Orientation for degree students
The autumn 2026 orientation for new international degree students will be held in August during week 35. The general orientation dates for all new international degree students are Mon–Wed 24–26 August. Additional degree programme-specific orientation session dates will be published below on this website during the summer.
You will be appointed a student tutor who will assist you with practicalities after your arrival in Turku. The contact information of your tutor will be emailed to you during the summer. Already during the spring, you can start chatting with all the tutors on the Goin' for UTU chat platform.
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: sports, language courses, IT services, library, etc.
Slight changes and updates to the programme are still possible.
Programme of the Orientation, Autumn 2026
Location: Lecture room Pub3, Publicum building
10.00 – 10.45 Studying at the University of Turku
Valtteri Kiviö & Johanna Kärki, Admission Services
11.00 – 11.30 Library Services
Leena Tonttila, Chief Information Specialist, Turku University Library
11.30 – 12.00 IT Services
Aleksi Turunen, IT Support Person, Digital Services
12.00 – Introducing the tutors
Tutors introduced and students sent off for lunch in their tutor groups
Rest of the day reserved for tutors and subject organisations
Slight changes and updates to the programme are still possible.
09.30 – 09.50 CampusSport's presentation
09.50 – 10.00 Turku University Choir
10.00 – 10.10 UTUambassador programme
Juuso Suominen and Jemina Tyrkkö, Admission Services
10.10 – 10.50 Registration with the University and in Finland (+ other official matters)
Valtteri Kiviö, International Degree Student Coordinator, Admission Services
10.50 – 11.30 Tuition Fees and Scholarships + Residence Permits
Johanna Kärki, International Education Specialist, Admission Services
11.30 – 11.35 Break
11.35 – 11.45 Student Union of the University of Turku, TYY
Hanna Kiiskilä, TYY International Specialist
11.45 – 12.00 Being an active student
Kamran Aliyev from TYY executive board of 2026
12.00 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 13.50 UTU Well-being Services
Anu Mäkelä, Study and Work Well-being Specialist, Study and Work Well-being Services
13.50 – 14.05 Centre for Language and Communication Studies
Anna Väre, Head of Academic and Student Affairs, Educational Affairs
14.05 – 15.00 Academic Writing at Finnish Universities
Bridget Palmer, Centre for Language and Communication Studies
15.00 – 15.15 Break
15.15 – 15.45 Finnish Language Courses
Minella Salonen & Jenni Laaksonen, University Teachers, Centre for Language and Communication Studies
15.45 – 16.00 Finnish Language and Culture Minor
Hanna Jokela, University Lecturer, Department of Finnish and Finno-Ugric Languages
16.15 – Picnic with new international degree students & tutors
Note: Picnic dependent on weather. Any changes will be informed via e-mail.
Slight changes and updates to the programme are still possible.
Location: Lecture room Pub3, Publicum building
09:00 – 09:30 Rector's handshake and speech
Marjo Kaartinen
9.30 – 10.00 Finnish language
Hanna Jokela, University Lecturer, Department of Finnish and Finno-Ugric Languages
10.00 – 11.00 Finnish Society and Culture
Ville Soimetsä, University Teacher, Contemporary History
11.00 – 11.15 Final exam
11.15 – 12.00 Lunch
12.00 – 14.00 Welcome Fair
14.15 – 15.30 Turku City Bus Tour
Place of departure: to ba announced
For those who have signed up. (Registration form will be sent later.)
Slight changes and updates to the programme are still possible.
In addition to the general orientation, there will be a so-called "re-orientation" session on the afternoon of Friday 11 September which we hope all new international degree students will also attend. Additional important orientation matters will be discussed during this session.
The idea is to provide a chance to return to orientation matters after settling in and starting your studies, when you have had the chance to calm down after the initial relocation stress. However, the re-orientation does not substitute for attending the actual general orientation, students are encouraged to attend all orientation programme during autumn 2026.
