Study for a Semester in Finland!
Institution
The University of Eastern Finland was established on January 1, 2010, as a result of the merger of the University of Joensuu (founded in 1969) and the University of Kuopio (founded in 1972), which were both ISEP member institutions. With its approximately 15,000 students, the University of Eastern Finland is one of the largest universities in Finland.
Location
Kuopio is a city of great natural beauty surrounded by scenic Lake Kallavesi — one of thousands of lakes in Finland. Kuopio offers the opportunity to live close to nature while having modern services and an abundant cultural life close at hand. Kuopio is easily reached by road, rail and air. The University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio is situated on both sides of the beautiful Savilahti Bay.
Joensuu, located on Lake Pyhaselka, is a North Karelian city in the heart of the eastern Finnish lake country and is the economic and cultural center of the region. Joensuu offers a variety of winter sports, including skiing, skating and ice-swimming.
ISEP Chance of Placement - Excellent
Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester: Early September to Mid December
- Spring Semester: Early January to Late May
Housing
Students on the Eastern Finland 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 |
| 1Personal 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
Eastern Finland offers courses across a range of disciplines. Students are able to apply to the Kuopio or Joensuu campuses. For more information please visit the ISEP Eastern Finland 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.
