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Exchange opportunities in Asia
By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.
Search for degree programme
When you search for a degree programme by name or by part of the name the options in the list of degree programmes below the search field is narrowed down. After this you have to choose the degree programme from the list.
You can participate in a student exchange to Asia if you are currently pursuing Bachelor’s or Master’s studies.
When selecting the destination, you should note the requirements concerning language skills and the stage of studies as well as the courses offered by the target university and the grade average requirement, if any. For information on language requirements and the methods for demonstrating your language proficiency, read the Language requirements section. The same page also contains a list of the Asian destinations where you can study in English.
These instructions offer information on the universities with which the University of Helsinki has university- and unit-level exchange agreements. If you cannot find a suitable destination, you can make your own exchange arrangements.
The number of exchange placements available to apply for will be updated here at least two weeks before the beginning of the application process. For detailed application dates and instructions, click here: Application process and instructions
Please note that the application period to exchange destinations outside the EU/EEA area can take place even 1½ years before your exchange begins. Prepare early!
The University of Helsinki offers exchange opportunities at the following universities in Japan:
University bilateral agreement (students of all faculties): University of Tokyo, Waseda University, Osaka University, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Doshisha University, Ritsumeikan University, Hokkaido University, Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University
Unit bilateral agreement: Kanagawa University (Faculty of Arts), Kobe University (Faculty of Arts)
Students selected for destinations in Japan can apply not only for the University of Helsinki’s mobility grant, but also a grant from JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) and the MEXT grant intended for major subject students of Japanese. The JASSO and MEXT grants are not included in bilateral agreements. All Japanese universities announce annually whether prospective exchange students can apply for a JASSO or MEXT grant, and issue application instructions. JASSO and MEXT applications via the exchange destination are not the same as MEXT applications via the Embassy of Japan. We hope that you won't apply for University of Helsinki's bilateral student exchange and MEXT via the Embassy of Japan for the same duration, because you cannot accept them both for the same time.
Please note that student exchange arrangements in Japan are not based on the Japanese cycle of the academic year; instead, exchange periods lasting a whole year begin in September or October.
Programme: TYPE G ->courses and academic calendar. The courses must be selected from one graduate school; participation in a course offered by another graduate school requires permission from both graduate schools.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits/courses
12 credits per term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Tokyo University credit = 2 ECTS
Other important matters
- University of Helsinki exchange students will have the status of special auditor. The University of Helsinki does not send out exchange students under the status of special research student.
- Courses in Japanese as a foreign language: Both programmes allow exchange students to participate in language courses; see the links above for information. The minimum study requirements may also include language courses, for which a separate certificate is provided.
- Students agree to take the TOEFL or IELTS test required by the TYPE U programme at their own expense, should they be selected for the destination. The test in question is also required in order to participate in the English-language courses offered by the TYPE G programme.
Costs and Fees
Tokyo University: "The average monthly expense for UTokyo Graduate Students is JPY 145,000. This will include an average rent of JPY 53,200 (for a single person) and an average cost of food JPY 32,200 (for a single person)"
Terms
Beginning of September–mid-February/end of March–end of July
- Bachelor’s students who participate in an exchange must remain at the Bachelor’s stage throughout the exchange.
Language requirement set by the University of Helsinki
Japanese at least 10 credits. The requirement depends on the programme; check the programme descriptions (see ‘Courses available to exchange students’).
Grade average requirement set by the University of Helsinki
At least 3,8
Courses available to exchange students
- Exchange students must choose one of the following three programmes already at the application stage:
- Exchange students from the University of Helsinki to Waseda's Undergraduate Programme have often applied to SILS courses.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Waseda credit = 2 ECTS
Other important matters
Students agree to take the IELTS or TOEFL test required by Waseda University at their own expense, should they be selected for a Waseda programme that requires this.
Costs and Fees
- Waseda University: "Living costs differ depending on the individual life style, but the average monthly cost is 80,000 yen for housing, and 80,000 yen for living expenses (food, transportation and daily necessities)."
- Feedback about living costs from previous exchange students from the University of Helsinki: "Waseda sent me a Housing Questionnaire, through which I got a dorm. I had a international student dorm room about 7 minutes away from campus by walking. The room was about 660 euros/month."
