Orientation Handbook 2015-2016
Welcome to the University of Helsinki ...... 7 Check list for new international students ...... 8
I General information about Finland and the City of Helsinki ...... 9 Finland ...... 9 General ...... 9 Geography ...... 9 Climate ...... 9 Population ...... 9 Languages ...... 9 Religion ...... 10 History ...... 10 Government ...... 10 Foreign policy ...... 11 Press ...... 11 Television and radio...... 11 Education ...... 11 University education in Finland ...... 11 Industry and economy ...... 12 City of Helsinki ...... 12 Early history ...... 12 International capital...... 13
II University of Helsinki ...... 14 University of Helsinki in a nutshell ...... 14 University life ...... 14 Buildings and facilities ...... 15 Administration ...... 15 Students in university decision making ...... 15 Faculties ...... 16 Flamma – the university intranet ...... 16 Social opportunities ...... 16
i System of studies...... 17 Academic year ...... 17 Curricula ...... 18 Courses offered in English ...... 18 Instructions for studies ...... 18 Degree system ...... 19 Independent Master's Degree Programmes ...... 20 Credit system ...... 20 Credit transfer ...... 20 Grades...... 20 Grading revision ...... 20 Transcripts ...... 21 Language studies...... 21 Department of Finnish, Finno-ugrian and Scandinavian studies ...... 21 Language Centre ...... 22 WebOodi ...... 23 ICT Driving Licence ...... 23 Studying for a minor in another university ...... 24 Summer studies ...... 25 Helsinki Summer School ...... 25 Necessary supplies for studies...... 26 Copy cards and express print...... 26 Book shops ...... 26 Enrolment and registration ...... 26 First year degree students ...... 26 Exchange students ...... 26 Second year and beyond - Degree students ...... 27 Did you forget to register? ...... 27 Second year and beyond - Online registration on WebOodi...... 27 Registering for non-attendance ...... 27 Year tag for your student card ...... 27 Duration of studies ...... 27 Etappi – checkpoint system ...... 28 Practices affecting doctoral studies...... 28 Student card ...... 29
ii III University services ...... 30 Student Services ...... 30 Student Services on the campuses ...... 30 Disabled Student Services ...... 30 Career services ...... 31 International Exchange Services...... 31 International Admissions Services ...... 32 International Staff Services...... 32 Study offices of the faculties ...... 32 Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry ...... 33 Faculty of Arts ...... 33 Faculty of Behavioural Sciences ...... 33 Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences ...... 33 Faculty of Law ...... 33 Faculty of Medicine ...... 34 Faculty of Pharmacy ...... 34 Faculty of Science ...... 34 Faculty of Social Sciences ...... 34 Swedish School of Social Science ...... 34 Faculty of Theology ...... 35 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine ...... 35 Other services ...... 35 Unisport ...... 35 IT services ...... 36 Legal Aid Committee ...... 36 Equality and Diversity ...... 36 Childcare ...... 37 Study psychologists ...... 38 University chaplain...... 38 Helsinki University Library and the National Library of Finland...... 38
IV Student Union of the University of Helsinki ...... 40
V Studying in Finland ...... 42 Residence Permit and Right of Residence in Finland ...... 42
iii General requirements ...... 42 Citizens of the Nordic countries ...... 42 EU-citizens and citizens of Liechtenstein and Switzerland ...... 42 Non-EU citizens ...... 42 Renewing your Residence Permit ...... 43 Helsinki Region Immigration Police Offices ...... 44 Student’s health insurance ...... 44 Population Registration ...... 45 Obtaining a Finnish personal identity code ...... 46 Helsinki Region Local Register Offices ...... 47 Financing of studies ...... 47 Student's income ...... 48 Cost of living ...... 48 Is a student allowed to work while studying? ...... 48 Grants and scholarships ...... 49 Planning a career and finding a job in Finland ...... 51 Taxation...... 52 Housing options ...... 53 Find flat mates ...... 54 No apartment before arriving in Finland? ...... 54 Other options ...... 55 Contact us ...... 55 Student health care ...... 55 Health care services and health insurance ...... 56 KELA benefits – residence-based social security...... 56 Student financial aid ...... 57
Vl Living in Finland ...... 59 Advice and help for people moving to Finland ...... 59 Finnish Immigration Service ...... 59 Virka Info - information services of the city of Helsinki ...... 59 Infopankki - Info Bank ...... 59 NonDiscrimination Ombudsman ...... 60 Refugee Advice Centre ...... 60 SOS Center - crisis prevention for foreigners ...... 60
iv Legal Aid Office...... 61 Transport and travel ...... 61 Transport in the Helsinki Region ...... 61 Taxis ...... 62 Kutsuplus ...... 62 Driving in Finland ...... 63 Helsinki by bike ...... 63 Railways ...... 64 Long distance busses ...... 64 Travelling by boat ...... 65 Kilroy Travels Helsinki ...... 65 Mail and telephone ...... 65 Mail ...... 65 Telephone ...... 65 Money and banking ...... 67 Schools and day care ...... 68 Voting ...... 68 Climate and survival tips for winter ...... 68 Food and shopping ...... 69 Libraries and cultural centres ...... 72 Leisure activities ...... 75 Tourist and traveller information...... 75 Concerts ...... 75 Theatres ...... 76 Opera ...... 76 Museums and art exhibitions...... 76 Movies ...... 78 Movie Festivals ...... 78 Outdoors activities ...... 79 Restaurants and coffee shops ...... 79 Refreshments ...... 80 Appendix A: From student to students: TSEMPPI’s survival guide for new international students and researchers ...... 81 Appendix B: List of abbreviations ...... 88 Appendix C: Addresses of some university locations ...... 89
v Appendix E: Menu and grocery guide ...... 92
Information in this guide may change after printing without prior notice.
