Report on an international Joint Seminar in Stockholm

The Stockholm seminar was an initiative of the University of Tokyo and the University of Stockholm in which later on the University of Jyväskylä joined. The initiation of this yearly seminar was a part of a more comprehensive scheme of the University of Tokyo that got funded by the government of Japan as a fragment of internationalization of higher education in the country. This year’s topic of the seminar was ‘Towards the Realization of Sustainable Future’.

The main reason that this seminar seemed appealing at first glance was this topic. Sustainability is a topical subject in a variety of avenues however, it is difficult to pinpoint what is actually meant by it and in which context it is audited. The ambiguity of this concept broadens when concrete ways to achieve it are discussed. This seminar was an attempt to further look at this gap and see how sustainability should, could and must be reached in a practical manner.

First Day
The seminar was held for three days and each day was packed with numerous activities. The programs could be divided into three categories, student input/presentations, academics input/presentations and finally school visits. A student from each university presented on student life and experience of studying at their respective universities during the first day started. With consideration of time scarcity, the presentations on study experiences were rather superficial and brief. Yet, one could still get a general understanding of how different education is approached and perceived at these universities by just simply paying attention to the way each student group decided to present their experience.

Students at the University of Stockholm started these presentations by a video which was bits of interviews with other students. The way they presented their experiences together with the content of the presentation conveyed a feeling of student-centeredness and relative room for creativity in their studies. Next students of the University of Tokyo presented their experiences in a conventional way. They literally took the idea of expressing and explaining their typical day as a student. They also had conducted a survey to get quantitative data from their fellow students. Their presentation showed how pact a timetable of a Japanese student could be. They argued that most of the students in Japan have part-time jobs which leaves them next to no time for themselves. The way they had decided to illustrate their experience displayed a sense of seriousness, rigid frameworks and massive workload. The students of the University of Jyväskylä were the last to open up their experiences as students. The presentation was musically themed since each slide had a song that was meant to complement the content of it. Then again, the way we presented our experiences was a lead to how much freedom and trust we are given and to what extent creativity of the students are encouraged. The fact that we were not wanted to present anything specific but our genuine lived experiences was a cherry on top of the whole process.

Later that day, professors and program coordinators of each university presented their degree programs. Probably, the most important takeaway from these presentations was how unequal the University of Tokyo is with regards to gender. The number of students who identify themselves as females was significantly lower than the one who considered themselves as males. There are countless political, historical and socio-cultural reasons for this situation which are beyond the endeavours of this text but this inequality must be taken into account considering the general celebration of Japan as a developed country in the 21st century. This reflects how economical advancements and position of a country regarding their overall power can overshadow important and critical considerations in social matters.

Second Day
Next, participants of the seminar got separated to attend different sessions in which students presented on sustainability. The session that was attended by the author consisted of five students’ presentations. The presentations varied from a civil initiative to genetics reflecting the inclusivity of the idea of suitability. The first presentation was on ‘Global Citizenship in Language Textbooks’ by Sofia Marchesini. The next presentation was on ‘Enhancing Student Wellbeing through Agency in the Context of Academic Freedom’ by me and Sam Madtha. Next Kana Yokoyama presented on ‘EMPOWER Project – promoting sustainability and equality through arts and cultures’. In addition, the final presentation in this session was on ‘Considering the need of education from a medical perspective’ by Kugui Yoshida.

Third Day
The next day was dedicated to the school visit. Global Gymnasiet in Stockholm was visited but unfortunately, it was during a study break so students and teachers were absent and no teaching sessions were observed. However, the school principal explained the Swedish education system but what stood out was how politically correct she was throughout the presentation. She wonderfully refrained from labelling students, something that can be a take away from this experience. The seminar came to an end that day.

The most foremost point that I learned during this seminar was to grasp the capacity of a sustainable world. Sustainability is not a destination or goal to be reached or achieved. It is a process that involves everyone in whatever they do to hold them accountable for respecting and caring for themselves and others in order to build a society in which everyone with any ability or competence has an equal opportunity to unlock his/her full potential.

Faraz Roshanizand

Academic Freedom: a boon or a bane?

