The studies are divided into five main areas: basic studies, profession-specific studies, optional studies, practical training and thesis. The extent of a polytechnic degree is 140 - 180 credits (210 - 270 ECTS credits) and the completion of the degree takes 3.5 - 4.5 years.

North Karelia Polytechnic has been very active in the international arena. We already participate in the SOCRATES/ERASMUS, NORDPLUS, LEONARDO DA VINCI and TEMPUS programmes and other bilateral agreements, which are all designed to activate student and staff mobility, to strengthen the language skills and professional international competence of students and staff, to improve and create international cooperation and to provide an international aspect to curriculum development at our polytechnic. North Karelia Polytechnic has 95 partner institutions in 25 different countries. Every year over 200 students from the polytechnic are either studying or doing practical training abroad and over 100 international students are studying at the polytechnic or doing practical training in projects or in local enterprises.

http://www.pkamk.fi

5.1 STUDYING AT THE NORTH KARELIA POLYTECHNIC
Teaching at the North Karelia Polytechnic is mainly done in Finnish. For both international and domestic students, however, the polytechnic offers the undergraduate degree programme of International Business, and modules or courses in English in various fields of study. For information about tuition in English as well as for the contact information for international coordinators of each study field, please see http://www.pkamk.fi/international.
International students also have excellent opportunities to complete individual projects, practical training and/or a thesis at North Karelia Polytechnic. Should you be interested in these options, please contact the international coordinator of your study field and agree on the details well before your arrival. If you are already in Joensuu and wish to do practical training after your study period at North Karelia Polytechnic, please consult your home institution AND your international coordinator at the Polytechnic to explore your possibilities.

5.2 ACADEMIC YEAR 2001-2002
The academic year at North Karelia Polytechnic will start in the end of August and will end in May 2002. The autumn and spring semesters are divided into two periods. Most exams take place at the end of each period.

The autumn period begins in late August, the exact dates depend on the degree programme. Exchange students are strongly advised to arrive at the beginning of period I or III.
I Period 27.8. - 26. 10
II Period 29.10 - 21.12
III Period 7.1 - 1.3
IV Period 11.3 - 3.5
Spring Period 6.5 - 31.5 (no tuition, an opportunity to take examinations)
Autumn vacation October 15 - 19 (week 42)
Christmas vacation December 22 - January 6
Winter vacation March 4 - 8 (week 10)
Easter vacation March 29 - April 1

5.3 SERVICES FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS
The International Office is located in Kontionkatu 4/3, next to Polytechnic's Engineering and Technology campus. The International Office coordinates all services for incoming and outgoing exchange students.

5.3.1 INFORMATION PACKAGE, INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TUTOR
Those who have been accepted as exchange students will receive a letter of acceptance and an information package from the International Coordinator. Each exchange student coming to North Karelia Polytechnic will be assigned a student tutor (if requested in the application form). The tutor will meet the newcomer at the railway station or airport and guide him/her during the first days to the International Office, Degree Programme's Office, Student Housing Office, bank, etc. The tutor's name and contact information will be given to the student
in the letter of acceptance. The incoming student can contact his/her tutor before arrival and receive current information on anything that might be of interest.

5.3.2 ORIENTATION PROGRAMME
The International Office of North Karelia Polytechnic arranges an orientation programme for the new incoming exchange students in the beginning of both the autumn and spring semesters. Orientation for the autumn semester will take place in week 36 and for the spring semester in week 2. After the orientation programme there is an intensive Finnish language course. Exchange students are recommended to arrive in Joensuu two or three days before the beginning of the orientation programme.

During the three-day orientation, students will receive useful information about North Karelia Polytechnic, Finnish culture and some practical things about living in Finland and in Joensuu. There are several visiting lecturers from such places as the Student Housing Office and the local police station. Part of the orientation programme is arranged together with the International Student Services of the University of Joensuu.

5.3.3 ENROLMENT, STUDENT CARDS, STUDENT NUMBER
The enrolment of exchange students takes place at the International Office, where they are also issued their student cards and the meal cards. After receiving the student card, you can obtain a special card from Matkahuolto (bus station) to receive a 50 % discount on long-distance bus trips. The card costs FIM 32. The International Office will also give you a certificate with which you can obtain a special card for receiving discounts on train fares. The train discount card costs FIM 10 and can be obtained from the railway station. Please
note that you need a passport photo for the student card and for both the train and bus cards.
After enrolment, every student is issued a student number. You can obtain your own student number at your degree programme's office. The degree programmes' offices also provide information on most of the practical matters related to your studies, such as timetables, class cancellations, dates and the results of the exams. In case of absence, please inform the Degree Programme Office. At the end of your exchange period, you must pick up your transcript of records at the Degree Programme Office.

