Welcome package for exchange students - Åbo campus

Congratulations on being admitted to Åbo Akademi University as an exchange student! On this page we have gathered a welcome package for you. Please read through all the information carefully and follow the links to the information that is relevant for you. If you have questions, you are welcome to contact us for example by e-mail: exchange@abo.fi.

Residence permit

Students coming from outside the European Union must be in possession of a Finnish residence permit when coming to Finland for an exchange period longer then three months. Students residing within the European Union but who are not European Union citizens must also be in possession of a Finnish residence permit before entering Finland. Please request also a personal identity code when you apply for the residence permit. Please read the information provided by the Finnish Immigration Service for more information:

Notice to exchange students 2016

Housing

Exchange students must themselves apply for housing. More information about housing alternatives is available here. You should apply for housing as early as possible.
- the TYS application period opens 1 May/October. It is important that you apply for housing immediately as students receive housing in the order they have applied.
- Retrodorm application period opens 15 April/10 October.

Student tutor and possibility to be met upon arrival

All exchange students will be assigned a student tutor, who will contact you in August/December. If you want to be met upon arrival, please communicate your arrival information to your tutor.

Student Union membership

In Finland all university students studying for a bachelor or master degree must be members of the student union of the university they are studying at. The membership entitles its holder to several student discounts and benefits including discounts on trains and long distance busses, subsidised lunches and student health care services.

It is highly recommended that all exchange students also join the student union as this will give them several benefits. For more information about the Student Union, please see their website.

In order to join the student union you must pay the Student Union membership fee. The fee should be paid online after arrival (requires credit card). Please see the registration instructions to receive more information on how to pay the student union fee and how to register.

Orientation course

In the beginning of each term a Orientation course for new exchange students is arranged. Please see here for more information. A detailed programme will be available approximately one month in advance.

University registration

Students will be able to register online after arrival. In order to register students must receive their abo.fi username, which is handed out by the Education services - International affairs. In order to complete the registration, the student must pay the student union fee. The registration period for autumn term or full year starts 1 August and ends 9 September. The registration period for the spring term is 2-13 January. Students who register after 9 September/13 January must pay an additional late-registration fee (35 euro).

Planning your studies

With your application, you have submitted a learning agreement/study plan. This learning agreement has been processed by Åbo Akademi University. If you want to make changes to your learning agreement this can usually be done in the beginning of the term. Each student will be asked to confirm the learning agreement and choice of courses at the beginning of the term.

Meet other incoming students

We have created a facebook group for all incoming exchange students to the Åbo campus. We hope you will join this group to meet the other incoming students already prior to the orientation course!

Welcome to Åbo!

This page is maintained by Icca Krook/Susanne Nylund-Torp