Tutoring

Degree tutoring is provided for new students in English-taught and bilingual degree programmes in groups of approximately 8–10 students. Tutoring groups usually include both international and Finnish students. In addition to small‑group guidance, the duties of a degree tutor include welcoming and assisting students with arriving to Jyväskylä.

Because the responsibilities are broader than those of other tutors, 45 hours are allocated for each degree tutoring group.

The tasks of a degree tutor are described in more detail below under Serving as a tutor → Tutor’s tasks.

Exchange tutors support incoming international exchange and visiting students in groups of 4–7 students. Exchange tutors are needed for both the autumn and spring semesters, and the application round is organized twice a year. The main task of an exchange tutor is to help their students adapt to a new country, city, and university.

A total of 30 hours is allocated for each exchange tutoring group.

The tasks of an exchange tutor are described in more detail below under Serving as a tutor → Tutor’s tasks.

Peer tutoring (vertaistutorointi) refers to tutoring of Finnish language degree programmes. In peer tutoring, tutors primarily guide groups of 10 to 15 students from the same degree programme. In smaller degree programmes, tutoring groups may also be formed by combining students from different degree programmes within the same faculty. A total of 30 hours is allocated for each peer tutoring group.

Most instructions and information about peer tutoring can be found in the Finnish language version of this page.

Tutoring consists of the following: training, planning, actual tutoring, and reporting

Tasks of a degree tutor

1. To support group formation and integration to the university society
2. To make new students familiar with academic and study practices
3. To make new students familiar with the communication practices of the university and the unit
4. To encourage the use of guidance and counseling services (Orientation and guidance 
   responsibility lies with the staff!)
5. To inform about services
6. Ensuring completion of the student information security course
7. To make new students familiar with the campus and the city
8. To lead the students to info sessions and orientation services
9. Tasks assigned by the department and faculty
10. To contact students arriving from abroad before they come to Finland
11. Arrival service for students arriving from abroad
12. Assisting with services on-campus and off-campus
    • Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto, DVV)
    • Posti (Finnish postal service)
    • Migri (Finnish Immigration Service)
    • Bank
    • International office & Student Service Desk
13. Guiding on practices related to living in Finland and Jyväskylä
14. Supporting adaptation to a new country and environment

Tasks of an exchange tutor

1. Contacting students before their arrival in Finland
2. Organising arrival service for students arriving from abroad
3. Assisting with services on-campus and off-campus
   • Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto, DVV)
   • Posti (Finnish postal service)
   • Migri (Finnish Immigration Service)
   • (Opening a bank account)
   • International office & Student Service Desk
4. Guiding on practices related to living in Finland and Jyväskylä
5. Supporting adaptation to a new country and environment

All students selected for tutoring are required to complete tutor training. Training sessions are organised for all newly selected tutors.

The exact training dates can be found below under How to apply to become a tutor → Tutor training dates.

Training for Degree Tutors

Degree tutors complete the same training as peer tutors. In addition, they complete an arrival‑services training organised by the university's International Office.

Degree tutor training consists of self‑study learning videos, spring training days, an independent summer assignment, and a training session in August. Completing the training is a prerequisite for working as a tutor. The learning videos and spring training apply to students serving as tutors at the University of Jyväskylä for the first time, while the summer assignment and the autumn training session apply to all tutors.

Training for Exchange Tutors

The training for exchange tutors is jointly organised by JYY and the University of Jyväskylä’s International Office. The training includes on‑campus sessions as well as independent study.

Busiest time in tutoring takes place in the beginning of the semester, but tutors are encouraged to save some time for helping students for 2–3 months after the start of studies. When possible, tutoring activities can also be extended throughout the whole first year.

Tutors also cooperate with their own academic department (e.g., by participating in the department’s orientation events).

Degree tutoring timeline

Degree tutors start their work slightly earlier than peer tutors. Because their duties also include supporting students upon arrival in Finland, degree tutors must be available for tutoring latest on the recommended arrival date for international degree students.

Exchange tutoring timeline

Exchange tutors begin their duties no later than the recommended arrival date for exchange students.

Early August Tutoring

Some international students arrive in Jyväskylä before the orientation week, in mid‑August, to take an intensive Finnish or English language course(s). A group of degree and exchange tutors is selected as early August tutors, meaning their tutoring begins in mid‑August when students arrive for their language course(s). If you are available for early August tutoring, please indicate this on the application form.