Arriving in Finland as an international student, I knew there are countless adventures awaiting me both on and off the university campus. Yet, struggling with all the autonomy I was given all of a sudden was not among the expected ones. ‘Academic Freedom’ as a concept has been predominantly taken as an absolute positive feature of universities, or education in general, in Finland but it was not this straightforward for me. Now, after almost completing my studies, I have come to the realization that academic freedom is rather a craft that should be mastered, but how?

      First, we should take a closer look into what actually academic freedom refers to. This concept can be distinctively manifested for every single individual’s mind considering his/her background and experiences. The education system, at JYU at least, is extremely student-centered which means students are responsible for a majority, if not all, their studies. It means from complications of administrative issue like enrolling for different courses to creating your study plan which aligns with your career aspirations are considered basic and obvious tasks of students. Here at JYU, you are literally in total control of your studies, and of course with such power comes a lot of responsibilities. I come from a rigid form of education system where every decision is made for you and all you have to do is to attend your classes, by the way, same class and same time every week, quietly learn from the gospel truth that is presented by the professors and sit the final exams. The academic culture shock is not a surprise when a student used to such systems find him/herself in the Finnish education system.

     
      Having mentioned these point, I have to confess this system can assist you in your personal betterment once you crack the code of how to utilize it in your benefit. The path I went through was to reach out for plenty of available support at our university. Having all these capabilities and accountabilities do not translate to being completely on your own. As a matter of fact, one of the activities you are encouraged to do in this system is to take a step forward and ask for help whenever needed. There is a degree secretary who is available to address your issues with administration, program coordinators with whom students have individual and group consultant session about every single detail of their academics and probably the most encouraged and important one, your friends and classmates. Moreover, my classmates, and my closer friends to be precise, and I formed an organic support web for one another where we helped each other from basic activities like reminding not to miss a deadline for enrolling in a course to a consultant on which course would make a better sense with regards to our future plans. My tip would be not to miss this wonderful opportunity to test the limits of this freedom like negotiation an alternative way of demonstrating your learning for a course with your teacher or taking entrepreneurship courses while majoring in biology. Always ask for help and support from your friends, classmates, teachers and university staff.

      In conclusion, it has been quite a journey to figure out the mechanics of academic freedom while enjoying the wings it gave me to fly in the sky of creativity within the framework of my university. All it takes is a little sense of adventure!

Faraz Roshanizand

Burning question - decolonizing education

In January 2020 there was an intriguing seminar at Oulu university called burning question. This seminar is an example of student initiative since it was established and run by students themselves. The theme for this year’s seminar was decolonizing education. There was a worthwhile exchange of experiences, interesting discussions and numerous avenues to reflect upon on different level. The seminar started with a panel discussion on a variety of subjects from Sami perspectives on decoloniality, decolonization of educational definitions and concepts and western solutions on decoloniality which were heavily criticized because they were perceived as new ways of colonization especially in the African context. Then we moved forward to the workshops that were designed, organized and run by students in the following days. The themes of the workshops were decolonizing Edtech, educational export, critical pedagogies in higher education, spaces and places of learning and the optional workshop on decolonizing the kitchen.

      My reflection on this seminar left me with the thought that it was an extraordinary event, not only for its topic that was thought-provoking and relevant but also for the fact that such an amazing event was initiated, held and run by merely students. I was astonished and impressed by all the efforts in this seminar and also felt empowered and inspired to dare to take imitative and be a part of such an amazing event. In addition, what I found personally meaningful was the answer to one of my questions that I had been dealing with for quite some time. I had been wondering how I can break the monopoly of single perspectives and definitions of concepts that have been provided only by western scholars. For instance, the concept of agency has been dominantly defined by American authors and I found that a bit narrow and restricted. The commonly-accepted definition that has been offered cannot contain this idea in my own culture and language. So I wanted to add my perspective to this discourse but I had no ideas how. Through the discussion and exchange of ideas with my fellow students and other professors and experts, I realized it is not and should not be complicated to act upon this matter. First I ought to be confident in and then take the responsibility to reserve a room for including my culture and perspective and share them in every academic transaction I have. Probably the most important take away from this seminar was that being a critical thinker is not adequate especially in the context of decolonization. On top of that it is needed to act upon our reflections and criticism.

