Tutoring
Table of contents
What is a student tutor?
Tutors support new students to adapt to the new environment. During the first weeks, tutors introduce new students to studying at the university and the campus. Tutors organize campus and city tours, help students get to know each other through various events, and provide support in the new life situation.
Tutoring is organized for students at the beginning of the academic year (autumn semester). For exchange students tutoring is also organized at the beginning of the spring semester. Tutors will contact you three weeks before your recommended arrival date, at the latest.
Tutors may assist international students with e.g. the following tasks:
- Picking you up from the Jyväskylä Travel Center when you arrive
- Helping you to find your way to your apartment
- Helping you to locate your apartment facilities (sauna, laundry room, bike shelter, recycling bins, etc.)
- Taking you to the campus and organizing a campus tour for you
- Showing you the closest grocery store
- Helping you with public transport and/or finding second-hand bike stores
- Organizing a university library tour for you
- Taking you to the city center and showing you around
- Helping you to find the contact information of university staff, health clinicians, bank clerks or other officers
- Organizing free-time activities for you
- Connecting you with other international and Finnish students
If you have studied at the Ģֱ for at least a year as a degree student, you can become a student tutor for exchange students or a degree tutor for students who are starting their studies in the same degree programme as yours. Working as a tutor is a great way to form contacts with new students, develop your language skills, gain work experience in guiding a multicultural group, and participate in creating a positive image of Finland. All tutor tasks are thoroughly covered in the tutor training.
All tutors are required to complete tutor training. When applying to become a tutor, you must be prepared to participate in the training. Only for particularly compelling reasons (e.g., being on an exchange during the training) can the in-person training be replaced with independent studying and self-study material.
You can find the specific training dates below under the section “How to Apply to Become a Tutor > Tutor Training Dates.”
Training for degree tutors
The tutor training consists of self-study learning videos, spring training sessions, an independent summer assignment, and an August training event. Completing the tutor training is a prerequisite for serving as a tutor. The learning videos and spring training are intended for those serving as tutors at the Ģֱ for the first time. The summer assignment and autumn training event apply to all tutors.
Degree tutors will receive the same training from the student union as Finnish speaking tutors and also parts of the international training by the international office.
Exchange tutors
Exchange tutors will receive training from the Ģֱ Intenational office. Exchange tutor training consists of in-person training on campus and self-study material.
Tutor guidance is based on small groups led by a senior student from the same field, aiming to provide new students with the necessary information to start their studies. The group also offers its members the opportunity to socialize into the student role and to form supportive relationships within the study environment.
Degree tutoring and exchange tutoring also aim to help international students deal with the practicalities of studying and living in Finland.
Tutoring usually takes place at the beginning of the autumn semester, but it is desirable to save some tutoring hours for October-November, if possible.
Tutors also collaborate with their own subject units (e.g., participate in orientations organized by the unit).
Degree Tutors
Since the tasks of a degree tutor also include support upon arrival in the country, the degree tutor must be available no later than the recommended arrival date for English and bilingual degree programs on Friday, August 22, 2025.
Exchange tutors
Exchange tutors start their duties no later than the recommended arrival date for exchange students on Monday, August 25, 2025.
Early August tutoring
Some international students arrive in Jyväskylä already in early August to attend intensive Finnish and English language courses. Some degree and exchange tutors are selected as “Early August” tutors, meaning that tutoring begins in early August when group members arrive for the language courses in Jyväskylä. If you are available to be an Early August tutor, you can indicate this on the application form.
As compensation for participating in tutor training, guidance work, and preparing a short final report, a tutor receives 2 ECTS credits. Additionally, there is a monetary reward of 14 euros per hour, with a maximum of 30 reimbursable hours (45 hours for degree tutoring). The monetary compensation is received after the advisory work is completed from your own department or faculty, where you will receive instructions on how to invoice the payment.
