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International Office
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR INCOMING EXCHANGE STUDENTS & TRAINEES
http://www.tamk.fi/en/WWWSTUDIES/exchange_studies.html
Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu / TAMK University of Applied Sciences International Office (B1-37) Teiskontie 33 FI – 33520 TAMPERE FINLAND Phone: +358 3 565 47 277 Fax: +358 3 565 47 238 E-mail: international.office@tamk.fi (general enquiries) E-mail: incoming.students@tamk.fi (incoming exchange students) Website: www.tamk.fi Office hours: Mon – Fri 10 – 12, Thu also 13 – 15 Mirja Onduso, International Coordinator - E-mail: mirja.onduso@tamk.fi - Phone: +358 3 565 277, mobile: +358 50 329 5224 (in urgent matters) o Invitation letters (if needed) o Exchange applications o Advice on student accommodation o Learning Agreements o International student counseling o Orientation & Exchange Student Administration Kit Kirsi Tolvanen, International Coordinator - E-mail: kirsi.tolvanen@tamk.fi - Phone: +358 3 565 524 o Bilateral agreements with partner universities o Erasmus / Nordplus / FIRST scholarships Suvi Hakamäki, Club International Tampere (CLINT) Pick-Up Coordinator - E-mail: suvi.hakamaki@cs.tamk.fi - Phone: +358 44 060 0095 - Internet: http://tamko.net/ o Pick-up from the Tampere-Pirkkala Airport, Railway Station or Bus Station o Survival Kits TOAS E-mail: pia.ylimaki@toas.fi Online application at http://www.toas.fi/english/index.html (Housing application, Apllication for students moving to Finland, at the bottom of the text) o Student housing
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International Office 1. Exchange studies at TAMK
2 June 2008
TAMK offers two Bachelor level degree programmes in English. These two programmes can best receive incoming exchange students, providing many courses to choose from: • Degree Programme in Environmental Engineering (ENVE) • Degree Programme in International Business (IB) There are other Bachelor level non-degree programmes that are taught in English, but the number of courses is limited and/or time-specific: • Degree Programme in Media: Interactive Media Programme (IMP) (Autumn Semester only), 30 cr • Degree Programme in Paper Technology: International Paper and Pulp, (one or two semesters, Aug – Dec, Jan – May), 30/60 cr The following Bachelor level degree programmes do not offer courses in English, but exchange students may be able to make special agreements with a teacher, do project work, or write their Final Thesis, if the degree programme agrees: • Degree Programme in Automobile & Transport Engineering • Degree Programme in Business Administration • Degree Programme in Business Information Systems • Degree Programme in Chemical Engineering • Degree Programme in Computer Systems Engineering • Degree Programme in Electrical Engineering • Degree Programme in Fine Art • Degree Programme in Forestry • Degree Programme in Mechanical & Production Engineering • Degree Programme in Textile Technology If you are doing an independent project or your final thesis, you will be appointed a supervising teacher. You should plan your studies directly with him/her. Exchange students may take courses from any degree programme, providing that that there is room in the courses. The degree students and the exchange students in the particular degree programme will have a priority in registering to courses that have limited space. TAMK requires all exchange students to take minimum 20 cr (credits, 1 cr = 1 ECTS) per semester. The normal course load for degree students is 30 cr per semester. Most courses last for two periods (e.g. Periods 1-2 or Periods 3-4), but some courses may last longer (e.g. Periods 1-3 or Periods 1-4). Exchange students staying only one semester may register to courses lasting the whole academic year only if the teacher agrees to the arrangement. The credits to be given in such cases will be agreed upon case by case. There are no exam weeks. The final exam is usually given during the course. The teachers will announce their exam dates at the beginning of the course.
