APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS
What is it like to study in Helsinki?
Types of instruction and examinations
What is it like to study in Helsinki?
The University of Helsinki, the oldest and largest university in Finland, provides teaching in all main fields of science and humanities. Teaching is based on research, both of which are of the highest standard. The academic freedom in its traditional sense is still highly valued and studying is not school-like in the University of Helsinki. An outstanding feature of studies at the University of Helsinki is the emphasis on the student’s own initiative and individual work. However, this emphasis does not mean that students are to struggle with their studies on their own. Rather it means that students have a say in how to organize their studies and that the relationship between students and instructors is friendly and informal in the Department of Social and Moral philosophy.
In general, the study system in the university of Helsinki is flexible, and for exchange students in particular. Exchange students can have pretty much tailor made study packages designed together with their supervisors and professors of the department in Helsinki, and their supervisors in their home university. The study system leaves a significant amount of elbow room for students to plan their studies in accordance with their preferences. Students can choose to work harder on the courses of their primary interest and consequently gain more ECTS.
For more information about studies in Helsinki see:www.helsinki.fi/admissions/materials/International_Applicant's_Guide_2007.pdf
Types of instruction and examinations
There are two basic kinds of courses at the University of Helsinki: lecture courses and reading courses. Students taking a lecture course must pass a final examination at any one of the scheduled examination dates after attending the course. Students can also pass a course by way of writing a research paper or an essay on the topic of the course. The relation between the length of an essay and credits gained in roughly the following:
1500 words = 1 ECTS, 2500 words = 2 ECTS, 3500 words = 3 ECTS, 4500 words = 4 ECTS, 5500 words = 5 ECTS, 6500 words or more = 6 ECTS
A distinctive feature of the studies in the University of Helsinki is that students have the opportunity to take reading courses. Students taking a reading course:
1) meet with the supervisor of the reading course and select the books to be read out of the course reading menu together with the supervisor (see reading courses below)
2) read the selected readings and meet the supervisor once a week during the reading period
3) must pass a faculty examination at any one of scheduled dates during the academic year. In a faculty examination students write 400-600 words essays as answers to questions set by the examiner. The faculty examination dates for (European) Spring term 2008 are: 2.2., 1.3., 5.4., and 3.5.
4) after taking the faculty examination students meet the supervisor again and get feedback on their essays.
Students can also pass reading courses by way of writing a research paper on the topic of the course on the basis of the literature selected together with the supervisor. An average student takes three reading courses (á 6 ECTS) per term on top of lecture courses.
More information on faculty exams is available on the website:www.helsinki.fi/admissions/materials/International_Applicant's_Guide_2007.pdf
Academic Year
The academic year at the University of Helsinki runs from August 1 until July 1, the autumn term lasting from August 1 till the end of December and Spring term from January 1 till the end of July. The office hours of the teachers and professors run from January 10 until May 31.
Teaching periods
The academic year is divided into four seven-week teaching periods, each beginning and ending at the same time throughout the University.
There is a week’s break between each of the periods. Examinations and special courses may, however, be arranged outside the teaching periods.
Teaching periods of the University of Helsinki during the academic year 2008-2009 are the following:Autumn term
Period I: September 1 - October 19
One-week interval: October 20 - 26
Period II: October 27 - December 14
Christmas breakSpring term
Period III: January 12 – Feb 28
One week interval: March 1-7
Period IV: March 8 – May 2
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