Starting your studies at TUT
Congratulations! You have made an excellent choice to study at TUT! Please read the letter of acceptance carefully for instructions on how to enrol as a student.
As soon as you receive the letter of acceptance, you need to start making travel plans and organizing a residence permit to Finland to ensure that you arrive in Tampere in time for the start of the semester.
Other important matters to be observed
Master's degree students
The names of the accepted students will be posted on this website on 30 April 2012, provided that the student has authorized the publication of his/her name. Official letters of acceptance will be posted for all accepted students. They will also be contacted personally by email.
1. Return the following forms, which you will receive enclosed with the acceptance letter, duly filled in to the International Office by mail by 16:15 on 31 July 2012.
- Form for confirming your study place. Students must confirm their place in the degree programme by returning the form by the date mentioned on the letter of acceptance, otherwise they will forfeit their place in the programme.
- Enrolment form. If the student decides to postpone the start of the studies at TUT for one academic year (no more than one year) he/she must immediately notify TUT’s International Office thereof by email. Studies must be started in August in the beginning of the academic year.
- Application form for the TUT student card
Please remember to sign the forms.
2. Pay the Student Union membership fee. The annual Student Union membership fee (EUR 96,60) is compulsory for all students who register as attending. The fee should be paid before enrolment. The enrolment instructions sheet contains the reference number needed for paying the membership fee. You will also need the reference number when registering at TUT.
Membership in the Student Union gives eligibility to many discounts, for example, in public transport and verifies your student status outside the campus.
3. Financial arrangements. There are no tuition fees for higher education in Tampere University of Technology. Therefore Tampere University of Technology cannot offer any financial aid to international students. Please contact the educational authorities in your home country to enquire about the availability of financial aid for studies. Living in Finland is quite expensive, so students need to confirm that they have approx. EUR 6,000/year to cover living expenses. Please remember that you must be able to finance your studies and living expenses by yourself or have a scholarship for this.
Exchange students
The enrolment form and a student card application form will be sent enclosed with the letter of acceptance. Please send both forms duly filled in and enclosed in one envelope by mail to the International Office within the deadline stated in the acceptance letter. Please remember to sign the forms. Please DO NOT send these documents by fax. Failing to return the enrolment form to the International Office before arriving at TUT will delay your registration at TUT.
Mailing address:
Please mail all the required forms to the following address:
| Tampere University of Technology International Office PO Box 553 FI-33101 Tampere, FINLAND |
If you use a courier service, please use the address below:
| Tampere University of Technology International Office Korkeakoulunkatu 1 33720 Tampere, FINLAND |
Reserve accommodation
Students must make their own housing arrangements. Student housing in the Tampere area is administrated by Tampere Student Housing Foundation (TOAS) that maintains and rents out student accommodation. It is highly recommended to start organizing accommodation as soon as you receive the letter of acceptance. Students should be prepared to spend some time at a youth hostel or hotel before getting a flat.
For more information, go to the TOAS website.
There are also other housing possibilities available. Please read more on Housing in Tampere page
Apply for residence permit if necessary
Students from the Nordic and EU/EEA countries
No residence permit is needed to enter Finland. However, we recommend that you take your passport with you, as you may want to visit, for example, Estonia or Russia during your stay in Finland.
Students from non-EU countries
Residence permit is mandatory unless Finland and your country have agreed otherwise. Apply for a residence permit at the nearest Finnish embassy or consulate well in advance before leaving for Finland. The entire residence permit application process may take anything from three weeks to three months and the academic year at TUT begins in late August.
Please note that the reason for entry (studies) must be stated clearly in the residence application form. You need to demonstate that you have about EUR 6,000 for one academic year and an appropriate health insurance policy. Please make sure that your health insurance is valid for the whole duration of your stay.
For more information on residence permits, please visit the Finnish Immigration Service website .
Compulsory health insurance
Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland
Students from EU/EEA countries and the countries mentioned above are entitled to necessary health care from the public systems in any EU/EEA country, if they become ill or injured while temporary staying in such a country. They only need to obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the social security authorities in their home country. Holders of EHIC cards are entitled to the same benefits provided by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.
Citizens from non-EU/EEA countries
Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for obtaining a residence permit for non-EU/EEA citizens for studies lasting more than three months. This means that you must be covered when applying for a residence permit. This requirement applies to both degree students and exchange students. Students from Quebec, Canada, are exempted from the health insurance requirement.
The type of the insurance you need depends on duration of your studies in Finland:
- For studies lasting less than two years (primarily exchange students), you must have private health insurance that covers costs of at least EUR 100,000 for medical treatment.
- If the duration of your studies is two years or more (including master's students), it is sufficient for the insurance to primarily cover the cost of medicines (in practice the cover extends to doctor's fees and costs of treatment and examination), or at least EUR 30,000 (this is because you have the right to a "municipality of residence" in Finland and are therefore entitled to local health care services).
Finland has health care agreements with some countries. Please contact the social insurance authorities in your home country for further information.
Other imporant matters to be observed
Winters can be extremely cold in Finland and temperatures can occasionally drop down to -20 degrees Celsius. Remember to pack some warm clothing, such as coats, hats, sweaters, warm socks, long underwear, etc. You will also need at least one pair of sturdy and warm boots or walking shoes, as well as casual shoes. All the buildings are very well insulated and heated and summers are warm, so you will need some lighter clothes, too.The orientation week will be arranged in August. A detailed programme for the orientation week will be published on this website and emailed to all the accepted students.
Please contact your student tutor as early as possible by email and let him/her know when you will be arriving.