Orientation and Student Tutors
Orientation Dates for the Academic Year 2023-2024
The Spring orientation for new exchange students will be held on 3-5 January 2024 on campus.
You will be appointed a student tutor who will assist you with practicalities after your arrival in Turku. The contact information of your peer tutor will be emailed to you.
Please see also a list of things to do during your first days in Turku.
More information
During the orientation you will be given an introduction to studying at the University of Turku. You will also learn about the services we provide for our students.
The orientation is an on-campus event, which means no remote participation possibility is offered. Presentation slides will be available on this page after the orientation.
Below you can see the list of activities for each day. More details, including exact locations and schedule, can be found in a PDF file!
Wed 3 Jan (10:00 - 12:00/14:00)
Welcome to UTU by International office
Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY)
Erasmus Student Network (ESN Uni Turku)
Exchange studies at UTU & Registration of Foreigners
Faculty Information Sessions:
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Law
Thu 4 Jan (09:30 - 12:30/15:30)
Centre for Language and Communication Studies
Academic Writing at Finnish Universities
Finnish Language Courses
Digital Services
Friendship programme
Faculty Information Sessions:
Turku School of Economics
Faculties of Science & Technology
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Social Sciences
Fri 5 Jan (09:30 - 13:15)
Finnish Society, Culture and Language
CampusSport
Turku City Bus Tour
NB: The orientation programme for the spring 2024 international orientation might include small changes.
The orientation for international degree students in 2023 will happen on 23–25 August. During the orientation, you will be given an introduction to studying at the University of Turku. You will also learn about the services you can use as a student: network of gyms, language courses, IT services, library, etc. Below you can find the schedule of activities for each day:
Wednesday 23 August
Location: Turku School of Economics, Elovena-sali (Elovena-hall; entrance (sisäänkäynti) to the building is marked on the map in red)
- 09:00 – 09:30 | Studying at the University of Turku | Presentation Slides
Valtteri Kiviö & Johanna Kärki, Admission Services - 09:30 – 10:15 | UTU Career Services, Career after Studies | Presentation Slides
Oscar Nyman & Lotta Metsärinne - 10:15 – 11:00 | UTU Alumni and Mentors | Presentation Slides
Ameya Foujdar, UTU Partnerships and Strategic Engagement
11:00 – 11:15 | Break
- 11:15 – 11:45 | Registration with the University and in Finland (+ other official matters) | Presentation Slides
Valtteri Kiviö - 11:45 – 12:30 | Tuition Fees and Scholarships + Residence Permits | Presentation Slides
Johanna Kärki
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch
- 13:30 – 13:40 | Rector’s Greeting
Vice-Rector Piia Björn - 13:40 – 14:10 | Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY) | Presentation Slides
Vilma Virtanen, TYY International Specialist - 14:10 – 14:40 | IT Services | Presentation Slides
Aleksi Turunen - 14:40 – 15:10 | Library Services | Presentation Slides
Jari Herranen - 15:10 | Chocolate & Chat (at Mercatori, Turku School of Economics)
Thursday 24 August
Location: Turku School of Economics, Elovena-sali (Elovena-hall; entrance (sisäänkäynti) to the building is marked on the map in red)
- 10:00 – 10:30 | Stay Connected: Student Life at UTU | Presentation Slides
Paula Järvinen, Admission Services - 10:30 – 11:00 | Being an Active Student | Presentation Slides
Hilyah Audah, Student Ambassador - 11:00 – 11:45 | Student Organisations of UTU | University Choir Presentation; Digit ry Presentation; Hybridi ry Presentation; ESN Uni Turku Presentation
University Choir, Digit ry, ESN Uni Turku, Hybridi Turku Ry
11:45 – 13:00 | Lunch
- 13:00 – 13:30 | UTU Well-being Services | Presentation Slides
Anu Mäkelä - 13:30 – 14:15 | Academic Writing at Finnish Universities | Presentation Slides
Bridget Palmer, Centre for Language and Communication Studies
14:15 – 14:30 | Break
- 14:30 – 14:45 | Centre for Language and Communication Studies | Presentation Slides
Anna Väre - 14:45 – 15:15 | Finnish Language Courses | Presentation Slides
Emilia Hongisto & Jenni Laine, University Teachers, Centre for Language and Communication Studies - 15:15 – 15:30 | Finnish Language and Culture Minor | Presentation Slides
Hanna Jokela, University Lecturer, Department of Finnish and Finno-Ugric Languages
Location: University Hill
15:45 | Picnic and Campus Quest GameCANCELLED FOR TODAY DUE TO BAD WEATHER (WILL BE ORGANISED NEXT WEEK, MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON)
Picnic dependent on weather. Any changes will be informed of via e-mail.