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Most course books can be borrowed from the TAMK libraries. Teachers may also provide course materials, some of which are free of charge and some have a modest cost. 2. The 2008-2009 Academic Year in TAMK The academic year is divided into two semesters and four periods: Autumn Semester (Aug – Dec) Period 1 (21 Aug – 10 Oct 2008) Period 2 (13 Oct – 19 Dec 2008) Period 3 (7 Jan – 13 March 2009) Period 4 (16 March – 31 May 2009)
Spring Semester (Jan – May)
There is a one week holiday during each semester (in October and February, dates to be confirmed). There are one staff training day during each semester, when there might not teaching. However, the teachers will inform all students whether or not there will be teaching during staff training days. Important dates for Autumn Semester 2008 Arrival dates to Tampere: Orientation for exchange students: Course registration for ENVE, IB & IPPT: 18 – 20 August 2008 21 – 22 August 2008 25 – 20 August 2008
All exchange students must take part in the Orientation. The Orientation takes place on the Teiskontie Campus. The programme will be sent beforehand by email. If you don’t know where to go on the first day in TAMK, please go to the International Office (Teiskontie Campus, B building, room B1-37) or call Mirja Onduso 050 329 5224. If you miss the Orientation, please go to the International Office when you arrive at TAMK. The classroom teaching in the Autumn Semester 2008 will start on: • 25 August in Interactive Media Programme (IMP) • 1 September in Environmental Engineering, Degree Programme in International Business International Pulp and Paper Technology (IPPT) Important dates for Spring Semester 2009 Arrival date to Tampere: Orientation for new exchange students: Course registration for ENVE, IB & IPPT: 2 – 4 January 2009 5 January 2009 7 – 9 January 2009
All new exchange students must take part in the Orientation. The Orientation takes place on Teiskontie Campus. The programme will be sent beforehand by email. If you don’t know where to go on the first day in TAMK, please go to the International Office (Teiskontie Campus, B building, room B1-37) or call Mirja Onduso 050 329 5224.
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If you miss the Orientation, please go to the International Office when you arrive at TAMK. The classroom teaching in all degree programmes will start on 7 January 2009. Note! Although the Spring Semester officially ends on 31 May, the classroom teaching will end in (early) May. However, we cannot give you a more specific date because each teacher decides the ending date independently. 3. Applications To apply for exchange studies at TAMK, you should preferably have finished at least two years of education in your home university. In other cases, please contact TAMK before you apply. The length of your exchange studies at TAMK may be one or two semesters, depending on the programme you are applying to. Please check carefully the availability of courses suitable for you if you apply for two semesters. If you are doing an independent project or a practical training, it may also be possible to study over the summer (June – August). Officially, all teachers and students are on holiday during the summer. Send your application in good time: • • by 31 October for the Spring Semester (Jan – May) by 15 May for the Autumn Semester (Aug – Dec)
If you send your application later than these dates, we will consider your application only if the degree programme you are applying for still agrees to receive you. Your application must include: BY APPLICATION DEADLINE: • Application form (electronic) • One photo • Application letter (free format) • CV (free format) • Transcript of Records in English (from home university) • Project / Final Thesis / Traineeship Plan (if applicable, free format) LATER: • Copy of Travel Insurance (after receiving a confirmation of exchange) • Learning Agreement (after receiving the confirmed list of courses) Note! It is not advisable to send a Learning Agreement with the application documents. Confirmed course lists and timetables will be ready 1-2 months before the semester starts. They will be sent to coordinators and accepted exchange students as soon as possi-
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ble. We recommend that you send your Learning Agreement only after receiving these confirmed course lists and timetables. You can access the Exchange Student Application Form and other instructions from the TAMK webpages at http://www.tamk.fi/en/WWWSTUDIES/exchange_studies.html The scanned/faxed application documents should be sent to: Ms Mirja Onduso International Coordinator TAMK University of Applied Sciences International Office (B1-37) Fax: +358 3 565 47238 E-mail: mirja.onduso(at)tamk.fi After sending the scanned/faxed documents, please send the original documents to: Ms Mirja Onduso International Office (B1-37) TAMK University of Applied Sciences Teiskontie 33 FI - 33520 TAMPERE FINLAND 4. Registering to courses Each incoming exchange student must fill in a Learning Agreement. A student may use his/her own school’s Learning Agreement form or the one provided by TAMK. The student should fill in the Learning Agreement the planned courses (code, name, credits) or other agreed studies based on the TAMK Study Guide. On our webpages (http://www.tamk.fi/en/WWWSTUDIES/exchange_studies.html), you can see lists of TAMK courses during the previous academic year. The course descriptions can be seen at: http://hph.tpu.fi/ops/julkops/index.php?lang=en (English, Curricula, By degree programme). However, do not fill in your Learning Agreement on the basis of the old course lists because the days and the times of the courses change each semester! Confirmed course lists and timetables will be ready 1-2 months before the semester starts. They will be sent to coordinators and accepted exchange students as soon as possible. We recommend that you send your Learning Agreement only after receiving these confirmed course lists and timetables. The Learning Agreement is signed by the student and a representative of the sending institution. At TAMK, the Learning Agreement is signed by the Head of the receiving Degree Programme and the Socrates Institutional Coordinator.
