New student’s guide
Bachelor Students
On this page you will find instructions on how to start your degree studies or Open UAS path studies, and information on student life:
Starting your studies: good to know
1
Get your own computer for studying
Turku UAS uses electronic materials and learning environments. You must have your own laptop computer available during the study days. The school will provide you with the most important basic software free of charge.
Read more on getting your own computer and the requirements.
2
If possible: Register Turku UAS user ID
New degree and path students in English degree programmes will receive their user IDs and further instructions during the orientation.
If you have a Finnish personal identity code and online banking codes, you can register your Turku UAS user ID already before starting your studies.
Register your Turku UAS user ID at the ID-service.
- The service requires authentication with the Finnish online banking codes or mobile certificate, or a foreigner’s identifier. Read more on registering your user ID.
- The registeration is possible for new degree students starting from 2 January 2025 if you have accepted the offer of admission and registered as attending for the first academic year.
- If you have been accepted from the waiting list or as a path student, the registeration is possible a few days after you have accepted the offer of admission and registered as attending for the first academic year.
Your username, email address and student number will be displayed at the end of the registration process. Please take them yourself.
After you have registered your user ID, Turku UAS user IDs require multi-factor authentication (MFA). Please set up MFA after registering your user ID.
3
If possible: Take the digistart course
Start your studies by completing your first ECTS credits as a student at Turku University of Applied Sciences! With the Digistart course, you will get acquainted with studying at Turku UAS even before you start your studies. You will learn how we study, what tools we use and where you can get support.
You can participate in the course after you have activated your Turku UAS user IDs.
The DigiStart course will open on 3 January 2025. If you can’t register your Turku UAS user ID before starting the studies, you can take the course later.
It’s worth starting the course right away when possible: once you know the common practices and how to work in different environments, you’re ready to start the actual studies!
Here’s how to get on the course:
- Log in to itsLearning learning environment
- Select ‘Login with HAKA’ and use the Turku UAS user ID you received during registration.
- Select ‘Courses’ in the home screen, then ‘Digistart, Spring 2025′. Follow the instructions to proceed with the course. The Digistart course is available in Finnish and English. The language of the course depends on the teaching language of the degree programme.
- If you don’t see the Digistart course in itsLearning frontpage, you can also join the course yourself. In itsLearning, select Courses > All courses > Find more courses > Site course catalogue and join the Digistart course.
If you need help with Digistart, please contact digistartti@turkuamk.fi
The Digistart course is a comprehensive package of information that you don’t have to study all at once. You can return to the course at any time during your studies to find the information you need.
4
Download the Tuudo mobile app
Tuudo is an app that makes students’ everyday lives easier by bringing together the information and services they need from different channels. Tuudo also includes a free student card.
You can download the free Tuudo mobile app on your phone as soon as you have received information about your study place at Turku UAS.
- Select Turku University of Applied Sciences from the Tuudo menu and press the New Student button to access without logging in.
- Once you have activated your Turku UAS user IDs, you can use them to log in to Tuudo and access all functions.
On Tuudo you will find, among other things:
- campus maps and current news for students
- your timetable and progress of your studies (requires login)
- booking of rooms on campus for studying (requires login)
- enrollment for courses (requires login)
- free student card for degree or path students (requires registration)
Starting your studies: orientation days
During the first few days of your studies, known as orientation days, you will receive information about your studies and practical matters. You will get to know other students, teachers, tutors and the learning environment.
Orientation days are compulsory for all new students.
For the majority of groups, orientations take place on campus. On the first day of your studies, take along
- your passport or official valid ID
- your own laptop
During the orientation days, you can eat at the student restaurant on campus. You will receive further instructions on how to get the student discount during the orientation days. If you have registered your Turku UAS user ID before starting the studies, you can get the discounts by showing your student card on the Tuudo App.
See the starting instructions for your degree programme
The starting dates and places for each degree programme will be published on this page
- in October 2024 for the degree programmes starting in January 2025
- in April 2025 for the degree programmes starting in August 2025
Please note that changes to the starting instructions are possible, so please monitor this page for changes.
