STUDY IN SOUTHEAST FINLAND. Degree programmes in English Bachelor & Master Studies

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1 STUDY IN SOUTHEAST FINLAND Degree programmes in English Bachelor & Master Studies

2 EDITORIAL INFORMATION Editors Xamk Communication and Marketing and Kyamk & Mamk International Services Graphic design and layout Xamk Communication and Marketing Printed by Tammerprint Ltd 6/2015 We reserve the rights to changes Kyamk University of Applied Sciences and Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences

3 Content Welcome to Finland KYAMK Degree programme in international business Degree programme in game design MAMK Degree programme in information technology Degree programme in business management Degree programme in environmental engineering

4 WELCOME TO FINLAND WELCOME TO Finland Finland is known for its high standard of life and quality of education. Higher education in Finland has a dual structure and it is provided by universities and universities of applied sciences. Universities emphasise scientific research and instruction whereas universities of applied sciences adopt a more practical approach. Why to choose Finland > High-quality education > No tuition fees > Innovative approach to education > Clean, healthy environment > Fresh and healthy food > Plenty of things to do indoors and out all kinds of sports and culture > It is not as cold as you would think, not even in winter, and summer is pretty warm > Excellent living conditions > Safe and risk-free environment > High level of computerisation on campuses and fast Internet connections in homes, too Facts about Finland > Finland is a republic and a member of the European Union (EU) > Population: 5.4 million > Capital: Helsinki > Official languages: Finnish and Swedish > Currency: Euro > Most Finns, especially younger ones, speak English very well Structure of studies Full-time studies leading to a bachelor-level degree last years ( ECTS). You can apply to study for a master s degree if you have a degree from a university of applied sciences or another higher education degree plus at least three years of work experience in the relevant field of study. Studies in a master-level degree programme take 2.5 years (90 ECTS). Kyamk and Mamk offer 60 bachelor s and master s degree programmes, 8 of which are completely in English. New university of applied sciences in 2017 In 2017, Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences and Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences will merge and form a new university of applied sciences that operates at four locations: Kotka, Kouvola, Mikkeli and Savonlinna. The new university of applied sciences will provide students with a wider range of courses, more diverse services and the fifth largest student community in Finland. It will be an internationally competitive partner that enhances the attraction of the regions and the regions' businesses and communities. Practical learning on all campuses The requirements of the working life are emphasised in the studies. Kyamk and Mamk offer you the possibility to work with real businesses already during your study time. Both universities have extensive connections with many diverse companies and provide students with different kinds of projects. The close co-operation with working life has proven to be an important key to employment after graduation. Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk 4

5 WELCOME TO FINLAND The new university of applied sciences will provide students with a wider range of courses, more diverse services and the fifth largest student community in Finland. Aurora borealis in Finnish Lapland. Finland is the land of thousands of lakes. FINLAND NORWAY OSLO Helsinki, the capital of Finland. SWEDEN Mikkeli Kouvola Kotka Mamk Kyamk Savonlinna RUSSIA STOCKHOLM Baltic Sea HELSINKI TALLINN ESTONIA ST. PETERSBURG 5 Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk LATVIA

6 KYAMK KYAMK Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences (Kyamk) is a modern multidisciplinary higher education institution located in the towns of Kotka and Kouvola in South-East Finland. There are around 1800 students in Kouvola and 2500 students in Kotka. STUDENTS total 4, CAMPUSES in the towns of Kotka and Kouvola The Kasarminmäki campus was originally built in 1920 to serve as barracks of the Russian army. OVER foreign students from more than 20 countries every year International Kyamk OVER partner institutions European countries, China, Australia, Russia, Belarus, etc. International activities are an integral part of studies at Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences. Kyamk aims to prepare students for international jobs that require professional skills, knowledge of languages and an open-minded attitude towards other cultures. International activities are carried out in co-operation between education, research, employers and the surrounding society. The activities include exchange programmes, teaching in other languages, internationalisation at home, and international education, research and development projects. Kyamk has over 100 partner institutions in nearly 30 countries in Europe, Russia and Asia. International degree programmes conducted in English: > Bachelor s programmes: International business, Game design > Master s programmes: International business management (MBA), design, health promotion More information at Every year, Kyamk hosts approximately 200 foreign degree students who study in the international bachelor-level business and game design programmes conducted in English. In addition, Kyamk receives some 140 foreign exchange students who come to study in the Departments of business, culture, and transport and technology. Kouvola K ouvola is the biggest town in the region with approximately 87,000 inhabitants. It is a large town with plenty to see and experience and it provides a cosy surrounding for students. Attractions range from the Repovesi national park to the Tykkimäki amusement park. Four top sports teams, versatile hobby opportunities and night life that is filled with live music guarantee recreation for everyone. It is easy to travel from Kouvola to other parts of Finland. The distance to Helsinki is only about 140 kilometres. There are also daily connections to Russia, with the Allegro train operating between Kouvola and St. Petersburg. Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk 6

