The Pre-arrival Webinar will be held at 14-16 (Finnish time) on 11 June for all the international students (degree seeking students in Bachelor’s and Master’s programme and exchange students) who will be starting their studies with us next September.
The link to the webinar will be available here later.
Programme on 11 June
14.00-14.15 Arriving in Finland and at UEF
14.15-14.45 Accommodation in Joensuu and Kuopio (in two meetings)
14.45-15.00 Break
15.00-15.30 Registration as a Student and UEF Username
15.30-16.00 Services of the Student Union
The orientation programme for the new students starting their studies with us in Autumn Semester 2025 will be organized at 12-17 (Finnish time) on 1-3 September, 2025. In addition to these general orientation session each programme/study field will offer their own orientation sessios.
We wish you warmly welcome to join our orientation programme!
The orientation offers you
- essential information on studying and university life at UEF
- tips on different practical matters
- information on Finland and on the Finnish culture
- a possibility to meet other students and UEF staff
The first two days of the orientation (1-2 Sept) will be online webinars and the 3 Sept will be face-to-face on campus. The orientation programme and the links to the webinars will be available here later.
Tentative Orientation Programme, September 2025
In addition to these general webinars each programme offers their own introductory session for the students in that study field. They will inform their own students about it.
General Webinars
Mon 1 Sept
Online webinars
12.00-12.15 Welcome to UEF, Riikka Pellinen
12.15-13.30 Orientation Info and Introduction to Studying at UEF,
Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen
13.30-13.45 Break
13.45-14.30 UEF Usernames and Digital Services, Kaisa Soininen and Tommi Eskelinen
14.30-14.45 Services of Oppari, Harri Kurki and Johanna Huttunen
14.45-15.00 Break
15.00-15.45 How to Use Peppi and Tuudo? Kaisu Kärkkäinen and Tellervo Hirvonen
15.45-16.30 The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland,
Joona Rantala and Elina Pitkänen
16.30-17.00 Finnish Student Health Service, FSHS (YTHS), for degree seeking students in the Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes, Susan Väisänen
Tue 2 Sept
Online webinars
12.00-12.30 Welcome to UEF Library, Riitta Holopainen
12.30-13.15 Security and Safety, Juha Pulkkinen
13.15-13.30 Break
13.30-14.15 Official Matters, Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen
14.15-15.00 Cultural Adaptation, to be confirmed
15.00-15.15 Break
Two different sessions: one for the exchange students and the other for the degree seeking students.
Degree seeking students in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes
15.15-16.00 Talent Hub Eastern Finland, Hanna Reinikainen and Marko Pietilä
16.00-16.10 YUFE Opportunities for Degree Seeking Students, Gizem Yozgyur
In a separate meeting
Exchange students only
15.15-15.45 Requirements and Paperwork for Exchange, Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen
Wed 3 Sept
Separate programme on campuses
In Joensuu (room AU100)
In Joensuu (room AU100)
12.00-13.00 Lecture by Paul Fryer: Introduction to Finnish Society & Culture: an outsider’s view
13.00-13.30 JEIS, Joensuu Exchange Students and International Students
13.30-14.30 EXCHANGE STUDENTS only: Signing the exchange documents, Päivi Haltilahti
-15.00 Information Market for the new students (Carelia Building)
In Kuopio (room SN201, 2nd floor, Snellmania Building)
12.00-12.45 Getting to Know Each Other, Kirsi Konttinen
12.45-13.00 Tips from a Second-Year Student
13.00-13.30 Tips from the City of Kuopio
13.30-13.45 Break
13.45-14.15 ESN Kuopio and the Activities for Students, ESN Kuopio
14.15-14.45 EXCHANGE STUDENTS only: Signing the Exchange Documents, Kirsi Konttinen
14.15-15.00 Information Market for the New Students (Snellmania Main Entrance Hall, 1st floor)
Thu 4 Sept
Separate programme on campuses by the Student Union
City Orienteering in Joensuu and in Kuopio
Student Blast in Joensuu
Love Zone in Kuopio
More information:
ISYY website (opens in a new tab)
How to start your studies?
- Make sure you keep in touch with your programme/academic coordinator and with your student tutor.
- Study the orientation material in our student website Kamu (opens in a new tab) .
- Complete the UEF Digistartti.
- Join the general orientation webinars.
- Join the orientation session of your own programme if offered.
- After registering as a student at UEF and activating your username, start signing up for courses and feel free to contact UEF staff members if you have any questions or concerns.
How to Complete the Credit for the Orientation?
In order to complete the credit (1 ECTS) for the course Orientation for the New International Students, you should
Join the orientation sessions (both the general ones and the field-specific ones).
- Study the orientation material through the links on this website and in Kamu (opens in an new tab)
- Complete all the assignments in the Digistartti (opens in a new tab).
- Register for the course Orientation for International Students in Peppi 1 – 30 Sept, 2025 . The course code is 1131003-3010.
Please make sure to complete all of these in case you wish to earn the credit.
The deadline for completing the course requirements is 30 September, 2025.
The credits will be marked within 3 weeks from the deadline.
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The Semester starts with the Orientation Programme
The orientation for the Autumn Semester starts at the beginning of September and the orientation for the Spring Semester starts usually on the first working day right after 6 January . The programmes will be published here about a month before the start of the orientation.
Other introductory courses
Other introductory courses (opens in a new tab) to studying at UEF:
University Study Skills (only for the degree seeking students), University Computing Skills, and Information Skills and Sources.
Language courses are offered by the Language Centre (opens in a new tab).
For the Master’s Degree Students at UEF
If you are studying for a Master’s Degree at UEF, your studies will start with the Orientation Programme at the beginning of September. However, the Master’s programmes of European Forestry, Forestry CBU and Transfor-M will start already earlier in August.
For the incoming Exchange Students at UEF
The Autumn Semester starts at the beginning of September and the Spring Semester on the first working day after Epiphany 6 Jan. The semesters start with the Orientation Programme. Usually the exchange students start their exchange period at UEF at the beginning of the semester but it is possible to start the exchange studies at another time, too, if the suitable courses are available. The students coming for a research project or for a practical training can negotiate their schedule with their supervisor at UEF and with their home university.
For information on the Academic Calendar at UEF.
Welcoming Words from Our Rector
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