Practical issues on traineeship

Guidelines for internship in Information Processing Science degree programme

The internship included in the Information Processing Science degree programme is an optional course with two types of implementation: 1) by reporting your work experience afterwards or 2) by preparing a plan of your internship, reporting weekly full-time work effort and preparing a final report. The latter option is mandatory for students doing their internship with the financial support from the university. To complete the internship course, you will need to work in a position in the ICT industry where you can apply the information you have learned during the courses included in the degree programme. You can receive three to five credits from your internship course, depending on how long your internship is: e.g. if you work as a full-time intern for four months, you will receive five credits by reporting it afterwards. In case you have successfully applied for the financial support, you will receive five credits already from two months’ full-time internship including the more extensive reporting as mentioned earlier. The study guide includes separate internship courses for the Bachelor’s (814311A) and the Master’s (814601S) degree programme. You should study the descriptions of these courses with care. You must obtain your own internship and sign an employment contract with your employer. At the end of the internship, your employer will give you a reference.

Information Processing Science students should be active in order to find a job. Many companies in the ICT sector do not openly publish their vacancies because they do not have the time to handle the workload caused by job applications. Some companies have posted instructions on how to apply for internships on their website or have an online form you can use. Think about what your strengths and special interests are. Search Google for companies that could have positions that interest you. Boldly contact them. You should also think about turning your online profile into a personal business card/portfolio so that potential employers will get a good idea of what you can do and what you have done in the past. Specifically, when looking for work placement in software engineering, show the applications you have done. If you need support in finding an internship, you should study the university’s internship grant. An internship sponsored by the university lasts for 2 months at minimum.

Criteria for applying Information Processing Science internship support for each degree programme

The university also sponsors internships of Information Processing Science students every year. A limited amount of support is available annually. You should submit your application as soon as the application period starts, as the available amount of support may be exhausted before the end of the application period and support is granted on a first come, first served basis. You should start arrangements for your internship in due time in the autumn before the start of the internship support application period. The internship support is used to cover some of the salary costs of the intern to the employer. The latest information on internship support (such as how much support is available or useful tips for internship placements) can also be found on the internship website. Please visit the website first, because all the information on it also applies to internship support for Information Processing Science students. To apply/receive internship support, the following are also required:

• You are a student with Information Processing Science as your major and you have enrolled as a present student
• Your studies enable internship in positions included in the scope of Information Processing Science
• You have not received any internship support from the University of Oulu before
• You undertake to include the internship for which you receive support as part of your optional studies (Internship in ICT duties [814311A] OR Work Experience in ICT responsibilities [814601S]) by submitting a report on your internship without delay (for more specific instructions, please see the learning environment for internship)
• You have agreed on the internship with the contact person in charge of internships in Information Processing Science before starting work (see the contact information below)

The university also supports internships of degree students that take place abroad. More information on this support is also available on the internship website.

Contact person

University lecturer Tonja Molin-Juustila

tonja.molin-juustila (at) oulu.fi

When contacting her, be ready to provide some background informatio: empyer, duties at workplace, duration of wrok contract and agreed timing for the training.

There are two courses, Practical Training (521015A) for bachelors degree phase and Advanced Practical Training (521016A) for masters phase of studies. In Bachelor's degree training is not compulsory but in Master's it is.

In addition it's possible to get extra course Expert Training (521017S) for 1,5 ECTS credits for each year of working (maximum 5 ECTS).

You can take also 5 ECTS training courses (521018A or 521026S) that substitute 3 ECTS courses on bachelor or master level. The documents for 5 ECTS courses can be found at the end of this page.

For more information on Practical and Advanced Training, contact Juha Häkkinen and on Expert Training, contact Jari Hannu.

Advanced Practical Training

• 521016A Advanced Practical Training, 3 ECTS cr: Instructions, form and electronic return
• 521026S Advanced Practical Training, 5 ECTS cr : Instructions, form and electronic return

More information: Juha Häkkinen

Send a message to juha.hakkinen(a)oulu.fi after you have returned your report to Moodle.