      The other take away from this seminar was that throughout this seminar we were constantly asked to reflect upon almost everything on coming up with ideas. This process of constant reflection thought me that whenever we would like to change or even approach changing anything, we have to start with ourselves. The starting point for that would be a reflection. The students who organized this event did the same thing because the first year of this seminar in 2019, decoloniality was only a theme of one workshop of the seminar but once they got a lot of feedback from the participants on how much they enjoyed the topic, they decided to make this issue the main theme of the whole seminar this year.  Additionally, the students who organized this event proved that we are able to be the change we want to see in the world if only we take the responsibility and commit to take even a baby-step. You can also find more information here

Faraz

Traveling around Finland

We have already talked about traveling and how important and fun it can be during your studies. We also went through some of the available options and destinations in Finland but there are certainly a lot of possibilities around Finland too. There are some really interesting cities and places in the neighboring countries where you can travel on a student budget. There are also low cost planes to some destinations around Europe as well.

Probably the most interesting part of traveling to neighboring countries is taking the cruise ships. You can take fun cruise ships from Helsinki to Tallinn, Stockholm, Åland islands and Saint Petersburg regularly and to some other cities like Riga on special occasions. It is also possible to take cruise ships from Turku to Stockholm and Åland islands. All of the mentioned cities are in Schengen areas so you will not need a visa except for Saint Petersburg in Russia. However, there is a 72 hours visa free cruise to Saint Petersburg from Helsinki that might be a wise option because you will not have to worry about visa and its complications. There are usually a number of activities you can do on these ships and of course if you buy the tickets in advance you can find pretty cheap deals. The websites are as follows:

 https://www.sales.vikingline.com
https://www.tallinksilja.com/book-a-cruise
https://stpeterline.com/visa-free-rule (Saint Petersburg)

There are also cheap flights from Helsinki to all Scandinavian capital cities especially Stockholm. You can also fly to Stockholm from Tampere, Turku and Oulu. Moreover, if you miss the sun, Norwegian Airlines offer direct flight to Paris, Nice, south Spain, Athens and a number of cities in East Europe. There are also extremely cheap flights with Wizz air from Turku to Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk in Poland and Skopje in north Macedonia. You can also take Ryanair from Tampere (closest international airport to Jyväskylä) to Budapest. Here are the websites:

https://www.norwegian.com
https://www.ryanair.com/fi/en
https://wizzair.com/en-gb

Just a few considerations, first these are not all the student budget trips you can plan and there are numerous other airlines or destinations for sure. There are also other means of transportation like train from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg. It is also good to know that non-EU students do not require a visa to travel to most of the countries in Europe with their student residence permit but you must always double and also make sure that your residence permit is valid during your trip and you can come back to Finland.

Travelling In Finland

Traveling is a great way to get away from the stress of daily life. As an international student one might also be willing to make most of his/her studies and stay in Finland by traveling around. Of course there are numerous options and destinations in the neighboring courting that seem super interesting. But Finland definitely has the potential to surprise you. It does not matter what you are interested in, whether it is nature, sports, historical sights, UNESCO world heritage sites, museums or Santa Claus, Finland will have something for you.

About how to get around in Finland: The cheapest option is usually long-distance buses. Especially if you buy the ticket well in advance, you can get almost anywhere in Finland under 5 Euros. Buses in Finland are often really comfortable, offering you free Wi-Fi connections, power plug and WC. The following websites are long-distance coach and train companies in Finland. (English language options available)

• Bus: https://www.matkahuolto.fi (OR) http://www.onnibus.com

There is also train option available all over Finland, yet trains are a bit more expensive than buses. They also provide you with onboard restaurants, Wi-Fi and etc.

• Train: https://www.vr.fi 

Note: Both train and bus companies offer student discounts, but be sure to have your student card with you while traveling.

There is also the option to get around with airplanes. Needless to say that they are the most expensive option, but surprisingly even smaller cities in Finland do have airports and you can usually get there from Helsinki airport. 