Tutoring calls for responsibility, initiative, willingness to meet new people, and an active attitude. Tutors must be able to handle different social situations and work well with people from diverse backgrounds. Tutors must have a valid right to study at the University of Jyväskylä and be registered as present for the semester in which the tutoring takes place.

When selecting tutors, the following criteria are considered:

• Motivation and reasoning for applying as a tutor
• Degree programme, and where applicable, the study track and minor subjects. Tutoring groups are usually formed so that the tutor and the new students' study in the same field
• Progress in studies
• Statements from the degree programme, study track and/or department (in some units, student association also provides a statement)
• Language skills: degree and exchange tutors are required to have good English language skills

In addition to the above, for applicants selected as exchange tutors for the first time, performance in the group interview is also taken into account.

The following may also be considered an advantage:

• International experience (for degree and exchange tutors)
• Previous experience relevant to the tutor role (e.g., involvement in student organisations)

Before tutoring begins, tutors must complete the role‑specific tutor training.

Tutor application rounds are organised twice a year. In the autumn application period, students can apply to become exchange tutors for the following spring. In the spring application period, applications are accepted for peer, degree, and exchange tutor positions for the following autumn.

The application period for tutoring in the autumn semester 2026 opens on Monday 2 February 2026 at 9:00 and closes on Sunday 22 February 2026 at 23:59 (Finnish time).

The application results for peer and degree tutoring will be sent to applicants by e-mail on Monday 23 March.

Applicants applying to become exchange tutors for the first time will be invited to a group interview, held from 2 March onward during weeks 10 and 11. The application results for exchange tutoring will be sent to applicants by e-mail by Monday 30 March.

To apply, please fill the application form online:

Link to form (opens in a new window)

The form opens on Monday February 2nd at 9 o'clock and closes on Sunday February 22nd at 23.59 (Finnish time).

First‑time tutors are required to complete tutor training. Tutor training sessions are organised in April–May in the spring and in November in the autumn. The exact dates are announced for each application round.

The training days and the tutor event are held on campus, and attendance in person is required. Only for exceptional reasons (e.g., exchange studies during the training period) can the training be completed independently online.

Degree Tutor Training

The training for degree tutors consists of independent online materials, arrival‑services training, small‑group facilitation training, a joint tutor event, a summer assignment, and reporting.
 

Arrival‑services training for degree tutors:

• 15 April 2026
   

In spring 2026, two alternative training days for degree tutors’ small‑group facilitation will be organised. Both sessions will cover the same content:

• Friday 17 April 2026
• Saturday 18 April 2026

Joint tutor event for all tutors in spring 2026:

• Wednesday 6 May 2026

Exchange Tutor Training

The training for exchange tutors will be held over three days:

• Tue 21 – Thu 23 April 2026

Joint tutor event for all tutors in spring 2026:

• Wednesday 6 May 2026

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. 

Numbers for autumn 2026 will be updated soon.

Tutors receive 2 ECTS credits as compensation for completing tutor training, carrying out tutoring duties, and submitting a short final report. The credit compensation can be granted only once per type of tutoring. For example, if you serve as a peer tutor for a second time, you will not receive the ECTS credits again. However, if you have previously been a peer tutor and later work as an exchange tutor, you are eligible to receive a separate 2‑ECTS compensation for the exchange tutoring.

The credits are recorded directly in Sisu as an administrative entry, and students cannot register for the course themselves.

For the credit compensation, exchange tutors submit their tutor report to the faculty’s international coordinator.

Peer and degree tutors send their tutor report by email to the appropriate person listed below:

(list will be updated soon)

Tutors also receive monetary compensation for the guidance work they perform. The hourly rate is €14 per hour. The maximum number of compensated hours is 30 hours for exchange tutoring, and 45 hours for degree tutoring. The compensation is paid according to the actual hours completed and reported.

Degree tutors:

The monetary compensation will be paid by your department or faculty once the tutoring duties have been completed. You will receive instructions from your department or faculty on how to submit the payment request.

Exchange tutors:

The monetary compensation is paid by the International Office once the tutoring duties have been completed. You will receive instructions from the International Office on how to submit the payment request.