Over one thousand new students start at Centria
The new academic year at Centria University of Applied Sciences kicks off during the week beginning 25 August with fully packed groups and orientation days. This autumn, more than 1,200 new students will begin their studies at Centria—about 260 more than last year.
The academic year starts with orientation days, during which students get to know each other, learn about Centria’s practices, student tools, teachers, and other staff. They will also become familiar with Centria’s campus cities: Kokkola, Ylivieska, and Pietarsaari.
In Kokkola, the new students of Finnish programs will arrive on campus in stages starting Monday, 25 August. In Ylivieska, students will begin on Wednesday, 27 August, following program-specific schedules. At the Pietarsaari campus, studies will begin on 2 September. Programs in English will start on the first week of September.
Master’s degree studies will start on 5 September. Continuing students will return to campuses during the first week of September. This autumn, about 280 new Master’s degree students will start at Centria, also an increase compared to last year (227).
In total, about 1,210 students will start a new study path. The number has increased by around 260 compared to last year. Approximately 370 students will begin in daytime groups in Kokkola. About 560 students will start in blended learning groups aiming for a Bachelor’s degree, most of them coming from the surrounding regions of Centria’s campuses as well as from larger cities.
– We are delighted that Centria is attracting interest and that over a thousand new students are starting their studies with us this autumn. Applicants’ interests are spread evenly across different programs, which shows that our diverse offering meets a wide range of goals and career plans. Starting school is always a big moment—whether you are a 7-year-old pupil or a 27-year-old university student—and this year we have paid particular attention to ensuring that orientation and group integration work equally well both on campus and in remote learning, says Jennie Elfving, Vice Rector of Centria University of Applied Sciences.
Centria’s largest fields of study this academic year are Business Administration, Social Services, Information and Communication Technology, and Nursing. New programs this year include Nursing in Ylivieska and Industrial Management in Pietarsaari.
Centria’s regional impact in education is significant: more than 60% of new Bachelor’s students come from nearby areas, and more than 60% of graduates also remain in the surrounding regions of the campuses.
International students are mainly based at the Kokkola campus, with some Business and IT students studying in Pietarsaari. Of the new students, about 140 are international Bachelor’s students. In addition, about 60 students will start in Master’s programs, and around 40 students will pursue a double degree. The number of international students has also increased compared to last year.