Information for Exchange Students going to Turku
- Students apply in Passau for the exchange and the Erasmus mobility grant to the University of Turku, Turku School of Economics
- The University of Passau nominates the exchange students and promises them to pay Erasmus mobility grant.
- The DEMA students apply via online application for Turku, they also have to include their LAs (learning agreement = list of courses they are going to study in Turku) in the application.
- The University of Turku accepts the DEMA students and sends instructions what to do and when studies start.
- Students are responsible for searching housing in Turku (instructions are given) and arranging their travelling to Turku.
- Students take part on the orientation program for exchange students (here they will get all relevant university related information).
- The information systems department arranges a welcome meeting for the DEMA students, where they get program specific information, and they have a contact person at the department to support their studies.
The DEMA students have two kind of status during their stay in Turku. They are degree students of the GITM DEMA program and they also have the exchange student status.
The link below gives all the relevant information for the exchange: https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/exchange-studies
Here you will find experience reports and tips for the Double Master Degree in Digital Enterprise Management (DEMA)/Information Systems: http://itwdata.uni-passau.de/wiki/index.php/Erlebnisberichte_und_praktische_Tipps_f%C3%BCr_Passauer_Studierende_im_Doppelmaster_mit_der_Universit%C3%A4t_Turku
Finland is the most digitally advanced countries in the world. It is leading the Digital Economy & Society Index (2022) in the EU and, after Singapore, ranks second globally in the Network Readiness Index (2016) as a leading country in harnessing information technology
World Happiness Report: Finns once again the happiest https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/weltgluecksbericht-101.html
No, it is not necessary to learn Finnish. Many of the courses offered at the University of Turku are in English. But you can learn Finnish, if you like to. Several Finnish and Swedish courses are offered for free in Turku.
The teaching language in this double Master degree programme is English. There is a wide choice of courses at both universities taught in English.
To participate in the DEMA program you need skills in English language at level B2 (CEFR) or higher. You need to prove that you have adequate English skills by means of a recognised language certificate. We accept known language certificate such as FFP I/FFP II, UNIcert, etc., or your Abitur certificate, if the level is written on it. Or your language teacher fills in this Language Assessment Sheet for Exchange Student applicants of the University of Turku.
Autumn term starts in September and it ends before Christmas, spring term starts in January and it ends at the end of April. Every term has two periods which are about 6-7 weeks long. Usually you start studying at the University of Turku at the end of August where you participate at the orientation week. Information about the orientation for new international students: https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/accepted-students/orientation
There are about 300 courses in English which you can attend. But keep in mind that you have to fulfil the requirements of the Master’s programme of the Universities of Passau and Turku. Find more information here: Study guide University of Turku and Courses of the DEMA in the GITM programme at TSE
In many courses you do not have to enrol in advance, but it is important to attend the first lesson. Some courses have limited capacity, there you have to enrol about one week before the course starts.
The study plan must be produced at the beginning of the double masters course and it must signed by Prof. Krämer and yourself, only then it is valid. Any change must be agreed and signed by Prof. Krämer, otherwise it is not valid.
The Learning Agreement, which is automatically generated from the study plan, must be signed by the Chairman of the Examination Commission for Information Systems and then submitted to the Dean's Office of the School of Business, Economics and Information Systems.
In order to apply for Erasmus+ funding, the “Gesamt-Learning Agreement” (http://www.uni-passau.de/internationales/ins-ausland-gehen/europaeische-partnerhochschulen-erasmus/nach-der-erfolgreichen-bewerbung/ ) must also be completed and submitted to the Dean's Office. After verification by the Dean's office and signature by the dean of studies, you will receive an e-mail from the Dean's office stating that your documents are ready for collection. As part of the DEMA double master course, you will also need a valid Study Plan signed by Prof. Krämer, which replaces the Individual Learning Agreements.
Since changes in the Study Plan may still occur during the semester, the two Learning Agreements should only be submitted to the Dean's office about 1 month before your stay in Turku.
At each university, the courses will be accepted with their original ECTS.