Friday 25 August
Location: Turku School of Economics, Elovena-sali (Elovena-hall; entrance (sisäänkäynti) to the building is marked on the map in red)
- 09:00 – 10:30 | Finnish Society and Language | Kimmo's Presentation; Hanna's Presentation
Kimmo Elo, Senior Researcher, Centre for Parliamentary Studies
Hanna Jokela, University Lecturer, Finnish Language and Finno-Ugric Languages - 10:30 – 11:00 | CampusSport | Presentation Slides
Outi Lindström, CampusSport – University Sports Services - 11:00 – 11:15 | Final Exam — a fun quiz recap about Finland, Turku, and the University.
11:15 – 12:00 | Lunch
Location: University Hill
- 12:00 – 14:00 | Welcome Fair
Centre for Language and Communication Studies
Finnish language teachers
University gym – CampusSport
Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY)
University Chaplain
Subject organisations etc. - 14:30 – 15:30 | Turku City Bus Tour
Place of departure – Turku Cathedral - ONLY FOR THOSE WHO SIGNED-UP!
NB: The orientation programme for the autumn 2023 international orientation might include changes.
Open the schedule in a PDF file
Please also see the timetable in the below section for the degree programme-specific sessions, and attend your degree programme's orientation events.
Each international degree programme usually holds their own short orientation sessions or introductory meetings for their new students. We recommend that you attend both the general orientation as well as your programme-specific orientation. Information on programme-specific orientation sessions will be updated here during summer 2023.
MDP in Biomedical Sciences & MDP in Human Neuroscience
- Monday 28th of August
- 8:30–
- Location: Lecture room Osmo Järvi, Medisiina building (1st floor)
MDP in Biosciences
- Monday 28th of August
- 9:15–11:00
- Location: Lecture room Dentalia 1 (+ Zoom option available)
MDP in Education and Learning
Please attend both days:
- Wednesday 30th of August
- 10:00–12:00
- Location: Lecture room Edu244.1 (Educarium building)
- Friday 1st of September
- 10:00–12:00
- Location: Lecture room Edu244.1 (Educarium building)
MDP East Asian Studies
- Thursday 31st of August
- 10:00–14:00
- Location: Lecture room Pub5 (Publicum building)
MDP in Food Development
- Monday 4th of September
- 10:00-
- Location: Room Pha 7074, 7th floor, Pharmacity C (Pharmacity building)
MDP in Futures Studies
- Monday 21st of August
- 12:00-14:00
- Location: Room LS01, Turku School of Economics
- Joint session with Global Innovation Management and Global IT Management students
- Tuesday 22nd of August
- 13:15-15:15
- Location: Room LS01, Turku School of Economics
MDP in Gender Studies
- Monday-Tuesday 28th to 29th of August
- Please see the detailed timetable and instructions on the Study Guide.
MDP in Global Innovation Management
- Monday 21st of August
- 12:00-14:00
- Location: Room LS01, Turku School of Economics
- Joint session with Futures Studies and Global IT Management students
- Tuesday 22nd of August
- 9:30–12:00
- Location: Room LS01, Turku School of Economics
MDP in Global IT Management
- Monday 21st of August
- 12:00–14:00
- Location: Room LS01, Turku School of Economics
- Joint session with Futures Studies and Global Innovation Management students
- Monday 21st of August
- 14:00–16:00
- Location: Room LS01, Turku School of Economics
MDP in Inequalities, Interventions and New Welfare State
- Tuesday 29th of August
- 10:00–12:00
- Location: Lecture room Pub5 (Publicum building)
MDP In Information and Communication Technology & MDP in Health Technology & EIT (Double Degree)
Monday 28th of August
- 10:00–11:00
- Joint introduction session for all above-mentioned programmes
- Location: Lecture room I (LS I), main building (päärakennus)
- 11:00–12:00
- Track-specific orientation sessions:
- Cryptography, location: Lecture room I (LS I), main building (päärakennus)
- Cyber Security, location: Lecture room I (LS I), main building (päärakennus)
- Data Analytics, location: Lecture room XV, Natura building (4th floor)
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems, location: Lecture room XVII, Quantum building
- Software Engineering, location: Lecture room XVIII, Quantum building
- Health Technology, room 110C, Agora building
MDP in Materials Engineering
Monday 21st of August, 2023
University Hill, Quantum building, Vesilinnantie 5, lecture hall XVIII, 3rd floor
13.00 – 15:00
Study Info for new Finnish and International Master’s students
Introduction of Student Organization, Adamas ry
Introduction to Master’s Degree Programme
About studying, course enrolment and Personal Study Plan
Meet your own academic tutor
Tuesday 22nd of August, 2023
University Hill, Quantum building, Vesilinnantie 5, IT classroom Q111
10:00 - 11:00
Possibility to come and get help with the course enrolment
MDP in Mechanical Engineering
Monday 21st of August, 2023
University Hill, Agora building, Vesilinnantie 3, Lecture hall XXI, ground floor
10:00 – 11:30
Welcome new students!
