Guidelines for new degree students

Before you start your studies, you can prove your place of study with an electronic letter of results, which you will receive by 21.11.2024 for the autumn joint application. The notification is sent by email from My Studyinfo service.

The electronic letter of results of the joint application is the official letter of acceptance. Turku UAS does not send a separate letter of acceptance for students accepted in joint application.

Before you receive the letter of acceptance, you can prove, for housing for example, your place of study by a screenshot of the My Studyinfo view showing that you have accepted your study place. the results letter, you can prove your place of study either by.

After your study right has started, you can upload an official study certificate and transcript of records yourself from the Peppi study information system. To log in to Peppi, you need to activate your Turku UAS user ID.

You can find the documents in Peppi by selecting “Orders” in the navigation bar.

• Select the document you want to order.
• Select the language and press order.
• Go to the Documents tab, where you will see the document you have ordered and can download it for yourself.

If for some reason you do not receive a study certificate as a self-service from Peppi, you can also order a study certificate by e-mail from the Student Office once your studies have started.

Do you need other forms? If you need a confirmation from Turku UAS, for example on a TE Office form, please fill in your own information to form and send it to the Student Office. Write in the email that you are a new student and the degree programme to which you have been accepted to.

If you have been accepted as a degree student in the joint application procedure, you can postpone the start of your studies by registering as an absent student. A first-year student can only do this for a statutory reason.

Read more about the right to be absent

One of the first things you should do, is to check whether you are required to apply for a residence permit for studies.
Students arriving from non-EU/EEA countries need a residence permit when they stay in Finland more than 3 months.

We recommend that you start the application process for residence permit immediately after you have received information of admission and paid the tuition fee as the process can take several months.

• Before applying, read more on residence permit for studies on Finnish Immigration Service’s (Migri) website.
• Check out also Migri’s Guide for students on how to apply for residence permit.
  
• Apply for a residence permit on Migri’s online service Enter Finland.
  
• Please note that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or a consulate as a part of the application process. 

You cannot be granted a residence permit for studies, if your studies mainly consist of distance learning online and do not require you to stay in Finland. For shorter stays in Finland (e.g. contact lesson days), you may apply for a travel visa.

We recommend that you apply for the residence permit to be valid 2 weeks before the beginning of studies so you can arrive in Finland and settle before the studies begin.

Degree students at universities of applied sciences and universities pay a health care fee to Kela. As a degree student at a higher education institution, you can use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS).

Find out more about FSHS services

The student healthcare fee is part of the overall funding for healthcare for university students. You have to pay this fee even if you do not receive student financial aid form Kela, use occupational health services instead of the FSHS, or have taken a private health insurance to satisfy the requirements for obtaining a residence permit, for example.

Read more about the health care fee

If you have social security coverage from another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or Great Britain and Northern Ireland, you do not have to pay the healthcare fee. However, you can use the services of the FSHS. Find out what you need to do on the Kela website.

Payment of the healthcare fee

The healthcare fee must be paid for each semester. Kela does not send a separate invoice for the fee, but you must remember to pay it yourself.

The due date for the healthcare contribution depends on when you register as attending.

See Kela’s website for more detailed payment instructions and due dates.

Remember to also check necessary health documents.

Turku UAS does not provide health insurance for international students, so please make sure you have valid health insurance during your studies.

Finnish student health service (FSHS) is responsible of student health services for degree students. However, FSHS only provides basic health care services and do not cover urgent medical care or secondary health care in hospitals. 

Students from other EU or EEA countries must to provide a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) when accessing FSHS services. The FSHS will be required by law to ask to see a European Health Insurance Card to identify students who are covered by state-provided health insurance from a country other than Finland. The card must be obtained before coming to Finland. Students from Britain and Northern Ireland may provide a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Read more on FSHS website.

If you are non-EU/EEA citizen, make sure you have a valid health insurance that covers both accidents and illness. Turku UAS has insurance against injuries during studies, but it does not cover leisure time accidents or eventual illness during your stay. You are also required to have health insurance before applying for a residence permit for studies. Please read more about the requirements of the insurance on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.

By registering with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), you will receive a Finnish personal identity code if you have not yet received it (e.g. with the residence permit). The registration is free of charge and beneficial for you.

Once you register with the DVV, you will be

• given a Finnish personal identity code unless you have already received one from the Finnish lmmigration Service or the Finnish Tax Administration. ln Finland, a personal identity code is used to identify persons.
  
  You must have a personal identity code:
  • to receive a transcript of study records from your Finnish university.
  • when you deal with the Finnish authorities.

• registered an address in Finland.
  The address can be registered as temporary or as permanent. Please visit the DW website for more information on the different address types.

Please note that you may need to have a Finnish personal identity code and a registered address in Fin­land to open a bank account or to get a service contract with mobile phone operator.

Read more on the registration in the Population Information System on DVV’s website.

FSHS will invite all first-year students to a health examination comprising

• the HealthStart questionnaire and
• if necessary, an appointment with a public health nurse and/or oral health professional. 

Please check Finnish Student Health Service’s (FSHS) information for new students.

Instructions for students in other fields than social and health care

Please check instructions and requirements from FSHS’ Tuberculosis information for students.

Instructions for students in social and health care

Please read FSHS’ instructions for social and health care students concerning infectious diseases and vaccinations.

Fill COMMUNICABLE DISEASE QUESTIONNAIRE (SELF-ASSESSMENT FORM) and contact FSHF Turku when you arrive in Finland if necessary.

Please note that you need to bring your Vaccination certificate (in English) included previous vaccination (how many doses, date, month, year).

Studying at Turku UAS is strongly working life oriented. Our aim is to provide the kind of education and skills that working life needs and help the students get connected with the companies in the Southwest region already during the studies. Students may work part-time while studying but full-time degree studies have requirements for presence during the weekdays and these should always be prioritised.

If you have been granted a residence permit for studies, please see Finnish Immigration Service website for further information on working time restrictions while studying.