- Feedback about living costs from previous exchange students from the University of Helsinki: "I lived in a shared house, which I found on the private market and payed around 600 euros per month. This included cleaning fees and furniture".
The programme offers placements in research laboratories.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
14 credits per team
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Osaka credit = 1,8 ECTS
Other important matters
University of Helsinki exchange students will usually have the status of special auditor, which means that they are taking courses during exchange.
Costs and Fees
Osaka University: "Estimated expenses regarding daily necessities are about ¥100,000 per month. Estimated expenses for students participating in exchange programs at Osaka University: Dormitory ¥16,000 ~ ¥40,000 per month, Food Approximately ¥30,000 per month"
Terms
mid-September - February / April - beginning of August
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
15 credits per term. Please note: University of Helsinki's minimum requirement is higher than for other exchange destinations in Japan because this exchange destinations requires: "Minimum 15 (30 ECTS) credits per semester, or 30 (60 ECTS) per academic year"
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Nagoya credit = 2 ECTS
Other important matters
- Recommended for exchange students wishing to take English-taught courses in biological sciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics, law, political science, Japanese studies, linguistics, environmental sciences.
- Nagoya University’s International Language Centre has also opened its Intensive Programme in Advanced Japanese (AJ) to undergraduate exchange students majoring in Japanese or Japan Area Studies. This one-year programme is designed for students possessing at least level N2 of the JLPT, who wish to pursue an academic or professional career using the language.
- General restrictions are applied to Medicine: the School of Medicine requires reciprocity vis-à-vis clerkships
Costs and Fees
Nagoya University: "Living expenses for students residing in Nagoya University accommodation:
Rent/Utilities: ¥20,000 ~ ¥40,000 per month
Food: ¥30,000 per month
Personal Expenses: ¥30,000 per month"
- Students must remain at the Bachelor’s stage throughout their exchange, i.e., they cannot graduate as Bachelor’s degree holders until after their exchange.
Bachelor’s or Master’s students
Language requirement set by the University of Helsinki
Grade average requirement set by the University of Helsinki
At least 3,8
At least 3,8
Courses available to exchange students
- English-language courses in the KUINEP programme as well as English-language Liberal Arts and Sciences courses, in addition to which students can complete courses in Japanese language.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
300 classroom hours per term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Hokkaido credit = 2 ECTS
Other important matters
HUSTEP: Students agree to take the TOEFL or IELTS test required by the programme at their own expense, should they be selected for the destination.
Costs and Fees
Hokkaido University: "Both Sapporo as well as Hakodate provide an excellent quality of life and the cost of living is more reasonable compared to other major cities in Japan. Housing: ￥30,000 / month, food ￥30,000 / month.
- Students must remain at the Bachelor’s stage throughout their exchange, i.e., they cannot graduate as Bachelor’s degree holders until after their exchange.
Language requirement set by the University of Helsinki
Grade average requirement set by the University of Helsinki
At least 3,0
Courses available to exchange students
- As over 40% of the university’s courses are offered in English, exchange students need not be proficient in Japanese.
- Faculties open to exchange students: College of Asia Pacific Studies and College of International Management. For details, see the College and Course information.
- We recommend this option to students interested in English-language courses focusing, for example, on environmental change and policy, politics and societies in Asia and the Pacific region, business economics or tourism.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
- NB. this exchange destination has a higher requirement: 14 credits / term
- Maximum 16–18 credits / term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 APU credit = 1.9230 ECTS credits
Costs and Fees
Ritsumeikan APU: "you will live in Beppu as an APU student, you will have the advantage of a low living expenses while enjoying the same level of convenience and services that exist in big cities. Here is a sample of a monthly budget for a student living in downtown Beppu:
Rent 30,000-45,000 JPY
Utilities 6,000 JPY
Food 30,000JPY
Transportation 6,000 JPY
Miscellaneous 8,000JPY"
Grade average requirement set by the University of Helsinki
At least 3.0
Courses available to exchange students
Depending on the stage of their studies, exchange students can study in either the Faculty of Global Human Sciences (Bachelor’s students) or the Graduate School of Intercultural Studies (Master’s students; the Bachelor’s degree must be completed at the time of application). In addition, courses in Japanese can be completed.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Kobe credits = 2 ECTS
Terms
September–February/April–beginning of August
Duration of exchange
Term or academic year
Exchange opportunities
In the October 2022 call: 2 students for one academic year (autumn 2023 and spring 2024) or 4 students for one term (autumn 2023 or spring 2024)
China
The University of Helsinki offers exchange opportunities at the following universities in China:
University bilateral agreement (students of all faculties): Peking University, Renmin University, Fudan University, Wuhan University
Unit bilateral agreement: Beijing Foreign Studies University (Faculty of Arts), Beijing Forestry University (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry), Nanjing Forestry University (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry), Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry), Peking University Law School (Faculty of Law), Renmin University Law School (Faculty of Law), China University of Political Science and Law (Faculty of Law), Fudan University Law School (Faculty of Law), Shanghai Jiao Tong University KoGuan Law School (Faculty of Law), Xi’an Jiaotong University (Faculty of Law), Beijing Normal University (Faculty of Educational Sciences).