Introduction of the Department
Introduction of Staff and Teacher Tutors
Introduction of Student Organisation, Machina ry
Introduction of Formula Student Team
University Hill, Agora building, Vesilinnantie 3, Lecture hall XX, ground floor
13:00 – 15:00
Study Info for new Finnish and International Master’s students
About course enrolment, study practices and degree programme
Introduction to Master’s Degree Programme's specialisation tracks and meeting your own academic tutor
Tuesday 22nd of August, 2023
University Hill, Quantum building, Vesilinnantie 5, IT classroom Q111
10:00 - 11:00
Possibility to come and get help with the course enrolment
Machine Technology Center Turku (KTK), Lemminkäisenkatu 28 (meeting point in the backyard)
13:30 – 16:00
Visiting KTK, labs in ICT-City and barbecue together
MDP in Physical and Chemical Sciences (MDP in Exact Sciences)
- Monday the 28th of August
- 16:00-
- Location: Lecture room XVI, Quantum building
Suomen ja sen sukukielten maisteriohjelma (MDP in Finnish and Other Finno-Ugric Languages)
- Wednesday 30th of August
- 16:00 - 18:00
- Location: Lecture room A283, Arcanum building
DVV will host dedicated pop-in dates for new students at their office in Turku (street address Itsenäisyydenaukio 2 — behind the city theatre):
Tuesday-Wednesday 5.-6.9.
at 9-12 and 13-15 o'clock on both days.
You can visit DVV without an appointment on either day and between any of the mentioned times. We highly recommend visiting DVV during these pop-in dates instead of making a separate appointment with them, as that is the easiest and most efficient for everyone involved. If you have already made an appointment with the DVV, but you are able to visit DVV during the pop-in days, please cancel your appointment at the latest after your visit, so they can be reserved by other people.
DVV registration process for students:
Fill in and submit the online registration form for students. On the website, follow the instructions that apply to you: situations A, B, C or D.
Enclose to the application:
• passport / official ID card. NB! driving license isn’t valid as an official ID in Finland!
• residence permit card (non-EU/EEA students) OR certificate which proves the Finnish Immigration Service has registered your right of residence (EU/EEA students)
• UTU registration certificate (contact admissions@utu.fi (degree students) or incoming@utu.fi (exchange students) if you need one); you can only get it after successfully registering as attending with the University.
If you have already uploaded this on the online registration form, you do not have to take this with you to DVV.
• pre-filled and printed registration form (situation D, only if you are not able to submit the online form)
Send your Finnish ID code via e-mail to disco@utu.fi after you’ve received it. It is entered into the University's registry, which is needed for example to efficiently use the FSHS services.
DVV (Digital and Population Data Services Agency)
Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS)
Welcome to the FSHS Services! (website)
Using Self online service (video)
As an exchange or a degree student you will have a student tutor to help you with the practicalities and guide you through the student life in Turku. Tutors are Finnish or foreign students who are interested in foreign cultures and languages. They have volunteered to help you to get a smooth start in your studies and stay in Finland! Each tutor has about 3-5 exchange or degree students.
Once accepted to the university, you will receive the contact information of your tutor by email.
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Exchange students receive the email usually in June or November - early December and will always have a Finnish tutor.
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Degree students receive the email during the summer and their tutors can be Finnish or of another nationality.
Inform your tutor about your arrival day, time and place as soon as possible so that s/he can make arrangements to meet you upon your arrival.
If you do not need or want a tutor, please inform your faculty (degree students) or the International Office (exchange students) as soon as possible.
- Exchange students: International Office: incoming(at)utu.fi
- Degree students: Your faculty or programme at UTU
Welcome to UTUGS -orientation day is organised 1-2 times a year. You will receive more information from your doctoral programme after you have been accepted.