15.15 – 15.35 Exchange studies for international degree students
15.35 – 16.35 UTU Career Services, Career after Studies
16.45 – 17.15 What information channels should you follow?
Valtteri Kiviö, International student coordinator
17.15 – 18.00 Summary of important matters from general orientation
Valtteri Kiviö & Johanna Kärki, Admission Services
Slight changes and updates to the programme are still possible.
Degree Programme-specific Info Sessions, Autumn 2026
This orientation is ment for sudents starting the following programmes:
- MDP in Biomedical Imaging
- MDP in Drug Discovery and Development
- MDP in Human Neuroscience
- MDP in Public Mental Health
Thursday 27th of August
Meet tutors Meet your peer students and tutors in the morning before the Faculty of Medicine orientation starts! Your programme’s student tutors will tell you when and where you will meet.
Teutori library tour
10:00 BIMA and DDD student
10:30 HUNE and PUME students
In Teutori library, specifically for students in programmes at the Faculty of Medicine
Lunch Lunch with tutors in student cafeteria
ORIENTATION SESSION A (all students)
Place: Säätiö-lecture hall MED D1024 (Medisiina D building)
12.00–12.05 Welcome to the University of Turku and Faculty of Medicine!
Vice Dean Sanna Salanterä, Faculty of Medicine
12.05–12.15 Introductions to the international MDP’s at the Faculty of Medicine
12.15–12.30 Alumni talk
Veera Soininen, MDP in Drug Discovery and Development
12.30–12.45 Student Union Presentation, In Vitro Aboensis IVA ry
12.45–14.00 General on studies and study systems at UTU
Education Coordinators Anni Halonen & Jemina Tyrkkö
Coffee break
ORIENTATION SESSION B: Programme-specific information sessions
14.30–16.00 Biomedical Imaging
Place: Dent2 DEN218 (Dentalia building)
14.30 Introduction round
14.45 How to study in BIMA, Kari Vienola
15.30 Student experience in BIMA
15.45 Q&A
14.30–16.00 Drug Discovery and Development
Place: Säätiö-lecture hall (Medisiina D building)
14.30 Introduction round
14.45 How to study in DDD, Ullamari Pesonen and Sanna Soini
15.30 Student experience in DDD
15.45 Q&A
14.30–16.00 Human Neuroscience
Place: Dent3 DEN280 (Dentalia building)
14.30 Introduction round
14.45 How to study in HUNE, Albert Bellmunt Gil
15.30 Student experience in HUNE
15.45 Q&A
14.30–16.00 Public Mental Health
Place: Dent1 DEN216 (Dentalia building)
14.30 Introduction round
14.45 How to study in PUME, Laura Kortesoja
14.30 Student experience in PUME
14.45 Q&A
Friday 28th of August
10.00–12.00 Meet the coordinators – Peppi support pop-up
Place: MED B201 Oppimo B201 (Medisiina C building)
Do you need additional help with Peppi? Come to the Peppi support pop-up in Medisiina C building, room MED B201 Oppimo B201 (second floor).
Stop by and get support from the education coordinators!
This orientation is ment for sudents starting the following programmes:
- BDP in Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship
- MDP in Futures Studies
- MDP in Global Innovation Management
Thursday 27th of August
Location: Turku School of Economics
9:00-9:20 Dean’s welcome
Location: lecture hall Lähitapiola & Zoom
9:20-10:45 TSE practical matters
Location: lecture hall Lähitapiola & Zoom
10:45-11:00 Q&A
Location: lecture hall Lähitapiola & Zoom
Lunch break
12:00 onwards programme-specific sessions:
12:00-14:00 Bachelor's Degree Programme in Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship
Location: lecture room ls10 & Zoom
12:00-15:00 Master's Degree Programme in Futures Studies
Location: lecture room ls07 & Zoom
12:00-15:00 Master's Degree Programme in Global Innovation Management
Location: lecture room ls08 & Zoom
Friday 28th of August
Location: Turku School of Economics
11:00 TSE library tour
Location: Turku School of Economics library
12:00 Lunch with your tutor
13:00 The student association of the business students studying at the Turku School of Economics (TuKY), Parkki
Campus tour with your tutor
The programme will be updated during the summer 2026.
