Why choose the TAPS program

The objective of the program is to implement a Trans Atlantic Paper Science (TAPS) dual undergraduate degree providing students and faculty with an opportunity to study global paper science through international collaboration. TAPS has four components: 1) vocational/academic exchange 2) intensive language training 3) online discussion forum 4) work internship in model paper science industries. 24 American and 24 European (German and Finnish) students will travel to the above partner universities for an academic study, possible home stay, and an internship experience for at least one academic year in total. Each university will host the same number of international students to study as they are sending abroad. Altogether the time to degree will not be lengthened.

Students taking part at the program will granted a scholarship ( see also more details below for scholarship ). The grant covers the cost for administration, travel, room, board, etc.

Partners of the TAPS program are Munich University of Applied Sciences (Germany) , TAMK University of Applied Sciences in Tampere (Finland) , JAMK University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä (Finland) , University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (USA) and North Carolina State University (USA) in Raleigh.

A dual Bachelor of Science degree, emphasis in Paper Science, will be awarded after completion of TAPS requirements.

 

Structure of the program / Semester times

Structure of program

For US students:

- Travel abroad for one academic year, ideally junior/senior year
- One semester of study in Germany
- One semester of study at one of the Finland institutions
- Possibility of Internship Abroad (Germany, Finland, or both)
- German/Finish language training
- Online Discussion Forum/Evaluation
- Professional presentation

For European Students:

- Travel abroad for 3 semesters, ideally junior/senior year
- One semester of study at one of the Finland institutions/Munich
- Two semesters of study at one of the US institutions
- Possibility of Internship Abroad (US; Finland, Germany or both)
- German/Finish/English language training
- Online Discussion Forum/Evaluation
- Professional presentation

Semester Times

USA

Fall Semester: September to mid-December
Spring Semester: mid-January to mid-May
Internship Period: mid-May to mid-August

FINLAND

Fall Semester: September to mid-December
Spring Semester: mid-January to April
Internship Period: May – August

GERMANY

Fall Semester: October to mid-February
Spring Semester: mid- March to end of July
Internship Period: August – end of October

 

Who can participate

Students who have studied at least 2-3 semesters (ideally from junior/senior year) and are declared majors in a paper science program at one of the following universities:

University of Applied Sciences - München - UASM (Germany)
TAMK University of Applied Sciences - TAMK (Finland)
Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences - JAMK (Finland)
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point - UWSP (USA)
North Carolina State University - NCSU (USA)

 

Scholarships & Costs

The TAPS program is sponsored and financed by FIPSE (US) and EACEA (EU).

Scholarship/ Funding

For European Students:

Students receive a total of up to 12,000 euros /student for the two semesters abroad in the US (i.e. for general fees, airfare, insurance, visas, cost of living, etc.) Erasmus funding will be provided of approximately € 180 per month/term for time in Finland/Germany (1 semester).

For US Students:

A $12,000 grant/student will be awarded for the study abroad in Europe (two semesters in total), to help cover travel costs, room & board, and other miscellaneous costs beyond "home" tuition.

Cost of Program

For European Students:

• München students pay only the amount of 42,- Euros for students housing to stay enrolled at the home university
• Administration fees might apply at the partner universities
• Room and board
• Travel fees (airfare, travel insurance, visas)
• Miscellaneous expenses

For US Students:

• Students from the US pay their home tuition fees
• Administration fees might apply at the partner universities
• Room and board
• Travel fees (airfare, travel insurance, work visas)
• Miscellaneous expenses

 

How to apply

All applicants applying for TAPS are to submit the following documents:

1. TAPS Application form
2. Application forms of partner universities
3. Statement of Purpose / Motivation Letter
4. Curriculum Vitae
5. Study plan
6. Copy of passport
7. Copy of university transcript and High school certificate / transcript

Application form for European students:

1. Erasmus application forms - Anlage A, Anlage B, Anlage C, Anlage D
2. Partner university applications (on-line application)
• UWSP application: http://www.uwsp.edu/fso/ia_UGradApplication.shtm
• NCSU application: http://admissions.ncsu.edu/how-apply/admission-profile/application-process-international.php

Application form for US students:

application forms of the Finnish and German partner universities

1. UASM application form
2. JAMK application formor on-line TAMK application
3. Housing application (turn in after acceptance)
4. International health insurance confirmation (that states that this insurance will cover more than just emergency treatments when abroad!) or get a German/Finish health insurance coverage
5. English Language Certificate

Language requirements

Successfull applicants must have an excellent command of English. All applicants applying for TAPS offered in English must demonstrate their proficiency in English. Applicants are required to attach an official language test report to their application.

