ARCADA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED LIFE. Joint application 7.1–11.2.2014.
APPLY! ARCADA.FI
Do you want to live, learn and explore student life in an inspiring and international environment? With bachelor’s degree programmes in English in business administration, technology and health care Arcada offers you a wide range of stepping-stones to launch your career. We know that the future belongs to the curious.
Bachelor’s Degree Programmes
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The future belongs to the curious! To learn, to progress and to find what makes your heart beat a little faster – student life is the beginning of an inspiring journey. Here at our international campus in Arabianranta, just a few minutes from central Helsinki, we see today’s young talents grow and become the experts of tomorrow. And if there is one thing that we can say for certain, it is that with curiosity and passion there is no limit to what you can accomplish. The basis of all education at Arcada is that it’s through the combination of theory and practice that we learn the most. Doing is just as important as reading. You can look forward to interesting lectures, spending time in lifelike learning environments and getting valuable work life experience through exciting projects and practical training in the field. Arcada also offers plenty of opportunities to participate in exchange programmes and work practice periods abroad. Come live, learn and explore student life with us at Arcada! Your future is waiting just around the corner, and we are just as curious as you are about your full potential. We hope to see you soon at the University of Applied Life! /Gunilla, Fredrik and the rest of the communications team
In our blog Inside Arcada you meet students and staff and get a sneak peak behind the scenes at our university of applied sciences. inside.arcada.fi
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Degree programmes at Arcada BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN ENGLISH International Business • Nursing • Materials Processing Technology
BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN SWEDISH Business Administration • Cultural Management • Environmental and Energy Engineering • Emergency Care • Media • Information Technology • Nursing • Public Health • Midwifery • Occupational Therapy • Physiotherapy • Materials Processing Technology • Social Services • Sports and Health Promotion
MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAMMES International Business Management • Media Management • Global Health Care • Sports, Social Services and Health Care (in Swedish)
FURTHER EDUCATION Arcada Further Education offers further education and courses for adult students.
A modern education awaits you – learning by doing at Arcada Arcada is an international and modern university of applied sciences in Helsinki, Finland. We offer high-quality education and further education in Swedish and English for our 2,700 students. We believe in close contact with the workplace and co-operate with more than 90 higher education institutions and universities across the world. We also conduct practical research that is relevant to the world in which we live. These are just a few of the many reasons a degree from Arcada is so highly desired by employers. With programmes in business administration, tourism, culture, media, technology, sports, social welfare and health care, we offer you a wide range of options from which to launch your career. Our cross-disciplinary structure means that we promote activities, syllabuses and research initiatives that go beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Close ties to working life As an Arcada graduate you haven’t just gained theoretical knowledge, but also invaluable practical skills and experience. Your work practice periods, as well as joint projects with national and international organisations, are important opportunities to get hands-on knowledge. Arcada also regularly invites representatives from leading companies as guest lecturers. Entrepreneurship As many of our alumni become entrepreneurs, we make every effort to actively promote the entrepreneurial aspect of studies and encourage our students’ business ideas. The Arcada Oasis is a haven for entrepreneurial spirits and the starting point for many exciting business ventures. As a student at Arcada you are also encouraged to participate in events such as e.g. start-up challenges and international entrepreneurship fairs. Research and development At Arcada the distinction between student and colleague is often vague. You work alongside teachers and researchers and as your skills improve you take on more challenging and inspiring research and development projects. The societal impact is an important aspect of these projects. That something is “made in Arcada” means that it was created to solve a problem facing the world surrounding us.
Urban living at the Arcada campus Living in a student flat on campus will certainly spice up your student life. This is where you can unwind after a hectic day, where you study and make friends for life. It’s not more than a hundred metres to the Arcada building. It’s the same distance to the tram that takes you to central Helsinki in just 15 minutes. Living next to the beautiful Arabianranta you have access to a shopping mall, gym, tennis courts and a football pitch nearby. The local jogging tracks are excellent and in the winter you don’t have to think twice about strapping on your ice skates: the rink is just around the corner. The Arcada campus is perfectly located, wouldn’t you agree? Our student flats are modern and have their own kitchens and bathrooms. And there is one thing on which all students living on campus can agree—the prices are competitive, to say the least. Apartments there are in high constant demand.