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Send you Learning Agreement to the International Office as soon as possible. In some programmes (ENVE, IB, IPPT), we will tentatively register you to the courses during the registration period taking place before your arrival in Tampere. It is important to register you to the courses as early as possible, as some courses may get full or be cancelled, according to the number of interested students. It is still possible for exchange students to register to or change their courses during the first 1-2 weeks of the semester, provided there is still room in the courses and the teachers agree to the changes. 5. Finnish language We encourage you to take one of the Finnish language courses (N-KV580 Finnish Language and Culture, 3 cr, or B-314E Finnish as a Foreign Language, 3 cr) during your stay in TAMK. If you stay the whole academic year, we recommend you to take B-107E Finnish as a Foreign Language 1, 5 cr. If you want to study Finnish language beforehand, you can pay a visit at the website http://www.uuno.tpu.fi. There you will find comic strips inviting you to get familiar with the Finnish language and culture. 6. Studying in Tampere Region (SITR) According to an institutional SITR agreement between TAMK, Pirkanmaa University of Applied Sciences (PIRAMK), University of Tampere (TAY) and Tampere University of Technology (TTY), it is possible for the exchange students to attend certain courses in another university in Tampere. The main principle is that you must take at least 60% of your courses in the main host university. SITR also arranges a lecture series “Finnish Society & Culture, 2 cr” to all exchange students in Tampere. Students may attend the lectures for their own interest or for credit. Please see http://www.uta.fi/sitr/ for more information. We strongly encourage all our exchange students to use this cross-studying opportunity to widen your course selection! 7. Student accommodation1 Each student is independently responsible for finding accommodation in Tampere. TAMK provides advice on how to apply for student housing, but we do not have any dormitories nor can we reserve student accommodation for you. This autumn, there is a shortage of student accommodation in Tampere due to major housing renovations. This shortage affects all students of the four universities in Tampere. There are thousands of new students looking for student housing. Apply for
Note: TOAS does not rent rooms to Trainees. Those planning to come for Practical Training should apply for accommodation from other student housing companies.
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a room as soon as you receive a confirmation of your exchange to enhance your possibilities of getting a room! There are four big student housing companies in Tampere: 1) TOAS (http://www.toas.fi/Frontpage.1121.0.html, Housing Application; TOAS must receive your online application and reservation fee payment of 225€ on their account by 30 June 2008) 2) IOT (www.insinoorioppilastalo.fi, apply as soon as possible) 3) Opintanner (www.opintanner.net, apply as soon as possible) 4) Pirkan opiskelija-asunnot (www.opintanner.net, apply as soon as possible) IMPORTANT! TOAS requires all applicants to pay a reservation fee of 225€. Pay this reservation fee in good time, TOAS does not seriously consider your application before the fee has been paid to TOAS bank account. You may apply for a room from one or more housing companies. All companies have an electronic application on their web pages (the Opintanner and Pirkan opiskelija-asunnot application forms are currently in Finnish only, they will soon be translated in English!). TAMK or any of the above-mentioned housing companies cannot guarantee a room for any applicant. Rooms are rented out on first-come-first-serve basis depending on the availability of rooms. Please note that the housing companies usually rent shared flats to new students: you may have to share even your room with another student, or at least your kitchen, toilet and bathroom with 2-3 other students. The cost of a shared flat is approximately 250€/person. It is practically impossible for new students to get a single apartment from the student housing companies. The housing companies usually require you to pay the rent of the whole month of your arrival, no matter when you start using the room. You may also look for a room through other sources: newspapers (e.g. Aamulehti), internet (e.g. Asuntohelppi), private housing companies (e.g. VVO) or private persons. The cost of a private flat is approximately 400-500€. When you receive a room, kindly remember to cancel your other applications, so that your extra applications do not queue unnecessarily. If you cannot find a room in Tampere before your studies start, you will have to stay in a hostel or a hotel at your own expense. 8. Visa / Residence Permit Citizens of EU and EEA countries: If you are staying in Finland longer than three months, you have to register at the Tampere Police Station within three months after your arrival in Finland. To register, you will need the following documents: valid passport or national IDcard, one photo, an exchange certificate from TAMK, and proof of sufficient funds for financ-