vi Welcome to the University of Helsinki
Dear International Student,
Welcome to the University of Helsinki!
We hope that you will find this Orientation Handbook a helpful tool as you start your studies in Helsinki! The guidebook contains a lot of practical information that will help you get started with your student life and to navigate through daily life. You will probably find answers to many of the questions you might have in this guidebook. Just browse through the table of contents and you will see what the Orientation Handbook has to offer.
Please also look through the check-list provided on the next page, it will help you to accomplish many of the formal things you need to do at the beginning of your studies and it will tell you in which order to get things done, so that the process of settling in runs as smoothly as possible.
We hope that you enjoy your time here at the University of Helsinki and Good Luck with your studies!
Best wishes,
The staff of Student Services and International Exchange Services
7 Check list for new international students
Below are listed some important things to remember, as well as the order in which you should accomplish things, so your settling in to life in Finland goes as smoothly as possible. (More information on the topics is available in the Orientation Handbook; the page number is listed in the brackets.)
1. Visit the Welcome Fair at the University and pick up your information package and a certificate of attendance. For more information please visit: https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/new-students/orientation-and- welcome-fair 2. Pick up your access rights for the University computer network at the welcome Fair. (36) 3. Pay the Student Union Fee, if you have not done it already. The Student Union membership grants you access to many student discounts, that makes your life in Finland a lot cheaper. (26) 4. Attend the Orientation Course at the University/at your Faculty/at your department. For more information please visit: https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/new-students/orientation-and- welcome-fair 5. EU-students: Register your right to reside in Finland at the local police office. (42) 6. Students from the Nordic countries: Register yourself at the municipal register office if you stay in Finland for more than 6 months. (42) 7. All degree students: Complete your Population Registration at the municipal register office (maistraatti) to receive a place of domicile (kotikunta). (45) 8. Apply for the student card. (29) 9. Obtain a Metropolitan Travel Card. A student discount certificate for the travel card is available at the Welcome Fair or the Student Services. NB! The student discount is only available to Bachelor and Master’s students under the age of 30. (61) 10. Open a bank account. (67) 11. Degree students from outside the EU/EEA countries: remember to renew your residence permit, start the renewal process in time, it takes several months before it is completed. (43) 12. Obtain a Finnish personal identity code (46)
8 I General information about Finland and the City of Helsinki
Finland
General the Gulf Stream. The average annual Finland is a republic that became temperature in the capital, Helsinki, is 6.7° independent in 1917. The head of state is centigrade. The highest daytime the president. Ultimate political power is temperature in southern Finland during the vested in the 200-member unicameral summer occasionally rises close to 30° parliament. The population of Finland today centigrade. During the winter months, is about 5.5 million. Finland is rightly known particularly in January and February, as a land of forests: they cover roughly three temperatures of -15° centigrade are quite quarters of the country’s surface area of 338 common. In the far north, beyond the Arctic 000 sq. km. Other outstanding features of Circle, the sun does not set for 73 days, Finland’s scenery are its many lakes and producing the white nights of summer. In the islands. Lakes and other bodies of water same region, during the dark winter period, cover 10% of the territory. The principal the sun remains below the horizon for 51 archipelago lies off the southwest coast days, creating the polar night known in while the main lake district, centred on Lake Finnish as kaamos. Saimaa, is in the east. The semiautonomous province of the Åland Islands occupies a Population special position as it has been declared a The population of Finland was 5476331 at demilitarised area under international law. the end of February 2015. Most Finns live in urban areas. Helsinki (the capital city), Geography Espoo and Vantaa form the Metropolitan Finland is situated in northern Europe Region, which is home to roughly a fifth of between the 60th and 70th parallels of the country’s total population. Other major latitude. A quarter of its total area lies north cities are Tampere, Turku, Lahti and Oulu. of the Arctic Circle. Finland’s neighbouring Ethnically, Finland is still a very countries are Sweden to the west, Norway to homogeneous country. The foreign the north, Russia to the east and Estonia to community makes up about 3.8% of the the south, across the Gulf of Finland. Much population. The biggest groups of of the country is a gently undulating plateau immigrants are from Estonia, Russia and of worn bedrock and boreal forests, Sweden. Among them are a considerable presenting a striking mixture of wooded hills number of people of Finnish descent. and waters. High rounded fells