Orientation for new exchange

students

Aalto University School of ScienceAutumn 2019

3rd September, 2019

Topics of this session

• Arrival-related to-do’s

• Studying at Aalto

University

• What’s next: what

should I do, who

should to contact,

where to get answers?

Who are you?• Member of Aalto community!

• One of 136 new exchange students at Aalto University

School of Science

Where are you?

Finland

• Population: 5 537 519

• Capital: Helsinki

• Currency: euro €

• Languages: Finnish and Swedish (but all Finns can speak

English)

Merger of three leading Finnish universities

1849

1871

1911Helsinki School of Economics

University of Art and Design Helsinki

Helsinki University of Technology

2010

Aalto

University

Six schools

School of Arts, Design and Architecture architecture; art; design; media; film, television and scenography

School of Businessaccounting; economics; finance; management studies; marketing; information and service management

School of Chemical Engineering bioproducts and biosystems; chemistry and materials science; chemical and metallurgical engineering

School of Electrical Engineering communications and networking; electronics and nanoengineering; electrical engineering andautomation; signal processing and acoustics

School of Engineering built environment; civil engineering; mechanical engineering

School of Science applied physics; computer science; industrial engineering and management; mathematics and systems analysis; neuroscience and biomedical engineering

Why are you here?(as per your motivation letters)

• Course selection offered by Aalto

• Multidisciplinarity and inter-disciplinarity

• Entrepreneurship and start-up spirit

• Finnish education system and teaching methods

• Finnish nature, people, society, innovations, etc.

• Experiencing other culture, going outside comfort

zone

• Meeting new friends from other cultures

• Possibility to enhance English skills and learn

Finnish

Previous exchange students also

recommend:• Finnish (engineering) student culture and events

• Sauna

• Trips to Lapland, St. Petersburg, Scandinavia & Europe

ChecklistAYY Membership (optional)

Enrolment at Aalto = student status as attending

Meet with your student tutor

Activating Aalto IT credentials

Registrations: residence at Migri (EU-citizens)

Order a student card or download the FRANK app

Get a card for public transportation (HSL travel card)

Open a bank account, if needed

Register to courses, change your password

Studies at Aalto University

Academic calendar

Teaching and evaluation

periodsTime Week numbers

First evaluation period;

orientation2 Sep – 6 Sep 2019 36

Period I and evaluation week 9 Sep – 25 Oct 2019 37–43

Period II and evaluation week 28 Oct – 13 Dec 2019 44–50

Second evaluation period (for

retake exams)16 Dec – 3 Jan 2020 51–1

Teaching and evaluation

periodsTime Week numbers

Period III and evaluation week 7 Jan 2020 – 21 Feb 2020 2–8

Period IV and evaluation week 24 Feb – 10 Apr 2020 9–15

Period V: multimodal period** 13 Apr – 29 May 2020 16–22

Summer courses are subject to separate guidelines.

Au

tum

n t

erm

2019

Sp

rin

g t

erm

20

20

Possible

course

exams until

20 Dec

Courses and learning agreement /

study plan• The courses you have chosen for your study plan OR Learning Agreement

(Erasmus students) have been checked before your admission

• BUT the signed Learning Agreement or study plan does not automatically

guarantee access to a course:

• there may be limits to the number of students admitted

• there may have been changes to the study programme

• there may be overlaps with other courses

• we cannot check the background of each and every student you are responsible for making sure that you fulfill theprerequisites for the course

• Any questions about LA / study plan: contact me

Changes to learning agreement /

study planIf you want to take courses that were not in your original learning agreement / study plan

1. Preliminary inquiry with your home university: is it OK to make changes?

2. Check the course-specific prerequisites of the course in WebOodi (oodi.aalto.fi)

3. Check if it is possible to join the course

• Does it overlap with other courses in your schedule?

• ”Limited number of participants” or other limitations: access not guaranteed

4. Register for the course in WebOodi

5. Erasmus-students: update your learning agreement and get a signature and stamp from

the Aalto exchange coordinator if needed. Send the updated learning agreement to your

home university. There is no hurry with the changes (unless your home university demands

it) - you can do them even just before departure

It is okay to make changes to your original learning agreement or study

plan if needed, as long as you:

① Take at least 2/3 courses from the School of Science. Course codes start with:

• PHYS- (Applied physics)

• CS- (Computer Science)

• TU- (Industrial Engineering and Management)

• MS- (Mathematics and Systems Analysis)

• NBE- (Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering)

② Attempt to complete about 30 ECTS credits per academic term

③ Check course-specific prerequirements from WebOodi

④ Check with your home university that changes are okay

Study progress

• 1 ECTS credit = 27 hours of work (lectures, exercises,

independent studying)

• Typical course is 5 credits

• Full time studies = 60 credits/year, 30 cr/term

Making changes to your study plan? Here are

some suggestions for additional courses• Language courses

• LC-7004 Survival Finnish 1

• LC-7005 Survival Finnish 2

• LC-7009 Get to know Finland

• LC-5771 Swedish for International Students 1A

• LC-5772 Swedish for International Students 1B

• For more information, please see https://into.aalto.fi/display/enopinnot/Finnish+as+a+second+language+and+as+a+foreign+language

Making changes to your study plan? Here are

some suggestions for additional courses• Intercultural communication courses

Do you want to understand aspects of cultures and their communication patterns? Do you recognize

your own cultural values, assumptions and behavior? Do you want to meet students from Finland

and all over the globe?