7 KYAMK 1. TRAVEL TIME Helsinki Kouvola 1 hrs 20 min Helsinki Kotka HELSINKI 2 h Kouvola Kotka 1. In Kymenlaakso you can spend your time by the water. Kymijoki runs through Kouvola and Kotka. 2. Kouvola is a lively yet safe town to live in. 3. Kasarminmäki offers a pleasant and inspiring environment to study. Being a student at KYAMK There are many ways to spend free time in Kymenlaakso: sports and culture are equally available. Kyamk has a versatile sports programme that includes guided courses and classes. Kyamk offers, for instance, such activities as floorball, badminton and kettlebell exercises. An ice rink, ball sports and gym practice are also available. Kyamk even has its own (American) football team! In Kymenlaakso, you can, in general, choose from numerous sports alternatives, such as downhill skiing, golf, tennis, bowling, climbing, canoeing, ball sports, gym, swimming Culture can be enjoyed in the form of movies, theatre, concerts and other events. The nature in Kymenlaakso is unparalleled. You can enjoy the view of the sea by the Gulf of Finland or the rapids of the Kymijoki river, or immerse yourself in the lake scenery in the Repovesi national park, all these places being located just within a short drive from each other. The student union Klaani is the statutory service and trustee organisation of Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences. It looks after the students interests, especially in educational politics and social politics, regardless of the students field of study or campus. Opiskelijan Kymenlaakso offers students discounts not only for products and services but also for sports and culture. It also organises various events together with the student union and its interest groups. The party committees Kupla and Kopla cheer up student life even further they organise the official student parties. Klaani: FB: Opiskelijakunta Klaani Opiskelijan Kymenlaakso: FB: Opiskelijan Kymenlaakso 7 Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk

8 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Degree programme in international business DEGREE OBTAINED: Bachelor of Business Administration EXTENT OF DEGREE: 210 credits (ECTS) DURATION OF STUDIES: 3.5 years LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English POSSIBLE CAREERS: > Project manager > Market supervisor > Team manager > Development director > Sales representative > Account manager > Export manager > Entrepreneur > Logistics manager > Purchaser More information at international_business career Pursuing challenging careers in international business The bachelor s degree programme in international business aims to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and understanding required in challenging positions within the field of international business. It also strives to produce graduates who can work independently and communicate with people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Fields of specialisation Within the degree programme, you can specialise in either international marketing or international trade starting from the second year of study. The studies in international marketing aim at giving students the knowledge and skills to undertake various demanding tasks in the field of marketing and customer service. Graduates of international marketing have found positions as market supervisors, team managers, development directors, sales and account managers. By specialising in international trade, students will be qualified for planning, leadership and positions requiring competence in international trade. Former graduates are working as area export managers, entrepreneurs, logistics managers, purchasers and export operators. Learning to understand Finland Student tells about KYAMK Thach is a 19-year-old international business student from Da Nang city, Vietnam. The decision to apply to Kyamk came, among other things, down to the proximity of Kouvola to the Finnish capital city Helsinki. It takes only about 90 minutes to travel to Helsinki by train. Living with a Finn W hen Thach first moved to Kouvola, she lived in a student flat with a Finnish roommate. Her initial contact with the Finnish culture and living alone was a bit of a shock. When I first moved to the student flat, I knew nothing. But I m so thankful because I got a Finnish roommate. She was a good guide to me and we could talk. I could understand more about Finnish people through her. At first I thought that we would be friendly, sticking together all the time because in Vietnam it is a collective soci- Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk 8