Custom-tailored study programmes can also be arranged for companies. Please see www.arcada.fi/further
Find out more about housing on the Arcada campus at majstranden.fi
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A WARM WELCOME TO ARCADA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES There is much to learn and a lot of information to digest when first setting foot on campus. But don’t worry—at Arcada we lend you a helping hand. First stop is Student Services where the staff will answer all your questions regarding applications, student rights, career services, study guidance and international exchange. We also have many other services to offer, such as our modern library, student health office and IT and language support. You can also rest assured that the Arcada Student Union (ASK) and the student tutors will do their absolute best to make you feel at home. ASK isn’t only the students’ voice when important decisions are made at Arcada, they also arranges parties and various events in their very own Cor-house (where you will also find a café, sauna and plenty of new friends waiting).
AN INTERNATIONAL ATMOSPHERE Life at Arcada University of Applied Sciences is filled with intercultural encounters. Students and staff from over 50 countries have gathered here, and dialogue and co-operation across cultural and national borders is as natural as it is rewarding. The increasingly international focus of today’s labour market is clearly reflected in the degree programmes Arcada offers. The English Bachelor’s degree programmes are for example closely tied to parallel programmes in Swedish. The idea is to utilise structural networks and learning experiences from the counterpart programmes, and also to
familiarise international students with the Finnish labour market in a genuinely multicultural environment.
exchange and co-operation networks, and our students take courses, participate in projects and sign up for exchange studies all over the world.
And not only do we welcome the world to Arcada, we also encourage our students to travel and study abroad. We are part of a wide range of international
For more information on studying and living in Helsinki, Finland, please see infopankki.fi, finland.fi, studyhelsinki.fi and studyinfinland.fi
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ARCADA Degree Programme in Nursing Degree: Bachelor of Health Care (Registered Nurse) Scope: 210 ECTS credits (3.5 years) Students admitted: 20 Entrance examination: 15.4 + 16.4 or 17.4.2014 As a graduate from this programme you qualify as registered nurses with EU competence. The curriculum is based on caring science with multidisciplinary elements from natural sciences (medicine), social and behavioural sciences. Theoretical know ledge and practical skills are combined in simulated situations in the Arcada Patient Safety and Learning Center. Teamwork is crucial as students, teachers and practitioners work together in realistic settings with reality-based patient cases. Theory is also supported by online courses, practical skills stations in class, and work placements with health care organisations. Students conduct their thesis in research projects involving working life.
“Nursing is about more than just bandages and injections,” Josephine Atanga says. “You have to take into consideration both body and mind.”
The learning process advances from basic nursing skills, nursing in different contexts (medical, surgical and psychiatric nursing, nursing of women and children) to extended studies in e.g. rehabilitation, elderly care, mental health or leadership.
“Becoming a fully-fledged professional” It’s been almost two years since nursing student Josephine Atanga left Maryland, USA, for Helsinki and studies at Arcada. When asked why she crossed the Atlantic in search of a degree programme, her answer is simple. “Finnish nurses are generally considered to be some of the best in the world,” she says. Take a quick look at Josephine Atanga’s CV and it’s not instantly clear how she ended up wearing a nurse’s uniform at Arcada. As a record-releasing artist, local TV talk show host and founder of a charity for underprivileged young women in Maryland, she doesn’t exactly make it easy to connect the dots. But there is indeed a common denominator in everything that she sets out to do. “It’s all about touching lives and giving back to the community,” Josephine says. “I want to make a difference, and in order to do so I now need to become a fully-fledged professional. I’m passionate about Africa and five years from now I’m hoping you will find me teaching modern health care methods to nurses there. I’ve been work-
ing as a practical nurse in the USA before but felt too limited. As a registered nurse you have a voice, you are considered an expert and can affect change from the top.” Towards a common goal When Josephine walked into the Arcada building for the first time it was love at first sight. “I said to myself that ‘this is where I belong!’ Every time I come here I’m filled with so much energy. My classmates have become like family. We come from all over the world – almost like a United Nations in miniature – and there is a great sense of working towards a common goal.” During her second year Josephine also became the International Coordinator of
the Student union at Arcada – a role that revolves around further integrating foreign students into student life, as well as life in general, in Finland. Practical skills As a nursing student Josephine spends a lot of her days in a certain part of the Arcada building: the patient safety and learning centre. This is where future health care professionals transform theoretical knowledge into practical skills. “It is a fantastic asset and gives you great experience,” Josephine says. “After a lecture has covered something new it feels like you walk in there with no skills or technique at all, but come out ready to compete with any nurse in the world. They really make sure that you get it right, and simply won’t let you out before your practical skills are as good as can be.” Health care in action If there is one piece of advice that Josephine would like to pass along to future nursing students, it is to focus on learning the local language.