For the European applicants who are willing to study at UWSP or NCSU, the language requirement is:

TOEFL: Score 79 or higher
IELTS: Score 6.5 or higher

(Note: Though it says 70 and 6.0 on the UWSP web, for the purposes of this program I think we should keep them consistent here. Students who come to UWSP with a 70 often struggle quite a bit, especially the first semester until their English gets better. 79 seems more appropriate for a heavy science program.)

US applicants are exempted from the above mentioned requirement.

Submitting your language test score to NCSU or UWSP

Students who take the TOEFL test need to ask for the official score report to be sent directly to NCSU (reporting code 5496) or UWSP (reporting code 1919) as soon as the score is available.

When you take the IELTS test, please ask the testing authority to mail an official score report to UWSP (UWSP International Students and Scholars Office) or NCSU (NCSU Department of Statistics)

UWSP
Mr. Brad VanDenElzen
UWSP International Students and Scholars Office
1108 Fremont Street
020 Student Services Center
Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897
Phone: 715-346-3849

NCSU
Mr. Adrian Blue
NCSU Dept of Statistics
2501 Founders Drive
Campus Box 8203
201 Patterson Hall
Raleigh, NC 27695-8203

Language testing in Finland

In Finland, the TOEFL test can be taken in Fulbright Center, at Kaisaniemenkatu 3 B, in the centre of Helsinki, whereas the IELTS test and the Cambridge language certificate exams (Certificate in Advanced English CAE, Certificate of Proficiency in English CPE) are offered by the Finnish British Society FINNBRIT.

Language testing in Germany

TOEFL - the computer-based TOEFL test is offered nearly every day in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich. Check here for locations, dates, dates, availability of seats, and how to register at http://www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=toefl .

IELTS tests can be taken nearly every week at the Carl Duisberg Centrums in Dortmund, Cologne, Munich and Mannheim. http://www.cdc.de/en/testcenter_en/article_6044.htm#f

Application Deadlines

Application Deadline for Fall admission : March 1st
Application Deadline for Spring admission: September 1st

 

Partner University & Cities

Trans Atlantic Paper Science Dual Undergraduate Degree Program (TAPS) is cooperation between five partner universities:

University of Applied Sciences - München - UASM (Germany)
TAMK University of Applied Sciences - TAMK (Finland)
Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences - JAMK (Finland)
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point - UWSP (USA)
North Carolina State University - NCSU (USA)

University of Applied Sciences - Munich – UASM (Germany)

Institution Profile

The Munich University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest UAS in Germany. More than 470 professors and nearly 650 part time lecturers are devoted to one goal: We are here not just to pass on knowledge to our students – but know-how.

Local conditions could not be better. Our excellent contacts to companies in the Munich high-tech region guarantee our students the opportunity to apply in industry what they have learned in the classroom and develop their creative potential. Every program includes one to two practical semesters in industry, giving students the opportunity to experience real work places and real working conditions. In addition, 170 laboratories provide students with the opportunity for practical application of what they have learned in the classroom.

International Orientation

International markets need dialog between cultures. The Munich University of Applied Sciences is firmly committed to intercultural competence. Ten percent of our students come to us from abroad and many of our students take advantage of a semester abroad at one of 100 partner universities in Europe, Asia, North and South America. Furthermore, we have agreements for double degrees with eight institutions in Great Britain, France, and Spain.

City Profile

Munich is located in Bavaria in the very south of Germany and has a population of 1.3 Million. It is world famous as a high-tech hot spot and loved for its lifestyle and beauty of mountains and lakes. With its nearly 850 year historical tradition, Munich is the city for theater and music, film and literature, museums and festivals, but probably best-known for its annual “Oktoberfest” that attracts millions of tourists every year.

But Munich is also a financial and economic hub. With its 18,000 IT-companies, the city is Europe’s leading technology center; more than 100,000 people are employed in film and television production, multimedia and numerous publishing houses and advertising agencies. Global players like Apple, Intel and Microsoft are located in the “Isar Valley”, as well as companies like Siemens, O2 and BMW.

TAMK University of Applied Sciences – TAMK (Finland)

Institution Profile

The TAMK University of Applied Sciences is based in Finland and offers a range of study programs that are focused on trade and industry. The university is also involved with a number of international partnerships, with over thirty countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa. International students are also welcome to study and the university itself has competed in a number of international conferences and competitions. The university operates two campuses.