In addition, probably the most famous tourist destination in Finland is Lapland where you can find Santa Claus village, husky sledding, fun ice skating and etc. But there are other cities in Finland that are worth visiting. Tampere, the number 1 travel destination for Finns. Turku, the oldest city of Finland. Oulu, the capital city of northern Scandinavia. Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. Porvoo, probably the cutest city in Finland and many more. The good news is that most of the cities and municipalities in Finland offer extensive tourist information in English. All you have to do is to google the name of the city together with the word “visit”.

Regarding the accommodation, same as most of the European countries, hostels and Airbnb are the cheapest options. However, since Jyväskylä is in the center of Finland, it is possible to make day trips for some of these cities and destinations. Finally probably the best thing about traveling in Finland is that you will have no troubles if you do not speak Finnish. You can get by with English anywhere in this country.

Jyväskylä University Libraries - at the Heart of Campus

The Jyväskylä University Library is one of the oldest libraries in Finland, its history beginning in the 1860s. Today, the Library serves over 2 000 customers daily and over a half million annually.

-- JYU Main Library

In Finland, libraries are not only about reading. They are aimed to provide a common space for students and other citizens as well. Besides books, journals and articles, they also offer music collections, videos, computers, printers, different functional areas and food. If you have been to or heard about the Oodi library in Helsinki, you must know what I am talking about.

As a JYU student, you cannot miss the main library on campus. It is a three-floor building designed by Finnish architect Arto Sipinen, located at the end of the main campus. I’d say it is the most popular place among students, because it has everything you need.

If you want to focus, there are silent study area and self-study rooms. If you need to discuss with your group, there are discussion area and meeting rooms. If you are tired or you want to study in a more comfortable way, there is a cafeteria, a cafe and cozy sofas on both second floor and third floor. There are also computers and printers on each floor. Sometimes, the library organizes events and exhibitions on the first floor, such as old book sales and topic-based book exhibition every 3 months.

It is under renovation now, and will be ready to use in autumn 2021. After renovation, it will be equipped with more flexible and more comfortable facilities. The opening hours will also be longer than before. To memories its 45 years of service, students made a music video for it:

Although the main library’s renovation takes about 2 years, the other libraries on campus are at your services:

Mattilanniemi Library, building MaA

Mattilanniemi Library is on the second floor of building MaA, which is near to Agora. It also has silent study area, computer rooms and a meeting room. On the first floor, there is a cafeteria called Maija.

Ylistönrinne Library, building YK

Ylistönrinne Library is on the side of the lake Jyväsjärvi, in the faculty of Mathematics and Science. Its collections are all on nature science. It is easy to notice spot those buildings, especially in summer, as they are all shining under sunshine.

Aalto Library, building C

Aalto Library is designed by architect Alvar Aalto and is open as a self-service reading room while the Main Building (C) is open. There are about 10 working stations and wireless network (WLAN) available. It has various collections but does not provide home loan.

Subject associations – connect with fellow students

We know that studying can get overwhelming, especially at the beginning of the semester. But once you get the hang of it, you can explore ways to meet same-minded students. In Jyväskylä there are many student events where you can meet new people. But University has also many student associations that are open to students of the University of Jyväskylä. Associations at JYU offer services and wide range of free time activities to students.

Emile ry members

What are subject associations?
They are group of same-minded students who organise various events for their members and create opportunities to influence and pursue shared interest. Associations bring together same-minded people that are studying at the same programme or same faculty. There are currently more than 30 subject associations altogether and they operate under the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä.

Students from Pörssi - subject organisation

Membership
Each association has small membership fee that give students many benefits (for example discounted prices for their events, discounts at local shops etc). Membership is usually limited to the students majoring in specific subject. However, a lot of times you don’t need to be a member of a specific association to attend their events. You can also become a board member and help to manage organisation at your faculty. Additionally every subject association has their own overall colour. So you can easily see who is from your association. During many events you can get a patch for that specific event you are attending which you can sew to your overall and make your overall your diary of your studies.

overall and patch collection

Association activities
Associations together with University help to create a sense of community in Jyväskylä. They organise group-building events for beginning students, networking events, help you answer some FAQ regarding your programme and so much more. Being a part of an organization is also a great way to meet fellow students that share the same interests like you. It is an amazing way to connect Finns and International students. There are also some events that are cross-disciplinary that extend beyond the boundaries of specific association. They are usually joint event between two or more associations.  Some of these events are: 3MIOT, Pikkarit, Kauppakatu Appro etc. Every association has their own (or shared) facility on campus where members can relax and spend time together.