form the landscape in the most northerly part of the Languages country, Finnish Lapland. The Finnish language is a member of the Finno-Ugric linguistic family that includes, in Climate one branch, Finnish, Estonian and a number Cold winters and warm summers mark the of other Finnic tongues and, in the other, climate, but temperatures in winter are Hungarian, by far the biggest language of moderated by the influence of the Baltic Sea the Ugric group. The official languages of and west winds from the Atlantic warmed by Finland are Finnish and Swedish, the latter 9 now spoken as a mother tongue by 5.3% of 1941 - 44 Fighting between Finnish and the people. Another indigenous minority Russian forces resumes in the campaign language is Sami, spoken by the Sami of known as the Continuation War. A massive Lapland. The official standing of Swedish offensive by Soviet forces in summer 1944 has historical roots in the period when forces the Finns to sue for peace. Some Finland was part of the Swedish realm, a territory was ceded to the Soviet Union but status that began approximately at the Finland was never occupied and preserved beginning of the 13th century and lasted until its independence and sovereignty. 1809. 1952 The Summer Olympics are arranged in Helsinki. Religion 1955 Finland joins the United Nations. There has been complete freedom of religion 1983 The first World Championships in in Finland since 1923. The Evangelical Athletics are arranged in Helsinki. Lutheran Church is the country’s biggest 1995 Finland becomes a member of the denomination. About 75% of the people are European Union. baptised as Lutherans while just about 1% 1999 Finland’s EU Presidency (July 1 to belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church. Both December 31). denominations are designated as state 2000 Helsinki celebrated its 450th churches. Although Christianity probably anniversary as one of the nine European reached Finland before the end of the first Cities of Culture. millennium, it was not until the 12th century 2006 The heavy-metal outfit Lordi gained that the Roman Catholic Church became Finland’s first ever Eurovision Song Contest established. This followed a missionary victory (May 20). expedition to southwest Finland led by King 2006 Finland’s 2nd EU Presidency (July 1 to Erik of Sweden with the English-born bishop December 31). Henry. The influence of the Orthodox faith 2007 The 52nd Eurovision Song Contest spread into the country from the east. was arranged in Finland on May 12. 2008 Martti Ahtisaari, former President of History Finland, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Some important dates in the history of 2012 Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen Finland: and Lahti together form World Design 1155 The first missionaries arrive in Finland Capital 2012. from Sweden. Finland becomes part of the Swedish realm. Government 1809 Sweden surrenders Finland to Russia. The head of state is the President of the The Tsar declares Finland a Republic (tasavallan presidentti) who is semiautonomous Grand Duchy with himself elected for a period of six years at a time and as constitutional monarch represented by a may serve a maximum of two consecutive governor general. terms. The current president, Sauli Niinistö, 1917 Finland declares independence from began his first six-year period in March 2012. Russia on December 6. The new state is first The President is chosen by direct popular recognised by the Soviet Union, France, vote, with a run-off between the two leading Germany and Sweden. candidates, if no candidate wins an outright 1918 The Finnish Civil War is fought majority on the first ballot. The government between the Reds and the Whites. must enjoy the confidence of parliament 1919 The present constitution is adopted (eduskunta) which has 200 members and Finland becomes a republic with a elected by universal suffrage every four president as head of state. years. After the general election in April 2011, 1939 - 40 The Soviet Union attacks Finland the National Coalition had 44 parliamentary and the Winter War is fought. seats, the Social Democratic Party 42, True 10 Finns 39, the Centre Party 35, the Left Television and radio Alliance 14, the Greens 10, the Swedish The Finnish Broadcasting Company, YLE, is People’s Party 9, the Finnish Christian the largest national radio and television League 6 and other groups (i.e. Åland service provider. It is a non-commercial, Islands) 1. At the time of writing the general public service broadcaster. There are two election in April 2015 had not yet been held. other nation-wide broadcasters, MTV3 and Nelonen (Channel 4), which are privately Foreign policy owned. YLE operates four television As one of the European Union and Nordic channels with national coverage, YLE1, Countries, Finland is committed to the YLE2, YLE Teema and FST5. MTV3 has values of freedom, democracy and human eleven channels and Nelonen eight, some of rights. Finland is not a member of any which you have to pay extra for. The military alliance and maintains an operations of the Finnish Broadcasting independent defence capability but has Company are financed by a public service signed a Partnership for Peace agreement broadcasting tax collected by the Tax with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Administration. and has observer status in the Western The Finnish Broadcasting European Union (the nascent defence arm Company also transmits on six national radio of the European