The TAMK University of Applied Sciences currently has 5000 students enrolled and 400 full time members of staff. The university is also home to the Teacher Education Center, which offers post graduate courses in Finnish. A number of non degree programs for subjects like, interactive media are also available in English. The university also offers a range of adult education and further education courses. The adult education programs are mainly post-degree specialization courses, offered on a part time basis. Further education courses are available to anyone under Open Polytechnic Courses. Classes are usually held in the evenings of over the weekends- during the summer vacation time, they are held during the day.

City Profile

Tampere, the largest inland city in Scandinavia and the second largest economic area in Finland, is located 200 km northwest of Helsinki. Tampere was founded in 1779 but today it is best known for its high-tech industries.

Tampere has 200,000 inhabitants out of which about 40,000 are university students. Tampere has four higher education institutions which work in close collaboration with each other as well as with the businesses in the Tampere Region. It is one of the most rapidly developing regions in Finland. Tampere is surrounded by Finland's natural beauty. It is located between two large lakes and has vast outdoor recreational areas. Tampere is a city of sports, but it is also renowned for its theatres and culture.

Tampere is student-friendly in many ways: there are plenty of free-time activities and sports facilities, and the city bus connections run smoothly day and night. The local student unions, including TAMKO, and the Tampere Chamber of Commerce have initiated a project The Students' Tampere, aiming at bringing students and the business life closer to each other. Over 100 local businesses involved in the project give a student discount to students with a valid student card.

JAMK University of Applied Sciences – JAMK (Finland)

Institution Profile

JAMK is an attractive, internationally oriented higher education institution with a strong role among the developers of the Jyväskylä region and Central Finland. The number of students is 8,000. JAMK maintain close contacts with regional enterprises and organizations. The orientation of JAMK’s education and the contents of the various curricula are based on the needs of working life.

JAMK was nominated as a centre of excellence in regional impact for the years 2006-2007. JAMK also participate in the creation and implementation of regional development strategies and likewise strongly promote the innovation and development of competence in the regional labor force. Collaboration with the partners and experts in different fields through research and development produces new products and service concepts for the region.

International Orientation

JAMK is an internationally oriented institution of higher education, which is manifested by versatile cooperation with international partners, both in education and project activity. JAMK has partners in more than 40 countries around the globe. Over 2,500 international degree and exchange students have contributed to the internationalization of JAMK and the city of Jyväskylä over the past 10 years, while enjoying JAMK’s high-quality education and the opportunity to complete their studies in close interaction with working life.

City Profile

The city of Jyväskylä is situated in the heart of Finland, 270 kilometres north of the capital, Helsinki, and is surrounded by beautiful lakes, ridges and forests. The Jyväskylä region with a population almost of 170 000 is a modern centre for industry and learning. Its central location makes it easily accessible to other areas and towns in Finland.

Jyväskylä is a place of great natural and architectural beauty and famous for the architecture designed. Thanks to the short distances and the lively urban centre, Jyväskylä is a "little big city" where all the services, shops, schools and work are close at hand.

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – UWSP (USA)

Institution Profile

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, also referred to as UW-Stevens Point or UWSP, is a coeducational, public university located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It was established in 1894 as a Teacher's College. It is particularly known for the largest and premier College of Natural Resources in the US. The Fine Arts program has also been ranked within the top 10 in the Midwest. Student enrollment at UWSP is about 8800, with 46% of the 2007 freshmen class male and 54% female. Undergrads comprise 90% of enrolled students and graduate students are 10%. About 2% of freshmen are from countries other than the US. The small town campus of the University stretches over an area of more than 400 acres (162 hectares) of land.

International Orientation

International education is a priority at UWSP. Currently, about 20% of the student body studies abroad in over 40 countries. Percentage-wise, this is higher than any other UW system school and the goal is to increase the amount of international travelers to 30%. In addition, the UWSP International Students and Scholars Office actively recruits international students throughout the world. At any one time approximately 200 international students attend UWSP for English as a Second Language or to earn a degree in one of our majors. All international students participate in a one week orientation session prior to the semester starting. There are also several international student organizations and a global connections mentoring program for visiting students to participate in.

City Profile

Stevens Point is a city in and the county seat of Portage County (population: 68,000), Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state it is midway between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is also within a four hour drive to Chicago, Illinois or Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin. It is the largest city in the county, with a population of 25,000 and within 20 miles there is 160,000 acres (64,750 hectares) of forestland, 32,000 acres (12,950 hectares) of wetlands, 31,000 acres (12,545 hectares) of public land, 64 streams and 135 lakes. Moreover, Stevens Point is ranked as one of the "Top 100 Places to Live" by relocate-America.