Sporticus student hang out room

Currently at the University we have the following subject associations:


* Abakus ry
* Ainejärjestö Asterix ry
* Ainejärjestö Sputnik ry
* Chydisco
* Cogito ry
* Corpus ry
* Dumppi ry
* Emile ry
* Fokus
* Guberna
* IDESCO ry
* Jano ry
* Lanka ry
* Lingviestit ry
* Linkki Jyväskylä ry
* Lööppi ry
* Magna Carta ry
* Mephisto ry
* Nefa-Jyväskylä ry
* Parku ry
* Pedaali ry
* Pedago ry
* Puloue ry
* Pörssi ry
* Radikaali
* Sane ry
* Sporticus ry
* Stimulus ry
* Sturm and Drang ry
* Svenska Klubben ry
* Syrinx ry
* Taberna Latina
* Tiltti ry
* Tosine ry
* Trioli ry
* Varkaat ry
* Viito! Ry
* Ynnä ry

Finnish Winter Guide: How to enjoy the coldness and the darkness!

During your online research you have probably found out already quite some information about Finland. Most likely you have also heard some crazy stories about the finnish winter. It is true it will get cold and also dark. But it is a magical time of the year. Following we are going to present you some information about how to dress appropriate and how to make the best out of this time of the year.




Clothing
First of all, take warm clothes with you and put them on. Being warm goes before style in winter. Walking outside ankle-free or with a crop top is cool, it is even too cool. One could say it is freezing. So leave these in your closet for warmer times of the year :) The onion-look is IN here in Winter and everyone wears it. So go with it. When it is really cold we recommend to put on a warm underlayer under your normal clothes or a really warm top layer like snow pants and always wear a scarf, a hat and gloves. For the winter jacket we recommend a mid-long to long jacket that covers the upper part of your legs so that they stay warm. If you have a shorter jacket you can put outdoor pants on so that your legs stay warm. Also put on warm winter shoes (not just sneakers). Proper winter shoes keep you warm and prevent you from slipping because they usually have a better profile under the shoe.

Darkness
There is a lot of darkness during finnish winter and you easily get in a lazy cycle, where you feel that the best for you is just to stay home under a warm blanket with a tea and watching series. And that is not bad. You can do that. But be sure to also keep active: keep on doing sports, go outside to the fresh air, go to some of the many university or other events and see your friends. Keeping active is the biggest secret of having a great winter here. Also make sure to take some additional Vitamin D to stay healthy.

Safety
It is very dark in the finnish winter. Therefore it is recommended to wear reflectors on your jackets and backpacks. It is for the simple reason to be seen better by other people.
If you are biking in Winter: drive safely! Next to that always have bike lights and a helmet. Sometimes it can be very slippery and icy. For that there are spike tyres for bikes and cars - so that you get better grip on the ice. These also exist for shoes. You can easily attach them to your normal winter shoes.

Additionally you can find a post here from the university which provides you with tips for the winter!








Now we get the the second and more fun part of this blog post: Winter Activities
There is soooo much to do in finnish winter!
Check out VisitJyväskylä for a comprehensive list!

First of all, go out! It is so refreshing walking on one of the lakes in Jyväskylä or up to Laajavuori (Skiarea of Jyväskylä) or anywhere else!


Downhill skiing/snowboarding
Laajavuori is only a short bike/bus ride from the center and if you live in Kortepohja it is even just a small walk. At Laajavuori you can go downhill skiing and snowboarding. They have around 13 slopes, a fun park and a practice hill for beginners. You can either bring your own equipment or rent some on site

Cross country skiing
Next to downhill skiing and snowboarding Laajis also offers 60 km of cross country skiing tracks. But in and around Jyväskylä there are a lot more of cross country tracks
Jyväskylän Seutu  and Jyväskylä.fi  have more information about all the different tracks.
If you do not have your own equipment the easiest is to go to Laajavuori and rent and ski there. If you are planning to go more frequently, you can buy your own ones. Cheap options are second hand groups on Facebook or Sporttidivari  which is a sports equipment secondhand shop in Seppälä.