“No matter if you’re learning Finnish or Swedish it is certainly a challenge,” Josephine says. “But nothing good comes easy. You have to practice, practice and then practice some more to function within the Finnish healthcare system.” Josephine is just finishing up a fourweek work practice period at a long-term care facility for the elderly. “It certainly is eye-opening,” she says. “The care that is given is overwhelming. It is amazing to see how registered nurses interact with the rest of the staff. No one is bossing anyone else around; everyone knows what to do and does it with such passion, professionalism and humility.” The work practice period also offered an unexpected encounter. “Can you believe that I got to meet and have my picture taken with former President Tarja Halonen? As a woman who has led the country she is a big inspiration to me. It just goes to show what life in Finland is like. It’s calm, relaxed and the people are very down to earth.”
Arcada Patient Safety and Learning Center (APSLC) The Arcada Patient Safety and Learning Center is one of the largest medical simulation centers in Finland. The center offers Arcada’s students, as well as professionals from the field, a safe environment for training caregiving, medical skills, leadership and communication in various caregiving situations. The Patient Safety and Learning Center is equipped with learning environments adapted to the tasks
and needs of nurses, midwifes, emergency care professionals and occupational therapists. The center also boasts a fully computer directed life-size patient simulator with programmable disorders, bodily functions and respiration. As the simulator also talks, those training with it also learn to keep the patient calm, to explain the procedures and adapt a suitable bedside manner. The rest of the team can follow the ongoing simulation through a
TV-screen in the next room and the video material is then used for debriefing the group. This means that the exercise in itself is very authentic while the whole team can learn from it. The center is used by students studying bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Arcada, but training courses are also offered to professionals in the field through Arcada Further Education.
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Plastics, snow and creative engineering “A degree in engineering is one of the best starting degrees you could possibly have,” says South African-born student Julian Kollataj. Two years ago he found his way to Helsinki and Arcada in search of new challenges and an outlet for his creativity. When Julian Kollataj packed his bags in Pretoria for departure to his mother’s country of birth, Finland, he did so with some very specific goals in mind. He wanted a degree that guarantees him a job in his field as well as access to free snow and northern lights shows. “An engineering degree from the Materials Processing Technology programme opens up the doors to a wide range of career choices,” he says. “But for me it’s all about learning the fundamentals of engineering for a future in industrial design. I first want to understand the functional materials I’m working with, so I can contribute with something unique and creative to the industry later.” When he first set foot on campus he found what he describes as an international and easy-going atmosphere. “It’s mind-opening to be surrounded by so many nationalities, both on a personal and professional level. I also appreciate how open and accessible the teachers at Arcada are. They are approachable, and you can even call them by their first names – something I never did at high school in South Africa.” Functional materials At Arcada the Materials Processing Technology programme has a clear focus–functional materials and design. In layman’s terms, this means that students become well-versed in plastics and polymer technology while learning how to develop and design smart and sustainable products. “Understanding the properties of plastics is an ideal point of departure into understanding any other material,” Julian ex-
Degree Programme in Materials Processing Technology Degree: Bachelor of Engineering Scope: 240 ECTS credits (4 years) Students admitted: 20 Entrance examination: 24.4.2014 The degree program in Materials Processing Technology focuses on functional materials and design. You become an expert in modern polymer technology and processing as well as sustainable product development. You learn about new product innovation, design and materials. Material and engineering specialists are needed in practically every business field, from the manufacturing industry and its supply chains to the public sector. Arcada’s co-operation with leading companies within the industry guarantees that your education is based on the latest expertise, as well as offers good opportunities for thesis commissions. As elective studies you can choose between foreign languages and entrepreneurship. We also encourage our students to sign up for exchange studies abroad at one of our partner institutions.
plains. “It is light, strong and flexible, and new technologies like 3D printing show just how important it is for future production and design.” You would be sorely mistaken to dismiss plastics as a material of the past. It is an essential ingredient of everything from the wings of a plane and surgical equipment to components in high-tech electronics. “Over the last decade or two, the processing of plastics has changed to become more environmentally-friendly. In fact, the material in itself has never been the problem, but rather people’s way of handling it.”
Julian Kollataj and his coursemates spend a lot of their time in Arcada’s Plastics lab. The laboratory simulates a miniature plastics factory and is equipped with all essential machines used in the industry.