The requirements vary depending on whether you study Chinese as a foreign language on a full-time basis or pursue English-language courses on a full-time basis.
NB! Destinations in mainland China do not accept Chinese citizens as exchange students.
Full-time study of Chinese. A placement test at the beginning of the academic year is given to place students in language courses of various levels. Course list.
Participation in Chinese-taught courses is possible if the student has very good proficiency in both written and oral Chinese at the time of departure. However, this depends on Peking University and is usually possible only after the student has participated in language courses at Peking University or if the student has completed level 6 of the HSK test "(with each item over 70 points)".
As an exchange student, you will study Chinese on a full-time basis.
The Beijing Foreign Studies University specialises in language teaching.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits / courses
Students studying Chinese as a foreign language on a full-time basis: At least 300 hours of language teaching at the target university per term.
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Beijing Foreign Studies University credit = 2 ECTS
Other important matters
The Beijing Foreign Studies University also teaches Finnish as a major subject, and local students of Finnish are happy to become acquainted with Finnish exchange students.
Terms
Academic year: beginning of September–end of June
Autumn term: September–January/February (the Chinese New Year holiday)
Full-time studies in Chinese, or Chinese/English-language
Apart from those Chinese courses, BFU also offers some programs delivered in English on Master's level: Ecology and Nature Conservation, Economics and Management, Forestry, Landscape Architecture, Soil and Water Conservation
Supervision in English also available in research groups
CUPL's teaching in English at the faculty of Law. The teaching is concentrated on International law and Comparative law (Focus on Chinese law). You can also take a Chinese language course.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits / courses
10 CUPL credits per term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 CUPL credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Academic year: beginning of September–end of June
Autumn term: September–January/February (the Chinese New Year holiday)
Spring term: approx. February–end of June
Duration of exchange
Term
Exchange opportunities available
Places open for application in February 2023 call: not open for applications.
If you are studying Chinese language full-time during exchange, Fudan will give you a schedule based on your placement test in the beginning of your exchange. It will include about 20 hours of language teaching per week. You cannot choose the language courses yourself, and there is no course list available beforehand. If you want to study Chinese language full-time during exchange, please write "full-time Chinese languages studies" as the course name when you apply for exchange at the University of Helsinki. You can indicate 320 as the workload at the host university and 25 ECTS as the amount of credits at the University of Helsinki.
If your written and oral proficiency in Chinese is very good at the time of your departure, you can also study subjects other than Chinese together with Chinese students. However, this depends on Fudan University and is usually possible only after the student has taken language courses there.
If you want to take regular courses in your own academic field which are taught in Chinese, the University of Helsinki requires you to have B2 level Chinese language skills already when you apply.
Grade average requirement
At least 3,8
Courses available to exchange students
Students can study exclusively in English. Information on courses. Restrictions: "College of Medicine does not accept graduate exchange students, Department of Veterinary Medicine does not accept undergraduate exchange student. In regards to student status restrictions, please refer to the column "Limits on Course adding/dropping" for each specific course at the NTU Online Course Information".
It is possible to receive credits for lab work at NTU in addition to course participation.