Ice skating
When it is long enough cold, the lakes will all freeze and you can go ice skating on them. (Always make sure that the lake is proper frozen, if you are unsure do not go!!) On Jyväsjärvi (the big lake in the center of Jyväskylä) they make a 2.4 km long track in Winter were you can ice skate on. Check out visitJyväskylä.fi post about ice skating in Jyväskylä. Next to the big lakes, many schools also flood their school yards. During the day these spots are reserved for the school kids. But afterwards they are open and everyone can enjoy skating on them.

Ice fishing
Once the lakes are frozen there is also another traditional winter activity you can try: ice fishing. For that finns cut a whole in the ice and then sit next to it and fish for hours.It should be said, that for trying out ice fishing you should join a local or someone who has done it before. Visit Central Finland has published a blog post about this finnish hobby.

Ice swimming
The local ice swimming club of Jyväskylä operates 5 different ice swimming spots in Jyväskylä. For a small membership fee you can use their warm changing rooms and experience the magic of ice swimming. At first it sounds crazy to jump in a mostly frozen lake during minus degree. But ice swimming offers many health benefits and you will instantly feel better after. Also it is one of the greatest feelings to expand your comfort zone and go ice swimming.

Sauna
Last but not least: sauna. Sauna you can do all year round in Finland. Rumors say that there are around 2 million saunas in Finland for a population of around 5.5 million people - so there should be one nearby for you. Going to the sauna is especially in winter after being outside in the cold it is the best feeling ever to sit in a hot room and to get finally really warm again. Sauna can be also perfectly connected to ice swimming. If you do not have a lake close by, going outside in the snow is a perfect way to cool down from the sauna turn.

Come and enjoy the Finnish winter with us! :)

FAQs about JYU and application (for non EU/EEA students)

This is a blog post regarding various questions we are getting from non EU or European Economic Area (EEA) students.
Note: For students from the EU these information can be different!

1. Does JYU have bachelor programs taught in English?
Unfortunately we do not yet have bachelor programs taught in English. If you are an undergraduate student and interested in studying in JYU, you can check if your home university is a partner university of JYU and probably come as an exchange student!

Find Bilateral partner universities of JYU 2019-2020 here!

2. Do you have scholarships for international master’s degree programs?
Starting from 2020 application period, JYU will provide two full scholarships (covers 2 years’ tuition fees) and four half scholarships for each program. You can apply for scholarship with the same application form for master’s programs, and the selection criteria will be the same as admissions criteria. JYU does not provide any other university level scholarships, but some faculty may provide other supports for international students. For further information, check the program page of your ideal program.
Find out more about scholarships and tuition fees here.

3. Which programs are JYU’s specialities? 
JYU has one of the leading education programmes in Finland, and is the only university that has a sports faculty. We also have highly competent business and social sciences programmes.

4. Can I apply if I am from a different background? 
You can apply to the Master’s degree programs as long as you have a suitable higher education degree and adequate proficiency in English language. Relevant academic background is normally not a must, but it will give you more credits during the admission process. For detailed information, you may check the program page of the specific program you are interested in, or send email to ask in advance.

5. Does JYU provide accommodation for international students? 
JYU does not provide accommodation directly, but will recommend local student apartments (KOAS, Kortepohja student village) to international students.

6. Is it possible to attend JYU’s summer school or short-term courses?
Currently JYU provides the following summer and winter schools:

Summer schools: 
Jyväskylä Summer School in August, targeting all advanced Master's students, graduate students, and post-docs from the field of Mathematics,Science and Information Technology
Jyväskylä Summer School in Human Sciences in May-June, targeting students from JYU, students from partner universities of JYU, and students coming within the framework of ISEP Exchange

Winter schools: 
Winter School of Ecology in February, targeting all international and Finnish students who are majoring in biology
Winter School in Sport Sciences in January, targeting students from universities and professionals from sport organizations all over the world

*Some of the Summer & Winter School are only for JYU students or students from partner universities.

Find out more about the summer and winter schools here.

