New students

Timetable of Master student selections 2010

All the 2010 applications have safely arrived in late February 2010 from University Admissions Finland to the University of Tampere.

Student selections will be announced as soon as they are made in late April-early May. Successful applicants will receive e-mail from the Faculty of Information Sciences, and all applicants will receive a letter informing the results.

In the meantime, as the selections are taking place, we do not give out any information regarding the status of individual applicants.

From mid-May you may send e-mail to Ms. Kirsi Tuominen, kirsi-marja.tuominen (at) uta.fi, asking about your selection status. Plese give your full name, UAF application number, date of birth and the programmes that you applied for.

Timetable of exchange and visiting student selections

It normally takes 4-5 weeks from the application deadline to finalise the selections.

Survival Guide and teaching schedules 2009-10

UTA Survival Guide is available on-line. There is also a printed version, available from the International Office, and a pdf version here. Survival Guide gives practical information on studying and living in Tampere.

Also the teaching schedules are available on-line. For more information please see the Studying page.

Many important deadlines for Master students 2010

Those new Master students who have not yet obtained their final Master's degree diploma will get a conditional acceptance, and they must send an officially attested copy (and official translation into English) of their final diploma to the Faculty Office by 30 July, 2010. Otherwise the conditional acceptance expires.

New Master students must confirm by 3 August, 2010, that they accept the study place offered. The deadline is the same for all Finnish universities. You will lose the study place offered if you fail to send the confirmation by the deadline. Only new students who have submitted their final diploma in late July will get extension for accepting the study place.

All new students must also register at UTA by the deadline set in the letter of acceptance. The deadline is 31 August. Otherwise you will lose the study place offered.

Exchange and visiting are advised to register during the Orientation Week.

Residence permit

New Master and Doctoral students or exchange/visiting students from EU/EEA countries do not need a residence permit in Finland. New students from non-EU/EEA countries need a residence permit. Among the application documents, a financial statement showing a scholarship or 6000 euros is needed.  For more information on permits, please see the UTA page.

A residence permit is valid for one year only. The permit must then be renewed at the Tampere Police Station. They will need the following documents: filled OLE_OPI form (the Finnish Immigration Service forms have been revised in January 2010), an official UTA study certificate (from the Registrar's Office), latest official UTA study transcript (from the Registrar's Office), a scholarship letter or a bank statement (showing 6000 euros), two passport-sized photos, valid health insurance policy, and passport. It now takes 6-7 weeks to get the residence permit renewed.

Health Insurance

When applying for residence permit, the applicant must present evidence of health insurance. For information on health insurance deals please see the Student Union Tamy page. Citizens of the EU/EEA countries are entitled to the same health care services in Finland as Finns, but health insurance is recommended to EU/EEA citizens, too. See the UTA page on health care.

Student housing

Student housing in Tampere is available to Master and Doctoral students and to exchange/visiting students, organised by a separate organ, TOAS. Please notice that you may make an application for student accomodation only after you have been accepted as a student at UTA. For more information, please see the UTA page on accomodation.

Orientation Week and guidance

The University organises free of charge an Orientation Week for all international students. The Orientation Week given in late August - early September, before the starting of teaching, is compulsory for new Master students.

Information is given on study practisies, degree structure and other things important for the successful start of the studies. During the Orientation Week the new students also get a chancce to meet fellow students and departmental personnel. On this and other practical things, please see the UTA page.

All new Bachelor and Master level students, both degree and exchange/visiting students, will get a student tutor from their Student Organisation to help them get started. Doctoral students get help and advice from their own department.

Master's degree programmes have their own tutor teachers for help in academic choices.

Exchange/visiting students get help in planning their studies from their departmental advisor.

The Faculty International Officer gives advice on general matters, especially on admissions, language studies and the structure of degrees.

Notification of Move and local registration

After arrival, all students must hand in a Notification of Move. See the UTA page for more information. The notification must be made within one week of arrival, at departure and every time when moving in Finland.

New degree students staying in Tampere for more than a year are requested to register locally. Please see the details on the UTA page for new students.