To register you ECTS, send your tutor report to:
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Language, Globalization and Intercultural Communication (LAGIC): Rainer Malinen
- Music and Science: Elina Kiuru
- DEICO:
- Exchange tutors: International coordinator
- Faculty of Information Technology
- Computing Science & Artifical Intelligence: Jaana Markkanen
- Information Systems: Kristiina Ruokoja
- Exchange tutors: International coordinator
- Ģֱ Business School:
- Degree tutors: Leena Visakova
- Exchange tutors: International coordinator
- Faculty of Education and Psychology:
- Degree tutors: Sanna Herranen
- Exchange tutors: International coordinator
- Faculty of Sports Sciences:
- RESPO: Minna Kettunen
- BPA: Katja Pylkkänen
- PsyAct: Minna Rasinaho
- Exchange students: International coordinator
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Chemistry, Nano: Päivi Lammi
- Physics: Minttu Haapaniemi
- Bio & environmental sciences: Tiina Hakanen
- Exchange tutors: International coordinator
Tutoring given by Finnish speaking students in Finnish speaking degree programmes is called peer tutoring.
Degree tutoring is tutoring of students in English-taught and bilingual degree programmes. The tutor group often includes both international and Finnish students. The main language of tutoring is English. In addition to small group guidance, the tasks of a degree tutor include arrival services for internationally arriving students.
A degree tutor will:
- contact and advise their tutor group before arrival
- pick up international degree students from Jyväskylä Travel Centre and accompany them to their apartment. The tutor picks up the keys to the student's apartment in advance if needed/applicable.
- help international students with administrative matters (banking, Digital and Population Data Services Agency and such).
- support tutees at the beginning of their studies (showing how to get to the orientation, library and campus tours and such) and organise free time activies.
Since the responsibilities of a degree tutor are broader than those of other tutors, 45 hours per tutor group are allocated for degree tutoring.
Exchange tutors tutor international exchange and visiting students arriving in Finland. Exchange tutors are needed for both the autumn and spring semesters, and applications are held twice a year.
Each tutor coordinates a group of 4-7 international exchange students. The main task of a tutor is to help the students in their group settle in a new country, city, and university. This means:
- communicating with tutees before, during, and after their arrival
- meeting tutees upon their arrival and accompanying them to their student apartment
- organizing campus, library, and city tours
- showing students how to register for courses
- helping with services within and outside the campus area (international office, student services, student union, DVV, Migri, banks, etc.)
Tutors are expected to be present in Jyväskylä and ready for tutoring on the recommended arrival date.
30 hours per tutor group are allocated for exchange tutoring.
Peer and degree tutors are recruited once a year, and exchange tutors are recruited twice a year. Below you will find information about the next application period and the application procedures.
Please note that tutors are required to be well-acquainted with the university. Therefore, tutors must have completed at least one academic year at JYU before the start of the tutoring.
The tutor selection is based on
- motivation and eagerness to help
- international experience and possible activity in a student association
- language skills. Good command of English is required. In addition, working knowledge of Finnish is an asset.
- degree programme and, if applicable, line of study and minor subjects. We try to form tutor groups so that the tutor and the tutees study in the same field.
- faculty statements on applications
Selected tutors are required to study the independent training material and participate in on-campus training. See the upcoming training dates below.
Those interested in tutoring in autumn 2025 can apply during the application period. The application period is from January 27th to February 16th, 2025.
Detailed application schedule:
- The application closes on Sunday, February 16 at 23:59.
- Peer and degree tutor selections will be announced by March 17.
- Exchange tutor interviews will be held on March 24 and 25.
- Exchange tutor selections will be announced by April 4.
Spring 2025 training schedule:
- Peer and degree tutors will attend training on one of the following days: Friday, April 4, Saturday, April 5, Friday, April 11, or Saturday, April 12.
- Joint training day for peer and degree tutors on May 7.
- Separate international training for degree tutors on Monday, April 7.
- Exchange tutor training will be held from April 23 to April 25.
