OpenYUFE
OpenYUFE is a programme that allows the degree students at the University of Eastern Finland to study at u YUFE Alliance partner universities free of charge for a maximum of four semesters or until the completion of their degree in the partner university.
As an OpenYUFE student, you can complete credit-based language courses and academic studies, go on exchange at a YUFE Alliance partner university of your choice. You can also take part in YUFETHON challenges, where the winning team will spend a week in Madrid strengthening their entrepreneurial skills. You can study at several universities at the same time.
After completing your OpenYUFE, you will receive a certificate showing all your studies and other activities in the alliance. The credits gained in YUFE can be included to your UEF degree.
Eligibility to apply
Participation in the OpenYUFE programme is possible at all degree levels and you can apply anytime during your studies.
The OpenYUFE programme lasts a maximum of 4 semesters. It usually ends when the student completes the degree. However, if the student continues their studies at the same partner university, the student may stay in the OpenYUFE programme until all the 4 semesters are finished. Studying in the OpenYUFE programme is allowed once per student period per student, so it is worth considering, at what point would this opportunity be most beneficial to your studies.
The requirement is at least B2-level English. The OpenYUFE applications are open all year round, so you can apply when it is most convenient for you.
How to apply?
Students of UEF can apply for the OpenYUFE programme on YUFE’s Virtual Campus.
- Create your profile ("Create account") as a student, with your UEF email.
- Fill in the application form in YUFE's Virtual Campus (-> Student -> OpenYUFE -> Apply for this programme). The required attachments:
- transcript of records from Peppi
- language skills: English (B2)
- Is not required from students of the international study programmes in which the language of instruction is English
- Any completed B2-level course of English language in UEF (e.g. the obligatory academic English courses included in the study programme). Attach a transcript of records where the completed course is visible.
- A prior result of an English proficiency test.
- Matriculation examination certificate, when English has been one of the tests completed.
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- If you cannot prove your English proficiency with a test result, degree certificate, official document or other proof accepted by your own university, you can do a self-assessment through the app-based Core Skills Test by EnglishScore.
For more information about the opportunities offered by the OpenYUFE programme, it is recommended to participate in YUFE's Open Day Live Sessions. They are organized several times during the academic year. At these sessions, you can also directly approach the representatives of the YUFE University you are interested in to request further information. These events are organised in English. The next YUFE Open Day Live Session:
You can also contact [email protected] for more information.
Student exchange
As an OpenYUFE student, you can apply for an on-site exchange during UEF’s annual application rounds. Student exchange to member universities of the alliance is financed with the Erasmus+mobility grant. You may apply to YUFE exchange if you fulfill one of the criteria below:
- You have an OpenYUFE status
- You are going to complete a YUFE Minor during your exchange
A separate call for YUFE exchange applications will be published in the Calls for applications for student exchange page when the call is open. (look for YUFE Alliance exchanges).
YUFE Minors & student exchange
A UEF degree student can complete a YUFE Minor (30 ECTS). YUFE Minor is a module of courses focused on a certain theme, consisting of both online and on-site courses, including electives. Student exchance is required to complete a YUFE Minor. OpenYUFE status is not required for YUFE Minor exchange.
There are currently several different Minors to choose from. Some of them start in spring, some in autumn and others are available in both semesters. New YUFE Minors are currently being constructed. The call for applications for YUFE Minors for autumn semester is in February-May, for the spring semester you can apply in May and in September.
If your curriculum allows, a YUFE Minor is fully accepted as part of your degree. It is recommended to discuss your YUFE Minor plans in your own programme to confirm this.
Students are asked to contact [email protected] to express their interest towards specific YUFE Minors for more information. Online applications are sent via SoleMOVE during the application periods.
For more information on YUFE Minors, please contact UEF's YUFE Team ([email protected]), check YUFE's virtual Campus, or ask International Affairs Specialist Outi Väyrynen.