Business Administration, Bachelor of Business Administration | full-time studies, Turku
Your studies will start on Tuesday 7th January 2025 at 9.00 a.m. in ICT-City, auditorium Alpha (address: Joukahaisenkatu 3, Turku).
A more detailed programme will be announced on the first day of orientation. In the evenings, there may also be an additional programme organised by student tutors.
Your study group ID is PBUADK25.
Further information regarding the start of your studies
Study guidance counsellor Ulla Niittyinperä: ulla.niittyinpera@turkuamk.fi (out of office from 18th Dec 2024 to 1st Jan 2025)
Accrediting previous studies
Information and Communications Technology, Bachelor of Engineering | full-time studies, Turku
Your studies will start on Tuesday 7th January 2025 at 9.00 a.m. in ICT-City, auditorium Alpha (address: Joukahaisenkatu 3, Turku).
A more detailed programme will be announced on the first day of orientation. In the evenings, there may also be an additional programme organised by student tutors.
Your study group ID is PINFOK25.
Further information regarding the start of your studies
Study guidance counsellor Ulla Niittyinperä: ulla.niittyinpera@turkuamk.fi (out of office from 18th Dec 2024 to 1st Jan 2025)
Accrediting previous studies
Energy and Environmental Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering | full-time studies, Turku
Your studies will start on Tuesday 7th January 2025 at 9.00 a.m. in ICT-City, auditorium Alpha (address: Joukahaisenkatu 3, Turku).
A more detailed programme will be announced on the first day of orientation. In the evenings, there may also be an additional programme organised by student tutors.
Your study group ID is PENERK25.
Further information regarding the start of your studies
Study guidance counsellor Ulla Niittyinperä: ulla.niittyinpera@turkuamk.fi (out of office from 18th Dec 2024 to 1st Jan 2025)
Accrediting previous studies
Industrial Management and Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering | full-time studies, Turku
Your studies will start on Tuesday 7th January 2025 at 9.00 a.m. in ICT-City, auditorium Alpha (address: Joukahaisenkatu 3, Turku).
A more detailed programme will be announced on the first day of orientation. In the evenings, there may also be an additional programme organised by student tutors.
Your study group ID is PIMEK25.
Further information regarding the start of your studies
Study guidance counsellor Ulla Niittyinperä: ulla.niittyinpera@turkuamk.fi (out of office from 18th Dec 2024 to 1st Jan 2025)
Accrediting previous studies
Arriving on campus
How do I find my way to campus? See the information on the campus opening hours, parking and transport connections on the campus pages.
How do I find the right auditorium or classroom on campus? You can find the exact location of the rooms in the Tuudo app. Select “Map” from the app menu.
We recommend using public transport when arriving on campus. However, if you arrive by car, please note that parking spaces near Kupittaa and Linnankatu campuses are limited and are usually subject to a fee.
Timetables
In the timetable you can see the preliminary schedule for the semester. If there are any changes, you should always check the timetable before class.
The preliminary timetables for the spring semester 2025 will be published no later than 2 December 2024.
You can find the timetables at lukkari.turkuamk.fi
- You can see your chapter order by selecting “Search groups” and entering your group ID (e.g. PINFOK24A) in the field. You can find your group ID in the starting instruction of your degree programme.
The timetable and the starting instructions have different times for the start of studies. Which is correct?
For example, if the starting instructions say that your orientation days start at 9.00, but the timetable says 8.00, you should follow the time mentioned in the instructions.
The timetable shows the classroom bookings and the earlier entry in the timetable means that the teacher has marked the booking to start earlier.
More information about studying and starting your studies
Accrediting previous studies
Previously completed studies or otherwise acquired skills can be accepted for the degree, provided they match the objectives and content of your curriculum. This is known as recognition of skills acquired earlier or elsewhere or “AHOT”.
I am a new Bachelor’s degree student
If you have been accepted to a Bachelor’s degree programme in Turku University of Applied Sciences and you have prior university level courses in the same field of study, please read the instructions below.
Please note that the verification process may take some time, so it’s important to start this process as early as possible.