In addition to completing English-language courses, you can choose to study Chinese as a foreign language. Permitted number of Chinese courses: approx. 4−10 hours per week. Students cannot study Chinese as a foreign language on a full-time basis; they must also choose other courses.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
13 credits per term. The target is 15 credits per term.
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 National Taiwan University credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Academic year: September − end June. Check the calendar.
Autumn term: September − January
Spring term: approx. February – end of June
Other important matters
The target university has imposed some limitations on Chinese citizens applying for exchange; for more information, see the NTU website.
NTU has hosted exchange students focusing on a number of disciplines, including medicine and veterinary medicine. Please note, however, that previous exchange students of medicine and veterinary medicine have reported that the NTU website does not show all course restrictions (e.g., courses available only to postgraduate students). Prepare for changes to your course selections.
Duration of exchange
Academic year or term
Exchange opportunities available
In the February 2023 call: 7 students for a spring term 2024.
In addition to completing English-language courses, you can choose to study Chinese as a foreign language. Permitted number of Chinese courses: approx. 4−10 hours per week. Students cannot study Chinese as a foreign language on a full-time basis; they must also choose other courses.
"Students may take both undergraduate and graduate courses. Only courses of the EMBA program courses are not open to the exchange students. There are two campuses and students are allowed to take courses from both campuses as long as there is no time conflict with the class schedule".
"Students who will graduate during Spring semester cannot apply for the Fall semester exchange program".
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
13 credits per term. The target is 15 credits per term.
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 National Tsing Hua University credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Academic year: September − end June.
Autumn term: September − January
Spring term: approx. February – end of June
Other important matters
"Especially recommended for students of science and life sciences at UH. In addition to science and life sciences, there are courses taught in English available in social sciences, humanities and education"
Duration of exchange
Academic year or term
Exchange opportunities available
In the February 2023 call: 6 students for a spring term 2024.
National Taiwan Normal University, College of Liberal Arts, Taipei
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university's credits
13 credits / term
The target is 15 credits per term.
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 National Taiwan Normal University credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Academic year: September − end June.
Autumn term: September − January
Spring term: approx. February – end of June
Duration of exchange
Academic year or term
Exchange opportunities available for the academic year 2022-2023
In October 2022 call: 2 students for 12 months each.
Hong Kong
The University of Helsinki offers exchange opportunities at the following universities in Hong Kong:
University bilateral agreement (students of all faculties): University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Unit bilateral agreement: University of Hong Kong (Faculty of Law)
Exchange students can only participate in undergraduate (Bachelor’s level) courses. Master’s students can also participate in undergraduate (Bachelor’s level) courses if the courses can be recognised for the degree. For information on courses, click here.
The following faculties of HKU are not open to exchange students: Faculty of Architecture, BSc (Exercise and Health) Programme, Faculty of Dentistry, Li Kai Shing Faculty of Medicine. Courses offered by the Faculty of Business and Economics (HKU Business School) are highly competitive.
HKU instructions for selecting courses: “Within each semester’s full load of 30 credits, more than half of them must come from one single faculty. That means you should pick three courses from one faculty while the remaining can be chosen from other faculties.”
Language courses: Courses in Cantonese and Mandarin can be completed alongside other courses, but exchange students cannot study only Chinese.
Courses at the Faculty of Law: please apply based on the Faculty-level agreement.
Faculty in the exchange university: Faculty of Law
Exchange students can only attend undergraduate-level courses. Also master-level students can attend graduate-level courses if they are able to place them in the selective studies in their home university/Course information
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
24 credits per term
The target is 30 credits per term.
-
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 University of Hong Kong credit = 1 ECTS. HKU instructions for converting credits: “The HKU credit system is based on the ECTS model; credits from ECTS compliant institutions are considered of similar value.”
Terms
For the calendar of the academic year (Dates of Semester)
Other important matters
Students agree to take the TOEFL or IELTS test at their own expense prior to the exchange, should they be selected for the destination.
Please note that competition for housing has always been keen in HKU, but HKU strives to provide exchange students with fee-based accommodation in a student residence. Such accommodation is usually in double rooms, and the fee includes meals in some residences.
Previous exchange students to the University of Hong Kong have provided the following feedback on their destination: “A wide range of teaching methods: almost every course included an exam, essays and group work.” “The urban location is in the middle of everything.”