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ing your stay in Finland (average cost of living is 500 euros/month). The registration fee is 40€. For further information, please see www.poliisi.fi/english. Citizens of non-EU countries have to apply for their Visa or Residence Permit from the Finnish Embassy in or closest to their home country prior to arriving in Finland. Please contact the closest Finnish Embassy for more details. More information also at http://www.uvi.fi/netcomm/Default.asp?language=EN (Directorate of Immigration). • If you are staying in Finland less than three months, you may apply for a Visa. If you are staying in Finland for more than three months, you must apply for a Student Residence Permit. Please note that the application process may take several months, depending on the country. Note also that the requirements for a Visa and a Student Residence Permit are different. If you need an invitation letter, please contact the International Office at international.office@tamk.fi.
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The citizens of the Nordic countries do not need a visa or residence permit to study in Finland. 9. Student health care During the office hours on weekdays, the exchange students can use the student health care, where most of the services are free of charge. Student Health Care in Tullinkulma Hammareninkatu 7 (4th floor) 33100 Tampere Tel. +358 20 777 8501 http://www.tampere.fi/opiskeluterveys/english/index.html Consultation with a nurse Monday-Thursday 8.15-11.00 and 12.00-14.00, Friday only 8.1511.00. Making appointments and advice over the telephone Monday - Thursday 8.15-11.00 and 12-13, Friday 8.15-11 tel. 020 777 8501 In the evening and during the weekends, all emergencies are handled by the Hatanpää Emergency Service Clinic. All patients have to pay a 15€ consultation fee on arrival. Hatanpää Emergency Service Clinic Hatanpäänkatu 26 33100 Tampere Tel. +358 20 711023 http://www.tampere.fi/english/healthservices/emergency/ Those in need of urgent dental treatment are given emergency care appointments to the dental clinic located at the Hatanpää Emergency Service Clinic, Monday to Friday 8 – 14, tel. 020
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777 0111 and 14 - 17, tel. 020 777 0100. For non-urgent dental care, private dentists are recommended. Dental services always have a charge. 10. Travel insurance If you need to consult a doctor in the evening or during the weekends or must be hospititalised, health care can be very expensive: the hospital bill can easily be several hundreds or thousands of euros! TAMK requires that all exchange students take a personal travel insurance (or alike), covering at least acute illnesses and accidents, before departure to Finland. Additionally, citizens of EU and EEA countries should carry the EU Health Insurance Card from their home countries. The insurances will be checked by the International Office staff. 11. Arriving in Tampere Please inform the International Office (fax +358 3 565 238, email incoming.students@tamk.fi) of your arrival date, time and place at least two weeks in advance by filling in the Arrival Form. If you have informed us of your arrival, a student will meet you at the Tampere-Pirkkala airport, Tampere bus station or Tampere railway station on your arrival. If you arrive in Tampere without informing us, you may have to find your own way to TAMK, the housing office (to pick up your key!) or your flat. Inform the International Office anyway of your arrival – we will try and arrange someone to meet you! Getting from Helsinki to Tampere is easy: • From Helsinki-Vantaa Airport: o PAUNU Express Bus leaves just in front of the main exit almost once every hour. It takes 2-3 hours to reach Tampere. The bus arrives at the main bus station (linja-autoasema) in Tampere city centre. o If you take a connecting flight from Helsinki, you will arrive at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport. If there is nobody to meet you, you can take an Airport Taxi to Tampere city centre, some 20 km from the airport. • From Helsinki city centre: o The easiest way to get to Tampere is to take a train. Trains leave almost once every hour. It takes about 2 hours to reach Tampere. Trains arrive at the railway station in Tampere city centre. 12. Arriving at TAMK You don’t need to come to TAMK before the Exchange Student Orientation. We will send you the Orientation programme by email before the Orientation starts. However, you are always