Union) and in the North channels, four in Finnish and two in Swedish, Atlantic Co-operation Council. Cooperation and on various regional channels including within the Nordic Council covers a wide one in Sami in Finnish Lapland. In addition, range of social, cultural and technical there are radio stations operated by private matters of interest to the five members: individuals, regional and local newspapers, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and associations and public corporations. Sweden. Finland applied to join the European Economic Community in 1992 and Education in 1995 became a full member of the All children receive compulsory basic European Union. Since becoming a member education at comprehensive schools of the United Nations in 1955, Finland has between the ages of 7 and 16. Education taken part in many of the world beyond the age of 16 is voluntary, taking the organisation’s peacekeeping operations. form of either a three-year course in upper secondary school (lukio) or a three-year Press course at a vocational institution. There are Finland has about 50 newspapers that are 14 universities with a total student population published 4 to 7 times a week and some 150 of about 167 000. with 1 to 3 issues per week. The total circulation of all newspapers is about 2.9 University education in Finland million. Most newspapers are bought on The foundations of the university system in subscription rather than from newsstands, Finland were laid in 1640, when the only two newspapers depend entirely on University of Helsinki was established. It was newsstand sales. There are about 3150 the only university in the country for almost registered periodicals. three centuries. Today there are 14 One source for news in universities in Finland; eleven of them are English is Helsinki Times. It is an multi-faculty universities, two technical independent weekly newspaper, which universities, one business school and one covers news and events in Finland. For more art academy. In addition to the universities, information please see there is one military academy. Two of the www.helsinkitimes.fi universities operate entirely in Swedish. About 20 000 new university students start their studies each 11 year. The Finnish matriculation examination to maintain student health care and other (ylioppilastutkinto) taken at the end of upper services. secondary school provides general eligibility Relevant websites: www.minedu.fi for university education. The Finnish 3-4- (Ministry of Education) www.oph.fi (Finnish year vocational qualifications also give National Board of Education) students eligibility for placement at universities. There is a numerus clausus, i.e. restricted entry, in all fields of study. Industry and economy Universities decide themselves upon their Last century Finland embarked on the road selection procedure; applicants can be to industrialisation by harnessing its forest ranked e.g. according to the grades in the resources. Forests are still Finland’s most matriculation examination and/or entrance crucial raw material resource, although the examination and/or school leaving certificate. metal, engineering and IT industries have The Finnish university long been Finland’s leading branches of system has undergone a major reform. The manufacturing both in terms of value added new University Act, which entered into force and as an employer. Today, Finland is a in August 2009, extended the autonomy of typical advanced industrial economy: two the universities. The universities are either thirds of its total output is generated in the public-law corporations, like the University of service sector. The net wealth of Finnish Helsinki, or private-law foundations. The households is on the European Union reform has also affected university finances, average. In February 2015, the decision-making procedures and human unemployment rate was 10 %. resources policies. At present, most Currency Finnish universities do not charge tuition The unit of currency is the euro (symbols: €, fees, but students have to pay their EUR), divided into 100 cents. housing and living expenses themselves. Relevant websites: www.suomi.fi (Public For Finnish citizens, these expenses are services) http://finland.fi partially subsidised by the state. The state (Overall information on Finland) assists students with study grants, housing www.finlandlive.info(Online community allowances and with guarantees on loans about Finland, in Russian) from private banks. The student unions charge small fees to cover their activities and
City of Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and its Early history centre of administration, finance and culture. King Gustav Vasa of Sweden (to which It has a population of about 612 664 and, Finland at that time belonged) founded together with its neighbouring municipalities, Helsinki in 1550. Helsinki was the base for constitutes Finland's biggest economic and trade and shipping, and above all, its task market region. All in all, the Helsinki region was to combat the thriving trade between is home to 1.3 million inhabitants. It has a Tallinn, on the opposite shore of the Gulf of diverse economy and is one of the most Finland, and Russia. In 1640, Queen service-intensive urban regions in Europe. Christina sought to strengthen the town by Helsinki is a metropolis whose salient shifting it southwards from its original site on feature is the proximity of the sea and of the River Vantaa and thus bringing it nearer unpolluted nature. the