Expert Training

• 521017S Expert Training, 1.5-5 ECTS cr: Free report (instructions is in the course decription) + certificate of employment

More information and return: Jari Hannu

The training raport should be sent via email to jari.hannu(a)oulu.fi

Contact person

Practical Training 521019A and Advanced Practical Training 521027S, Christian Wieser (christian.wieser(at)oulu.fi)

Expert Training 521014S, Satu Tamminen (satu.tamminen(at)oulu.fi)

For further advice on traineeship, please contact the teacher of your traineeship course.

Internship is a voluntary part of all Master’s Degrees in Economics and Business Adminsitration in the University of Oulu Business School.

To find more information on internships the contact person the responsible person to sign Confirmation of Internships and Internship agreements is Anna Laitio (anna.laitio@oulu.fi)

The information about the internship during 2024 was held 29.11.2023.
Internship information (pdf)

Internships in Finland

The University of Oulu awards support for traineeships in Finland. The detailed information can be found in Support for Traineeships in Finland website.

Internships outside Finland

For internships outside Finland the University of Oulu awards three different kinds of grants: Erasmus grants, Embassy grants and Grants for Internships outside Europe. For more information please visit Traineeships outside Finland website.

New Portal for Internships Abroad

Oulu Business School has started collaboration with EFMD Global Career Services Network to offer students an exclusive platform for searching global internship opportunities. You can login (only with UniOulu student email userid) to EFMD Global Network platform to find internships, trainee positions, and graduate positions from companies around the world.You can also complete an online assessment focused on work-related behavior, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and motivation. The online assessment is only for your personal assessment. The link to Higher Portal.

Internship (721065S) as a part of Master´s degree

Course description, instructions on reporting and instructions (docx) on how to get your internship approved by the Business School.

Internship is a mandatory part of Bachelor Degree in Economics and Business Administration.

To find more information on internships the contact person and the responsible person to sign Confirmation of Internships and Internship agreements is Elina Hyrkäs (elina.hyrkas@oulu.fi)

Internships in Finland

The University of Oulu awards support for traineeships in Finland. The detailed information can be found in Support for Traineeships in Finland website.

Internships outside Finland

For internships outside Finland the University of Oulu awards three different kinds of grants: Erasmus and Embassy grants and Grants for Internships outside Finland. For more information please visit Traineeships outside Finland website.

Harjoittelu (724100P) as a part of Bachelor´s degree

Course description, instructions on reporting and instructions (docx) on how to get your internship position approved by the Business School.

To include work practise as a part of your studies, please contact:

University teacher Andrew Pattison, tel. 0504621814, andrew.pattison (at) oulu.fi

682304S Work Practice is an optional course for major students of English.

See the following sites for more information about training and how to find a training place (in Finnish):

• Yleistä infoa harjoittelusta
• Apuraha harjoitteluun Suomessa
• Harjoittelu ulkomailla
• Lomakkeita: harjoittelusopimus, palautelomake
• Aarresaari - harjoittelu- ja työpaikkoja Oulun yliopiston opiskelijoille
• Internship UniOulu Twitter
• Opas harjoittelusta (2012)
• Training opportunities are regularly sent to the Eng-students email list.

After the training, in order to get the credit, deliver a training report (the attachment below) and reference (työtodistus) to the person in charge of training.

Attachments: Work Practice - report form

All degree programmes in the field of technology involve a period of (compulsory) practical training course. The goal of practical training is to familiarise the student, under guidance, with practical work related to the student’s academic studies and application of knowledge and skills in working life. Students should look for internship placements themselves. It is important to contact potential employers well in advance.

More information about practical training as a part of studies can be found in each degree programme course descriptions and from the programme coordinators or study advisors of the degree programmes.

Useful links for ITEE students

Teekkarin työkirja is a job-hunting guide for the students studying engineering or architecture in Finland

Career Conselling Services at the University of Oulu.

Traineeships in andoutside Finland by Career Services of the University of Oulu. Follow also job offers in Twitter: @InternshipUO/HarjoitteluFI

Pesti Career Day

There are hundreds of high tech companies operating in Oulu. The most can be found in BusinessOulu company database.

