Time to apply for international Master’s Degree Programmes

​The University of Turku has 16 international Master’s Degree Programmes designed mainly for international students. The degree is comprised of two years of full-time study. The language of teaching is English, excluding the Master's Degree Programme in Finnish and Other Finno-Ugric Languages. The applicants must have a university degree equivalent to a Finnish Bachelor’s Degree and good English skills.

The faculties offer international Master’s Degree Programmes on many fields. Most programmes are free of charge for both Finnish and international students.

Focus on the future

You should consider Futures Studies if you are interested in multidisciplinary expertise and a wide variety of career opportunities, says programme coordinator Johanna Kärki.

The Master’s Degree Programme in Futures Studies educates foresight experts who help organisations to recognise future possibilities and to avoid unnecessary risks. The students learn to solve development challenges and to use foresight thinking for the benefit of organisations.

- The programme builds on the expertise the students already have from their previous studies. Our students come from all over the world, and they represent many different fields, from technics and economics to humanities and social sciences.

Graduates of the programme qualify for expert positions in private organisations and public institutions. The programme also provides the basis necessary for building a consultant business. According to Kärki, the students in the recently redesigned programme have been highly motivated and satisfied with their experience. This autumn, 14 new students started in the programme.

From the beginning of August 2012, a tuition fee is charged from non-EU/EEA citizens. Kärki believes this will increase the applicants’ motivation level.

- A degree in Futures Studies gives the students a unique skill set that will benefit them on the global job market. The University of Turku is the only university in Finland offering a degree on this field.

Master life sciences

The Biomedical Imaging Master’s Degree Programme trains professionals of biomedical imaging with a wide range of skills. The programme offers a variety of courses on different areas of bioimaging, from molecular level nanoscience to cell and body imaging. The new programme was launched in the autumn of last year.

- We had nine students last year, and now 20 new students started in the programme. A few students are still waiting for their visas, say coordinators Maritta Löytömäki and Eeva Rainio.

Half of the newcomers are students in the University of Turku, the other half in Åbo Akademi University. A lot of coordination is needed for smooth cooperation. Rainio says she knows every student personally. Student Petra Miikkulainen, 25, confirms that this is evident in the everyday student life.

- The atmosphere is warm. We are looked after way more than other students.

The 26-year-old Peter Ngum from Cameroon is called the star of the course by his fellow students. Ngum already holds a degree in both chemistry and medicine. Originally, he came to Helsinki for one of the practise periods of his degree in medicine. Now he has a Finnish girlfriend and clear plans for the future.

- I’m interested in radiology. There’s a lot of competition on the field, but these studies give me valuable laboratory skills in addition to a degree.

Study the Baltic

The Master’s Degree Programme in Baltic Sea Region Studies (BSRS) focuses on the cultural, economic, historical and political aspects of the Baltic Sea region. The multidisciplinary programme studies the European society from a regional perspective.

- Baltic Sea Region Studies is a partner of the International Masters in Russian, Central and East European Studies (IMRCEES) programme, which is recognised by the European Commission as an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course. This opens up the possibility of EU study grants for the non-EU students in our programme, says coordinator Tarja Hyppönen.

All students gain international experience during their studies. The programme requires one semester of studies abroad in a partner university. The studies are planned in cooperation with the partner university, and the credits are fully transferable.

- Studies in a partner university give the students access to a wider range of courses and academic knowledge. They also learn to understand the culture and academic world of another country. Many students say this chance for integrated studies in another university is one of the most valuable aspects of the programme.

Students who have graduated from the programme work in a variety of academic, governmental and diplomatic organisations. Currently, there are 30-35 students in various stages of their studies, and 8-12 new students are admitted every year.

>> Application periods for the international Master’s Degree Programmes

Photo 1: Peter Ngum and Petra Miikkulainen started their studies in the Biomedical Imaging Master’s Degree Programme this autumn

Photo 2: The 26-year-old Peter Ngum from Cameroon is called the star of the course by his fellow students.

Text: Suvi Kauppila, Joni Tauriainen
Photos: Joni Tauriainen