open sea. However, this did not yet 12 contribute greatly to the growth of the town International capital that was sorely tried by famines, fires, Following the rise in industrialisation and plagues, wars and periods of Russian prosperity towards the end of the 19th occupation. century, Helsinki soon developed into a Not until 1748, when work modern European port and city of industry began on the building of the Suomenlinna with residents who spoke Swedish, Finnish naval fortifications, did Helsinki enter a more or Russian. The population topped the 100 auspicious period in its history. The fortress 000 mark at the beginning of the 20th was a tremendous building project for century, when Finnish became the dominant superpower Sweden and took decades to language. Finland gained political complete. It also infused new life into independence in 1917 and Helsinki became Helsinki's trade and seafaring. The 'high the capital of the Republic of Finland. By the society' bearing influences of French culture end of the century, the population was more introduced by the officers stationed at the than five times that at the beginning. The fortress likewise had a positive effect on economic growth in Helsinki at the start of Helsinki life. The island fortress of the new millennium relied strongly on the Suomenlinna is a major historical monument information industry. and one of the items on the UNESCO World The cosmopolitan, Heritage List. multicultural Helsinki of today is an The shared history of extremely popular tourist and congress city. Sweden and Finland lasting close to six It is also Finland's major centre for higher centuries ended when Sweden lost Finland education. Many international comparisons to Russia in the war of 1808-09. Finland have rated it one of the most attractive cities became an autonomous Grand Duchy of the world in terms of quality of life and subordinate to the Russian Emperor in 1809, business. and its capital was moved from Turku to Helsinki in 1812. The Emperor decided to Relevant websites: make the town worthy of its new capital http://www.hel.fi/www/Helsinki/en (City of status and initiated extensive building Helsinki) projects. The neoclassical or Empire-style http://www.hel.fi/hki/kansainvalinen/en/ centre of Helsinki, dating from the mid-19th (International Affairs website of the City of Helsinki) century and including the Senate Square, http://www.helsinki.fi/ (Portal of the City the Cathedral and the University, is a unique and the University) architectural entity that has been preserved to the present day.
13 II University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki in a nutshell
The University of Helsinki (Helsingin large university, with about 43 500 members yliopisto/Helsingfors universitet) is the oldest when students, teachers and other staff and largest university in Finland. It was numbers are combined. Of the 35 200 founded in 1640 as the Academy of Turku, students in the eleven faculties 64% are Turku being the former capital of Finland, women. The University of Helsinki is which was then part of the Swedish realm. bilingual with instruction and services offered After Finland was annexed to the Russian in both Finnish and Swedish: about 6.5% of Empire in 1809, the capital was moved to the degree students are Swedish-speakers. Helsinki. In 1827, the University was In some fields of study, such as law, quotas transferred to Helsinki, where it opened the are reserved for Swedish-speaking students following year under the name of the in an effort to guarantee equal linguistic Imperial Alexander University, after the rights for all. The total enrolment of Russian Tsar Alexander the First. It was the international students, including exchange only university in Finland until 1919. students, is presently around 2 200 students By Scandinavian per year. standards, the University of Helsinki is a
University life
The University of Helsinki is a combination of style of teaching. Today, there are close to an older, more traditional educational 20,000 computers connected to the institution and a modern, dynamic University’s networks. Diverse on-line international university. Admission is difficult opportunities are an essential part of and the pace of studies is to certain extent everyday studies of every student of the up to the individual. One outstanding feature University of Helsinki. of studies at the University of Helsinki is the Finnish university emphasis on the student’s own initiative and students tend to be very independent. This individual work. is largely a result of their demanding upper Some of the instruction is secondary education (lukio). Some still in the traditional lecture form, and the international students might feel that the relationship between the student and atmosphere on class is seemingly unfriendly, instructor can remain quite official and but you will find most Finns eager to discuss hierarchical. However, many teachers and and help you, if you make the initial attempt entire departments have moved towards at communication. more student-to-student and student-to- You may find instructors, instructor discussion-orientated lessons and particularly professors, hard to track down. tutoring and most teachers welcome active They normally hold consultation hours only student participation. one or two hours per week. However, the Modern teaching assistants and department office staff can technology has dramatically changed the often answer any questions you may have.
