Most asked questions

About application process

How can I apply for exchange to LAB?

• If you are interested in a student exchange period at LAB University of Applied Sciences, please contact your home institution's international office. You can be considered as an exchange student if there is a student exchange agreement between your home institution and LAB University of Applied Sciences. The home institution selects the candidates for student exchange. After you have been selected by your home institution to be a candidate for student exchange and your home institution has nominated you, you can apply as an exchange student at LAB. 
• More information you can find here: https://lab.fi/en/exchange-student-guide/application 

I have been nominated for wrong field of study or faculty, what should I do?

• Student nomination are based on agreements between our universities. Agreements are for specific study fields. There can be different reasons why student is nominated for wrong study field.
  • If you think you should be nominated for some other study field, please contact your home university about this or incominglab [dot] fi. 
• NOTE! Students are nominated for study fields what they are studying in their home university. 

Where can I find your Fact sheet?

• You can find our Fact sheet from our student exchange guide.

About application documents

What English level certificate do I have to present at your university to be admitted?

• We require a certificate of competence in English level B2. For example from home university language center or teacher or copy of IELTS 6.0 test results or copy of TOEFL iBT 72 test results. NOTE! The students whose native is English, can attach a free-form document stating that the student's mother tongue is English.

My Learning agreement need to be signed, who can sign that? 

• We usually sign Learning agreements after final acceptance. Your departmental coordinator does sign your learning agreement.

About course lists

Where can I find courses / course lists?

• The courses for exchange students are available in the online Study Guide.

How can I do my Learning Agreement/Study plan? And what is it?

• Learning agreement and Study plan are the same thing, it is a list of courses you're planning to do in our university. You need to look our course lists and choose what courses you want to do during your stay in our university. 
• Note also that there can be changes in course offerings still in the beginning of the semester. 
• Very often there will be some changes in learning agreements. Our teachers help students with the course choices when students arrive to our university and teachers know what which courses are available. 

Can I take courses from other faculties?

• Incoming exchange students may take some courses cross faculties and study fields if they meet the courses' prerequisites. 
• However, please note that courses from the Institute of Design and Fine arts are available only for design and fine arts students. 
• Language and culture courses and interdisciplinary courses are open for all exchange students. 

Can I take online courses?

• Exchange students can take some online courses, but the most of the courses should be campus courses. 

Are all courses for exchange students in English?

• All the courses for exchange students are in English. 

Other topics

When does the semester start and end in LAB?

• The academic year at LAB University of Applied Sciences is divided into autumn and spring semesters. Within these semesters each faculty has their own study period and course schedule (this means that courses may start at different time). Exams are included in the study periods and there are no separate exam weeks.​
• Every semester starts with the orientation. Orientations are intended to help you start your studies. 
• Autumn semester starts end of the August or early in September. Autumn semester ends usually middle of the December. 
• Spring semester starts early in January and ends usually end of the April or early in May.

When is the orientation and what does it include?

• Orientations organized in the beginning of semester. 
• Orientations will tell you a bit about: 
  • LAB University, campus tour
  • You get to meet other exchange student
  • Finnish culture 
  • Student union and how to get a student card 
  • And much more 

My Confirmation of stay/arrival/departure for my home university need to be signed, who can sign that?

• Your international coordinator can sign that, contact incominglab [dot] fi (incoming[at]lab[dot]fi) about this

What kind of clothes I should take with me to Finland?

• In Finland we have four seasons, so get ready for it. Other exchange students recommended to get winter clothing in Finland. We have many clothing stores where you can get clothes suitable for the Finnish weather.