The hitchhiker’s guide to the exchange application

Exchange. A word full of opportunities, new experiences and huge changes. My studies have come to a point where I’m supposed to apply for an exchange abroad, and I know for sure that I’m not the only one facing this part in their lives. I’m going abroad in one year, but because of the changes made, the application period for spring 2019 is at the same time as for autumn 2018 and the last day to apply is February 15th, so keep that in mind!

I bet some of you are struggling with the same thing as I am, so I decided to help you and myself – two birds with one stone – and make a list of what you need to do.

• go through the partner list and decide where you want to go
• take a closer look at those institutions’ info folders and home pages
• go to Asio and apply
• panic (optional)

Let me open these up a bit.

The first thing that you need to do is the most fun. You need to decide where you want to go. There is an endless list of partner institutions in Elmo. First go to Intra, then click Internationalisation through studies. There you can find Partner info. I have been browsing through the list every once in a while and I feel like I have finally found the ones that interest me the most… slowly getting there! If you feel like you need help with this part, you can contact for example Risto Korkia-aho. He knows a lot about the partners and is the one to help you with that.

When you have found some institutions that interest you, you might want to take a closer look at the institutions’ info folders in Elmo and their own pages. You can see the academic calendars, the courses they offer – pretty much everything. After that you can narrow down your choices and end up with the ones you want to go to.

The next step is to go to Asio with your choices. There you can find the electronic application form that you need to fill in. Just click Student Exchange Application Form and Report and you are there. Now, take a deep breath before entering the application form. It looks extremely awful and a lot of work to do. However, you’ll survive, trust me. It will just take quite a lot of time to fill all the information in. One thing that will make it a lot easier is having a CV in English ready before filling in the application. An easy way to make it is to go to Europass, scroll down the page a bit and create it there. You can always go back and edit it as many times as needed.

When you are done with your Asio application, it is time to wait. JAMK will make the nominations and every institution has its own application process, for example, some institutions require a motivational letter. Anyway, the Asio application is just the tip of the iceberg: when you have been accepted you have to fill in some learning agreements and all that great stuff. But don’t worry, if you are confused there’s always Elmo and the amazing people at International Services at JAMK who are always willing to help.

The last thing on the list is panicking. That’s what I’m great at. However, I put it as optional since there are always people who can help you get through the application process. In addition, peer support is always great! The application process is going to be long and tedious, but at the end of it, when you get accepted, the exchange is going to be worth it!

In the middle of this process,
Jasmiina Kumpulainen/exchange and degree tutoring responsible