The form is intended for all JYU tutor applications. On the application form, the applicant selects whether they are interested in becoming a peer tutor, degree tutor, or exchange tutor. You can apply for multiple tutor positions in the same application, but you can only be selected for one.
No attachments are required for the application, but each applicant must justify their application on the form. The application period starts on January 27, 2025, and ends on February 16, 2025, at 23:59. Peer and degree tutors are selected based on the recommendation of the subject department. Exchange tutors are selected based on interviews.
Selections for peer and degree tutoring will be announced to applicants by March 17, 2025.
Selections for exchange tutoring will be announced to applicants by April 4, 2025.
Degree tutor training
Training sessions by the student union for peer and degree tutors will be held on four different days at the university premises:
- Friday, April 4, 2025, from 9:00 to 16:00
- Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 9:00 to 16:00
- Friday, April 11, 2025, from 9:00 to 16:00
- Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 9:00 to 16:00
The training sessions are identical and interchangeable, meaning each (new) tutor attends one of these four sessions. Tutors will be assigned to training days based on a separate survey after selection.
The international office will organize training for degree tutors on
- Monday, April 7, 2025 (time to be confirmed later)
Additionally, all degree tutors will participate in a joint tutor day on
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025 (time to be confirmed later)
Exchange Tutor Training
Exchange tutors will have their own training days. Spring 2025 exchange tutor training sessions will be held
- from April 23 to April 25 (time to be confirmed later).
Below are listed how many tutors will be selected for each international degree programme. The number of exchange tutors will depend on the number of arriving exchange students.
Master's programmes:
- Development, Education and International Cooperation (DEICO) 1 + 1 (yhteisohjelma: 1 tutor YFI-opintosuuntaan ja 1 EDU-opintosuuntaan)
- Language, Globalization and Intercultural Communication (LAGIC) 2
- Musiikkitieteen maisteriohjelma & Music and Science 2
Master's degree programmes:
- High Performance Computing (Computer Science specialisation) 1
- Artificial Intelligence 3
- Information Systems 2
Bachelor and master's degree programmes:
- Business Innovation and Sustainability 3
Master's degree programmes
- Banking and International Finance (BIF) 2
- Corporate Environmental Management (CEM) 2
- Digital Marketing and Corporate Communication (DMCC) 2
- International Business and Entrepreneurship (IBE) 2
- Responsible Management and Business of Sport (RESPO) 2 (JSBE 1, LTK 1)
Master's degree programmes:
- Development, Education and International Cooperation 1 + 1 (1 for YFI and 1 for EDU)
- Educational Sciences 2
Master's degree programmes:
- Biology of Physical Activity 1
- Psychology of Physical Activity, Health and Well-Being 1
- Responsible Management and Business of Sport 1 + 1 (1 from LTK & 1 from JSBE)
Master's degree programmes:
- Three tutors for the English programmes of the faculty (1 from Dept. of Biology, 1 from Dept. of Physics & 1 from Dept. of Chemistry)
- Coordinator Anna Saastamoinen
- Student union Specialist in Member and Association Affairs Petro Pitkänen: +358 50 430 6747, jasenpalvelusihteeri@jyy.fi
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Language, Globalization and Intercultural Communication (LAGIC): Rainer Malinen
- Music and Science: Elina Kiuru
- DEICO: Mia Soininen
- Faculty of Information Technology
- Computing Science & Artifical Intelligence: Jaana Markkanen
- Information Systems: Kristiina Ruokoja
- Ģֱ Business School:
- Degree programmes in Finnish: Kinna Tasala
- Degree programmes in English: Leena Visakova
- Faculty of Education and Psychology: Sanna Herranen
- Faculty of Sports Sciences:
- RESPO: Minna Kettunen
- BPA: Katja Pylkkänen
- PsyAct: Minna Rasinaho
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
- Chemistry, Nano: Päivi Lammi
- Physics: Minttu Haapaniemi
- Bio & environmental sciences: Tiina Hakanen