MDP in Information and Communication Technology &
MDP in Health Technology
Thursday 27th of August 2026
12:00-14:00 Orientation
Location: Agora XXII lecture hall
Friday 28th of August 2026
10:00, 10:30 & 11:00 Library tours
Location: Teutori Library
Rest of the programme specific orientation schedules will be updated during the summer 2026.
MDP in Inequalities, Interventions and New Welfare State
Thursday 27th of August 2026
10:00-12:00 Programme-specific orientation session
Location: Publicum, Pub4
13:00-13:30 Library Tour
Location Educarium Library
MDP in East Asian Studies
Thursday 27th of August 2026
13:00-13:30 Library Tour
Location: Educarium Library
Friday 28th of August 2026
10:00-12:00 Programme-specific orientation session
Location: Publicum, Pub5
MDP in Education and Learning
Thursday 27th of August 2026
13:00-13:30 Library Tour
Location: Educarium Library
Friday 28th of August 2026
12:30:00-16:00 Programme-specific orientation session
Location: Educarium, Edu440
Rest of the programme specific orientation schedules will be updated during the summer 2026.
More information
The autumn 2026 DVV pop-in dates are listed at the bottom of this section.
Please do not book an appointment with DVV, but visit them during one of the pop-in dates.
Before visiting:
Please review the instructions on the DVV website carefully.
Fill in the online form
To apply for a Finnish personal identity code and/or a municipality of residence, you must fill in the online form in advance to your visit, but only after you have arrived in Finland.
Bring your valid identification document
A valid passport or an official photo ID card of a citizen from an EU member country, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, or San Marino.
Also bring your residence permit card, or if you are from the EU, a certificate of registration of the right of residence for EU citizens.
Bring a certificate of study
Once your UTU account is active, you can download an official certificate of study from Peppi:
Go to the top menu of the Peppi homepage
Click on the “Certificates” tab and download the document titled “Certificate of studies for all study rights”
If you do not have access to your UTU account by the time of your DVV visit, you can request a certificate by sending an email to disco@utu.fi.
A certificate of admission is not accepted.
Please note that family members cannot be registered at Pop-In events
The DVV does not serve students’ family members during the Pop-In events.
If you arrive in Finland together with your family, please book appointments for both yourself and your family members through the DVV website (preferably two consecutive time slots for larger families).
If you arrive before your family, you can attend a Pop-In event, and your family should book separate appointments after they arrive in Finland.
Autumn 2026 DVV pop-in dates:
You can visit DVV on any of the mentioned dates.
You do not necessarily have to be at the DVV at 9 o'clock sharp in the morning, instead you can visit at any point between the assigned hours during the pop-in dates. The processing takes about 5–10 minutes per student, but you should prepare to queue for a short while.
August:
- Wed 5.8.2026 at 9-15
- Mon 10.8.2026 at 9-15
- Mon 17.8.2026 at 9-15
- Wed 19.8.2026 at 9-15
- Mon 24.8.2026 at 9-15
September:
- Wed 23.9.2026 at 9-15
- Mon 28.9.2026 at 9-15
As 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 senior students who have volunteered to help you get a smooth start in your studies in Finland! Each tutor has about 5-10 students.
Once accepted to the university, you will receive the contact information of your tutor by email during the summer.
Inform your tutor about your arrival day, time and place as soon as possible so that they can make arrangements to meet you upon your arrival.
If you do not need or want a tutor, please inform your faculty as soon as possible.
- Your faculty or programme at UTU, you can find the e-mail address on your admission offer.