that arriving open university students and commissioned students are not entitled to the services of the FSHS. 

• More information about the FSHS from our webpages
  
• Link to FSHS webpages
  
  

 Take care before arriving 

1. Take all the important medical information and documents of the vaccines with you.
   
   
2. The FSHC recommends the communicable disease questionnaire for students for students who have moved to Finland from tuberculosis risk areas; Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.You may find the survey from the FSHS- webpages: Read more about infectious diseases and vaccinations
   
   If you answered “Yes” to any of the questions, you need to contact FSHS for assess your need for treatment. Contact information: FrontPage - FSHS (yths.fi)
   
   
   PLEASE NOTE, for social and health care student’s answering to communicable disease questionnaire is mandatory, because in Finland Infectious Diseases Act in healthcare also apply to students and other trainees.
   
   

Health care fee

Students attending university of applied sciences must pay a healthcare fee to Kela. The fee must be paid for each academic term.

• More information about Healthcare fee from Kela`s webpages
• Instruction how to pay the student healthcare fee from Kela - webpages

 Students from EU or EEA countries do not have to pay the healthcare fee if you have social security coverage from another EU/EEA country, Switzerland, Great Britain or Northern Ireland. But you have to provide a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) when accessing FSHS services. The card must be obtained before coming to Finland. Students from Britain and Northern Ireland may provide a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). 

• Read more about how to proceed 
•  Read more about providing the EHIC
  

 

The Lapland UAS operates on three campuses: Jokiväylä in Rovaniemi, Kosmos in Kemi and Minerva in Tornio.  

Students in tourism, business, physical education, physiotherapy, medical and health care, agrology, forestry and engineering study at Jokiväylä. 

Students in medical and health care, social work for the aged, social sciences, mechanical engineering and electrical and automation engineering study at Kosmos. 

Students in business, data processing and visual arts study at Minerva. 

The Lapland UAS has parking areas containing spaces with and without heating poles. Spaces without heating poles are freely available to students. Between 1 November and 15 April, parking in heating pole spaces is allowed only with a parking permit. At other times, parking is allowed without a permit.

• Watch the introduction video for Kemi!
• Watch the introduction video for Rovaniemi! 
• Watch the introduction video for Tornio!
• Matkahuolto (bus schedules) 
• VR (train schedules) 

Before coming to Finland we recommend to check Finnish custom's instructions for travellers.

How to get information about current issues at the Lapland UAS

The institution’s information website. This information is also available at Tuudo. If the issue concerns only a specific campus town, the information is published in a town-specific manner. Tuudo also contains other important information for students. 

Open jobs and traineeships. Recruitment ads submitted by employers are published on Tuudo. 

Facebook group for students of the Lapland UAS (and other cool people).  

Facebook group for student events 
Student events that take place in Lapland UAS are on this page.  

Information screens on the school premises. 

The best way to stay up-to-date on student life is to follow Student Union ROTKO's social media channels, event calendar and tutors' Instagram accounts.

STUDENT UNION ROTKO:

Student Union ROTKO Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lapinrotko)
Student Union ROTKO Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lapinrotko/)
Student Union ROTKO Event Calendar (https://lapinrotko.fi/events/)

TUTORS ON INSTAGRAM:

KEMI: @Kemituutorit
 
ROVANIEMI: @Rovaniemituutorit
 
TORNIO: @Torniotuutorit

ONLINE TUTORS: @Verkkotuutorit

LIST OF TUTORS:
https://lapinrotko.fi/en/tutoring/tutors/

HOW TO ARRIVE TO LAPLAND UAS?

The first thing you need to do is to find your way to Helsinki. Any travel agent or airline company should be able to get you a flight to Helsinki from just about anywhere.

The next step is to get from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, Kemi or Tornio. There are several ways to do this.

 

To Rovaniemi

Travelling by plane is the easiest way. From Helsinki there are two airline companies, Finnair and Norwegian that operate between Helsinki and Rovaniemi. The flight time is approximately an hour.

