Guide for Going Abroad

Before the exchange

GETTING READY FOR THE EXCHANGE

Planning a foreign exchange period or an internship period abroad begins from finding out why a student wants to go abroad to study or work. Does the motive concern the will to improve language and cultural skills, the studies of the field in question in a foreign university of applied sciences, work experience or perhaps living and coping in an international environment? It is important to figure out a suitable time to leave abroad and how to continue studies after returning back to Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.
All the options available are presented on these pages. You can get more information about courses and details from your faculty’s international contact person, the university of applied sciences in your country of destination and from websites.

INTO - VIRTUAL COURSE ON INTERNATIONALISATION

There is a virtual training program Into in Moodle for all students leaving SAMK for an exchange period or an internship. The course is a prerequisite for the study grant.

The Into includes three tasks, one will already be done before the beginning of the exchange or internship. One of the tasks will be done during and one after the exchange or internship. Every acceptably finished course is worth 2 credit points.

In addition to various tasks the course includes useful information about the practical arrangements concerning the exchange, necessary applications and permissions, the planning and substitute studies, orientation concerning the country of destination as well as the financing of the exchange.

• Sign up for the course in Winha. You can find it with the key V000142. Search from all the faculties, not just from your own.
• In moodle the course is in elective studies (Vapaasti valittavat opinnot). When you go to the course for the first time, it is important to use the correct key. Choose the correct key from the following options:

• If you are leaving for a student exchange or a placement abroad during the academic year 2011-2012, please, select the key of your faculty/mobility:
  • Business and Culture exchange studies: LIKU11V
  • Business and Culture internship abroad: LIKU11H
  • Technology and Maritime Management exchange studies: TEME11V
  • Technology and Maritime Management internship abroad TEME11H
  • Social Services and Health Care (exchange studies and internship abroad): SOTE11

• If you are leaving for a student exchange or a placement abroad during the academic year 2012-2013, please, select the key of your faculty/mobility:
  • Business and Culture exchange studies: LIKU12V
  • Business and Culture internship abroad: LIKU12H
  • Technology and Maritime Management exchange studies: TEME12V
  • Technology and Maritime Management internship abroad TEME12H
  • Social Services and Health Care (exchange studies and internship abroad): SOTE12

You can get more information from your international contact person.

COMMITMENTS

Warranty fee

The student will be asked to confirm the acceptation of the exchange position either in writing or orally (depending on the faculty’s policy) as soon as possible after being chosen. Satakunta University of Applied Sciences faculties have a right to collect a warranty of 80 euros, which will not be paid back if the student cancels the exchange position without the university of applied sciences approval after confirming the exchange. Acceptable reasons for cancellation are illness and pregnancy, for example. The warranty covers the expenses caused by communication and work that has been done. The warranty will be paid back before the student’s departure, so that it can be used during the exchange.

The rules of the receiving organisation in the country of destination

When accepting the exchange position, the student engages to obey the rules and regulations of the university of applied sciences of the country of destination. The partner organization has a right to apply its disciplinary actions to visiting students if needed. The disciplinary actions can be different from the ones in Finland.

Neccessary documents

Before the exchange period, the student is resposible for filling in an learning agreement (form KA04) and a Substitution and transfer of credits from study abroad (form KA03). With these forms you can plan and assure that the credits done abroad will fit to your degree in SAMK. Both of the forms can be found from lomakepankki

You need to return to the international relations coordinator a certificate about the length of your exchange within a month after the end of your study abroad period. The certificate can be for example the Letter of Confirmation –form or any document indication the starting and end date of your exchange period, signed by a representative of the host institute. Erasmus exchange students: the grant is solely based on the length of your exchange period. If your exchange period exceeds the dates indicated in the application form you might get an extra grant. However, if you fail to return the letter of confirmation –form you may have to return a part of your grant.

After the exchange period you are resposible for delivering a transcript of records and descriptions of the courses taken. Please contact the international contact person and the head of your degree programme to agree about substitution and transfer of credits.

FINANCING THE ABROAD PERIOD

All students going abroad through Satakunta University of Applied Sciences as well as students going to approved foreign internships will get a grant. The grant should be paid before the student’s departure.

Because the exchange period usually affects the amount of the grant, the student engages to inform about an early arrival home and to return a part of the grant before the 15th of April 2009. According to the rules in the Erasmus-program the whole grant should be returned if the exchange last less than three (3) months. If the exchange or internship is entirely cancelled, the whole grant must be paid back regardless of the arrangements that have been made.

If the students exchange period becomes longer than in the original exchange plan, the student has a right to apply for an additional grant before the 15th of April 2009. The student must deliver a written approval from the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences of the continuation of the exchange period to the faculty’s international contact person. When considering the continuation of the exchange the student has to contact Satakunta University of Applied sciences’ international contact person, who will clarify the matter.
Insurances

The student engages to take a private health insurance for the whole exchange period. The insurance should cover any sudden expenses caused by an illness and the expenses of returning home. However, the insurance isn’t mandatory when traveling to a country within the European Union or Nordic countries, because Finland has a social security agreement with these countries. In other words, the student is entitled to the same health care as the citizens of the country in question. Check the extent of health care in the country of destination from the Social Insurance Institution before your departure. Travel insurance is recommended to all exchange students.