Aarresaari's student services provide strong tools for self-motivated job-seeking and finding key background information. Aarresaari - network of Academic Career Services.

Vacancy database of the Finnish labour administration at www.te-palvelut.fi. Vacancies are mainly in Finnish but you may find some vacancies in English by choosing Avoimet työpaikat (vacancies) > Vapaa sanahaku (keyword): "English"

Summer jobs in Finnish Technology Industries (available in Finnish)

AIESEC offers young people professional and cultural experiences abroad through work abroad programme (Facebook page)

CERN offers exciting internships for students and challenging positions for recent graduates and post-grads.

More links (page available in Finnish)

Share your story and help students to discover their options: töissä.fi

Contact person

University lecturer Riku Hietaniemi

riku.hietaniemi (at) oulu.fi

When contacting him, be ready to provide some background information: employer, duties at workplace, duration of work contract and agreed timing for the training.

Practical Training courses in the field of biomedcial engineering and medical and wellness technology (course codes 580120A / 580121S)

Practical training in brief:

• Student finds independently a training place of his/her interest. Student might get salary for the training based on mutual agreement with the company or organization, in which the training will take place. For paid training the student will be able to apply for support from the University of Oulu in a separate application process and based on special criteria.
• As soon as the student has agreed on training she/he will contact responsible person of the training Eveliina Seppälä (eveliina.seppala(at)oulu.fi), who evaluates suitability of the planned training based on learning outcomes and other requirements of the course and confirms it. Kindly note that Eveliina is substituted by Anna Maijala (anna.maijala(at)oulu.fi) until June 30, 2024.
• before the training the student prepares a training plan with objectives (practical_training_plan2020.pdf) and returns it toresponsible person of the training
• After training the student submits to responsible person of the training
  1. confirmed training application with the job description (practical_training_application2020.pdf)
  2. updated CV
  3. proof of employment / reference

Note! When writing the report, keep in mind that confidential information must not be published. If you are uncertain whether you can include some information in the report, always ask permission from the employer.

Practical Training courses in the field of biomedcial engineering and medical and wellness technology (course codes 580120A / 580121S)

Practical training in brief:

• Student finds independently a training place of his/her interest. Student might get salary for the training based on mutual agreement with the company or organization, in which the training will take place. For paid training the student will be able to apply for support from the University of Oulu in a separate application process and based on special criteria.
• As soon as the student has agreed on training she/he will contact responsible person of the training Eveliina Seppälä (eveliina.seppala(at)oulu.fi), who evaluates suitability of the planned training based on learning outcomes and other requirements of the course and confirms it. Kindly note that Eveliina is substituted by Anna Maijala (anna.maijala(at)oulu.fi) until June 30, 2024.
• before the training the student prepares a training plan with objectives (practical_training_plan2020.pdf) and returns it toresponsible person of the training
• After training the student submits to responsible person of the training
  1. confirmed training application with the job description (practical_training_application2020.pdf)
  2. updated CV
  3. proof of employment / reference

Note! When writing the report, keep in mind that confidential information must not be published. If you are uncertain whether you can include some information in the report, always ask permission from the employer.

The internship is carried out as an employee in a company, research institute or public sector. Students will find the training positions themselves. In the field of technology, internships are mainly carried out during the summer as summer jobs.

After summer work/internship, ask your employer for a work certificate. It is an important document to show your skills in support of your CV. At the beginning of studies in the autumn, the competence acquired from internship is converted into ETCS credits.

In process and Environmental Engineering, there are three practical training courses; the first one is compulsory in bachelor's studies, the second one is compulsory in Master's studies and the third one is optional in Master's studies.

1. 477004A Practical Training, 5 ETCS
2. 477005S Advanced Practical Training, 5 ETCS
3. 477006S Supplementary Practical Training, 5 ETCS

You can read more detailed course descriptions and find the person responsible for the courses at Peppi system.

Your tutor teacher also heps with the matters related to the internship.