3 STUDYING AT LAUREA

The academic year starts on 23 August 2004 and ends on 27 May 2005. It is divided into four terms, at the end of which there is usually a week of general evaluation, guidance, planning and exams. Students must register themselves as present or absent each academic year, for more detailed information about registration, please see the Student Guide 2004-2005 or www.laurea.fi.

Besides their chosen Degree Programme, Laurea students and exchange students can select studies from any of the Degree Programmes throughout the academic year. Information on available study units / courses is provided six weeks before the following term. Students must also enrol for the study units they wish to study, for more information about the enrolment, please see the Student Guide 2004-2005 or www.laurea.fi.

The following chart will show the scheduled provision of courses and student enrolment dates:

As a Laurea student, you can apply for a Study Pass and complete Degree Programme courses at other polytechnics. Studies at Laurea can also be carried out wholly or partly online. In addition it is possible to apply to take other polytechnics’ online courses included in the Virtual Polytechnic selection. For more information on the Study Pass and online-studies please see the Student Guide 2004-2005 or www.laurea.fi, also www.virtuaaliamk.fi.

The aim of the guidance and tutoring system is to help students develop their powers of self-motivation and their ability to make use of the many possibilities open to them at the Polytechnic. The students must take responsibility for their own work, but they do also get guidance and counselling from their Tutor Lecturers and Tutor Students. For the exchange students and non-Finnish degree students, there are International Coordinators and trained International Tutor Students who are ready to help in questions concerning both academic and social life.

At the beginning of his or her studies each student draws up a personal study plan known as HOPS (= henkilökohtainen oppimissuunnitelma). The Tutor Lecturers will provide academic assistance for this. The Office gives students practical advice and help in sorting out any problems the students may encounter in carrying out their studies.

The unit by which the students' study progress is measured is the study week. This refers to an average input of approximately 40 hours of work by the student. The study week equals 1.5 ECTS credits. One Academic year of full time study is usually worth 40 study weeks or 60 ECTS credits.

Student work input for a credit may include lectures, exercises, practical studies, project work, essay writing, independent study or other assignments.

As pointed out earlier, the polytechnic degree requires usually 140 study weeks or 210 ECTS credits. A standard programme consists of basic studies, compulsory professional studies (incl. practical studies), optional professional studies (incl. practical studies), elective studies and the Bachelor’s thesis.

Courses and examinations are graded on the scale from five to one as follows:

5 = EXCELLENT
4 = VERY GOOD
3 = GOOD
2 = SATISFACTORY
1 = PASS
0 = FAIL
P = PASS (EVALUATED PASS OR FAIL)
Certain study units and examinations are given the grade Pass or Fail.

The grading system at the Laurea Polytechnic is different from the grading system used in ECTS but, as an informal measure, one should think of the polytechnic grade 5 as approximately the ECTS grade A, of 4 as B, 3 as C, 2 as D and 1 as E.
For more information on the examination procedures please see the Student Guide 2004-2005 or www.laurea.fi.

The aim of our Educational Services is to support the integration of Laurea Polytechnic’s three main areas of operation. The integrated services cover the following areas: pedagogy, regional development, research and development, administration, reception, advice, guidance and event management.

Integrated educational services include the financial aid committee, information service, e-services and continuous improvement of the services. Service Manager Teija Laamanen, tel. +358 205 787 532, teija.laamanen@laurea.fi is in charge of the development of educational services.

Each institute has an educational service point that offers its services to students, staff and Laurea’s partners. The Office will provide you with information on application times, result registers, study practices and social issues. Students will find information also at www.laurea.fi and on the Laurea Intranet Forum as well as on the notice boards and info-TV of each institute.

Educational Services at each institute:

Espoo Institute, Otaniemi
Metsänpojankuja 3, 02130 Espoo
t. +358 205 787 500, f. +358 205 787 501
otaniemi.info@laurea.fi

Espoo Institute, Leppävaara
Vanha maantie 9, 02650 Espoo
t. +358 205 787 400, f. +358 205 787 401
leppavaara.info@laurea.fi

Hyvinkää Institute
Uudenmaankatu 22, 05800 Hyvinkää
t. +358 205 787 700, f. +358 205 787 740
hyvinkaa.info@laurea.fi

Kerava Institute
Keskikatu 3 A, 04200 Kerava
t. +358 205 787 754, f. +358 205 787 775
kerava.info@laurea.fi

Lohja Institute
Nummentie 6, 08100 Lohja
t. +358 205 787 800, f. +358 205 787 801
lohja.info@laurea.fi

Porvoo Institute
Mannerheiminkatu 20, 06100 Porvoo
t. +358 205 787 600, f. +358 205 787 601
porvoo.info@laurea.fi

Tuusulanjärvi Institute
Sibeliuksenkatu 55, 04400 Järvenpää
t. +358 205 787 900, f. +358 205 787 901
tuusulanjarvi.info@laurea.fi

Vantaa Institute
Karsikkokuja 15, 01360 Vantaa
t. +358 205 787 302, f. +358 205 787 301
vantaa.info@laurea.fi

Library and Information Services are provided at each of the Polytechnic’s Institutes, for detailed information see the Student Guide 2004-2005 or www.laurea.fi. The numerous public libraries are open mainly Mon-Fri 10-20 and Sat 10-15, providing general literature, newspapers, periodicals, music and the possibility to use the Internet. Most services are free of charge.