9 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Thach ety. We talk continuously and any silence is awkward. We don t really have any privacy. Most of the time, my Finnish roommate was inside her room. She was silent and she locked the room. But I compared my experience with information I found online and understood that Finns want moments for themselves. Staying for the summer After finishing her first year of studies, Thach decided to stay in Kouvola for the summer. She thinks summer is the best time to discover Finnish cities. I wanted to know what summer was like in Finland. I didn t expect it to be so hot. I went swimming, did some scouting, and some charity work for the Red Cross. I also volunteered for the local music festival. I even got to see Sonata Arctica! I also found a new hobby biking. We biked around Kouvola and to places near it. It was so joyful to enjoy nature and really relax through the summer. It was the first true summer I have had. Thach s advices 1. Before moving, do your research about the culture, weather and activities you can do there. 2. Practice cooking to get used to it when living all by yourself. 3. You can bring your favourite clothes you normally wear because the heating system indoors works well. 4. Bring with you books to read in your own language they can help keep your mother tongue from fading away. 5. Bring with you some small gifts specific to your culture to give to your friends. 9 Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk

10 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN GAME DESIGN Degree programme in game design DEGREE OBTAINED: Bachelor of Culture and Arts EXTENT OF DEGREE: 240 credits (ECTS) DURATION OF STUDIES: 4 years LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English career POSSIBLE CAREERS: > Game designer > 3D-modeller of characters and environments > Script writer > Concept artist > Entrepreneur of game design business More information at The degree programme aims at providing competence in global game design entrepreneurship with hands-on experience and a holistic approach to visual game design concepts. The basic studies cover arts and design skills, design methods and professional tools. The education centres on 3D modelling, concept art, script writing and game mechanics. Different game design concepts will be explored in workshops, leading to design-oriented multidisciplinary projects in co-operation with various organisations. During the studies, students will devise their own game projects with the aim of developing them into viable businesses in the future. Meduusa game design platform The degree programme has inspiring facilities for promoting the creation of new game ideas. Meduusa game design presents students with up-to-date equipment which will ease the development of new projects for various platforms. In addition, there is collaboration focusing on game programming with the Degree programme in technology and the GameLab learning environment located in Kotka. Career opportunities Studies in game design enable people from different cultural backgrounds to build an international career. Through research and development assignments, the degree gives competence to become an expert in specific areas of game design and other fields that use 3D modelling and animation, such as advertising and TV production. Game Design done the right way Student tells about KYAMK ulia is a 20-year-old Game design student from Estonia. She moved to Kouvola from Tallinn after finishing her secondary education. Basically I just Googled for English degree programmes that were related to arts and culture. I found the information I needed online and applied to a few universities in Finland. Julia took the entrance exam in Tallinn through the Finnips programme. You don t always really have to come all the way to Finland to take the entrance exam. Finnips allows you to take some of the Finnish entrance exams in different cities across Europe, Asia and even Africa. Moving to Kouvola The decision to move to Finland and Kouvola was easy. Julia received information about student housing along with her acceptance papers. She filled in the accommodation application form online, packed her belongings into a car Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk 10

11 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN GAME DESIGN and drove to Kouvola with her father. I think it s very nice that the school provides information about student flats because in the end it s really the cheapest solution for accommodation. In Kouvola, Julia lives just outside the city centre. She usually rides to school on her bike. The trip to school takes about 25 minutes by bike and roughly 45 minutes by foot. In winter she prefers to take the bus to school. Finnish customs When it comes to friends and social life, Julia is a very active person. She frequently attends parties and other events arranged by the student unions. My closest friends are Finns. They are not typical Finns. That I can tell you. It s not how you picture the stereotype of this shy and sulky kind of person. Although not a firm believer in the Finnish stereotype, Julia has noticed a few interesting habits that Finns have. For example, Finns like to plan all events really well beforehand. For instance, you can t just ask people out for coffee. They have to know about it at least a day beforehand, so they can plan it. Locked out When asked about the most memorable events during her studies, Julia shares a story about being locked out. During a Game Jam held on the campus, we got a permission to be here at night. It was 3 a.m. when we realised it had been snowing the whole day. One of our friends told us that she had never seen snow. So we were all like, yes, let s go out! After frolicking around in the snow for a while, the girls realised they weren t going to get back in. No one had told us that the building would be locked. I mean we took the keys but it was locked. Having nowhere to go to, the girls had no choice but to leave the campus. Luckily they had their outdoor clothes on. So we walked all the way to the student flats. There was no other option. It took us like 35 minutes! A lesson to be learned for future students. During winter, dress warm and don t get locked out! 11 Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk

12 MAMK MAMK Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences (Mamk) has campuses in Mikkeli and Savonlinna. There are 3700 students in Mikkeli and 800 students in Savonlinna. STUDENTS total 4, CAMPUSES in the towns of Mikkeli and Savonlinna The main campus in Mikkeli is located at a former military base with beautiful buildings and surroundings. It has a truly international atmosphere as there are over 300 foreign students from many different countries on campus every year. At Mamk, there are three programmes which are taught completely in English. Depending on the programme, you can meet visiting lecturers from Mamk s partner universities or attend intensive weeks. Thanks to Mamk s international partners, you have the possibility to go for an exchange. Mamk has a large network of partner universities not only in Europe but also in other parts of the world. International degree programmes conducted in English: > Bachelor s programmes: Information technology, Business management and Environmental engineering OVER foreign students from more than 20 countries every year Mikkeli partner institutions European countries, USA, Hong Kong, South Korea etc. Mikkeli is located in Eastern Finland in an area with many lakes and forests. The town is located not so far away from the metropolitan area, so one can easily get there by bus or train. Mikkeli has an interesting history since the town served as the headquarters of the Finnish army during three wars. That is why you can see Headquarters mentioned in many places. Mikkeli is a lively town not only in summer but also in winter. Last winter we enjoyed an international ice festival which was organised in Mikkeli for the first time. In addition to different festivals, you can enjoy various happenings throughout the year, the world-famous Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra being a good example OVER More information at Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk 12

13 TRAVEL TIME MAMK Helsinki Mikkeli 3. 2 hrs 30 min Mikkeli Savonlinna 1hrs 30 min Mikkeli Savonlinna 4. HELSINKI 1. Mikkeli in winter, view from the dock shore. 2. Canoeing in lake Saimaa. 3. The gym on main campus. 4. Restaurant Dexi on main campus. 5. Students at Mamk. 5. Being a student at MAMK Mamk takes good care of it's students. It offers possibilities to do many kinds of sports, such as frisbee golf and ball games. Mamk students can also attend club activities, go to the gym and bowl in the town s bowling hall on campus. It also offers various services for students who need assistance. By offering good conditions, Mamk tries to help the students find a good balance between studying and leisure time. The things you encounter at Mamk will stay with you for a lifetime. There will be many new experiences and challenges to overcome and you will find your journey to Mamk to be truly educational perhaps in a way you can never imagine. The student union MAMOK is a service provider and lobbying organization for students at Mamk. It s role is to ensure that the students voices are heard in every decision-making organ of Mamk. Mamok is active on both Mamk s campuses. Together with Mamk, MAMOK arranges various leisure time activities. It is also responsible for coordinating the tutor activities and it arranges a few big parties for all students during the academic year. Mamok: FB: MAMOK 13 Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk

14 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Degree programme in information technology DEGREE OBTAINED: Bachelor of Engineering EXTENT OF DEGREE: 240 credits (ECTS) DURATION OF STUDIES: 4 years LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English POSSIBLE CAREERS: > Network specialist > Information system manager > Software engineer > Entrepreneur > Project manager More information at information_technology career Would you like to make a career in the dynamic area of information and communication technologies? In the Degree programme in information technology, you will learn how PC computers and servers work, how their operating systems work and how networks which connect them across the globe work. Data security is the topic which is included in all our courses. Together with our Network Academy partners (Cisco and Microsoft) and the hands-on laboratory, we can offer you a modern environment to develop your professional skills. Objective of the degree programme The objecwtive of the Degree programme in information technology is to educate the innovators of the future Internet. We offer you the required skills in different aspects of information technology, including network technologies, hardware and software engineering with some media content. Most of your professional studies will be carried out in our IT Centre Mikpoli. Nobody knows what future generations of information technology will bring but we do know that our graduates will help to shape this new world. Study hard, party hard Student tells about MAMK Mikhail, or Mikko as his friends call him, is an 18-year-old information technology student from Russia. He moved to Mikkeli from Moscow straight after high school. He is currently living in a MOAS student flat with his girlfriend. The best UAS in Finland I was searching online for a nice university to study IT at. I really like Finland and Mamk is the best university of applied sciences here. Mikko did his entrance exam in Russia, found it pretty easy and passed. Mamk offers the possibility to take courses not directly related to your specialisation or degree programme. This summer I have chosen to do several courses and one of them is game programming. Besides normal studies, Mikko has also participated in a hackathon organ- Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk 14