If you answer yes to any of the questions above, Introduction to Intercultural Communication is a

definitely a course for you!

More information about the course on Into and Oodi or from the contact teacher

minna.lyytinen@aalto.fi Registration is already open in Oodi!

See you on the course!

- Intercultural communication teachers Atefeh and Minna

• For more information, please see

https://into.aalto.fi/display/enopinnot/Intercultural+Communicati

on

Making changes to your study plan? Here are

some suggestions• TU-EV Fintech seminar 18.09.2019-16.10.2019 (1-3 ECTS)

• MyCourses: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/view.php?id=26169

• WebOodi: https://oodi.aalto.fi/a/opintjakstied.jsp?OpinKohd=1121759638&Kieli=6

Financial markets are facing new challenges and new opportunities

stemming from digitalisation and new technologies, new regulations and

rapidly changing global landscape. Several topical subjects will be

presented by Finnish top experts in Fintech, representing both

incumbents and start-up companies. The seminar is free and open to

everyone. The language is English. WELCOME!

Making changes to your study plan? Here are

some suggestions• AVP Aalto Ventures Programme

Aalto Ventures Program is the entrepreneurship education program in

Aalto University. At AVP, students work in multidisciplinary teams, do

hands-on exercises and gain tools of mass disruption, ready to be used

either to construct a startup or to renovate an existing company from

within. In short, you will learn to build like an entrepreneur.• CS-E5120 Introduction to Digital Business and Venturing (3 ECTS)

• TU-E4100 Startup Experience (9 ECTS)

• Please note: registration deadline 6th Sept., separate application also needed, limited intake

• TU-E4040 Opportunity Prototyping (3 ECTS)

• TU-E4130 Refresher on Business Research (1 ECTS)

Making changes to your study plan? Here are

some suggestions• Aaltonaut (mainly for Bachelor level students)

Aaltonaut courses rely on problem-based learning as well as

interdisciplinary team-work in hands-on projects. The general goals of

the Aaltonaut programme are creating collaboration between different

disciplines, refining teamwork and communication skills and reinforcing

the entrepreneurial attitude.

• AAN-C2008 Research Project (5 ECTS)

• AAN-C2009 Device design (5 ECTS)

• AAN-C2007 Product sustainability (5 ECTS)

Making changes to your study plan? Here are

some suggestions• Something completely different: Asianet courses (Finnish

University Network for Asian Studies)

• Online courses in Asian studies offered by Finnish Universities in the network

• Application period for autumn courses August 26 – September 15, 2019

• The studies are free of charge for registered (degree and exchange) students from member universities of the Finnish University Network for Asian Studies, including Aalto University

• For application and course information, please see http://www.asianet.fi/2019/application-period-for-autumn-courses-august-26-september-15-2019/

Tools for your studies

WebOodi

oodi.aalto.fiCourse descriptions,

registering for courses

and exams, official

electronic transcripts

MyCoursesmycourses.aalto.fi

Course spaces, news

and materials

INTO

into.aalto.fiInformation related to your studies:

curriculua, degree structures, contact

information, instructions, academic

rules and regulations

Typical course at Aalto SCI

• One lecture is usually 90 minutes

• Most courses have lectures and exercise groups

• “An academic quarter” Lectures start always a quarter past: If

the lecture time is 10-12, it means 10:15 – 11:45

• Lectures usually twice a week

• Courses usually run for one or two periods, sometimes the

whole academic year

• To find out the details and individual characteristics for each

course, it’s very important to attend the first lecture/meeting

Exams

• At least two exams per year per course

• Exams take place on the evaluation weeks at the end of

each study period

• Exam lasts typically 3 hours

• Equipment: Student card or other ID, pencil/pen and eraser,

calculators and dictionaries allowed in some occasions

• Registration is compulsory – more about this later

• Examination regulations + Aalto University Code of

Academic Integrity:

into.aalto.fi/display/enopinnot/Academic+policies+and+reg

ulations

• Course registration opens 28 days

before the period and closes 7 days

after the course has started

• UWAS, BIZ, language courses =

exceptions

• If seats are limited, degree students

for whom the course is compulsory

are usually prioritized

• Cancellation possible in WebOodi

only when the registration is open

if you drop the course later, notify the

teacher

Course

registration

Exam registration

• Registering for a course includes registration for course exam

(abbreviation KT in WebOodi) = the first possibility to take the

exam after the course

• If you can’t make it to the course exam, there are retake exams,

but you have to register in advance in WebOodi

• Registration on exams opens 60 days before the exam at the

latest and closes seven days before the exam

• Unattended exam = failed exam

• Only registered students can sit the exam – no exceptions

Where is my lecture room?

