University of Vaasa
About the University
The University of Vaasa has about 4,500 students enrolled in four faculties and is supervised by about 420 employees. The university emerged from a private business school founded in 1966, which was nationalised in 1977. The university's modern campus is located directly by the sea.
The city
Vaasa, the sunniest city in Finland, is a port city in the west of the country with a population of approx. 60,000, of whom about 70 % are Finnish-speaking and 20 % Swedish-speaking. The Swedish King Charles IX founded the city in 1606 and gave it the name of his noble family.
Students apply for the double degree programme at the Department Viadrina International Affairs. More detailed information on the application procedure and the deadlines can be found under application.
Requirements
- You must have at least 120 ECTS at Viadrina prior to your departure. This includes all courses from the Grundlagenausbildung (72 ECTS), two courses from the Schwerpunktbildung (12 ECTS), an internship or soft skills (12 ECTS) and language achievements (24 ECTS).
- You must have sufficient language skills.
In order to participate in the double degree programme, you should have sufficient English language skills. The University of Vaasa requires proof of your English language skills, which must be submitted before the start of the exchange programme: EU frame of reference B2 e.g. UNICERT II or equivalent.
Knowledge of Finnish is welcome, but not a prerequisite.
Winter semester: Mid/end August – Mid/end December
Summer semester: Beginning January – beginning June
You can find the exact semester times on the pages of the University of Vaasa.
When planning your studies, please keep in mind that the academic calendar of Finnish universities differs from that of German universities. The double degree programme always starts in the winter semester and you stay on site for 1 year.
Choice of course: During your stay at the University of Vaasa you have to complete a total of at least 60 ECTS. Please search for course lists on the website of the University of Vaasa. Examples can be found in the list below. In the first semester, it is best to complete as many courses as possible, as the second semester is intended for the final thesis.
Information on the courses offered and their recognition at the Viadrina can also be found on the following page:
Type of teaching: Prepare yourself for the fact that you will have to do homeworks and presentations in addition to exams. There is also a lot of group work.
General information on the recognition procedure can be found on the pages of the Department Viadrina International Affairs under the topic Recognition. In order to obtain a degree at the Viadrina, the specified modules in your degree programme must be completed in full. For this purpose, you can receive credit for the courses from abroad that you have taken as part of the DD programme, after consultation with Torsten Glase.
After successfully having passed the Bachelor Thesis, you will automatically receive a degree from the University of Vaasa. In order to receive your Bachelor's degree at the Viadrina, you have to send the completed application for recognition and a transcript with all your achievements to the Department Viadrina International Affairs.
You will write your Bachelor Thesis at the University of Vaasa. It has to be written in the second semester of your stay. The final thesis is recognised at the Viadrina with 12 ECTS points, so you don't have to write a second thesis at the Viadrina. The thesis has to be written in English.
Semester off: During the year abroad at the University of Vaasa, it is not possible to take a semester off, as no recognition of the work done abroad is possible in the case of a leave of absence.
Insurance: If you have compulsory German health insurance and possess a European Health Insurance Card you are entitled to basic coverage in other European countries. If you do not have a European Health Insurance Card, you should apply to your insurer. Furthermore, it is recommended that you take out additional insurance for the length of your stay abroad.
If you are privately insured please find out what is covered and whether you have sufficient cover in Finland. It may be recommended to take out additional insurance.
Accommodation: There are several halls of residence available, arranged through VOAS (Student Housing Foundation). Please note that some halls of residence are a little further away from campus. The cost is 200€ - 350€ per month. We would also be happy to put you in touch with students who have already spent time abroad at the University of Vaasa. Please send us a short e-mail.
Arrival: Is possible by air, train and bus. There are no direct flights to Vaasa at the moment. Most people fly from Berlin to Helsinki and take a connecting flight or train from there.
Living costs: Approx. 600€ per month (day-to-day expenses approx. 250€, Transport 30€, Accommodation 190€ - 300€).
Visa: If you are a EU citizen you only need a valid passport or identity card. If you are not a EU citizen please refer to the visa regulations on the website of the Finnish Embassy.
You can find the most up-to-date student reports under the keyword "Finnland" on our website.