The second alternative is to travel by train. The trip takes about 10-13 hours. There is a direct bus/train service from Helsinki-Vantaa airport to the train station. The train schedule, price information and basic information about the Finnish railways are available on www.vr.fi.

The third way to travel to Rovaniemi is by long-distance bus. The bus trip lasts about 11-13 hours. You can find more information about bus schedules and prices on the page of Matkahuolto.

To Kemi and Tornio

The quickest and easiest way to reach Kemi and Tornio is to take a domestic flight from Helsinki-Vantaa to Kemi-Tornio airport. The flight will take about an hour. All scheduled flights are available at www.finnair.com.

From Helsinki railway station you can take a day or night train up north to Lapland. Travelling by train from Helsinki to Kemi takes 8-10 hours. Notice that it is easier to travel if you take a straight connection to Kemi without changing trains on your way. The train schedule, price information and basic information about the Finnish railways are available on www.vr.fi.

The third way to travel to to Kemi and Tornio is by long-distance bus. You can find more information about bus schedules and prices in Finland on the www.matkahuolto.fi. There are connections from Helsinki to Kemi and Tornio, from Stockholm to Haparanda-Tornio (www.tapanis.se), from Alta, Nordkapp and Tromso to Rovaniemi (www.eskelisen-lapinlinjat.com), from Murmansk to Rovaniemi (www.goldline.fi). From Rovaniemi you can take a bus or train to Kemi and Tornio.

Universities of applied sciences, are closely linked to everyday life. Working life and different industries are present, and theoretical, practical and experience-based knowledge are connected in learning. Problem-solving and decision-making skills develop when investigating real problems and phenomena in working life. The studies are community-based and collaborative. Students, teachers and working life entities build common knowledge and understanding together.

At the universities of applied sciences, teachers are facilitators of learning, as learning focuses on each student’s needs, abilities, interests and learning styles. Student-centred learning requires students to be active, responsible for their own learning and knowledge construction in order to understand and apply it in real life and working life situations and in problem solving.

Curricula designing involves the most important local companies and employers in the field of study to correspond to the needs of working life. Universities of applied sciences also apply anticipation methods in order to get a consistent idea and understanding about future competence need.

• Start exploring your own studies in the curriculum. Curricula can be found in the Study Guide.
• Digibag – a Digital Toolkit to master digital learning skills. https://www.digibagi.fi/en/english/
  
  

There are several people in our UAS that can help you with your studies. You have the possibility to get guidance for your studies and learning even before your studies begin. And ofcourse throughout your studies. Guidance is provided by study counsellors, teachers, guidance experts, support services’ staff and representatives of working life. In order to streamline your studies, it’s good to ask for advice and guidance as soon as you start wondering about something.   

Get to know our support services from here.

Starting studies in a university of applied sciences means entering a new situation in life, which may entail moving to a new locality away from friends and family back home, taking responsibility for one’s own life, and beginning studies that differ in nature from studies in a vocational or upper secondary school. The most important factor that eases studying at the start is interaction with others in the same situation. Other students can provide support and information on studying. 

The purpose of student tutoring during the initial phase of studies is to facilitate and support the new student’s integration and orientation into the UAS community and the new situation in life. It is important for new students to meet their fellow students. The goal of tutoring is to awaken the student’s own activeness and reinforce interaction between the student and the staff of the UAS. 

The tutor acts as a bridge between the new student and the staff of the UAS. The new student should learn how to address possible problems and how to solve them. However, the tutor is not a psychologist or a student counsellor, and does not need to know everything. More essential is to know where the information and help can be found. Tutors job is to listen encourage and advise. 

The purpose of tutoring is to…

• be present for the first year students
• help the new student’s to get friends
• help new students find their place in the school community
• improve the grouping of a new group
• create a positive atmosphere
• share information
• introduce a new student to UAS practices and student life
• encourage to participate in various events
• create and develop activities for the first year students
• be the voice of students
• ensures continuity of tutoring 
  
   More information about peer tutoring and tutors:
  
  Student tutors 

As a student, the most important tool is yourself. Taking care of your well-being helps you cope with your studies and it is also important for your future work. Sometimes we need guidance and counselling, as well as help and support. Talking to student well-being professionals can help you structure things and find a new direction.  If you need tips on maintaining your resources, streamlining your studies, overcoming anxiety or stress, check out the website: Well-being services for higher education students.