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welcome to visit the International Office (Teiskontie Campus Main Building, 1st floor, room B1-37), if you have any urgent matter. If you arrive at TAMK after the Orientation, come to the International Office (Teiskontie Campus Main Building, 1st floor, room B1-37). Carry 3-4 passport photos for various registration forms. 13. Survival Kit & Student Card If you want to rent a Survival Kit or apply for the official Student Card, both can be done through the TAMKO Student Union after arriving in Tampere: TAMKO Student Union Teiskontie Sports Hall Teiskontie 33 FI - 33520 TAMPERE Tel. +358 44 382 6561 E-mail: toimisto@tamko.fi Opening hours: Mon-Thu 10-16 Survival Kit A Survival Kit with bedding and kitchen utensils can be rented from TAMKO Student Union after you arrive in Tampere. You have to pay a deposit of 80€ for the Survival Kit and you will get 50€ back when you return the kit to TAMKO before leaving Finland. The Survival Kits includes e.g: • a blanket • a pillow • a pillow case • a sheet • a double sheet (for the blanket) • one fork, knife, tea spoon and table spoon • a soup plate • a glass • a cup • a frying pan • a pot & a lid • a cutting board Student Card To get the official Student Card, you need to join the TAMKO Student Union. The membership costs 21€ for one semester and 33,50€ for two semesters. Fill in an application form (http://tamko.net/lomake_english.pdf), attach one photo and return the form to the TAMKO office.
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TAMKO members receive a calendar free of charge, get discounts in various places, e.g. restaurants, movie theatres, swimming halls, etc. If you have the official Student Card, you also don’t need to apply for a separate train or long-distance bus student card (with the Bus form for long-distance busses and Train form) for travelling in Finland. 14. Orientation Autumn Semester 2008 Arrival dates to Tampere: Orientation for exchange students: Course registration for ENVE, IB & IPPT: 18 – 20 August 2008 21 – 22 August 2008 25 – 20 August 2008
All exchange students must take part in the Orientation. The Orientation takes place on the Teiskontie Campus. The programme will be sent beforehand by email. If you don’t know where to go on the first day in TAMK, please go to the International Office (Teiskontie Campus, B building, room B1-37) or call Mirja Onduso 050 329 5224. If you miss the Orientation, please go to the International Office when you arrive at TAMK. The classroom teaching in the Autumn Semester 2008 will start on: • 25 August in Interactive Media Programme (IMP) • 1 September in Environmental Engineering, Degree Programme in International Business International Pulp and Paper Technology (IPPT) Spring Semester 2009 Arrival date to Tampere: Orientation for new exchange students: Course registration for ENVE, IB & IPPT: 2 – 4 January 2009 5 January 2009 7 – 9 January 2009
All new exchange students must take part in the Orientation. The Orientation takes place on Teiskontie Campus. The programme will be sent beforehand by email. If you don’t know where to go on the first day in TAMK, please go to the International Office (Teiskontie Campus, B building, room B1-37) or call Mirja Onduso 050 329 5224. If you miss the Orientation, please go to the International Office when you arrive at TAMK. The classroom teaching in all degree programmes will start on 7 January 2009. Note! Although the Spring Semester officially ends on 31 May, the classroom teaching will end in (early) May. However, we cannot give you a more specific date because each teacher decides the ending date independently. 15. Administration Kit On your arrival at TAMK, you will receive an Exchange Student Administration Kit, including e.g:
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Registration Form for Foreign Exchange Students Lunch discount card School computer network passwords Computer information for new students Student administration programme (WinhaWille) passwords and instructions Application form and instructions for Tampere City busses Application form and instructions for long-distance busses and trains Certificate of exchange studies Lists and timetables of courses Map of Teiskontie Campus Photos of exchange students Residence Permit of EU citizens TAMKO Student Union membership form Map of Tampere Info on Student Health Centre TAMK timetable Learning Agreement
15. Facilities at TAMK Computers TAMK has over 2000 computers, most of them located in computer classrooms in C-building on Teiskontie Campus. Students are free to use any free computer in the classrooms (provided that there is no class ongoing), the hallways and the libraries. Students can access the computer classrooms Mon-Fri from 7 AM to 10 PM, Sat from 7.30 AM to 8 PM, and Sun from 8 AM to 8 PM. Most classrooms have an overhead projector attached to a computer, as well as other multimedia learning equipment and other learning facilities. Students can also access the school network from e.g. TOAS flats that have internet access, provided that the student has his/her own computer. If you have any technical problems with TAMK computer systems, visit the TAMK Computer Centre (Teiskontie room C3-10) or send a message to: tuki@tamk.fi. TAMK Libraries Most course books can be borrowed from the TAMK libraries. All students and staff can use the library services free of charge. Teachers may also provide course materials, some of which are free of charge and some have a modest cost. (http://kirjasto.tpu.fi/english.htm) The Finlayson Campus Library (Fine Art, Media) is open on Mon, Wed & Thu from 10 AM to 4 PM, Tue from 12 NOON to 6 PM, Fri from 10 AM to 1 PM.
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The Teiskontie Campus Library (all other fields) is open on Mon-Thu from 8 AM to 6 PM, Fri from 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sat from 10 AM to 3 PM. Student cafeterias There are two student cafeterias on the Teiskontie Campus and one on the Finlayson Campus. Students can buy a discounted student lunch for 2-3€ by showing their lunch card. Sports facilities There is a modest gym and a sports hall on the Teiskontie Campus, which the students and staff can access for free between 7 AM and 10 PM. Sports hall is suitable for e.g. volley ball, basket ball, aerobics, etc. The sports hall usage is coordinated by TAMKO Student Union. Book Store The TAMK Book Store located on the ground floor of the Teiskontie Campus sells stationary, snacks, beverages, etc. Opening hours: Mon-Thu from 9 AM to 4 PM, Fri from 9 AM to 3 PM. Printing Every student is given 50 points per month (excluding June, July and August) towards their printing expenses. The cost of printing is as follows (per page): • • • • Black and white A4 = 1 point Black and white A3 = 2 points Color A4 = 5 points (also B/W pages printed on a color printer) Color A3 = 9 points (also B/W pages printed on a color printer)
Any unused points will be carried over to the next month. If you use up your quota before the end of the month, more points can be purchased from TAMKOTUKI (e.g., at Teiskontie bookshop). Copy machines To make copies, you need to buy a copy card from the Book Store (Teiskontie Campus) or the Cafeteria (Finlayson Campus). 16. Exchange Evaluation Form Before you leave TAMK, you will be asked to fill in the Exchange Evaluation Form. Your feedback helps us to develop our services to future exchange students. 17. Transcript of Records Before you leave TAMK, please make sure that all your courses are correct and that TAMK has your home address!
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The International Office will prepare your Transcript of Records. TAMK will send two Transcripts to your home address in your home country – please take one to your own school. The teachers have three weeks to give the final grades after the course has ended. The Transcripts are prepared as soon as possible but it may take 1-2 months before all of them are sent. If you need yours urgently due to e.g. graduation, please contact the International Office. 18. More information All forms and instructions (including this one) for exchange applications can be found at: http://www.tamk.fi/en/WWWSTUDIES/exchange_studies.html. You can also access more information at www.tamk.fi. For more information on studying in Finland, please see http://www.cimo.fi (Centre for International Mobility). For more general information on Finland, please see http://virtual.finland.fi/ (Virtual Finland, Ministry for Foreign Affairs). Other questions: incoming.students@tamk.fi.
Welcome to TAMK!