• Check WebOodi

R037/TU1, R2D2…

what does this

mean???

Click it!

Image: Amazon

How to find your lecture room

• You can also download Aalto Space app navigator to

different buildings and spaces + booking system for rooms and

work spaces

• Make sure you have registered your phone number in the

student register (update yourself in WebOodi)

Building number Building name and address

Aalto student services

and support

How and when do I get the

transcript of records (=list of courses you have

completed, including grades)

• It takes about 1 month for the course to be graded after the

completion of the course

• Transcript of records is not sent automatically to you or your

home university!

• 3 methods to get the transcript of records:

① Login to WebOodi and order a digitally validated ToR

② Contact studentservices@aalto.fi and request the ToR

③ Visit Aalto student services in person and request the ToR

Who to contact?Student tutors

• Help with practical issues, especially upon arrival

• Information on Guilds and other free-time activities

Study advisors Helena & Iira (Konemiehentie 2, SCI student services lounge) advisors-sci@aalto.fi

• General study counseling, info on study practices at Aalto

Teachers and assistants

• Course-specific and subject-specific questions

• Contact information on the department website, Aalto People and WebOodi course page

Exchange coordinator Laura Mursu (Konemiehentie 2, room B157) exchanges-sci@aalto.fi

• General counseling regarding your stay

• Learning agreements, documents for your home university, transcripts of records (also from Student Services)

Student Services (Konemiehentie 2, B-corridor, studentservices@aalto.fi)

• Opening hours:

• Monday 9:30-11 & 12-16:30

• Tuesday-Thursday 9:30-11 & 12-14

• Fridays closed

Starting Point (Otakaari 1, room Y199a)

Starting Point of Wellbeing (https://into.aalto.fi/display/enopisk/Starting+Point+of+Wellbeing )

• If you just want somebody to talk with

• Remember also services (in both mental and physical health) provided by Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS) http://www.yths.fi/en/

Wellbeing

https://into.aalto.fi/display/enopisk/Starting+Point+of+Well

being

• Starting Point of Wellbeing = advice and guidance on services

related to wellbeing @Undergraduate centre (Otakaari 1)

• Drop in service, opens on 10 September

• Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS)

• Aalto study psychologists

• Aalto chaplains

• UniSport

• student union AYY

More information on Thursday!

Different cards

Kela meal card• Student priced meals, no other

benefits,

• Please sign

• Included in your folder

Frank card or App• Official student card in

Finland for university

students

• Only for members of AYY

• Sticker needed for the plastic

card

• Get from www.frank.fi

HSL card• HSL = Helsinki area public

transportation

• Get from HSL service point, get a

student status to the card for the

duration of your studies by

showing ”HSL card application

for foreign exchange students”

HSL card and using public

transportation• Single ticket 2,80€ for both students and adults, no student discount. Can be bought with

HSL app or using the HSL card as a payment method, if money has been downloaded in

the card. Ticket valid 80-110 minutes, depending on selected zones.

• Season ticket can be bought for minimum 2 weeks, maximum 360 days. Unlimited use of

public transportation inside the time of validity. Please check which zones you have to

purchase. Aalto University Otaniemi campus is located in zone B, Helsinki city centre in

zone A, Helsinki-Vantaa airport in zone C. AB ticket, 30 days, 32,80€ for student

Local busses, local trains,

trams, subway, ferry to

Suomenlinna sea fortress

Course feedback• May be collected before, during, or after

a course

• Is collected from all courses and it is

used to develop the teaching

• Course feedback may also be a

requirement for completing the course

(you will be informed)

Exchange student feedback• After orientation + at the end of your

exchange

• Links to online feedback forms will be

sent to your Aalto email address

Feedback

How to get an internship/job in

Finland?• Work-related fairs

• Aalto Talent Expo (31.10.2019) https://www.aalto.fi/en/talent-expo

• Contact Forum (23.1.2020) https://contactforum.fi/

• Volunteering at Slush? Application deadline Oct 6 https://www.slush.org/events/helsinki/volunteers/

• Guilds organize industry visits and networking opportunities

• Aalto Career Services for exchange students (login required)

• Career Planning Exercises at MyCourses

https://into.aalto.fi/display/encareerweb/Career+Planning+Exercises

• CareerWeb: https://into.aalto.fi/display/encareerweb/Aalto+CareerWeb+for+Aalto+students

• Working during your studies? Working while studying may slow down studies as courses at Aalto are

quite challenging and time-consuming!

FAQ• Printing at Aalto University:

https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/printing-at-aalto-university

• Changing password: https://it.aalto.fi/instructions/changing-

password

• Opening a bank account in Finland:

https://into.aalto.fi/display/enopisk/Financial+matters

• Interested in applying to Aalto University degree programme?

https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-at-aalto

Welcome! Tervetuloa!

We hope you have the time of your life!

Exchange coordinator for incoming

exchange students at the School of

Science:

Laura Mursu

Office B157, Computer science –building

exchanges-sci@aalto.fi

Contact information

aalto.fi

Towards a better world.