University Social workers

prevent and support student’s well-being. Social workers provide guidance and counselling for students and support students with their studies. Most often, students contact social workers if they want to discuss their life situation; everyday life, studying, learning problems, stress or loneliness.  
 
Well-being instructor  

will give you tips and advice on starting exercise, well-being and coping. Appointments can be taken, for example, by phone, Skype and e-mail, or face-to-face meetings are also possible upon request. Don’t hesitate to contact!

Booking an appointment

Instructions for booking appointment to university social worker  and contacting Wellbeing Instructor
Contact us | LUC-hyvinvointi (luchyvinvointi.fi).

Students are allowed to take advantage of studies they have completed at another Finnish or foreign higher education institution or another educational institution, and to include or replace studies with other same level studies, as well as with other proven competences (932/2014, 37§). A student’s competence is central, regardless of where and how the competence was acquired. The recognition of prior learning can be done right at the beginning of studies or at a later stage.

It is important that you familiarise yourself with the curriculum and recognise your own learning in relation to the learning objectives of courses. Please get prepared for Individual Study Plan (ISP) discussions by compiling documents for demonstrating your competences, such as competence description forms and work testimonials. 

Read more about applying.

Remote and online studies at the Lapland UAS mean using a computer and network for studies. The learning event is not tied to a classroom, instead, you study in part or completely in different online environments. 
 
When participating in remote and online studies, you are responsible for ensuring that your computer and internet connection work. Online studies do not require specific IT skills; basic computer and internet skills are sufficient. In orientation studies, you practice the use of e-learning tools. The personnel of Lapland UAS’s eLearning services always provide personal assistance when needed.

•  eLearning services
  

As a student at the Lapland UAS, you have a possibility to acquire international competence in many ways. You can, for example:  
• go for an exchange abroad for studies or traineeships 
• take part to a summer school or other short exchange 
• complete online course(s) arranged by one of our partner institutions 
• participate in international student ambassador activities 
• become an international student tutor 
 
By going for an exchange or participating in other international activities, you will improve your language skills, acquire valuable knowledge for your future career, make new friends and gain a lot of self-confidence among many other important things. 
 
Explore different possibilities and find your way to gain international expertise! 
Read more here! 

Accessibility in studies means that every student of the Lapland UAS has equal opportunities to study. In matters related to accessibility, we recommend contacting the UAS before starting your studies. For more information, contact your own study counsellor or university social worker.

More about accessibility here!

The Lapland University Consortium offers library services to the University of Lapland and the Lapland UAS. As a student at the Lapland UAS, you can borrow books and use the library’s electronic collections on LUC-Finna.  

 
The library has two locations in Rovaniemi: 

• University Library
• Arctic Centre Library 
  

and two locations in the Kemi-Tornio area: 

• Kosmos Library in Kemi
  
• Minerva Library in Tornio
  
   
  Additional information. 

Student Union ROTKO

A Student Union can be found from every University of Applied Sciences in Finland. In Lapland UAS the name of the Student Union is ROTKO. As a vigilant watchdog of student affairs, ROTKO’s mission is to ensure students' voices are heard inside Lapland UAS. In addition, ROTKO supports and takes part in student culture. ROTKO co-operates with local student associations in various events and organizes activities throughout the academic year.

A bit cheaper student life?

Studying is the best time of life and membership in Student Union ROTKO makes it easy for students to be part of their student community. Membership also involves a comprehensive package of services and discounts for students – you can get access to a wide range of local and national discounts, e.g. VR train tickets, Matkahuolto long distance bus tickets and student-priced school lunch.

Students of Lapland UAS can get a student card by joining Student Union ROTKO. The membership does not obligate members for anything but it gives them benefits and also possibilities to participate in the trusteeship work Student Union does. Your student card is also an official proof you are a student in Lapland UAS.