Accrediting previous higher education degree studies from a country within EU/EEA
If you have been accepted to a Bachelor’s degree programme and you have prior university level courses in the same field of study from a country within EU/EEA please send copies of your transcripts of record and course descriptions in English. Please notice that we need information only about your university level courses at this time.
Send your transcripts of record and course descriptions via email to study guidance counsellor Ulla Niittyinperä.
Accrediting previous higher education degree studies from outside EU/EEA
If you have a previous higher education degree in the same field from a country outside EU/EEA, you can apply to accredit some of your previous studies to your new degree studies.
In order to do this, you must request official copies of your degree certificate from your previous university. The officials from your previous university must fill the form Verification of previous studies Turku UAS and send it to Turku UAS in paper mail with the verified copies of your study transcripts. Please notice that you cannot deliver the documents personally, only documents sent by paper mail will be accepted.
Please see the detailed instructions and the postal address on the form.
If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Student Office.
I am a new Master’s degree student
You will receive further information on accrediting previous studies and recognition of skills acquired earlier after starting your studies.
I am a new Open UAS path student
As a path student, you cannot apply for accrediting previous studies. Any previous studies can only be accredited towards a degree. However, you can apply for recognition of skills acquired earlier or elsewhere by competence demonstration. You can ask your course teacher for more information on this after you have started your studies.
Library Services
Turku UAS Library and Information Services helps you with your studies and professional development. The library is near you – you find library services at Turku UAS campuses as well as online.
You will receive more information on applying library card and about the library services on your first days at school and on the Digistart course.
For more information, visit the library website.
Student card and student discounts
There are various discounts available for students, most of which require a student card.
There are different types of student cards:
- Turku University of Applied Sciences offers all its students a free student card in the Tuudo mobile app.
- Turku UAS’ Student Union – TUO members have access to student cards provided by the Student Union.
Student cards are also available for open UAS path students, but path students are not entitled to all the same student discounts as degree students.
Student lunch
Degree students are entitled to Kela meal subsidy. You can buy a student-priced lunch at a student restaurant by presenting your Kela meal subsidy card.
You can use the meal subsidy card
- with your Tuudo mobile app electronic student card or
- with the Slice mobile app used by Turku UAS’ Student Union – TUO
Path students are not eligible for Kela meal subsidies. Path students can get a small discount at student restaurants on the Turku campuses by presenting their Open University of Applied Sciences student card from the Tuudo mobile app.
If you need a paper Kela meal subsidy card or an Open University of Applied Sciences meal discount card, you can apply for it at the service desk of the Student Office upon presentation of your ID.
Discounts on public transport
As a degree student, you can get a student discount on tickets for Föli (local traffic), Matkahuolto (long-distance bus services), and VR (long-distance railway services), for example.
- using the students’ electronic student card in the Tuudo mobile app, or
- student union with the student card of TUO members in the Slice mobile app
As a path student, you get a student discount on Föli tickets with your Tuudo mobile app student card.
If necessary, you can also get a FöIi student discount application from the student office, but not before the first day of your studies.
Read more about the student discounts offered by the Turku Region Traffic (Föli).
Other student discounts
With a student card, you can also get many other discounts or student benefits. You can find out more about the student discounts available to members of the Student Union TUO on the Student Union website.
Student guidance and support services
Guidance and a range of support services are available for all stages of your studies and student life.
Find out more about student guidance and counselling services.
You can find out more about the different guidance and support services when you start your studies. You can also find more detailed instructions on the Turku UAS intranet, Messi. You can log in to Messi with your Turun AMK user ID.
Student health services
As a degree student, you are entitled to the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). You will also have to pay the university student healthcare fee.
Read more on student health services on FSHS’ guide for new students.
Degree students in higher education institutions pay a healthcare fee each semester for FSHS services. The payment is collected by Kela. Kela will not send a separate invoice for the payment, but you must remember to pay it yourself.
Read more on students healthcare fee.
As an Open UAS path student, you cannot use FSHS services and you do not have to pay the university students’ healthcare fee. You can use the health services of your well-being services county. In Turku and Salo, the well-being services county is Varha.
What do the studies include? What is it like to study?