Duration of exchange
Term or academic year
Exchange opportunities available
Application round February 2023: University bilateral agreement: 7 students for Spring term 2024.
Application round February 2023: Unit bilateral agreement (Faculty of Law): No available places.
Restrictions for exchange students: at least the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Education have imposed restrictions on exchange students.
Exchange students can participate in courses offered by the CUHK Faculty of Law only at the level of their studies at the time of application (i.e., undergraduate courses if the student has not completed a Bachelor’s degree at the time of application, and postgraduate courses if the student has completed a Bachelor’s degree at the time of application).
Courses in Cantonese and Mandarin can be completed alongside other courses, but exchange students cannot study only Chinese. Courses in Chinese are free of charge to undergraduate (Bachelor’s level) exchange students, but subject to a fee to graduate exchange students (exchange students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree).
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
The target is 15 credits per term, and the maximum is 18 credits per term.
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Chinese University of Hong Kong credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Academic year: September–end of May. The academic calendar can be found here (Programme dates)
Autumn term: September–beginning of January
Spring term: January–end of May
Other important matters
Students who apply to a CUHK faculty that requires applicants to complete a TOELF or IELTS test (e.g., the Faculty of Law) agree to complete the test at their own expense prior to the exchange.
CUHK strives to provide exchange students with a fee-based double room in a student residence (Bachelor’s students) or a single room if the student has completed a Bachelor’s degree prior to the exchange.
Students agree to pay the administrative and other fees determined by CUHK prior to the exchange, should they be selected for the destination. The expenses to be paid prior to the exchange have usually amounted to approx. HKD 1,700, in addition to which various deposits are charged after arrival. Read more information (fees).
Feedback from previous exchange students at CUHK: “CUHK focused on teaching and, in particular, the promotion of student engagement and interaction.” “Great location: a quiet and green campus a short distance from the hustle and bustle of a major city.”
Duration of exchange
Term or academic year.
Exchange opportunities available
Application round February 2023: 4 students for Spring term 2024.
To take graduate (Master’s level) courses, students must complete their Bachelor’s degree before the target university’s application deadline for students selected for an exchange, i.e., at least approximately four months before the beginning of the exchange. For Master's level courses.
More undergraduate (Bachelor’s level) than graduate courses are available. Master’s students can also complete undergraduate courses if these courses can be recognised for the degree.
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
The target is 16 credits per term, and the maximum is 18 credits per term.
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 City University of Hong credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Autumn term: end of August–December
Spring term: January–May
Other important matters
Demonstration of language skills by students applying to the Faculty of Law: Students agree to take the TOEFL or IELTS test at their own expense, should they be selected for the destination.
CityU helps in applying for fee-based accommodation in a student residence. Accommodation for undergraduate (Bachelor’s level) students is mostly in double rooms.
Feedback from previous exchange students to CityU: “The location was great, it was easy to take the metro everywhere, and the university itself was quite modern.” “The course assignments were usually interesting.”
Duration of exchange
Term or academic year
Exchange opportunities available
Application round February 2023: 8 students for a spring term 2024.
THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (HKUST): new destination!
Exchange students can only participate in undergraduate (Bachelor’s level) courses. Master’s students can also participate in undergraduate (Bachelor’s level) courses if the courses can be recognised for the degree. Information on courses.
Restrictions: “School of Business and Management: Students must be majoring in business and have completed at least one year of study. Computer science courses have high demand at HKUST, thus will be difficult for exchange students to enroll into our computer science courses.”
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
The target is 15 credits per term, and the maximum is 17-18 credits per term.
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 HKUST credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Autumn term: August–December
Spring term: January–May
Other important matters
"Undergraduate exchange students are guaranteed accommodation in university-provided housing, subject to submission of the housing application. Students will be assigned to a double (or a triple room with double occupation) in a student hall for the program duration."
Duration of exchange
Term or academic year
Exchange opportunities available
Application round February 2023: 5 students for a spring term 2024.
South Korea
The University of Helsinki offers exchange opportunities at the following universities in South Korea:
University bilateral agreement (students of all faculties): Yonsei University, Korea University, Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University
Please note that the Korean cycle of the academic year does not apply to student exchange. Exchange periods lasting for a full academic year always begin in the autumn.