You can read more about the student card from ROTKO’s webpage.

Have you experienced harassment?

Inappropriate, discriminating and insulting talk, messages or e-mails don't belong to Lapland UAS as they don't belong to any other place of study or work. Harassment can be for example flirting that is going too far, racist, homophobic or sexist behaviour, unwelcome sexual or hostile messages, phone calls or e-mails.

Student Union ROTKO has harassment contact persons who have been trained to operate as contact persons. You can contact a harassment contact person if you have personally experienced harassment or have witnessed it. All conversations are confidential and all possible further actions are discussed together.

You can find ROTKO’s harassment contact persons listed here.

Student Union ROTKO in a nutshell

●    Oversees the quality of teaching
●    Ensures that students are treated equally as members of the university community
●    Oversees well-being and rights of students and participates in the development work in the working groups of the University of Applied Sciences
●    Organizes tutor training and supports tutoring work
●    Makes sure that the students’ voice is heard not only within the university but also in Rovaniemi, Kemi, and Tornio regions as well as on national level
●    ROTKO’s harassment contact persons will help if you have experienced ill treatment or harassment

Activating User Credentials (Username and Password) 

If you do not have Finnish social security number, these instructions do not concern you. In that case, you will receive separate instructions.   

You can activate your user credentials after receiving a notification email from the Lapland UAS. 
 
If you have valid user credentials from the Lapland UAS or the University of Lapland, you will not receive new credentials, but continue using existing credentials. 

The user accounts are used to log into systems, e.g., Peppi, StudentaPlus, Status, WebOodi, Moodle, the email system, classroom workstations and the wireless network. In order to use the services of the Lapland UAS, you must first activate your user credentials! Once you have activated your username, you can log in to Moodle the next day.

To enable / activate your username using your Finnish online banking account or mobile certificate: 

Instructions here. 

Read the rules of use of Lapland UAS’s IT services here. 

Peppi is a system that combines the tasks of students, teachers and the administration of the UAS into one entity. Peppi works in web browsers, including mobile use. All functions are assembled on the student’s own desktop, which opens when you log in to Peppi.  
 
The student’s desktop allows the student to plan their studies, monitor their progress, make appointments, enroll for studies, exams and the academic year, as well as view and edit their own contact information. 
 
Log into Peppi to the student desktop. 

• Update your contact information in Peppi (help)
• Explore your own study plan (ISP) and scheduling (help)
• Registration for implementations (help) 

Studying is the best time of life, and membership in Student Union ROTKO makes it easy for students to be part of their student community. Membership also involves a comprehensive package of services and discounts for students – you can get access to a wide range of local and national discounts, e.g. VR train tickets, Matkahuolto long distance bus tickets and student-priced school lunch.

Students of Lapland UAS can get a student card by joining Student Union ROTKO. The membership does not obligate members for anything but it gives them benefits and also possibilities to participate in the trusteeship work Student Union does. Your student card is also an official proof you are a student in Lapland UAS.

You can read more about the student card from ROTKO’s webpage.

Contact teaching begins at different times depending on the degree programme. Information about starting time can be found in the menu below.  

Orientation studies start with a self-study package before contact teaching. 

For more information on studies and the campus days/contact lessons, contact the Student Affairs Office of your degree programme.

Starting dates for studies starting in autumn 2024.

If you have a smartphone, download the Tuudo application and enable it by selecting Lapland UAS from Tuudo’s menu. After reading the Guide for New Students, login to Tuudo with your student credentials. This ensures that you have access to all Tuudo functions, such as your timetable and important notices.

Once you have enrolled for the course implementations, you will get a timetable based on your enrollments. You can view your own timetable from Tuudo. You can find Moodle’s assignment and exam schedules also from Tuudo’s timetable.  You can find the timetable on Tuudo’s front page.  
 
You can also view your timetable in Peppi (help). 
 
You can view your group’s timetables or room reservations from Timetables.