Basic requirements for going on an exchange
If you are seeking and planning to participate in an exchange programme abroad, you must be a degree student at the University of Turku. Prior to an exchange, studies from abroad must be accepted as accreditable and transferable towards a degree at the University of Turku and must be included in the grant application. The study plan must correspond to the same amount of studies which would be accomplished in the same amount of time as at the University of Turku. After he/she has returned from abroad, the student must request accreditation of studies according to the regulations of the faculty in question within six (6) months after the end of his/her exchange, but well before his/her graduation date.
Furthermore:
- Students who are completing a lower (1st cycle Bacherlor's level) degree must have completed a minimum of one academic year's worth of degree studies at the University of Turku when leaving for an exchange.
- Students who are completing advanced studies for a Master's degree, a separate Master's degree programme (2nd cycle) or postgraduate degree must have completed a minimum of one semester's worth of degree studies at the University of Turku when leaving for an exchange. If the student has been accepted to study directly for a Master's degree without having any prior university degree or corresponding university studies, he/she must complete one academic year's worth of degree studies at the University of Turku before leaving for an exchange.
- Finnish language studies required for a Master's degree, including separate Master's programmes or a postgraduate degree, must be completed when leaving for an exchange if the student's previous university education has not been carried out in Finnish or if the student has not certified his/her Finnish language skills by some other accepted equivalence.
- The student is required to have sufficient skills in the language of instruction of the study abroad period. This must be confirmed by either pervious completed studies or by the authority of another accepted equivalence. Those participating in a Language and Culture study module will be exempt from prior language skills in the relevant language if the host university so allows.
- The corresponding contact person in question will determine the relevance of a study abroad period as well as the success and quality of studies for completing a degree at the University of Turku.
- Those students who are completing a 1st or 2nd cycle degree (or a Master's degree according to the former structure of degree studies) of higher education at the University of Turku are placed in priority unless otherwise agreed in the exchange contract.
- Because the objective is to offer as many students as possible the chance to study or take internships abroad, the University of Turku will grant a maximum of one sponsored exchange place per academic year to the same student. For this reason, any previous studies abroad might be taken into account when choosing candidates for exchange.
- If the student has cancelled a previous exchange place, the corresponding contact person in question may take this into consideration when choosing candidates for exchange.
- The host university will make the final decision about the student's acceptance.
The University of Turku does not base its decision according to gender, age, disability, race, nationality or religious beliefs. There may be restrictions established by the exchange organisations, outside sponsors of the exchange programmes, the host country or the host university. The corresponding contact person(s) should take this into consideration when advising and selecting exchange candidates.
According to the type of exchange and the benefits set up by the sponsors, an extension of an exchange period is possible, as long as:
- The student's studies at the host university are transferable towards his/her degree at the University of Turku.
- The extension of the exchange does not affect the studies or study rights of other University of Turku exchange candidates who are chosen to study abroad at the same host university.
- The host university agrees to the extension. A request for extension must be addressed to the corresponding contact person.
If the chosen student intends on shortening his/her period of exchange, he/she must immediately contact the corresponding exchange contact person to get the appropriate terms and conditions.