Students going to Korea are eligible to apply for an ASEM-DUO scholarship in addition to University of Helsinki’s mobility grant, if the host university opens the application. Because ASEM-DUO is very competitive among European applicants, the University of Helsinki selects based on GPA which student is eligible to apply for an ASEM-DUO scholarship (one student per exchange destination). The selected student will receive extra help from International Exchange Services regarding this extra scholarship application.
Restrictions for exchange students: courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Music and Law as well as MBA courses are not available to exchange students. Business courses are restricted to business majors only.
Exchange students can complete up to 6 Yonsei credits worth of courses in Korean as a foreign language free of charge as part of their exchange. Other courses must be selected from the courses taught in English.
Access to Master’s level courses, please note: “Korean universities cannot accept graduate students who are enrolled in the first semester of the Master’s program at their application stage. Applicants must have completed a full semester after their Bachelor’s degree graduation before applying.” (The application stage refers to the application period of the host university in Korea.)
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
Maximum number for students completing Bachelor’s level courses: 18 credits per term
Maximum number for students completing only Master’s level courses:15 credits per term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
Students agree to take the TOEFL or IELTS test at their own expense prior to the exchange, should they be selected for the destination.
At the time of application to the exchange university undergraduate students must have completed at least two (2) semesters. Graduate/Transfer students must have completed at least one (1) semester at the current university.
Feedback from previous exchange students at Yonsei: “You have to be flexible regarding your course choices and teaching to enjoy your time at Yonsei.” “The location of the campus is great.” “As a country, Korea is definitely worth experiencing and easy to live in.”
For information on courses (select ‘English’ from the top left corner, and access the course information through the menus on the left). Choose Major subject or General subject, academic year and term. You can access course information without registering.
Restrictions for exchange students: "Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, Teacher Education, Division of Information Security, Art & Design, all courses at Sejong Campus and all graduate programs at the business school". Courses in business/economics may be very crowded.
"Students who have a major or a minor in Korean language at the University of Helsinki can take Korean Language Center's Korean language courses (full time course load) without course fees starting from 2018-19." Korea Language Center's Regular Program's workload for one semester is equal to 12 Korea University credits.
Access to Master’s level courses, please note: “Korean universities cannot accept graduate students who are enrolled in the first semester of the Master’s program at their application stage. Applicants must have completed a full semester after their Bachelor’s degree graduation before applying.” (The application stage refers to the application period of the host university in Korea.)
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
Maximum of 19 credits per term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Korea University credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Academic year: September–June
Autumn term: September–December
Spring term: March–June
Other important matters
Feedback from previous exchange students at KU: “Korea University offered interesting courses, and the country was very different, in both good and bad ways. I recommend it for anyone looking for an adventure!” “The teaching was not as self-directed as in Finland, and some courses were very much steered by the teacher.” “KU really knew how to look after exchange students and invested a lot in tutoring.”
For information on courses, see the SNU search portal. You can find information on English-language teaching by selecting the year, the 1st or 2nd semester as well as ‘English Lecture’. Instructions for finding courses at SNU.
NB! Explore the courses offered by all faculties that interest you: for example, the Faculty of Liberal Education offers many courses related to Korean society.
Please note: 1) Law: The School of Law, a specialized law school for graduate level students, is open to undergraduate level students, too. This status won't affect course selection for exchange students, because in principle, both undergraduate and graduate modules are open to all students, 2) College of Medicine is not available to exchange students, 3) Pharmacy, Korean History, Psychology, and Statistics: courses are taught in Korean, 4) College of Business Administration is restricted to students who are currently majoring in business or economics at home university
Exchange students must pay a fee for any Korean courses they complete at SNU's Language Centre. SNU has supported the participation of exchange students in such courses by paying 50% of the language course fee. Major subject students of Korean language or Asian Studies (Korean culture) have received a full exemption from the fee.
Access to Master’s level courses, please note: “Korean universities cannot accept graduate students who are enrolled in the first semester of the Master’s program at their application stage. Applicants must have completed a full semester after their Bachelor’s degree graduation before applying.” (The application stage refers to the application period of the host university in Korea.)
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
Maximum number: 18 credits per term (Bachelor students).