Usually courses have an exam at the end of the term. However, the final exam usually does not make up 100 % of the final grade. In most of the courses you are given individual assignments during the term that also count towards the final grade.
The structure of the programme is designed to enable you to complete it in 4 terms/semesters. Due to the different term system in Finland (Period I-IV) an extension at the University of Turku is not possible.
Masters’ thesis and seminar will be jointly supervised by academic partners at both universities, but each must be written at the home university. Both, seminar and masters’ thesis need to be written in English.
The Master thesis has to be written in English because it will be jointly supervised by academic partners at both universities.
- DEMA Students first choose a supervisor at their home university going through the usual process.
- The supervisor is responsible for giving them a general topic. The supervisor then notifies the other university of the fact that he/she is supervising the given student and what the topic is. The other university then assigns a supervisor, too, and notifies back on who the other supervisor is.
- At a later point in time (before the thesis is formally registered), the supervisor shares a written research exposé (laying out topic, research method and some related literature) with the other university. The other university provides a brief feedback on the expose, or just acknolwedges its receipt.
- The thesis is formally registered (in Passau), fixing the title of the thesis.
- If a presentation of the thesis is arranged, the other university is invited to that presentation in due time.
- The thesis is formally handed in at the home university and at the other university, going through the respective procedures.
- A formal written evaluation of the thesis (in Turku this is in English, In Passau this can be in English or German) is provided to the other university.
It is theoretically possible but we advise you not to write your Master thesis in cooperation with a company, due to the fact that there are already two institutions who supervise it.
There is a tutor system for degree and exchange students at the university of Turku. A personal tutor system engages voluntary and trained Finnish or foreign students to help you with practical matters and to guide you through student life in Turku. Each tutor has about 3-5 exchange or degree students: https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/accepted-students/orientation; Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY): www.tyy.fi/en; Erasmus Student Network Uni Turku: https://esnuniturku.fi
The general costs of living are higher in Finland. However, meals and living on campus are subsidised. Meals cost 2,60 € in student cafeterias with a student card. There are eleven student cafeterias and they are open Monday to Friday/Saturday. The opening hours differ in the different cafeterias, some start with breakfast at 8:30, some close at 20:00 o’clock. Cost of student housing per month is about 285 - 500 Euros. https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu
Former DEMA exchange students recommend the Turku Student Village. Please bear in mind, that you should apply for housing at least six weeks before the lease begins. Housing providers: TYS and Retrodorm.
https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/accepted-students/housing
Cost of student housing per month is about 285- 500 Euros.
Exchange students can borrow a package with household items which they then return before they leave Turku: www.tyy.fi/en/students/starting-package-storage
There is no need for an extra insurance. Holders of the European Health Insurance Card are entitled to the same health services as the Finnish people.
https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/accepted-students/residence-permit
It is possible but it might be difficult without speaking good Finnish. Furthermore, you need more time during the term for the individual assignments you are given in several courses. Moreover, there are no jobs as a research and teaching assistant as is common at German universities.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a residence permit, but must register their right to reside in Finland as a student if their stay lasts longer than three months. This is only a formality. https://www.utu.fi/en/study-at-utu/accepted-students/residence-permit
- https://www.utu.fi/en/how-to-get-to-turku-move-around-in-the-city
By air: Turku Airport or Helsinki-Vantaa
By bus: The national long distance bus service Matkahuolto departs from local bus stations all throughout Finland and also from Helsinki-Vantaa airport.
https://www.onnibus.com/home
By train: There is a train connection from Helsinki-Vantaa airport to Turku. https://www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/frontpage - By ferry:Viking Line https://www.vikingline.de/?_ga=2.76215004.859930590.1512121738-216699713.1512121738 Stockholm - Turku
Silja Line https://www.tallinksilja.com/en/book-a-cruise Stockholm - Turku; Aland - Turku; Riga - Turku
Finnlines: https://www.finnlines.com/de/ Travemünde - Helsinki - Public Transport in Turku: https://www.foli.fi/en
- Travel Agency specialized in group travel to Scandinavia (Lapland, Iceland, Norway), Russia (St Petersburg & Moscow) and Baltics for international students. https://www.timetravels.fi