The YUFE Minors available for Autumn 2025 semester
The YUFE Minors available for Spring 2026 semester
- Minor: Cities and Urbanisation: Interdisciplinary perspectives
Host: University of Antwerp, Belgium
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665490652
- Minor: Cities of Dreams and Nightmares
Host: University of Essex, United Kingdom
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665478126
- Minor: Heritage in the Community
Host: University of Rijeka, Croatia
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665623198
- Minor: Heritage and Perspectives on Design
Host: University of Antwerp, Belgium
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665477975
- Minor: Public Policy Analysis
Host: University of Rijeka, Croatia
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665623403
- Minor: Natural Sciences for Sustainability
Host: University of Bremen
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665619487
- Minor: Sustainable Forestry
Host: University of Eastern Finland (Joensuu)
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665708176
- Minor: Sustainable Tourism
Host: Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665478255
- Minor: Transformations in Politics, Policy, and Society
Host: University of Rijeka, Croatia
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665657509
- Minor: Urban Degrowth
Host: Maastricht University
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665645327
- Minor: Urban Ecology: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Climate Changes
Host: University of Rijeka, Croatia
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665623006
- Minor: Work and Wellbeing
Host: University of Rijeka, Croatia
More information: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/programme/76561193665657397
Read a student’s story: https://www.uef.fi/en/article/yufe-student-journey-studies-offer-unique-degree-and-international-experience
Read more
A list current YUFE Minors.
For further information, email [email protected].
Students of the YUFE Alliance Partner Universities can study languages online for free. The offer applies to English and other national languages of YUFE, namely Finnish, German, Polish, Croatian, Greek, Spanish, French and Dutch. In addition, some other languages such as Chinese and Russian, have been available.
Currently the YUFE Language Courses are only available for OpenYUFE students, so remember to apply for the OpenYUFE programme first.
There are courses for basic and independent user levels, and the courses vary from 2 to 5 ECTS in scale. It is also possible to gain a YUFE Language Star reward by adding using the languages learned e.g. in the Online Language Cafés or during exchange studies.
The Online Language Cafés maintain and improve especially spoken language skills. They are open to all UEF degree students. The Language Cafés will meet for 90 minutes at a time for 8 weeks, facilitated by native or nearly native tutors.
You can apply to become a tutor of an Online Language Café without the OpenYUFE status. Being a tutor contributes to a YUFE Civic Star.
You can check the currently available options by visiting YUFE's Virtual Campus .
YUFE Academy is a series of free, open for all lectures, workshops, and events offered by the ten YUFE partner universities. Anyone can take part even from the comfort of your own home or during your daily commute.
YUFE Academy is a chance to learn in different languages and formats. Relying in the current scientific knowledge, especially in the 4 YUFE focus areas:
- European identity and responsibilities in a global world,
- Citizens’ well-being,
- Digital societies
- Sustainability.
Individual YUFE Academy activities can take place at any time during the academic year. However, two main editions are organised around international events that align with the YUFE mission, one in the fall term and one in the spring term:
- European Researchers’ Night (-> YUFE Academy Autumn edition in October)
- Europe Day (-> YUFE Academy Spring edition in May-June)
For further information, please visit the YUFE Academy website.
In Finland and elsewhere in Europe, the “third sector work” carried out by non-profit organisations is rapidly becoming more professional and provides duties that require special expertise to an increasing number of higher education graduates. In voluntary activities, you accumulate your skills, acquire useful working life skills, network – and get to bring your expertise to the service of others. You can participate in the activities of various organisations either directly or through the YUFE Volunteering programme.
The YUFE Volunteering programme offers participation opportunities both in your home campus city and during student exchange at YUFE partner universities. At many YUFE universities, it is also possible to volunteer remotely.
At UEF, YUFE Volunteering opportunities are offered by certain NGOs in Joensuu and Kuopio. In addition you can make your expertise available to the community through Help Desk services that answer questions on various topics. Help Desk services are provided face-to-face, online or via a hybrid model in Finnish, English or some other language.
Over 50 hours of YUFE Volunteering activities will be awarded with a YUFE Civic Star. It can be used to demonstrate competence and activity to, e.g., an employer.
Depending on your major subject, you may also receive credits (2 ECTS) for the activities. Please discuss beforehand in your programme, if your planned volunteering could fit your other studies, a possible internship, or a course where service learning is one form of study.
