The Åbo/Turku Consortium
The Åbo/Turku Consortium consists of Åbo Akademi Universityand the University of Turku. Turku/Åbo, the oldest city in Finland, is located on the southwest coast of Finland next to the stunningly beautiful archipelago. Originally a market town, it was the capital of Finland until the early 19th century. The country’s first university was founded in Turku in 1640. The city is located 160 kilometers west of Helsinki, the capital.
Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku are partners in the Åbo/Turku consortium. The universities are located on adjacent campuses in the in the heart of the city, making it very easy for an ISEP student to take courses at both institutions. The universities have several forms of cooperation within teaching and research e.g. the Turku Center for Computer Science and the Turku Law School.
The international offices at both universities offer services to incoming exchange students. An orientation program, excursions, student tutors, and advisory services all form part of the warm welcome that students receive.
Åbo Akademi University is characterised by its small size, good student-teacher relations, rich traditions and highly flexible study programmes. Åbo Akademi University is committed to research and research-based education of the highest quality. The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Åbo Akademi University has an acknowledged position at the forefront of research in such areas as biosciences, computer science, human rights, material sciences and process chemistry.
Recommended fields of study, which offer at least 30 ECTS (a full course load for one semester):
Business Studies/Economic Sciences
Biosciences
Chemical Engineering/Chemistry
English language and literature
Humanities/Arts
IT: Computer science/Computer engineering, Information systems
Law and Human Rights
Political Science
Psychology
Social Sciences
More information about the specific courses can be found in the catalogue Study in English which is updated every year. Please see www.abo.fi/exchange for more information. Language courses in Swedish and Finnish for exchange students are offered.
Student enrollment: 7,000
International students: 700
Languages of instruction: Swedish, English
www.abo.fi/exchange
The University of Turku is an ambitious, research-led university with seven faculties and internationally acknowledged expertise from humanities to medicine and natural sciences. The aim and ambition of the University of Turku is to provide students with a high-standard, multidisciplinary education which enables them to creative problem-solving and thinking out-of-the-box. Students are able to tailor their personal study plans according to their future ambitions - whether they are in business or in research. Thanks to the friendly atmosphere, outstanding student services and an active student union, students feel at home from the very beginning of their stay.
Recommended fields of study, which offer at least 30 ECTS (a full course load for one semester):
Asian Studies (Master’s program)
Baltic Sea Region Studies
Business Studies
Development Studies
Environmental Sciences (Master’s program)
European Studies
Finnish-Nordic Society and Culture (interdisciplinary)
Information Technology (Master’s program)
Learning, Learning Environments and Educational Systems (Master’s program)
Psychology
Turku Law School
Courses are also taught in English in the fields of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, e.g. in Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, Earth Sciences, as well as in Biotechnology. ISEP students may also select courses offered by the Master’s programs taught in English.
The university offers beginner level and more advanced level courses in Finnish. In addition, international students can meet Finnish students at language meetings organised by the Language Centre of the university.
The Finnish Language and Culture program has been developed for international students who wish to deepen their previous knowledge of Finnish. In addition to language studies, courses are also offered on Finnish Literature, History, Culture, and Life in the Finnish Society. The language of instruction is Finnish.
For additional information and course descriptions, please see:
www.utu.fi/en
Student enrollment: 21,000
International students: 1,300
Languages of instruction: Finnish, English
www.utu.fi/en
Special services:
Students are met upon arrival by specially trained student tutors and they will all be assigned their own tutor and tutor group. The Student Union and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) arrange a wide variety of different activities for international students and domestic students as well. Excursions in the Åbo/Turku area as well as to St. Petersburg, Lapland or Stockholm, theme parties and cultural events, and sports events such as ice-skating and skiing are arranged during the year. The student societies at different departments, student bands and the student, the rowing team or other sports teams also welcome international students. Getting involved in a student society is an excellent way to meet domestic students
The universities in the Turku/Åbo region have a joint buddy project: the Friendship family programme which matches Finnish families and individuals with international students.
Housing:
Housing is guaranteed for all exchange students. The Turku Student Village Foundation offers several different alternatives including studio-type flats with their own bathroom and shared kitchens, or shared apartments (for 2-3 students) with single rooms and a shared kitchen and bathroom. All rooms have basic furniture; all of them have Internet connection. Most housing areas are located next to or in close proximity to the campus. From all housing areas there are excellent public transport connections to the campus.
Exchange dates:
Fall semester: August/early September to late December.
Spring semester: early January to late May.
Location: Turku/Åbo (population 175,000)
