UEF organizes an orientation programme for all new international students, including degree-seeking Bachelor’s and Master’s students and incoming exchange students. The orientation supports your transition to studying at UEF and living in Finland. The semester always begins with the orientation programme.
Webinars before arrival for the degree seeking students
Webinar for UEF Offer Holders 24 March and 16 April
All the students who have received a study offer in the English Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes at UEF to start their studies in the Autumn Semester 2026 will receive and invitation to this webinar. The content of these two webinars is the same. The Power Points of the webinar on 24 March.
Living in Finland – What to Expect? Meet and greet our Student Ambassadors on 28 April. The link will be sent to the participants.
Webinar for Kuopio students with families on 16 June. The link will be sent to the participants.
Webinar for Joensuu students with families on 17 June. The link will be sent to the participants.
Orientation for Autumn Semester 2026
These sessions are aimed for all the new international students (degree seeking students in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and exchange students) who have been admitted at UEF for the Autumn Semester 2026.
Pre-arrival webinar at 14-16 (Finnish time) on 10 June
Orientation webinars at 12-17 (Finnish time) on 24 August and 25 August
Orientation programme on campus in afternoon on 2 September
Orientation programme on 1 October as a part of the wellbeing week
Changes are possible.
How to Start Your Studies?
- Complete the UEF Digistart.
- Make sure you keep in touch with your programme/academic coordinator and with your student tutor.
- Participate the general orientation webinars. See the programme below.
- Join the orientation session of your own programme if offered.
- Study the orientation material in our student website Kamu (opens in a new tab) .
- After registering as a student (opens in a new tab) and activating your username (opens in a new tab), start signing up for courses in Peppi and feel free to contact UEF staff members if you have any questions or concerns.
How to Complete the Credit for the Orientation?
International students can complete 1 ECTS by taking the course Orientation for the New International Students. To receive the credit, you must
- participate in 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 the Digistartti (opens in a new tab) assignment
- register for the course Orientation for International Students in Peppi 1 Aug – 30 Sept 2026 . The course code is 1131003-3014.
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 2026.
The credits will be marked within 3 weeks from the deadline.
Orientation programme in January 2027
General webinars for all the new international students in spring semester 2027 will be held online 7-8 January 2027 and face-to-face programme on campuses 11 January 2027. The programme and the links will be available here later.
Orientation Programme 7-9 January 2026
In addition to the general webinars listed here each department/school will organize their own field specific sessions. They will send the information on these sessions directly to the students. The Master’s programmes will have their own sessions, too.
Wed, 7 Jan 2026
Online webinars
12.00-12.10 Welcoming Words, Riikka Pellinen, Director of International Affairs
12.10-12.55 Digital Services, Usernames and Access Rights, Kaisa Hämäläinen, Leevi Mustonen, and Tuomas Sällinen, Power Points (opens in a new tab)
12.55-13.45 Orientation Info and General Info about Studying, Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen, Power Points (opens in a new tab)
13.45-14.00 Break
14.00-15.00 How to Use Peppi and Tuudo? Kaisu Kärkkäinen and Tellervo Hirvonen, Recording (opens in a new tab) 55 min.
Thu 8 Jan 2026
Online webinars
12.00-13.00 Official Matters, Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen, Power Points (opens in a new tab), DVV Instructions (opens in a new tab)
13.00-13.30 Welcome to the UEF Library! Riitta Holopainen, Canva presentation (opens in a new tab)
13.30-13.45 Services of Oppari, Johanna Huttunen and Harri Kurki, Power Points (opens in a new tab)
13.45-14.00 Break
14.00-14.45 Services of the Student Union (ISYY), Elina Pitkänen and Joona Rantala, Power Points (opens in a new tab)
14.45-15.15 For Exchange Students ONLY: Requirements and Paperwork for Exchange, Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen, Power Points (opens in new tab)
Fri 9 Jan 2026
Separate programmes in lecture rooms on campuses
Joensuu Campus, Lecture Room AU100, Aurora Building
12.00-12.30 Tips and Q&A by Päivi Haltilahti
12.30-13.30 Lecture by Paul Fryer: Introduction to Finnish Society & Culture: an outsider’s view
13.35-14.05 JEIS, Joensuu Exchange Students and International Students, Power Points (opens in a new tab)
14.05-15.00 EXCHANGE STUDENTS: Signing the exchange documents
Kuopio Campus, room CA102, Canthia Building
12.00-13.00 Getting to Know Each Other, Kirsi Konttinen
13.00-14.00 How to Make the Most of Your Stay? Kirsi Konttinen
14.00-14.30 Activities for Students by ESN SAVO, ESN representatives
14.30-15.00 Signatures and Stamps for the Exchange Documents, Kirsi Konttinen
Pre-arrival webinar 24 Nov 2025
Programme
13.30-13.45 Arriving in Finland and at UEF, Power Points (open in a new tab)
13.45-14.15 Accommodation in Joensuu, Power Points (open in a new tab) and in Kuopio, Power Points (open in a new tab)
14.15-14.30 Break
14.30-15.00 Services of the Student Union ISYY, Power Points (open in a new tab)
15.00-15.30 Registration and UEF username, Power Points (open in a new tab)
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 information on the Academic Calendar at UEF.
Welcoming Words from Our Rector
Choose English subtitles from the settings.