Checklist for those going on exchange

Before your departure

• Your passport should be valid throughout the period of your sojourn in the country of destination (in some countries it must be valid for 6 months after you leave the country).  If you intend to stay in a country for longer periods you will need a residence permit. You should obtain a residence permit prior to your departure from the embassy of the country in question except for EU and ETA countries, where the right to sojourn will be registered in the country of destination.
  
  If you are not an EU or ETA citizen you should check the requirements for residence permits case by case on the basis of your nationality and the country of destination. Citizens of the Nordic countries do not need residence permits in other Nordic countries.
  
  It may take up to 2 months to get a residence permit, so do it in good time.
  
  Representation of foreign states in Finland or in the nearest country to Finland  (website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland)

• Check your insurance with your own insurance company. You are recommended to take out insurance (including baggage, travel and legal insurance) even if you come within the local health insurance provisions. The University does not insure students going on exchange. If you are travelling to Russia find out which insurance companies’ insurances are valid when obtaining your visa. In order to have health care in EU and ETA countries and in Switzerland at the same price as local residents, citizens of EU and ETA countries should have a European medical card or equivalent certificate. Please note that the European medical card does not mean reimbursement of repatriation costs after illness or accident. An appropriate travel insurance will reimburse such costs, likewise additional expenses accruing for care and own liability.

• Find out at your own bank what the easiest and cheapest way is to transfer money to the country of destination. Options include EU payments, VISA, VISA Electron, giros or international automatic teller and credit cards.  Find out in advance from your own bank all the information that you might need to transfer money to foreign banks (e.g. the bank’s SWIFT code and your own IBAN account number and the time it takes to process transfers).

• If you are entitled to a student financial aid, you should consult the Student Financial Aid Office (Main Building, rm. A108) for instructions. Please note that student grants will be paid into your bank account in Finland.

• Read the travel reports (page is in Finnish only) of people who have already been on exchange at the same university or in the same country.

• Get to know the web pages of your receiving institution and any other information about the city or country to which you are going.

• Negotiate now with your own unit’s teacher in charge/your own HOPS teacher regarding accreditation of studies taken while on exchange and with the Head of Study Affairs of your School (opintoasiain päällikkö) about including your studies while on exchange in your degree.

• Remember to enroll at the University of Tampere as either “present” (when you will pay the Student Union fee and receive a stamp on your student card and be entitled to take examinations at the University of Tampere, to reductions on rail tickets and to use the student health care services) or as “absent”.  You may also enroll as “present” for one term only.  Please give the Registrar’s Office (aktuaarinkanslia) your valid address.

• Please remember to complete the part of the enrolment form eliciting studies abroad. Alternatively you can report studying abroad on Nettiopsu. That way you ensure that you retain your right to an e-mail account at the University of Tampere while resident abroad. Please also remember to give the Registrar’s Office your current address. Note that reporting that you are studying abroad via Nettiopsu is not the same as enrolling at the University!

• Check in good time that your vaccinations are in order.  It is advisable to have dental work (e.g. extraction of wisdom teeth) done before going on exchange, but do this in good time as the student dental services are heavily booked.

• Inform the postal services and Administrative Court (maistraatti) of your removal.  You can use the postal net service, telephone or paper form for this – available at post offices and at the maistraatti office.  Instructions will be found at http://www.posti.fi/changeaddress/

• Find out in good time what to do in order to get accommodation in the country of destination. Generally this is your own responsibility!

• You can go international in advance by serving as a university of Tampere international peer tutor and thereby get to know international students.
  
  Information on being an international peer tutor (available soon)

When you have arrived

• Enroll at your exchange university and if necessary also as a resident of the city of destination (you may need a certificate when dealing with other officials and the university).  Also enroll with the local health care authorities if necessary.

• See that you participate in orientations and language courses because that is where you will meet international students and learn about programmes arranged for you.

• Request certification of having completed courses. You can request an ECTS extract from ERASMUS universities. All written work should be preserved for purposes of accreditation.

On your return

• Inform the maistraatti that you are again resident in Finland (see the link above)

• Take care of the accreditation of your studies abroad at the University of Tampere with the appropriate teacher in charge (for compensating courses forming part of the degree requirements) or with the Head of Study Affairs of your School (for including studies taken abroad in the degree programme).

• Write your travel account in Nettiopsu. This is a condition for receiving travel assistance from the University and for ERASMUS and NORDPLUS stipends. Travel accounts are extremely valuable for those students who are planning going on exchange. 
  
  Instructions for writing a travel report
  
  The report should be handed on to the Department of Academic and International Affairs within a month of returning.

• In addition to the travel account ERASMUS students are required to return the Letter of Confirmation form which is sent by mail to all those going on ERASMUS exchange.

The International Office wishes you a useful and unforgettable exchange!