7. How much is the cost to study in Finland?
The tuition fee of JYU’s master’s degree programs are between 8,000-12,000 euros per year. The living expense in Jyväskylä is around 600-800 euros per month, depending on which part of the city you stay in.

8. Do I have to learn Finnish to study in Finland? Will it be enough if I only speak English? 
Many MSc programs require international students to take a couple of Finnish course credits (normally Finnish 1) to help you learn about the basics, but there are no other language requirements regarding Finnish. Most Finnish people speak at least conversational English, so it will not be a problem if you cannot speak Finnish. However, we do encourage you to learn Finnish, because it definitely helps you to make friends and live more like a local.

9. Is it very cold and dark in winter? 
There will only be 1-2 weeks of - 20°C temperature each year, normally in January or February, but it is always warm indoors. The days get apparently shorter in November, so it would be helpful to go out and be active to prevent depression.

Tutors: Little helper for your arrival in Jyväskylä

When you are moving to a different country everything in the beginning can be very overwhelming. Basic activities, which you do in your home country without even thinking about them like using public transport or going to the supermarket, can be challenging suddenly.

 The University of Jyväskylä offers a tutoring system to help you have an as smooth as possible start in your new home. Every new arriving student (exchange and degree students) will get connected to a tutor. Tutors are fellow students from our university who will support you in many practical questions.

Before your arrival your tutor will get in contact with you at least three weeks before your arrival. He or she can help you with your travel plans and any other questions you have in advance. One of the best services is that your tutor will pick up your keys in advance (when you live in one of the student housings). On your arrival day your tutor will meet you at the train or bus stop and help you find your way to your new apartment. He or she will also support you in finding the nearest supermarket and bus stop.

The tutor is usually tutoring several other new students. So in the tutor group you can already meet the first people before the university even starts.

When the orientation week starts the tutors will make sure that you find your way to the university. Either through showing the way to you in advance or through organizing walking groups for the first morning.

During your first weeks your tutor will show give you a campus, a library and a city tour. The tutor will help you with practical manners like opening a bank account, filling out registration forms and electing your university courses. Additionally, your tutor can help you get to know the Finnish student life ;-)

Tutors are very caring and supportive helpers for your start here in Jyväskylä. Make sure to reply your tutor when he or she gets in contact with you before your arrival. Because they can really support you in making the best out of your stay in Jyväskylä! :)

Application period starts today

Finally it is the time! The application period for the international master’s degree programmes of the University of Jyväskylä starts today. The application period is open from 08th January until 22nd January 2020 at 3:00 p.m. (GMT+2).


All the information about the master degree programmes can be found here.


Following you will find some last information about the application process. Here is the university link which leads you to the web page with all the information about the application process.
(Note: The following article points out important aspects for the application. The complete information and requirements can be found on the above mentioned link!)

Online Application Form
Today the online application form opened. It is only open during the admission period. You can find the application form here.
Remember that you can not save a draft of the application form. If you close it before submitting, all your entered information will be lost. But after submitting you will receive a link via email with which you can make changes on your application form until the end of the application period.
With the same form you also apply for the tuition fee scholarship.


Required attachments
You have to submit all the required attachments so that your application can be processed. In case you get asked to send some of your documents via postal email, do that as soon as possible! Make sure that you submit everything required before the deadline. After you have done your application, make sure to check your emails regularly so you do not miss any updates. For example in case an attachment was missing. If documents are missing the application is not complete and can not be processed!
There are specific requirements for some documents. Check them out here.


Interviews
After the application process, the second round starts. The second round is for the so far selected applicants and they will be invited for an interview. The interviews are held in March and will be in person (if you are in Finland) or via Skype. Do not be too afraid of the interviews. The interviewers, which are usually some of the program teachers, are very nice. During the interview they will try to get to know you a bit better and to hear about your knowledge of the field and the motivation for the master. Prepare yourself for the interview, through answering these basic questions for yourself in advance. Why do you want to do this master? What is your motivation? What is your expertise? Do you have already a possible idea for the master thesis?  Why did you choose Finland?


The decision on the student admission is based on the application and the interview. The results are based on a scoring system. The applicants will be informed via email.

Good luck for your applications! We hope to see many of you soon in Jyväskylä!