Read more about the opportunities on the YUFE virtual campus . If you find a suitable task, register as a user of the virtual campus (Create account) and register for the task, AND for the joint CEA Intro Training Session (duration 1.5 h), which is aimed at everyone participating in the YUFE Volunteering programme in various countries.
Induction trainings are organised around the year roughly once in every 2 months. If the next induction training is organised after your duties begin, you can start volunteering before induction. However, to be awarded a Civic Star, induction is required and should be completed as soon as possible.
If you cannot find a task that suits you, please contact [email protected] and let's talk more!
If you are interested in solving a real problem and belonging to a dynamic, multidisciplinary and multicultural team, then YUFE Challenge Teams or YUFETHON could be exactly what you are looking for.
The YUFE Challenge Teams aim to develop creative thinking and other demanding professional competencies through collaborative and multidisciplinary work. The challenges will be carried out online in English. The expected workload is 60 hours within three months to complete the challenge. However, there can be some challenge-specific time variations.
Challenges are carried out by combined teams of students, faculty and research staff from the Alliance’s universities, and relevant representatives of the general public, local governments or the business sector. The teams must find new and innovative social, scientific, or technological solutions to real life challenges proposed by citizens or organizations. Any UEF student can become a member of a YUFE Challenge Team.
At the end of the challenge the teams present their results, get an evaluation, and a YUFE Professional Star is awarded for their efforts. You can also apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) from your own study programme for 2ECTs.
YUFETHON is a two-day (20h) online event where participants come together to intensively solve a problem together.
- YUFETHON participants must be OpenYUFE students and the teams will work in English. The main prize is free access to the YUFE Ideas Lab and a trip for the whole team to Madrid.
UEF students have formed a part of the winning teams in 2023 and 2024. You can read more in this article!
The calls for new teams are published on YUFE webpages, UEF and YUFE social media channels and here in Kamu.
Read more about the YUFE Entrepreneurship and Innovation opportunities or send a message to [email protected].
The YUFE Ideas Lab is a programme designed to develop early-stage business ideas from rough concepts into viable projects. The programme is held once a year and it includes one online session per month from January to May, each focusing on a different aspect of maturing a business idea.
Themes of the online sessions:
- January: Creativity – Design Thinking
- February: Business Model Definition
- March: Pitch
- April: Prototype MVP
- May: Financials
The programme culminates in a five-day in-person training held at the campus of a YUFE university. In the years 2024 and 2025, the training took place in Madrid.
Students or researchers who join the programme may apply for a short-term Erasmus grant to cover some of the travel expenses. Depending on the year, the grant is approximately €550 per person for degree students and €1,200 per person for researchers. Participants will also receive three (3) ECTS credits for completing the programme.
Each year, the programme admits approximately two doctoral researchers and five degree students (Bachelor’s or Master’s level). The programme is conducted in English. The application deadline is typically about one month before the first online session.
Questions? Contact:
tomi.tuovinen(at)uef.fi
In addition to studies, volunteering and other activities, you can become involved in YUFE’s activities as a student representative. Some even find internships or jobs in YUFE.
The YUFE Student Forum ensures that the students’ voices are heard in all development and decision-making at YUFE. Each member university, including UEF, has its own Bachelor’s, Master’s and postgraduate level representative in the YUFE Student Forum. UEF student Sanni Vesala is the current president of the YUFE Student Forum.
New student representatives are usually searched for the YUFE Student Forum in the spring, but posts may open up at any time of the year following the graduation of a current representative. Right now we are looking for a bachelor's degree student and a PhD researcher for this role. Link to further information on the ISYY website.
If you want to get firsthand information about the role of the Student Forum Representatives, you can consult our current representatives directly by sending a message to [email protected] email.
Two of the three UEF student seats will become available in September 2025. If you are a Bachelor's student or PhD researcher, you can already consider whether you could be the next UEF student representative in the YUFE Student Forum!
You can inquire about YUFE related international internship opportunities at [email protected].
You can follow YUFE’s own as well as partner universities’ vacancies in YUFE's Career Opportunities page.
