Study for a Semester in Finland!
Institution
Abo Akademi University offers both undergraduate and graduate studies and extensive research opportunities to some 7,000 students on three campuses. Our university is located in Åbo, on the south-west coast of Finland and in Vasa. Abo Akademi University has an acknowledged position at the forefront of research in such areas as biosciences, computer science, democracy, human rights, material sciences, process chemistry and psychology.
Location
Abo Campus
Abo is a bilingual city of approximately 180,000 inhabitants situated on the southwest coast of Finland, right at the mouth of the Aura river which cuts through the city. It is the oldest university town in Finland and was the capital of Finland until 1812. In addition to Abo Akademi University, there are many other higher education institutions such as the University of Turku and Turku University of Applied Sciences, making it a lively student town. The city offers a wide variety of cultural experiences, such as museums and music, dance and theatre events, as well as sports activities.
Vasa Campus
The Vasa campus is located in the city of Vasa, situated on the west coast of Finland with direct connections to Helsinki and Stockholm. The region is one of the most innovative in Finland and an important center for Finnish-Swedish culture. Vasa is a bilingual city — most inhabitants speak Finnish and Swedish well and use both languages in their everyday life. The city also has a lively university feel, as it is home to over 10,000 students attending its many institutions of higher education, including Vaasan Yliopisto, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, the Swedish School of Economics and Novia University of Applied Sciences.
ISEP Chance of Placement - Good
Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester: Late August to Late December
- Spring Semester: Early January to Late May
Housing
Students on the Abo program will stay at university arranged housing.
Students participating on the ISEP Exchange program option will pay the ISEP Full Exchange Program Fee to Appalachian and will not pay housing or meal costs to the Finnish university.
Financial
Program Costs
Paid to Appalachian State
1The OIED Program Development Fee will be placed on students’ accounts upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Estimated Additional Costs
| |
Semester Exchange |
| ISEP Application Fee |
$100 |
| ISEP Placement Fee |
$375 |
| Airfare |
$1000 - $1500 |
| Additional Meals |
$100 - $300 |
| 1Presonal Expenses |
$1500 - $2200 |
| Books and Materials |
$200 - $500 |
| Local Transportation |
$200 - $400 |
| Residence Permit (for US Citizens) |
$340 |
| Passport |
$150 |
| US Based Health Insurance |
Varies |
| 2Personal Travel and Spending |
$1200 - $2000 |
1Personal expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
2Personal Travel and Spending amounts will vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.
Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. Please use the Student Financial Planning Worksheet to help estimate your anticipated expenses and your anticipated financial resources. When planning for estimated additional costs students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates.
Financial Aid
The majority of financial aid and scholarships can apply to semester and year-long study abroad programs. For more information please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid web page.
Scholarships
OIED Scholarships
Each semester OIED offers a variety of different scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $250 to $2000.
Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program application is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Fund for Education Abroad
Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad and those destined for non-traditional locations are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population.
For information about additional scholarships please visit our External Scholarships web page.
Academics
Abo offers courses across a range of disciplines. For more information about the course offerings please visit the ISEP Abo webpage.
All students are expected to maintain at least the equivalent of a full time course load according to Appalachian State and the host university while abroad (whichever is greater). Students participating on the ISEP program will be required to enroll in 12-18 credits per semester. For more information about study abroad enrollment policies, credit approval, and credit and grade conversions please visit the Academics section of our website.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline. Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st. Once open the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. Most applications will have a 2 part application process so students are encouraged to complete their OIED application well before the listed deadline.
Students applying to an ISEP program should complete the
ISEP application while also completing the Appalachian application.
For more information about deadlines and how to apply please visit our
Guide Me web page.