Work and play Working as a tennis coach alongside his studies, Julian’s passion for sport blurs the line between work and play. If all goes according to plan it will continue to do so, but in a new and maybe even more exciting sense. “I’d love to go into sports equipment prototyping and design. It would be amazing to be able to combine my career with my love for tennis, so I’m aiming at spending my next work practice period at a racket manufacturer, such as Head in Austria or Wilson in the USA.”
Having recently spent a 3-month work practice period at the 3D printing and production company Shapeways in the Netherlands, Julian can vouch for the importance of getting proper work experience while studying. “Practical training is invaluable for your own development as well as your CV,” Julian says. “Especially if you take the opportunity Arcada offers to go abroad, it shows a future employer exactly what he wants to see – that you are the kind of person who is willing to go the extra mile and go out of your comfort zone to gain new experiences.”
Research and development – already during your student years As an engineering student at Arcada you are not twiddling your thumbs waiting for your degree before taking part in innovative research and development projects. Students at our university of applied sciences receive invaluable experience by working alongside teachers and researches in exciting and internationally acknowledged ventures.
Did you know that these innovations and products have been developed at Arcada?
Research and laboratory engineer Valeria Poliakova is part of the research team developing pathogenfree surfaces at Arcada.
Cost-effective water purification
Pathogen-free surfaces
Methanol-based fuel cells
The UN estimates that clean water shortages affect more than one billion people worldwide. A team researching Track Etch membranes at Arcada became the first in the world to develop pores in a nanoformat, which drastically reduces the cost and energy needs of water purification. This breakthrough received a lot of acclaim, both in Finland an internationally.
Over the last three years a revolutionary ”passively disinfective” material has been developed at Arcada. In the health industry good hand hygiene is paramount, but it can never fully eliminate the microbes lingering on surfaces such as doorknobs and sinks. The new self-sanitising material minimizes the risk of viruses and bacteria spreading, and is far more effective than any previous solution.
Can you imagine a time when electronics equipment no longer is charged with electricity generated by oil, coal and nuclear power? This goal is within reach. Arcada, together with international partner institutions, is researching methanol-based fuel cells that not only make recycled waste a viable source of energy, but also offer a more portable and efficient power supply.
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Azra Arnautovic recommends getting involved in the student’s union as a foolproof plan to get the most out of your student years.
“Business takes you anywhere” “Always keep in mind that every student you meet in these corridors might be your future business partner,” the 21-year-old Azra Arnautovic says. As a fourth year International Business student she already knows that in her field of choice networking is just as important as number crunching. “Of course I started off getting on the tram in the wrong direction,” Azra says with a laugh. The self-proclaimed small town girl arrived in Helsinki four years ago with map in hand, and it didn’t take long before the vibrant coastal capital felt like home. Uncertain of what her future would bring career-wise, she had opted for a degree programme which gave her as many paths to choose from as possible. “I couldn’t think of a single field where business competence isn’t valued,” she says. “There are also excellent options for master’s studies and no end to the combinations possible with other subjects. Now, with graduation just around the corner,
I’m leaning towards human resources. I’ve always been a social person and good at getting people to open up, so I think I’d be a great fit.” Cosmopolitan atmosphere So how come a Swedish-speaking Finn, such as Azra, chooses to study in English in her own home country? “I grew up in the small town of Närpes, but I was born in Bosnia and speaking multiple languages has been a natural part of my upbringing. And when it comes to your education, and maybe for business students in particular, it’s such an advantage to take an international approach. Have you no-
ticed that there is hardly a single work ad even here in Finland that doesn’t include the requirement ‘fluent English, both written and oral’?” And language skills haven’t been the only benefit of Azra’s international approach. “If you’re studying International Business it’s quite clear that you’re aiming at a career either abroad or working in an international company in Finland. Then the intercultural experiences you have here at Arcada are invaluable. I get to spend my days alongside Asians, North- and South Americans, Africans and people from all over Europe. Learning to understand their cultures is both important for my career and an amazing experience.” Tailor-made education As an International Business student at Arcada you can choose one of four majors: Marketing, Logistics, Tourism and Financial Management. Additional course modules further increase your options. Azra, majoring in Financial Management, chose
to combine most of her elective studies with her ten-month period as an exchange student in France. “I attended the Ecole de Commerce Européenne in Bordeaux and came home with over 60 ECTS credits, which was even more than I actually needed. I mainly took courses in marketing and I loved every second. Arcada encourages you to study abroad for a time, and I would definitely recommend it to everyone.” Another way to add a personal touch to your education is through your choice of work practice assignments. “I found a position as a Financial Assistant at the ecological food-vendor Anton & Anton here in Helsinki,” Azra says. “Choosing a smaller company meant that I got to work closer to the CEO and management, which made the experience so much more rewarding. I really appreciate Arcada’s practical approach to studies in general. Nothing compares to learning by doing, and stepping outside campus always gives you new perspectives.”
