Karelia University of Applied Sciences

north2north

Karelia in short

Karelia University of Applied Sciences (Karelia) operates in seven study fields offering 22 programmes out of which five are master-level studies. The study areas are health care and social studies, business, engineering, forestry, media and hospitality management. 

Karelia has strong international networks, competence and references on meaningful international research, development and innovation (RDI) collaboration that has impact in a long-run and serve the regional development in a coherent manner. To name some, Karelia participates in the Erasmus+, Nordplus, NPA, CBC, Interreg Europe and TFK-programmes. From first of November 2020 on Karelia is part of INVEST Erasmus+ European University Alliance consortium.

Internationalisation is for future. It strengthens students’ and staff’s professional and transversal competences providing international aspects to degree and continuous education, regional development, RDI and local & global services. 

Student exchanges

Karelia has more than 100 partner institutions in 25 different countries. Every year about 160 students from Karelia are either studying or doing practical training abroad and about 120 international students are studying or doing practical training at Karelia/in the region. Karelia offers courses and modules for incoming exchange students and support in finding placements. Find more information for incoming Exchange Students.

Outgoing students will gain more information and support about their possibilities for student and trainee exchanges and other ways to internationalise themselves from the international coordinator of their study field. Studies completed abroad are fully credited into the degree at Karelia.

Education in English

Bachelor’s degree programmes International Business and Industrial Management are offered completely in English. More information about the application procedure is available at: studyinfo.fi.

Internationalisation for all

Karelia is committed to provide equal opportunities to all Bachelor and Master students as well as academic and non-academic staff. For students, sustainable and high-quality short- and long-term mobility pathways for studies and traineeships are actively elaborated. Staff mobility is highly encouraged to deepen the partnerships, share good practices, contribute to the English taught programmes and modules, develop competences and co-create new practices. Blended mobility and online collaboration will be explored and developed to ensure internationalisation for all.

Becoming international does not always require students travelling abroad – personal barriers can be many, starting from family and work situations. Karelia UAS offers plenty of possibilities to go international at home during the studies and actively develops online mobility paths.

Karelia has a comprehensive Equality and Diversity Policy which aims at promoting equal treatment and preventing any discrimination amongst all students and staff regardless of their religion or belief, ethnic background, age, gender, disability and health issues, sexual orientation, political views or other personal attributes. The policy includes objectives, concrete measures and monitoring activities, and defines those responsible for the follow-up. The Equality and Diversity Policy is updated every three years.

Exchange program fact sheet

Facts and figures

Web https://www.karelia.fi/en
Year Established 1992
Total Number of Staff 300
Number of Academic Staff 230
Number of Students 3900
Focus Areas

Karelia elaborates expertise, education and co-creation of knowledge and innovations in the areas of three main global challenges: ageing population, responsibility in tackling the climate change and change of work in the future.

Based on these main challenges, Karelia2030 strategy focuses on five themes:

1. development of continuous and digital learning models and smooth education pathways for re- and upskilling;

2. development of international degree programmes embedded with education-based immigration, and systemic growth in international RDI and global knowledge transfer;

3. development of well-being services in sparsely populated areas;

4.  expertise in intelligent production and services; and,

5. contribution into the carbon neutral solutions.

The overall aim is to become a genuinely international higher education and RDI community. Karelia works for shaping the future towards a more positive direction. At the time of disruption and challenging global trends, fostering the prosperity and well-being of the somewhat remote and sparsely populated region is the uttermost goal of the strategic choices.

In North Karelia, the population is ageing faster than anywhere else in Finland. The economic expectations of the region are decreasing. Yet high-level expertise and a lot of potential are available, and with systematic co-creative, multi-sectoral approach in selected high-quality networks it is possible to address the challenges.

Web link for international students https://www.karelia.fi/en/exchange-students/
Fields of Study Offered Audio-visual techniques and media production
Economics
Business and administration (broad programmes)
Environmental science
Computing (broad programmes)
Engineering and engineering trades (broad programmes)
Building and civil engineering
Forestry
Nursing and caring
Therapy and rehabilitation
Child care and youth services
Social work and counselling
Travel, tourism and leisure