Get International Experience during your Studies!
SAMK has wide international connections and partner universities in various countries. All the students of SAMK have a chance to go abroad as an exchange student, do their internship abroad or get to know other students from different cultures who are studying at SAMK. It is worthwhile for students to consider their eagerness to develop even further their own internationalization:
- when would I go abroad?
- would I go abroad to study or would the best way to improve my international skills be to do my internship abroad?
- would I be a tutor student for international students?
- or maybe all three...
Going Abroad as an Exchange Student
All the students studying in SAMK are able to do part of their studies abroad. In most cases this temporary study abroad lasts one or two semesters. Student can go to study exchange two times, once with the Erasmus-programme and once with another exchange programme. Students applying to study exchange for the first time are prioritized in the selection process.
Planning to go abroad is a very persistent task. You have to be able to plan your studies in advance, for the whole semester. It’s important to plan what you want and what you need in your forthcoming work life or in your life in general. What is the most important to you; content of the studies you do abroad, improvement of your language skills, or do you want to familiarize yourself with other countries or other cultures? Look what opportunities are available and consider how they agree with your own plans.
The easiest way to go abroad as an exchange-student is to choose the most interesting of the over a hundred partner schools with which SAMK has an exchange agreement.
Most of the students going abroad participate in the Erasmus programme. Other exchange programmes are Nordplus (Scandinavia), FIRST (Russia) and Magellan (USA, Mexico and Costa Rica). SAMK also has bilateral agreements with some Russian and Asian Universities. For more information, click the menu on the left side of the page.
Student can also look for an exchange opportunity independently (as a free-mover). Then student is entirely resposible for all arrangements and possible fees, but should still follow the SAMK application process and period.
Studies that you do abroad will be credited as a part of the degree you are studying towards at SAMK.
It is important to discuss and plan your studies abroad with your programme coordinator and/or international contact person of your school. Well planned studies abroad does not extend the originally planned study time.
Also students studying Master's level may apply for a granted exchange period at some of our partner universities. For more information, contact the international office.
Practical Training Abroad
International placements offer you a chance to gain work experience and improve your international skills at the same time.
Be active and use your own contacts in finding the internship place that best matches your skills and interests. Check with your programme coordinator that the placement you have selected suits your studies, and apply for a grant. You can have the grant for an international placement only once.
Ask the international contact person at your school for more information!
Tutoring International Students
There are more than 150 new international students at SAMK every year. Being a tutor student is your chance to get international experience, when you are planning a study abroad period or cannot, at the moment, otherwise go abroad yourself.
By becoming an international tutor student, you'll improve your language skills and get to know new people and cultures. Application time for international tutors is in March; ask for more information from your international contact person.