Degree programme in International Business Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Scope: 210 ECTS credits (3.5 years) Students admitted: 35 Entrance examination: 23.4.2014 The degree programme prepares students for a career in Finnish and international companies by giving them a solid overview of all aspects of international trade and business. Students can choose between four different majors; Marketing, Logistics, Financial Management and Tourism – making them top professionals in their chosen field. A wide range of extension studies enables students to tailor their education to their particular needs and interests. Teachers with a diverse and international background, as well as visiting lecturers from our partner universities and business schools, help provide state of the art teaching. Students spend several months on work placements at companies in Finland and abroad. Through our extensive student exchange programmes students can spend up to one year abroad. The degree programme also prepares you for studies at a Master’s level.
New and exciting courses Last year Arcada’s degree programmes in business were renewed to reflect the labour market of the future. Students and teachers alike appreciate the exciting opportunities made available by the new concept Arcada Business School. Students pursuing business degrees at Arcada (in International Business and the Swedish parallel programme Företagsekonomi) now work closer together, and even get the opportunity to complete the first year together. This means that you study in an international environment, create larger networks and get used to working alongside people with different cultural backgrounds. The studies include, besides traditional lectures, project-based work, online courses and co-operation projects with various businesses and organisations.
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APPLICATION
How do I apply TO ARCADA? How do I apply?
Language requirements
www.admissions.fi
www.arcada.fi/application/
Apply online through the national joint application system at www.admissions.fi
All applicants need to prove their skills in English, either at the time of application and/or in the entrance exam. See www.arcada.fi for a detailed list of accepted English language certificates.
Through the joint application system you can apply to a maximum of four different degree programmes conducted in a foreign language at universities of applied sciences in Finland. It is important that you carefully consider the order of preference you put in your application as this order is binding and influences which programme you may be selected for. You can only accept one study place at a higher education institution in Finland starting the same academic term.
Am I eligible? www.arcada.fi/application In general, if you have completed an upper secondary education or the matriculation examination and have a valid English language certificate you are eligible to apply. You are also eligible if you have a foreign degree or qualifications which give you general eligibility for higher education in the degree awarding country.
Note! Applicants must have basic skills in Swedish or Finnish (level A2) when applying to the degree programme in Nursing.
How is the selection made? A pass in an entrance examination is required for admission to all degree programmes at Arcada. Formal invitation letters are sent by post to all eligible applicants. The entrance examinations are organised at Arcada in Finland. For more information on possible entrance examinations abroad, please see our web pages. Arcada does not have admission quotas and does not select certain groups for admission. Details on and topics in the entrance examinations and final selection criteria are found on arcada.fi.
Application calendar 2014 21ST February 2014 4.15 p.m.
March 2014
May/June 2014
August 2014
Deadline for attachments.
Invitation to entrance exams posted to eligible applicants.
Results are announced.
The academic year begins.
7th January 2014 The online application opens.
11th February 2014 4.15 p.m.
April 2014
29th July 2014
Entrance exams.
Last day to accept study place.
The online application closes. Deadline for paper applications.
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST
Contact information
Arcada Admissions Jan-Magnus Janssonin aukio 1 00560 Helsinki, Finland Tel +358 (0)207 699 699 Fax +358 (0)207 699 611 www.arcada.fi admissions@arcada.fi
APPLY! 7.1-11.2.2014
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Contact information Arcada Admissions Jan-Magnus Janssonin aukio 1 00560 Helsinki, Finland Tel +358 (0)207 699 699 Fax +358 (0)207 699 611 www.arcada.fi admissions@arcada.fi
Arcada is ECTS- and DS-certified since 2004. The national quality assurance agency FINHEEC (The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council) granted Arcada the FINHEEC quality label in year 2011.
ECTS Label 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 3
Diploma Supplement Label
2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 3
Awarded by the European Commission to
Awarded by the European Commission to
ARCADA - NYLANDS SVENSKA YRKESHÖGSKOLA
ARCADA - NYLANDS SVENSKA YRKESHÖGSKOLA