North Carolina State University – NCSU (USA)

North Carolina State University (NCSU) is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. With more than 31,000 students and nearly 8,000 faculty and staff, North Carolina State University is a comprehensive university known for its leadership in education and research, and globally recognized for its science, technology, engineering and mathematics leadership.

NC State students, faculty and staff are focused. As one of the leading land-grant institutions in the nation, NC State is committed to playing an active and vital role in improving the quality of life for the citizens of North Carolina, the nation and the world.

City profile

Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, is located in the heart of the state’s Triangle region and minutes from world-renowned Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the world and home to industry giants like IBM Cisco, GlaxoSmithKline, Lenovo, Nortel Networks, Sony Ericsson and others. Raleigh is a city of contrasts beginning with its location. Situated midway between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, the beach and the mountains are never more than a two to three-hour drive away. Therefore, Raleigh and the surrounding region are consistently rated among the best places to live and work in the United States.

 

Contact information

North Carolina State University
Paper Science and Engineering

Dr. Med Byrd
Email: med_byrd@ncsu.edu
Telephone: 001-919-515-5790

Dr. Michael Kocurek
Email: mike_kocurek@ncsu.edu
Telephone: 001-919-515-5812

NC State University
Department of Wood and Paper Science
PO Box 8005
Raleigh, NC 27695
http://www.cnr.ncsu.edu/wps/

NCSU Study Abroad Office:

Ms Brooke Ashley
Email: brooke_ashley@ncsu.edu
Telephone: 001-919-515-2087
Fax: 001-919-515-6021

Study Abroad Office
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 7344
315 FYC Commons
Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
http://studyabroad.ncsu.edu

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Department of Paper Science and Engineering

Dr. Gerry Ring
Email: Gerry.Ring@uwsp.edu
Telephone: 001-715-34

Paper Science and Engineering
2001 Fourth Avenue
UW-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA
http://www.uwsp.edu/papersci/

Ms Bobbi Kubish
Email: Bobbi.Kubish@uwsp.edu
Telephone: 001-715-346-3831
Fax: 001-715-346-45546-3928
Fax: 001-715-346-4604

College of Natural Resources (CNR)
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
800 Reserve St.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/

UWSP International Students & Scholars Office:

Mr Brad Van Den Elzen
Email: brad.van.den.elzen@uwsp.edu
Telephone: 001 (715) 346-3849
Fax: 001 (715) 346-3819

International Students & Scholars Office
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
1108 Fremont Street, Room 020 SSC
Stevens Point, WI 54481-3897, USA

Munich University of Applied Sciences
Department of Paper and Packaging

Prof. Dr. Stephan Kleemann
Email: kleemann@hm.edu
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 1265 1551
Fax: +49 (0) 89 1265 1560

Ms Stefanie Goertz
Email: goertz@ivp.org
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 1265 1668
Fax: +49 (0) 89 1265 1560

Lothstrasse 34
80335 München
Germany

International Affairs:

Ms Veronika Wäninger (US program coordinator)
Email: veronika.waeninger@hm.edu
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 1265 1462
Fax: +49 (0) 89 1265 1140

Ms Sabrina Bösinger (EU program coordinator)
Email: sabrina.boesinger@hm.edu
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 1265 1238
Fax: +49 (0) 89 1265 1140

TAMK University of Applied Sciences
Paper Technology

Ms Ulla Häggblom-Ahnger
Email: ulla.haggblom-ahnger@tamk.fi
Telephone: +358 4 055 61120
Fax: +358 3 565 47222

Ms Kirsi Tolvanen
Email: kirsi.tolvanen@tamk.fi
Tel. +358 3 565 47 111
Fax +358 3 565 47 238

Eiskontie 33
Tampere, Finland
33520
http://www.tamk.fi/en/WWWSTUDIES/pulp_and_paper.html

TAMK International Office:

Ms Mirja Onduso
E-mail: incoming.students@tamk.fi
Telephone: +358 3 565 47277
Fax: +358 3 565 47238

Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences
Mechanical Engineering, Paper Machine Technology Programme

Ms Anneli Kakko
Email: Anneli.kakko@jamk.fi
Telephone: +358 4 007 19531
Fax: +358 1 444 499696

Rajakatu 35
FI-40200 Jyväskylä
Finland
http://www.jamk.fi/

JAMK International Affairs:

Ms Nina Björn
Email: international@jamk.fi
Telephone: +358 40 585 6791
Fax: +358 14 449 9694

 

TAPS on Facebook

Please have a look at our TAPS
Facebook Group called
“Trans-Atlantic Paper Sci & Engineering”
at http://www.facebook.com