5.3.4 E-MAIL LIST FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The International Office maintains a mailing list of exchange students and student tutors and sends them information concerning events, excursions or other important things. Your e-mail address will be added into the list after enrolment at International Office. You can also use the same list to write messages to other exchange students. The address is:
VAIHTO2001@pollex.pkamk.fi.
International Degree Students are not only welcome but also recommended to take part in the orientation, which will provide you with the most essential information concerning the Polytechnic! Otherwise the services for exchange students and Finnish degree students alike are provided by the degree programmes' offices and the Student Services Office. There is a student counsellor in each degree programme for guidance and support. You are welcome to visit the International Office during office hours to just drop by, to read brochures, ask questions or discuss anything that is on your mind!

5.3.5 CONTACT INFORMATION, VISITING HOURS

In addition, study fields/degree programmes have an International Coordinator.

5.4 STUDENT UNION NoCaPo
NoCaPo is the new student union at the Polytechnic. It provides the survival packages for the exchange students and also will arrange several kinds of activities for international students during the academic year 2001-2002. Information about NoCaPo and its current news will be available on its web pages at http://pollex.pkamk.fi/~tdnocapo/ and on bulletin boards. In addition to NoCaPo, most of the Polytechnic study fields have their own student associations that organise sports activities and various other leisure time activities. Some of them run the student cafeterias and bookshops at their campuses. Please ask for more information from your student tutor or your Degree Programme Office.

NoCaPo activities for international students 2001-2002
· Welcoming Party for the new international students September 7
· Nature Excursion, week 38
· Trip to St. Petersburg, October
· Halloween party, week 44
· Christmas party, week 49
· Snow-related activities, week 8
· Trip to Lapland, week 14
· Spring Party, April 30

5.5. SURVIVAL PACKAGE
The student dormitories are fully furnished but do not have sheets, blankets or kitchenware. You can rent a package that includes almost everything that you need for veryday life during your stay here. It contains a blanket, a pillow, plates, cups, cutlery, kettle, kitchen towel, frying pan and some other cooking utensils. The idea is recycling, so most of the items are second-hand, but clean and useful. This is a very good practical benefit and it saves you a lot in money and energy - instead of carrying it all the way from your home, or
buying it from here, you can rent it from Studen Union NoCaPo. The deposit on this package is FIM 250, of which FIM 100 is refunded when the package is returned in good and clean condition.

The survival packages are available for students arriving at the beginning of the autumn term at the NoCaPo office, which is located next to the International Office at Kontionkatu 4, from 30 August until 6 September 2001 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Those who arrive at the beginning of the spring term may pick up
their survival packages from 2 - 10 January 2002 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. If you are arriving at another time, please promptly inform the Secretary-General of NoCaPo, Mr. Jani Salomaa, so that he can provide you with the package in time. You can contact him by e-mail: psnocapo@pollex.pkamk.fi or by telephone: +358
13 260 6472, mobile: +358 50 599 2922. The address of the Student Union NoCaPo is: Kontionkatu 4 1/02, FIN-80200 Joensuu.

5.6 LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES
The library and information services of North Karelia Polytechnic offer a variety of learning resources in the fields of Business and Administration, Engineering and Technology, Health Care Sciences, Forestry and Wood Technology. In addition, there are small libraries at other campuses. The main function of the library and information services is to support the teaching and learning at the Polytechnic, but the facilities are available to all free of charge. Full library services are offered: lending, inter-library loans, information services and
training courses in information skills. The library database is also available on the Internet. Lending times vary from 3 to 14 days, no library card is needed. Students may reserve books and other material and renew their loans by visiting the library personally, by phone or by e-mail. To avoid the penalty fee, please remember to return your loans on time!

There is a good selection of professional journals, indexed as full text or reference, available to visitors and students via the Internet. However, access to those resources is limited on the computers at the Polytechnic. There is also access to many international databases, dictionaries and catalogues. All electronic resources are presented in more detail on the web pages at http://www.pkamk.fi/tietopalvelut/. Please ask the librarians to advise you in the use of electronic resources.

Library and Information Services of Health Care Sciences
Tikkarinne 9, 80200 Joensuu
Tel. (013) 260 6630
E-mail: tietopalvelu.terveysala@pkamk.fi
Open: Mon -Thu 8 - 18:00, Fri 8-15:00

Library and Information Services of Business and Administration
Sortavalankatu 4, 80200 Joensuu
Tel. (013) 260 6705
E-mail: tietopalvelu.liiketalous@pkamk.fi
Open Mon and Wed 8 - 19:00, Tue and Thu 8 - 16:00, Fri 8 Π15:00

Library and Information Services of Engineering and Technology
Karjalankatu 3, 80200 Joensuu
Tel. (013) 260 6809
E-mail: tietopalvelu.tekniikka@pkamk.fi
Open Mon -Tue 8:30 - 15:00, Wed 8:30 - 18:30,
Thu - Fri 8:30 - 15:00

Library and Information Services of Forestry and Wood Technology
Väisälänkatu 4, 80160 Joensuu
Tel. (013) 260 6905
E-mail: tietopalvelu.metsa@pkamk.fi
Open Mon -Thu 8 - 16:00, Fri 8 - 14:00