Abo Akademi University
Equal parts modern and historic Turku is home to a growing modern culture alongside castles and cathedrals from the 13th century. With an old city layout, you can walk the cobble stone streets along the plough river, where live music plays throughout the year and world famous restaurants are just a stone’s throw away. Though this city goes back to medieval times, you can find a vivid art scene and cafés full of college students, who all meet frequently in the city center. Abo also has another campus in Vasa, often called the most sunny city in Finland. The city of Vasa is situated on the west coast of Finland and the region is one of the most innovative in Finland and an important center for Finland-Swedish culture. Vasa is based just next to the sea and the city mixes old towns with new and have beautiful harbors and nature areas all around it.
Application Deadline
Program Start
Program End
Program Details
Academic Program
Exchange students can choose from a variety of courses offered in English including Anthropology, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Science, East Asian Studies, Economics, English, Environmental Science, Finland-Swedish Studies, French, History, Human Rights, Information Science/Technology, Japanese Studies, Law, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Policy, Russian & East European Studies, Scandinavian Studies, Sociology, Swedish, and Gender Studies (formerly women’s studies). Some of these areas are taught at Abo Academy, while others are taught at the International University of Turku/Åbo and other schools by cooperative arrangements amongst the universities in the region. The Abo Vasa campus offers courses in Education and Welfare Studies.
Course Descriptions and Syllabi
Courses taught in English are available online.
Review Abo’s website for more information regarding course offerings.
General Education Information for UAlbany Students
Credits earned on this program will automatically satisfy the International Perspectives requirement. Three credits of foreign language study will satisfy the Foreign Language requirement. No additional approval is required for you to earn these general elective credits.
Major/Minor Information for UAlbany Students
Courses may also satisfy major and minor requirements, upon approval by the department.
Transcript
All courses taken abroad count towards UAlbany General Elective credits. Credits and grades will appear on your UAlbany transcript. You may file a request to have additional courses approved for equivalency as necessary.
Your Instructors
Your courses are taught by local faculty.
Housing
There are several housing options in Turku & Vasa, both private and University housing through Student Village Foundation. You need to apply in advance to secure your housing. Students in the past have not had trouble finding a place to live and the staff there will assist you as needed.
More information can be found online here.
Meals
There are many places to eat around and near campus. There is no meal plan included with this program. Check out this info about some of the cafés on campus. A hot lunch at the student restaurant may only cost $3!
Estimate of Costs
Finland_Abo_Oulu_Helsinki EX 19-20 REV 071019.pdf
More Information
Click for more information on Program Costs and Financial Aid.
Remember to speak with the Office of Financial Aid at your home campus to determine how your aid package could apply towards your program abroad.
Academic Requirements
Students should be prepared to work with considerable independence. Coursework in Finland may be modular, so that students work on one subject area intensively for a time, and then move on to another. Applications are welcome from students in all majors. A minimum grade point average of 2.7 is preferred. There is no language requirement.
Experiential Learning
Check out this video about student life in Turku!
Åbo and Vasa offer a great variety of cultural experiences that you can discover during your stay. There are choirs, theatres, cinemas, dance theatres and performances, museums, and orchestras and bands who give concerts, as well as festivals and other cultural events.
Student Clubs and Organizations
There are many student associations to join.
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is an international student organization active in 37 countries. Its purpose is to help international students during their stay in another country. ESN sections in Åbo and Vasa organize a wide range of activities and trips (in Finland and to other countries!) for international students throughout the academic year.
Funding Opportunities
Most financial aid and academic awards will apply to semester programs.
External scholarships, listed on our website, are a good way to partially fund your study abroad experience. In addition, the Center for International Education and Global Strategy offers two scholarship programs for UAlbany students studying abroad on UAlbany or 4-year SUNY programs.
More information on applying to these scholarships is located on the Scholarships web page.
In Their Own Words
Check out some of the student testimonials in this brochure!
About the City
Equal parts modern and historic Turku is home to a growing modern culture alongside castles and cathedrals from the 13th century. With an old city layout, you can walk the cobble stone streets along the plough river, where live music plays throughout the year and world famous restaurants are just a stone’s throw away. Though this city goes back to medieval times, you can find a vivid art scene and cafés full of college students, who all meet frequently in the city center.
Travel Documents
A valid passport is required to participate in this program. You need to apply for a residence permit online and the Abo website has resources for you. More information regarding the visa application process is available upon acceptance to the program.
Application Availability
Applications become available online one semester before the program start date, based on the following timeline:
- Spring programs: July
- Fall/Year programs: December
Program Dates
Academic Year 2019-2020
8/25/2019 to 5/24/2020
Fall 2019
8/25/2019 to 12/22/2019
Spring 2020
1/2/2020 to 5/24/2020
Full academic calendar is online here.
About the Program
Åbo Akademi University is the only multidisciplinary Swedish-language university in Finland. The university was founded in 1918 in order to provide higher education for the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland. Åbo Akademi University has a strong international profile. Out of a total student population (7 000 students) about 1 000 students are international students, and out of these some 300 are international exchange students from all around the world. Åbo Akademi University is one of the most international universities in Finland when looking at the student population.
Check out this digital brochure for lots of useful information in one place.
Top 5 Reasons Why Finland is an Exciting Destination for Students?!
Program Orientations
Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation. During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet other program participants, discuss in-depth the details of your program, and prepare of the overall education abroad experience. The fall semester pre-departure orientation will be conducted the Saturday before the end of Spring UAlbany classes and in late November/early December for the spring term abroad.
Upon arrival at Abo, you will attend a mandatory program orientation. This is an important and informative set of sessions organized by International Office of your host university.
Support Services
UAlbany’s Office of Education Abroad staff assists you during the application process, in your preparation to travel abroad, and on-site if necessary.
Abo’s International Office staff serve as an experienced resource for resolving issues that you may encounter in while abroad.
You will also have a “tutor” at Abo through their mentoring program. Your tutor will serve as a support for you throughout your stay both academically and socially.