Workload required for credits: “Credits are units of courses. 1 credit is given for every 15 hours (or more) of lectures per semester.” Independent work is not included in the workload required for credits at SNU.
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 Seoul National University credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Academic year: September–June
Autumn term: September–December
Spring term: March–June
Other important matters
Feedback from previous exchange students at SNU: “The university had excellent language courses and a really good Buddy Project that provided new experiences and opportunities for learning.”
Exchange students can take Korean language courses without course fees, either A) "Students who wish to study Korean language courses full-time (Monday to Friday, 30 hours/week) must be majoring in Korean Language/Culture/Linguistics related major at their home university.", B) 6 hrs a week Basic to Advanced level Korean Language along with courses taught in English or C) 3 hrs a week Elementary Korean along with courses taught in English. See Fact Sheet.
Restrictions for exchange students: "Undergraduate/Graduate School of Law, School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy do not accept exchange students."
Also note: "College of Art is open for exchange students, but very few courses conduct in English. Theatre is not open for exchange students."
Access to Master’s level courses, please note: “Korean universities cannot accept graduate students who are enrolled in the first semester of the Master’s program at their application stage. Applicants must have completed a full semester after their Bachelor’s degree graduation before applying.” (The application stage refers to the application period of the host university in Korea.)
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
12 credits per term
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 SKKU credit = 2 ECTS
Terms
Autumn term: September–December
Spring term: March–June
Other important matters
Duration of exchange
Term or academic year
Exchange opportunities available
February 2023 call: not open for applications.
Singapore
The University of Helsinki offers exchange opportunities at the following universities in Singapore:
University bilateral agreement (students of all faculties): National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University
Students going to Singapore are eligible to apply for an ASEM-DUO scholarship in addition to University of Helsinki’s mobility grant, if the host university opens the application. Because ASEM-DUO is very competitive among European applicants, the University of Helsinki selects based on GPA which student is eligible to apply for an ASEM-DUO scholarship (one student per exchange destination). The selected student will receive extra help from International Exchange Services regarding this extra scholarship application.
As a University of Helsinki exchange student, you can take courses at the following faculties: the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Science, the School of Computing and the School of Design & Environment.
Restrictions for exchange students: "Business and Law modules not available. Economics, Psychology and Computer Science modules are extremely oversubscribed."
University of Helsinki minimum requirement in the target university’s credits
3 modules (12 MCs) per term. The target is 4 modules (16 MCs) per term and the maximum is 5 modules (20 MCs) per term.
The National University of Singapore’s instructions concerning the workload required for credits: “A workload of 20 MCs would typically require a student to spend an average of 50 hours of study per week over 13 weeks of classes.”
Credit conversion scale recommended by UH's International Exchange Services
1 National University of Singapore module (4 MCs) = 7 ECTS
Feedback from previous exchange students: “The quality of teaching was excellent. There was a great deal of group work and assignments, and although it felt challenging at times, I eventually got a lot out of my courses.” “The lecturers seemed excited about their topics.” “It was easy to adjust to Singapore because the country is highly organised.”
"Students may no longer select/apply for NTU's School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE) courses due to capacity limits"
"Please note that some UG courses are highly popular and vacancies are limited (particularly Business, Economics, Sociology, Sports, Language and Communications courses)."
NIE may be able to offer a school practicum as part of a class teacher student's exchange, on a case-by-case basis. A student interested in that option would arrange it as part of the application to the host university, having first been selected by University of Helsinki for the exchange.
The University of Helsinki offers exchange opportunities at the following universities in India:
University bilateral agreement (students of all faculties): University of Delhi
Students going to India are eligible to apply for an ASEM-DUO scholarship in addition to University of Helsinki’s mobility grant. Because ASEM-DUO is very competitive among European applicants, the University of Helsinki selects based on GPA which student is eligible to apply for an ASEM-DUO scholarship (one student per exchange destination). The selected student will receive extra help from International Exchange Services regarding this extra scholarship application.
*Please be noted that if the student is currently a undergraduate, they can not enroll for the graduate’s program. But the current graduate student can enroll for both undergraduate and graduate’s programs.
**If the students wish to enroll in a specific Faculty/Program. They are allowed to enroll in other faculty’s courses up to two courses per semester.