14 Buildings and facilities
The University was moved to Helsinki a year Altogether, the University of Helsinki has after the Great Fire of Turku had destroyed several different locations in the city and most of the old Academy. New buildings for elsewhere in Finland, the northernmost one the University were erected in the centre of being the biological research station located the new capital. The Main Building in Kilpisjärvi, Northern Lapland. New (yliopiston päärakennus) and the buildings are still built and the newest of Observatory were completed in 1832, while them is Kaisa House, opened autumn 2012, the University Library (yliopiston kirjasto) where the main library of the university is was completed in 1840. located. Several other buildings were erected near the Main Building in the Campus maps: late 19th and early 20th century. These http://www.helsinki.fi/university/campus buildings are some of Helsinki’s most _map.html beautiful sights. Make sure to visit the Main Library, and walk through the older half of Art historical tours on campus the Main Building if your studies and class During summer season there are free of work do not bring you to these places. The charge guided art historical tours on the Main Building’s older half faces the famous centre campus of the university organised by Senate Square (Senaatintori), the site of the Department of Art History and the many national ceremonies and celebrations. University Administration and Until the 1950’s, the entire Communications. The tours are guided by university was located in the centre of students of art history. Helsinki. Today, the University of Helsinki has four main campus areas: the City For further information and bookings see: Centre (theology, law, arts, social sciences, http://kavelykierrokset.wordpress.com/ and behavioural sciences), Meilahti https://www.facebook.com/Taidehistorial (medicine and dentistry), Kumpula (science) lisetKavelykierrokset and Viikki (agriculture and forestry, [email protected] biological and environmental sciences, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine).
Administration
The central idea of the administration at the universities an extensive administrative and University of Helsinki is to emphasise the fiscal autonomy. For more information on the role of the four campuses (the City Centre, administration and organisation of the Meilahti, Viikki and Kumpula) as well as to university, please see the website of the focus on strategic leadership, quality control, University www.helsinki.fi/inbrief/ effectiveness of administration and new dimensions in customer services. Students in university decision The large-scale reform of making the Finnish university administration, The Student Union enjoys a legal status in implemented on August 1, 2009, gives the the University. The Union is autonomous in 15 its own affairs and this is guaranteed by the Faculty of Social Sciences (valtiotieteellinen Universities Act. This same Act together with tiedekunta) Faculty of Behavioural Sciences the Universities Decree regulates the (käyttäytymistieteellinen tiedekunta) representation of students at different levels of university decision making. Universities Meilahti Campus themselves decide upon the quotas of Faculty of Medicine (lääketieteellinen tiedekunta) different interest groups in decision-making bodies. Student participation in the Kumpula Campus administration is considered important. Faculty of Science (matemaattisluonnontieteellinen tiedekunta) Faculties The University of Helsinki has eleven Viikki Campus faculties on four campuses: Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry (maatalous-metsätieteellinen tiedekunta) City Centre Campus Faculty of Biological and Environmental Faculty of Theology (teologinen tiedekunta) Sciences (bio- ja ympäristötieteellinen Faculty of Law (oikeustieteellinen tiedekunta) tiedekunta) Faculty of Pharmacy (farmasian tiedekunta) Faculty of Arts (humanistinen tiedekunta) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (eläinlääketieteellinen tiedekunta)
Flamma – the university intranet
Flamma, the University of Helsinki Intranet, system organised according to various is a joint communication channel and topics or functions in to information channels: personal work tool for all students and staff i.e. For Students, For Teachers etc. You can members of the University of Helsinki. One also gather links of your own interest in one of the basic principles is that all internal place. communication within the University should Flamma is also a be done through Flamma. communication channel. Through Flamma, You need a University you receive news and information about of Helsinki user account to use the common issues on department or faculty Intranet. Upon login you will see a layout levels, or throughout the whole University, customised according to your department, you can discuss and exchange information faculty, and your status at the University e.g. in work group areas only visible to group student. You can access your University e- members. mail and, for instance, the study information You can access Flamma system WebOodi, with the same single login. at https://flamma.helsinki.fi/. Flamma is also an information retrieval
Social opportunities
Because of the individual nature of university The student organisations, as will be studies, much of the institution’s social life explained in section IV (Student Union of the must be sought after; it is not readily University of Helsinki), are generally very apparent at first. active, arranging different kinds of activities. Many activities are open to all university 16 students and advertisements for them are Relevant websites: http://hyy.helsinki.fi/en posted on the large notice boards in the Main (Student Union of UH) Building (päärakennus) and Porthania or online. Unfortunately, most announcements ESN (Erasmus Student Network) are in Finnish. Almost all organisations ESN Uni Helsinki is the biggest local affiliated with the University of Helsinki have sections of ESN in Helsinki. ESN will help their own websites and e-mail lists. The full you to get the most out of the student life in Helsinki. ESN Uni Helsinki provides cultural list of organisations and associations (a lot of and social events for the exchange students: the information is in Finnish only) can be city tours, sport events, pub crawls, knitting found on the Student Union website at workshop, parties, sauna evenings and http://hyy.helsinki.fi/en/organisations excursions. Find us on Facebook: In order to get to know the www.facebook.com/uni.helsinki.ESN people of your department, join the e-mail list of your department and keep an eye on the You can also become an active member, join department notice boards for the team and help us to organize these announcements. events. It is a chance to learn more about Often the students Finnish student life! You can send an email arrange discussions with academicians, to [email protected] excursions to relevant industries or museums, and even sauna evenings (saunailta), where you are guaranteed to have a good time Several nations and associations have their clubrooms in the New Student House (Uusi ylioppilastalo).