As a degree student your studies are based on your own individual study plan, or ISP. Your individual study plan is based on the degree programme curriculum.
As an Open UAS path student your study right consist only the first year studies of the degree programme.
The curriculum is made up of different courses and modules. At the beginning of your studies, the curriculum and ISP are usually the same. Once you start your studies, you will receive further information and guidance on how to create your own individual study plan.
You can see the curriculum of your degree progamme in the Study Guide.
Studying at Turku UAS is based on active learning methods. Learning consists of various learning tasks, project work, lectures and presentations, e-learning and practical training. Different learning and assessment methods will be used for the different courses. Studying also involves, for example, different learning information systems or campus facilities.
The Digistart course will give you a good overview of what studying is like. It will also give you an insight into what tools are used and where you can get support.
When you have been absent for the first year and are now starting your studies
When you have been registered as non-attending student for the first year and are now starting your studies:
- contact the Student Office and register as attending for the academic year
- you will be informed by the Student Office in which group you will start your studies
- you can then follow the instructions on this page
Student life in Turku and Salo
Download the Goin’ app
Connect with your future classmates
Join the Turku UAS’ community before the start of your studies! The Goin’ app enables you to familiarise to students who
- are starting the same study programme
- come from the same country
- have similar interests or hobbies
- are looking for future roommates
- currently study at Turku UAS and can assist with practical questions.
The Goin’ app is available for new students in English full-time degree programmes and for all exchange students. If you have been admitted to Turku UAS, you will receive an e-mail with the registration link for the app. You can download the app from Apple App store or Google Play store.
Why download the Goin’ app?
- You can have a 1-on-1 conversations
- You can chat in groups based on your interests, programme, or nationality. Choose from a variety of groups or start your own!
- You will access to general information and useful links.
About the app
Using the app is optional. One-on-one conversations will not be monitored. Group conversations will be moderated to prevent inappropriate use of the app or if a student raises a concern.
You are required to give your consent to process your personal data. The Goin’ app provider company needs to process certain personal data to create a profile. Once you decide to delete your profile or stop using the app, the company will delete your data.
Student Union TUO
The Student Union of Turku University of Applied Sciences – TUO exists for every student of Turku University of Applied Sciences. TUO is the legal representative of the students and it is religiously and politically non-committal and independent of trade unions.
The Student Union TUO is a community of all students at Turku University of Applied Sciences: TUO monitors the interests of students, makes the students’ voice heard in decision-making, organises events throughout the year and contributes to enriching student culture. As an active member of TUO, you also have the opportunity to influence and participate in events and activities.
TUO membership is open to both degree students and Open UAS path students.
CampusSport
Exercise is an important part of wellbeing and staying fit while studying. CampusSport offers affordable and versatile sports services for students and staff of the higher education institutes in Turku.
With the CampusSport sports fee, you have access to the following services:
- Five gyms with facilities for strength training, functional training and general muscle training.
- Almost 100 hours of guided exercise a week in dozens of different sports.
- Ball games for beginners and advanced players alike.
Get to know CampusSport and buy a sports licence from the online store (requires login with Turku UAS user ID).
Turku: a Student city
Turku, located in the region of Southwest Finland, is one of Finland’s biggest cities. The bustling lifestyle structure and top class education, culture, and services, as well as the beautiful archipelago, make for a magnetic combination in Turku.
Salo as a student city
Smooth everyday life in Salo. Housing is spacious and living costs are lower. Turku University of Applied Sciences is part of the Salo IoT Campus.
Contact us
If you have any questions before you start your studies, please contact us:
The study guidance counsellor or tutor teacher
(you can find the contact details of your study guideance counsellor or tutor teacher in the starting instructions for your degree programme)
- content of the orientation days
- content and delivery of the studies
- accessibility of the studies
Student Office (degree students)
- matters relating to the right to study
- study documents
Open University of Applied Sciences (path students)
- matters relating to the right to study
- study documents
- billing
- accepting the offer of admission
- registration of the first academic year
- submitting the required documents
Turku UAS user ID and other IT matters:
servicedesk@turkuamk.fi
Questions about the Digistart course:
digistartti@turkuamk.fi