15 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ised by NASA. We did the most amazing app. You can t even imagine. In the app you choose between random pictures of clouds that are taken from space. The one that gets the most votes gets shown on our website. Remember to be tolerant When asked what the biggest cultural and economic differences are, Mikko is able to find a few points to share with us. It is important to know that you live in a multicultural environment and you need to consider people from different cultures. You just need to be tolerant and obey the rules. Basically that s it. Finnish people are also really close to nature and they respect the privacy of others. Finns don t visit each other unannounced and a Finnish person does not talk to a stranger unless they really need to. Mikko says that the price of living in Mikkeli is comparable to that of Russia. No need to exaggerate Even though Finland is known for its nature and wildlife, there is no need to bring things usually brought on hikes or camping with you. When I came here the first time, I brought a mosquito spray with me but I didn t really need it because there aren t that many mosquitos. Maybe only in the middle of summer. When asked what to bring Mikko adds. Just pack with you all the ordinary stuff and some warm clothes because winter is severe. Feeling home sick? Mikko has high praises for Finns and Finland in general. He loves the Finnish nature and the pollution-free environment that Mikkeli has to offer. He has managed to make a lot of friends at school. Some of whom are Russian as well. There are a lot of Russian students at Mamk, so I don t really miss Russian people. I can always visit them, party and do crazy stuff. Mikko 15 Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk

16 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Degree programme in business management DEGREE OBTAINED: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) EXTENT OF DEGREE: 210 credits (ECTS) DURATION OF STUDIES: 3.5 years LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English POSSIBLE CAREERS: > Marketing assistant > Export assistant > Sales manager > Account manager > Service manager More information at business_management career Become an expert in international business Would you like to launch a career in an international business environment? Are you interested in marketing, personnel and general management or financial services in a company operating across international frontiers? In the Business management degree programme you will develop a wide range of skills and knowledge relevant to modern business, with a flexibility to pursue your own interests. In addition, we offer > practical teaching methods > studies closely integrated into the local working life > personal guidance in studies > support to build your own study path > skills to become an entrepreneur International orientation is facilitated through international lecturers and professors in Mikkeli, multicultural groups with students coming from around the world as well as through the possibility of studying abroad. A native s point of view Student tells about MAMK Petra, aged 20, applied to Mamk after graduating from high school. Being a native Finn and having lived all her life in Mikkeli, applying to Mamk seemed the most logical and natural choice. One of the main reasons for Petra to apply to an English degree programme was the fact that she finds language skills more and more important in business life. As English isn t an official language in Finland, both native and foreign (non-english speaking) students start out at basically the same level. Besides the degree programme being in English, we have to take at least 15 credits worth of additional language studies. You can study, for example, Swedish, English, French, German or Russian. The courses At Mamk, business management courses are generally made up of dif- Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk 16

17 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ferent parts that can include an intensive week followed by a longer period of study. All courses usually include lectures, group work and presentations. A typical class lasts for about 45 minutes. It can be a lecture or we might do group work and then present our ideas at the end of class. Figuring it all out After graduating, Petra would like to combine her passion for sports and, possibly, make a career for herself in sport sponsorship. I am specialising in marketing and I would like it (my job) to be somehow related to sports and sponsorship or events. I m currently competing on a national level in figure skating, so I m familiar with the topic. I think it would be easy to continue on the same path. Competing on a national level can have it s toll on the studies but luckily Mamk is a school that is very flexible when it comes to studying. I m very lucky because the school supports me a lot. I practise almost every day. I have about nine hours of ice training and nine hours of additional training each week. Has the training affected your studies? I have had to make some special arrangements, especially during the intensive week because my practice starts at four o clock every day and school might last until six o clock. I have made a deal with the school and the different teachers to leave earlier. As a result, I may get some additional work or the teachers show me what I need to study independently. Do you know if there are any foreign athletes currently studying at Mamk? I think we re all Finnish. I talked to my teacher and she told me that I was the first athlete to study business management. I think that foreign students just come here to study and nothing else. It s a shame because you can study and do sports here - you can combine them both. Just to wrap it up What do you think are the strong points Finland has to offer to foreign applicants? Maybe Finnish know-how because it is highly respected worldwide. Finns are also generally very straightforward and our school system treats all students equally. The teachers don t let their own feelings or opinions affect the teaching. Petra 17 Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk

18 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Degree programme in environmental engineering DEGREE OBTAINED: Bachelor of Engineering EXTENT OF DEGREE: 240 credits (ECTS) DURATION OF STUDIES: 4 years LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English POSSIBLE WORKING TASKS > Planning and developing products and processes > Managing environmental systems > Surveying and assessing environmental activities > Managing responsibility issues > Training and consulting More information at environmental_engineering career Make a future take an EE Would you like to become an environmental engineer who understands environmental economics and environmental management? Studying in the Environmental engineering degree programme is a great way to boost your career prospects. The growing challenge of the climate change, the expanding need for clean technologies, environmental health and safety issues and the green economy are trends that benefit our engineering graduates. We coach you for a position of an international environmental expert in public or private sector. Content of studies > Basic engineering studies and organisational knowledge > Environmental science and technologies > Environmental management > Practical training > Thesis Part of your practical studies is carried out in our environmental laboratory on the modern and international main campus and also in projects carried out in co-operation with working life. You will practise and further develop your skills during the practical training period (5 months) in a company or an organisation. The Finnish way learning by doing Student tells about MAMK Diego, aged 24, is an environmental engineering student from Spain. Before his studies at Mamk, Diego studied environmental sciences at the University of Malaga and was on exchange in Kuopio. I am here basically completing my degree. In Kuopio I decided that I wanted to complete my studies here in Finland. I found out that there are only two universities of applied sciences in Finland that offer an English degree programme in environmental engineering. I decided to apply to Mamk because it is closer to Kuopio. Mikkeli is also a smaller city, so living here is cheaper. Studying in Finland As Diego has studied in two different universities before applying to Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk 18

19 DEGREE PROGRAMME IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Mamk, he is able to give us some insight into how the schools compare. There are differences. In Spain it s like the old traditional university style. You have to study a lot and take exams. But here in Finland it is totally different. You have to study, for sure, but it is more practical. You are learning by doing things. Almost every day you are in the lab or write reports that complete lectures. The teachers split the courses into different parts and you are given topics that you write reports on. You are essentially doing your own research and getting more information that way than what the teacher would otherwise provide you with during the course. In that way, you are studying the fields that interest you the most. What kind of things do you do in the lab? It depends on the course and the topic. For example, we have courses in microbiology where we take samples of microbes. First we make them grow and then check the effect of antibiotics on them. In other courses, such as waste management, for example, we make compost and purify polluted samples from landfills, check heat values of wood chips or treat water from wastewater plants. In addition, in some courses we have small trips to companies to see how they work. Which one do you think is better? The traditional way or the Finnish way? I think it is better to learn by doing. I think it is important to have a lot of work experience, such as writing reports or whatever. Because once you are in the real working life, your boss is probably going to ask you to write reports. It is more useful than just studying for exams. Get a Finnish family Mamk has a programme where foreign students are paired up with a Finnish student and their family. I strongly recommend foreign students to apply to the programme. I think it is a good way to meet new people and get to know the Finnish culture. It is also a good way to get someone who can help you if you get into an emergency here. I think it s really nice. Diego 19 Study in Southeast Finland Kyamk & Mamk

20 GROW STRONG. Ecolabelled printing company , Tammerprint Ltd. 6/2015 CONTACT INFORMATION Kyamk University of Applied Sciences Admissions services P.O.Box 111, FI Kouvola, FINLAND Tel Fax: admissions@kyamk.fi Mamk University of Applied Sciences Admissions services P.O.Box 181, FI Mikkeli, FINLAND Tel Fax: admissions@mamk.fi kymenlaaksonamk mikkelinamk twitter.com/kyamk10 twitter.com/hyvatyyppi KymenlaaksonAMK Instagram: kyamk mikkeliamk Instagram: mikkeliuas