Information about social benefits (student financial aid, insurance, meal subsides, health care) in the Student Guide 2004-2005 or www.laurea.fi. All Laurea students are insured under legally required accident insurance from If. The insurance covers accidents that take place in practical studies and unpaid internships/placements carried out in accordance with the curriculum in Finland. The insurance is valid during the activity according to the working plan and related direct traveling. The insurance does not cover sickness or accidents that take place in leisure time, which is why we strongly recommend an additional, optional travel insurance that will cover accidents that take place during leisure time as well as sickness during the stay in Finland. Citizens of the EU and EEA countries are covered by the National Health Insurance Plan administrated by the Social Insurance Institution. Students are advised to bring E128-forms from their home country in order to ensure the additional benefits from National Health Care Services.

Accommodation

Laurea International Coordinators in cooperation with the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region (HOAS) arrange housing for all exchange students and on special arrangement for some foreign degree students. The housing available through the HOAS consists of a single room in a student flat with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Some Institutes have student dormitories of their own.

The student flats are situated all around the metropolitan area. Neither rooms nor flats are normally equipped with kitchenware or linen. The students are requested to bring their own linen (sheets, towels).
The monthly rent for a room in student housing varies between 270 € and 388 € per month.

In Hyvinkää, Järvenpää, Kerava, Lohja and Porvoo student accommodation is offered by different companies or institutions. International Coordinators of Laurea Institutes in cooperation with the companies and institutions arrange housing for all exchange students.

Degree Programmes taught in English are not included in the nation-wide joint application system (yhteishaku). Applications to the next programmes, starting in August 2005, should be directed to the Polytechnic:

APPLICATIONS OFFICE

Laurea Polytechnic Applications Office
Vanha maantie 9 (entrance through door C)
02650 Espoo, Finland
Tel. +358 205 787 490
Fax +358 205 787 495
hakutoimisto@laurea.fi
www.laurea.fi

Please contact the Office on anything related to your application.

Admission Requirements for Full Degree Programmes
People who have the following qualifications are eligible for admission to the polytechnics in Finland:

1. The upper secondary school syllabus or a matriculation examination;
2. An International Baccalaureate Degree or a Reifeprufung Degree or a European
Baccalaureate Degree;
3. A vocational qualification or equivalent;
4. A post-secondary or higher vocational diploma;
5. A vocational qualification, a further vocational qualification or equivalent.
6. A basic diploma from a 3-year vocational training;
7. Equivalent foreign qualifications.

Anyone intending to work in Healthcare or Social Services must be passed as medically fit before they can be employed.

Selection criteria are set out in “Hakijan opas 2005” (Laurea Polytechnic Application Guide) that can be ordered at Applications Office or in “Ammattikorkeakoulujen valintaopas” (Polytechnics Application Guide) that will be published in January 2005.

There will be a separate intake period for Laurea’s English language Degree Programmes in Business Management in the beginning of 2005 (see www.laurea.fi for up-to-date information). Applications are invited directly to the Applications Office. Entrance test and English language test (one day) will be in May 2005. More information: leppavaara.info@laurea.fi or hyvinkaa.info@laurea.fi

There will be a separate intake period for Laurea’s English language Degree Programmes in Nursing, in Physiotherapy and in Social Services in the beginning of 2005 (see www.laurea.fi for up-to-date information). Applications are invited directly to the Applications Office. Entrance test and English language test will be in June 2005. More information: otaniemi.info@laurea.fi

Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection process by mid July 2005. Students must let the Institute know whether they accept or not their places by a certain date. According to the provision, a student may accept only one study place in a Degree Programme leading to a higher education degree during one academic year. The purpose is to ensure admission to higher education institutions for as many students as possible (www.oph.fi One-place-per-student provision).

Students who wish to study at Laurea Polytechnic on exchange programmes - such as Erasmus or Nordplus or Bilateral Agreement - should turn to the international office at their home institution in order to be selected into a programme. They will then receive an application form and a learning agreement form to fill in and to return prior to their exchange period. The form should be returned to the International coordinator of the institute in question (see also www.laurea.fi). Students selected to participate in exchange programmes at Laurea should have a good command of English.
Application deadlines yearly are:
May 15 for terms 1 and 2
October 30 for terms 3 and 4.

Tuition is provided free of charge for students on exchange programmes. The students may, however, have to buy books and other educational material themselves.
The Laurea International Coordinators, faculty and International Tutor Students will assist the students in academic questions. Orientation for the international students is arranged usually during the first week after their arrival. The exchange students will have International Tutor Students to give assistance with practical arrangements. Social activities are arranged by the Student Union and the International Tutor Students.
Early notification of arrival and travel arrangements is advisable. The exchange students will be met on arrival by a Laurea representative. We recommend arriving the previous week prior to the commencement of studies in order to settle in and to register.