System of studies
Academic year Teaching periods of the 2015 - 2016 The academic year begins on August 1 and academic year ends on July 31. The academic year is divided into four seven-week teaching Autumn term periods. There is an examination and Intensive period 24.8.-30.8. I teaching period 31.8.-18.10. independent study week between the Examination and independent study week periods in autumn and spring and a longer 19.10.-25.10. break at Christmas time and during the II teaching period 26.10.-13.12. summer. Examination and independent study week Teaching organised in the 14.12.-20.12. summer does not belong to the teaching periods. However, examinations and special Spring term courses may be arranged outside the Intensive period 2.1.-17.1. teaching periods. The teaching periods listed III teaching period 18.1.-6.3. below apply to all Faculties except the Examination and independent study week Faculty of Medicine. Please check the exact 7.3.-13.3. dates for your Faculty's teaching from the IV teaching period 14.3.-8.5. Examination and independent study week Faculty (see contact information on page 32). 9.5.-15.5. Intensive period 9.5.-31.5.
17 Curricula Courses offered in English The curricula are revised every second or A good starting point to access information third year and are published mostly online. on the courses offered in English is the Some Faculties also publish programme Courses in English website books that are colour coded (dark green for https://university.helsinki.fi/en/courses- Agriculture and Forestry, red for Social in-english. You can also find courses Sciences, blue for Arts...) and you can find through the electronic information system reference copies or get a copy of your own WebOodi https://weboodi.helsinki.fi/hy/. from your Faculty Office (see contact There you can search for courses using information on page 32). Unfortunately, the different criteria – one search criteria is by comprehensive programme books are language of instruction. Updates on courses available in Finnish and Swedish only. are posted on the individual Faculty’s or Department’s website or in WebOodi.
Instructions for studies
Ways of completing studies Other typical ways of There are two basic ways of completing completing a course are seminar groups and studies at the University of Helsinki: lecture other small groups, in which students get courses and book exams. Students taking a accustomed to independent research. Oral lecture course must pass a final examination examinations are unusual. On-line study and at any one of the scheduled examination examination options are growing rapidly. dates after attending the course. Students One outstanding taking a book exam must pass a faculty feature in studies at the University of examination (tiedekuntatentti) or a period Helsinki is the emphasis on the student’s examination (perioditentti) at any one of the own initiative and individual work. scheduled dates during the academic year: usually there is one examination each month. Languages used in teaching Although there is no summer term, some The languages of instruction at the departments also arrange examinations in University of Helsinki are Finnish and the summer. Swedish. Finnish is the main language of Many departments instruction, whereas Swedish is used in a accept tests written in English. Often number of degree programmes and major students can also arrange to write a subjects. Today, one of the focal areas is research paper, essay or a study diary in International Master’s level programmes. A place of a written examination, but this varies number of seminars and lecture series are according to field of study. Examination offered in English on a regular basis, dates are set before the academic year particularly at the Master’s level. It is begins and there may be multiple dates. usually possible to complete courses International students often choose book through independent study when no exams in order to bypass a lecture series instruction in English is available. Please arranged in Finnish and/or to read the note that in Foreign Language Degree material at their own pace. Today almost all Programmes translation into mother tongue registrations for examinations are done in (äidinkielelle) means into Finnish or Swedish. WebOodi. Be prepared to prove your identity at the test site.
18 Planning your studies should be pointed out that, at the University In order to facilitate the long-term planning of of Helsinki, the personal study plan is not studies, each student is required to devise a considered an agreement between the personal study plan (HOPS in Finnish). The student and the University. Please check the personal study plan is a valuable aid in the guidelines for completing the personal study long-term goal-oriented planning of studies. plan from your Faculty, the practices vary The study plan is checked regularly, thus between Faculties (see contact information aiding in the monitoring of study progress. It on page 32).