Grants

Satakunta University of Applied Sciences supports its exchange students in two ways:

• SAMK has made agreements concerning exchange, which are listed on these pages. When going abroad with an exchange program, the student usually doesn’t have to pay expensive tuitions (except in some Asian destinations).
• SAMK allocates grants to exchange students (see below):

Erasmus-students: 1100-1800 euros depending on the duration of the exchange
Russia, Asia, USA (Magellan): 1200 euros

Notice that there are some expenses in Asian destinations, which are reduced from the grant. Students participating the the Nordplus-exchange receive a grant from the Nordic Council.

If the grants given by the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences are at least 1000 euros during a calendar year, you are obliged to inform the tax authorities in your tax return. No taxes will be taken from the grant if it is meant for paying the additional expenses caused by the exchange. Satakunta University of Applied Sciences also notifies the tax authorities about the grants it gives.

The grants for exchange can be applied with an online application. More specific information will be sent to the applicants when the exchange is confirmed, so be sure to check your e-mail every now and then.

Study grants

While studying in a foreign cooperative university of applied sciences to include courses in a Finnish bachelor’s degree, the student is entitled to receive financial aid. More information about financial aid is available through financial aid authorities, brochures and from the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences Student Administration office.

The regulations of the country of destination

Studying and living abroad always causes additional expenses. The financing for studies has to be obtained mainly in the home country before the beginning of the exchange, because it can often be very difficult in the country of destination. In addition, some countries prefer to make sure that the student has some kind of subsistence in order to get a visa.

Some countries in the European Union have a right to demand a document of the student’s subsistence during the time the student is in the country.

Some institutions and foundations offer stipends which are certainly worth applying, although the possibility to get them is quite limited, because studying abroad is nowadays very common. Additional financing is also available through some municipal funds and trusts.

Notice that although a work permit is not needed in European countries, it is often very difficult to get in countries outside the European Union.

INSURANCES

The City of Pori has a statutory accident insurance that covers all accidents that happen during practical training and an additional insurance that covers:

“theory lessons, physical education, breaks and regular trips to work and school as well as various tours that are included in the curriculum. The insurance cover is also effective abroad in comparable situations, in other words, in activities that are included in the curriculum. The insurance cover doesn’t cover free time or any other informal activity or possible illness during the stay abroad.”

Notice that the insurance taken by the City of Pori doesn’t cover accidents that happen during free time. In addition, it doesn’t cover illness, luggage or any bodily injury or material damage that the student is obliged to compensate.

Satakunta University of Applied Sciences obligates those exchange students to take a personal health insurance, who go to study outside the European economic zone. Taking insurance was mandatory in 2007-2008 for students who went to China, Thailand, Russia and USA. The insurance should cover sudden illnesses, management expenses caused by an accident and the possible delivery home. Students within the European economic zone are entitled to international social security agreement benefits and Satakunta University of Applied Sciences doesn’t require them to take insurance.

Taking a passenger, luggage and liability insurance is strongly recommended for all students regardless of the country of destination.

By signing a traveling grant application the student engages to take insurance when going to countries outside the European economic zone. Later it will serve as proof of the fact that the student has informed his university of applied sciences about the insurance.

During the Exchange

CULTURE SHOCK

Culture shock affects most people in a way or another, because they have to give up they’re usual habits and familiar surroundings in a strange country. The symptoms vary and in their mildest form they might just cause some home sickness and lack of faith in language skills. At its worst culture shock can cause depression, desperation and an early return home. The most important thing is to remember that culture shock exists and that nobody can prevent experiencing it. The symptoms can be very individual.
Culture shock can strike again when returning back to Finland. It pays to remember that there are professionals who can help, they know the phenomenon very well. Information about culture shock is available online. Culture shock symptoms can be prevented by getting to know the country of destination, it’s culture and society as well as possible before the exchange.

THE EFFECT ON THE LENGHT OF STUDIES IN SAMK

Students in universities of applied sciences have an opportunity to take courses free of charge in their own faculties until they have studied the whole length of their studies plus one year. In other words, if you’re completing a 240 credit point degree, you have 4 + 1 years to graduate without any additional costs. Studying abroad won’t lengthen that time, so it is recommendable to plan your studies carefully and discuss possible substitute studies with your degree programme coordinator. If you return from abroad in the middle of the academic year, you should plan your studies beforehand to make sure the rest of the year won’t “go to waste”.
All students participating the Erasmus-program have to make a Learning Agreement, which indicates the courses the student will take during the exchange. The Learning Agreement will be signed both by the host institution and foreign institution. Substitute studies also require a written agreement which will be made with the degree programme coordinator.
Notice that you have to enroll for attendance. It is also important to notify your student administration office and international contact person about your departure to your country of destination and return.

After the exchange

STUDY REPORT & other documents

The student engages to write a 2-3 page report (a part of the Into-course) for the international contact person after returning to Finland. The report will be used to guide other exchange and internship students. This means the reports will be public.

 You need to return to the international relations coordinator a certificate about the length of your exchange within a month after the end of your study abroad period. The certificate can be for example the Letter of Confirmation –form or any document indication the starting and end date of your exchange period, signed by a representative of the host institute. Erasmus exchange students: the grant is solely based on the length of your exchange period. If your exchange period exceeds the dates indicated in the application form you might get an extra grant. However, if you fail to return the letter of confirmation –form you may have to return a part of your grant.

After the exchange period you are resposible for delivering a transcript of records and descriptions of the courses taken. Please contact the international contact person and the head of your degree programme to agree about substitution and transfer of credits.