New Academic Year Begins at Centria with More Than 1 000 New Students
The new academic year at Centria University of Applied Sciences will begin with orientation days during the week starting Monday, 24 August. This autumn, more than 1 000 new students will start their studies at Centria.
The academic year will kick off with orientation days, during which students will get to know one another, familiarize themselves with Centria’s practices, student tools, teachers, and other staff members. They will also become acquainted with Centria’s campus cities: Kokkola, Ylivieska, and Pietarsaari (Jakobstad).
Students beginning their studies in Kokkola will arrive on campus in stages starting Monday, 24 August. In Ylivieska, students will gather to begin their studies from Wednesday, 26 August, according to field-specific schedules. Studies at the Pietarsaari campus will commence on 1 September. Continuing students will return to campus during the first week of September. Master’s degree programmes will begin on 3 September.
The Academic Year Opening Celebration will take place on 2 September at the Snellman Music Centre, where Centria students will enjoy a concert by Arppa & Mikko Pellinen Band. After the concert, participants will proceed in a joint parade led by Samba el Gambo to Länsipuisto park to enjoy a student picnic organized by the Copsa Student Union. At the picnic, Copsa’s partners and local sports clubs will present their activities to students.
In total, more than 1 000 new students will begin their studies at Centria this autumn, a figure that does not differ significantly from recent years’ intake levels. Of these, approximately 800 will pursue a Bachelor’s degree and around 230 a Master’s degree.
“Increasing the number of higher education graduates is a national objective. At Centria, this is already reflected in our growing number of graduates, as well as in admissions policies that prioritize first-time higher education applicants. We are delighted to be able to offer multiple pathways to higher education. We also want to ensure that every student gets the best possible start to their studies,” says Jennie Elfving, Vice Rector of Centria University of Applied Sciences.
International students are primarily based at the Kokkola campus, while some Business Administration students study at the Pietarsaari campus. Of the new students, approximately 110 are international Bachelor-level students and 30 students will complete a double degree. In addition, around 30 students will begin their studies in Master’s programmes.
As in previous years, Centria’s largest fields of study are Business Administration (BBA), Social Services, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Nursing. New programmes introduced this year include Bachelor of Engineering, Common Daytime Studies in Technology, Bachelor of Humanities, Community Education with a focus on Community-based Youth Work, as well as new conversion programmes in Bachelor of Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, and Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Management.
Centria’s educational activities have a significant regional impact: more than 60% of students starting a Bachelor’s degree programme come from the surrounding areas, and over 60% of graduates also find employment or settle near Centria’s campus locations.