Studies
1. What kind of international degrees are available at the University of Oulu?
The University of Oulu offers 14 Master’s programmes which are taught entirely in English. Disciplines range from architecture, business and engineering to education, science and health. UO does not offer Bachelor’s programmes in English.
2. Where do I get more information about the study programmes and their contents?
For information on the study programmes and academic counselling, please contact the study programme in question. To see the list of Master’s programmes, please visit www.degree.oulu.fi/degrees
3. Are there any postgraduate study opportunities (PhD studies: Licentiate, Doctorate) available in Oulu?
You can complete postgraduate studies in all the six faculties of the University of Oulu: Economics and Business Administration, Education, Humanities, Medicine, Science and Technology. If you have a Master’s degree and wish to apply for postgraduate studies, please contact the faculty and department in which you are interested in studying. Contact information concerning the faculties and departments of the university can be found on the website of the University of Oulu.
4. Could I come as an exchange student to study in the higher education institutions of Oulu?
Yes, you could. University of Oulu welcome more than 400 international exchange students each year. To find out more about the exchange study opportunities, please have a look at Exchange student pages of the University of Oulu
Application
1. Where do I find the application information for the Master’s programmes?
The information on application processes is under How to Apply? page, where you can also find the Online Application as application periods open.
2. When do I apply?
The application times for Master’s degree programmes vary according to the programmes. The application periods can be found from Deadlines.
3. What are the admissions criteria for the programmes?
Each programme has its own admissions criteria and therefore it is advisable to read the application information provided by the programme very carefully.
For Master’s degrees at the University of Oulu, you may apply directly after having a lower degree, normally a Bachelor’s degree, from an institution of higher education entitling you to apply for Master’s studies in your own country. Also a good command of the English language is also a prerequisite.
4. Are there any scholarships available for international degree students?
The international students from EU/EEA countries and comparable, finance their studies and living in Finland by themselves (e.g. the student has been awarded a scholarship from his/her home country or from an international institution). For scholarship opportunities, we advise you to contact e.g. the Ministry of Education or the National Agency of Education in your home country.
The Centre for International Mobility in Finland, CIMO, awards scholarships for young researchers (post-graduates who have completed their Master’s degree or post-doctoral students), but there are no scholarships or other financial schemes for international students completing Master’s degrees.
Non-EU/EEA students* are eligible to apply for the University of Oulu International Master’s Scholarships, which are aimed at students studying for a Master’s degree in the University of Oulu two-year international Master’s programmes. The scholarships are financial aid targeted to academically talented international students in architecture, business, economics, education, engineering, and sciences. The scholarship is for one academic year and covers the full international tuition fee.
In order to retain the scholarship in the second year of study, a student must have completed 45 ECTS by the end of their first academic year. If a student does not achieve this requirement, they will be liable to pay the full international tuition fee if they wish to complete their Master’s degree programme.
Here you can find more information on tuition fees and scholarships.
Note that the tuition fees and the University of Oulu IM scholarships concern only the Non-EU/EEA students*.
*Exceptions to this general rule are: 1. Non-EU/EEA citizens who are comparable to an EU/EEA citizen 2. Non-EU/EEA citizens who have a permanent residence permit in Finland 3. University of Oulu students who have been accepted to study BEFORE the academic year 2012 – 13
Daily life in Oulu
1. What are the language requirements in order to study and live in Oulu?
The Master’s programmes are taught entirely in English. Daily life can also be carried out in English as almost everyone in Oulu and Finland speaks English. A good command of English is a must in order to succeed as a student. English is also the working language in many companies which are based in the Oulu region.
However, knowing Finnish does help you to integrate into the culture and community. Finnish skills are also considered as an advantage when applying for a job in the Oulu region or in Finland. There is a variety of different Finnish courses available for those interested in learning the language.
For the language requirement information, please visit the our website for Language Requirements or talk with the Master’s programme staff directly.
2. What are the living expenses in Oulu?
Even though the studies are free, you still have to pay for the daily living expenses: food, accommodation, clothing, transportation, social expenses and travel expenses to Finland. Residence permits and other formalities are also subject to a fee.
The cost of living in Oulu and in Finland is about the same as in other EU countries. The monthly costs for students vary in between EUR 600-800 a month of which approximately EUR 190-350 is spent for accommodation. Expenses during the first months will most likely be higher than the estimation of average monthly expenses due to the rent deposits and other costs related to entering a new country.
The Student Union membership fee entitles students to various discounts, for example, on transportation cost and student meals. As a member of a student union, one can get a student discount of 50% on Finnish Railways and on the long-haul buses. A meal at the campus restaurants with a student discount costs approximately EUR 2-5.
At the University of Oulu, the student union membership is compulsory for all students. The fee is EUR 87 per academic year (during academic year 2011-12) and it entitles students to the use of the services of The Student Health Services. Read more about the membership and student benefits at the website of the Student Union of the University of Oulu.
3. Am I allowed to work as a student?
International students with a valid residence permit may work for 25 hours per week on average. Full-time employment is permitted during breaks in teaching (holiday seasons in Christmas and summer). You are also allowed to do a limited amount of paid full-time work during your studies under a residence permit issued for studies. The work in question must be practical training or a Master’s thesis commissioned by an employer.
There are part-time work opportunities for foreign students, though in many cases some knowledge of Finnish is required. Please note that you should not count on getting a job for financing your studies.
For a full-time job during the academic year non- EU/EEA or Swiss students are required to apply for a separate worker’s residence permit. In principle, foreign students are granted a permit for full-time work during the academic year only if their work constitutes a part of their studies.
The limitations on working hours do not apply to citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland who similarly do not need any permits for working in Finland.
4. There are many questions before arrival: residence permit, insurance and other important issues. Where do I find information about the things that must be considered before arrival?
If you are planning to apply for and study at the University of Oulu, please see the university’s Guide for International Students.
5. What are the accommodation possibilities for an international degree student?
There are different accommodation options available either in the student residence halls or in private housing market. In general, student accommodation in Finland is of high standard: the rooms are in good condition and include central heating, cooking and washing facilities. There is also Internet access to all residence halls. Both furnished and unfurnished rooms are available.
When searching for accommodation in Oulu, you are recommended to contact the local student housing organisation PSOAS (The Student Housing Foundation of Northern Finland).
It is important to submit the housing application as soon as the student knows of acceptance, as there are waiting lists for the apartments.
