Registration instructions for exchange students

These registration instructions are for exchange students starting their studies at UEF. If you are a new bachelor’s or master’s degree student, here you can find the registration instructions for new bachelor’s and master’s degree students.

The academic year at the University of Eastern Finland officially begins on 1 August and ends on 31 July. The autumn semester courses will begin from 2 September 2024 and the spring semester courses from 7 January 2025.

New exchange students must register as being present before they can start their studies. You can register either online or in person at the Student and Learning Services after arriving on campus.

On this page you can find information on the following subjects:

• How to register online OR How to register in person
• Student Union membership
• Activating your UEF user account for the university’s information systems
• Finnish personal identity code
• How to get a student card
• Student and Learning Services’ customer service contact information

How to register online

To register online, fill out and submit the online registration form (opens in a new tab). To join the Student Union, attach the receipt for the Student Union membership fee to the form. You can find the payment instructions below.

OR

How to register in person

If you do not register online, you must register in person at the Student and Learning Services’ offices once you are in Finland.

Present the following documents when you register:

1. your registration form (docx) filled out and signed
2. your ID (passport, for example)
3. your receipt for the payment of the Student Union membership fee (a receipt issued by your bank, an ATM receipt or a print-out from your online bank), if you choose to join the Student Union. See the next chapter on Student Union membership.

Student Union membership

Student Union (ISYY) membership is voluntary for international exchange students. You can find information on the membership benefits for exchange students on the ISYY website (opens in a new tab).

If you want to join ISYY, you can pay the membership fee either

• at the Student Union offices (opens in a new tab) after arriving on campus or
• as a bank transfer to the Student Union bank account following the instructions below.

The Student Union membership fee is 73 € for the full academic year / 38 € for the autumn semester / 39 € for the spring semester.

• You can pay the fee with cash or card at the Student Union offices. Note that the 50 € banknote is the largest banknote they accept.
• Remember to present the payment receipt when you are registering.
• Note that you are responsible for any transfer fees or service fees that your bank may charge!

Payment details:

Recipient: Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
Recipient’s address: Yliopistonranta 3, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
Bank name: Osuuspankki/OP Bank/Pohjola Bank Pl
Bank address: Koskikatu 9, FI-80100 Joensuu, Finland
IBAN: FI37 5770 0520 2461 63
BIC/SWIFT: OKOYFIHH
Message: Student’s name and date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
Fee: 73 € (full academic year) / 38 € (autumn semester only) / 39 € (spring semester only)

Activating your UEF user account for the university’s information systems

All UEF students must have a UEF user account. The user account is needed to log in to the university’s electronic information systems, to use your UEF email account and to sign up for courses and exams electronically.

Here you can find the instructions for receiving a UEF username.

Here you can find further information on activating your UEF account (opens in a new tab).

NOTE! Your UEF account will only start working when:

• you have registered as present
• your study right has started
• you have activated the account
• you have been strongly identified and
• you have registered as an MFA user.

If you have any questions regarding activating your account, please contact the Digital Services (opens in a new tab).

Finnish personal identity code

International students staying in Finland for longer than three months should obtain a Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus in Finnish). You need it for, e.g., opening a bank account, and for the university’s database and statistical purposes. The personal identity code will also help with identification when you are in contact with different Finnish authorities.

Students from non-EU/ETA countries can apply for the Finnish Personal Identity Code when applying for the residence permit (opens in a new tab). It is highly recommended you do it early!

If you do not apply for the Finnish personal identity code when applying for residence permit, in order to get it later, you have to visit the local Digital and Population Data Services Agency offices (opens in a new tab) during the first three months of your stay. Ask to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System – this means that you are issued a personal identity code and your postal address in Joensuu/Kuopio is registered.

After receiving the identity code, it is very important that you inform the Student and Learning Services’ customer service (contact information at the bottom of the page) about it:

• You can visit our office and present the identity card or another document that displays the identity code.
• If you are unable to visit our office in person, and wish to handle the matter via email, please contact the Student and Learning Services’ customer service and request instructions for sending the identity code in an encrypted email message. Wait for instructions before sending the identity code.

How to get a student card

Students who have paid the Student Union (ISYY) membership fee may order a student card. For information on ordering your student card, see Student card and the term sticker (opens in a new tab).

Before you receive your student card, you can get a meal discount at the campus restaurants with a certificate of study. You can request a study certificate from the Student and Learning Services’ customer service (contact information below).

Student and Learning Services’ customer service contact information

If you have any questions regarding registration, please do not hesitate to contact us.