Degree system
Basic structure of the degrees minimum requirements for the scope and The first, lower academic degree is called number of study modules. The Bachelor’s kandidaatti (Bachelor). The second, higher degree consists of studies in the major degree is called maisteri (Master). Students subject (with a minimum of 60 credits) and first complete the lower academic degree, i.e. basic studies in at least one minor subject the Bachelor’s degree, and then the higher (25 credits). At the Master’s level, the scope academic degree, i.e. the Master’s degree or, of advanced studies is 30 credits or more. in medical studies, the Licentiate degree. The Bachelor’s degree (180 credits) includes All students admitted to a thesis with the scope of six credits. While Bachelor’s level studies at the University of the scope of the thesis required for the Helsinki receive the right to pursue studies higher academic degree in medicine and leading to the Master’s degree. Exceptions veterinary medicine is 20–40 credits, the to this rule are the programme leading to the scope of the Master’s thesis in all other fields qualification of kindergarten teacher and the is 40 credits. This requirement is due to the Bachelor of Science degree programme in University’s aim of emphasising the Pharmacy. There is usually no selection research-oriented nature of its degrees and process in the transition from Bachelor’s the eligibility for doctoral studies provided by level studies to Master’s level studies for the Master’s degree (120 credits). those students who have been accepted to Furthermore, the pursue both Bachelor’s and Master’s level requirement for studies in information and studies. The exception to this rule is the communication technology is a minimum of independent Master’s programmes: see five credits, and the requirement for below for more information. The Bachelor’s language studies is a minimum of 10 credits. degree must be completed before Professional development is not neglected in registering for Master’s level studies, but the degree system either: a few credits is students may also complete individual reserved for studies in orientation into Master’s level courses before fully professional life. completing the Bachelor’s degree. Doctoral studies Study modules A doctoral degree awarded by the University The basic unit of a degree programme is a of Helsinki consists of a doctoral dissertation study module (opintokokonaisuus). One and related research as well as module may contain several types of work: postgraduate studies of a scope of 60–80 lectures, exercises, set book examinations, credits (40–60 credits in degrees in medicine, seminars, etc. In order to ensure the high dentistry and veterinary medicine). The quality of its degrees, the University has set postgraduate studies include courses and 19 modules in the students’ research fields as The application must include an authorised well as more general studies that enhance transcript and other documents when their expertise. Ideally, a doctoral degree needed. Detailed course descriptions are of can be completed in four years. In practice, great help in the process. The University of the time spent is often longer. Helsinki tries to give full recognition of More information about previous class work and credit transfer doctoral studies: usually goes quite smoothly: the better the https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ student’s earlier programme compares with how-to-apply/doctoral-studies the programme offered in Helsinki, the better the transfer of credits will be. Independent Master's Degree Detailed information on Programmes credit transfer and the identification and Students may seek entry into independent recognition of prior learning, which might Master’s programmes after having include knowledge obtained also in other completed the Bachelor's degree or ways than through formal education, is equivalent studies. These Master’s available at the faculty office (see contact programmes are often multidisciplinary by information on page 32). It is highly nature as well as planned and carried out in recommended to get the transfer process collaboration between faculties or even under way as soon as possible. universities. After having completed Grades their Bachelor’s degree, students may The general grading scale used at the change their major subject for the Master’s University is a six-stage scale. It ranges from degree. If they obtain permission to do this, zero (0 = fail) to five (5 = excellent). the department of the new major subject Traditions are being upheld in the grading of may require the student to complete a the Master’s thesis, which is graded on a maximum of 60 credits of complementary scale using the Latin language. Degree studies. More information about Master’s certificates are accompanied by a Degree programmes: supplement (the Diploma Supplement), https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ which describes the contents of the degree. how-to-apply/masters-studies The purpose of this supplement is to improve the international comparability of degrees Credit system and facilitate mobility for either doctoral In the credit system, the student workload is study or employment. 1600 hours per year, which is worth 60 credits in completed studies. Consequently, Grading revision the Bachelor’s degree (180 credits) should If you feel that you have been treated unfairly be completed in three years and the in the grading of an examination, seminar Master’s degree (120 credits) should be paper, thesis work etc., you should first completed in two years. The annual student contact the appropriate teacher: the request workload of 1600 hours is the same as the for revision can be done orally or in writing. annual workload of university teachers. If the grade has been given by the Faculty Council, you have to submit a written request. Credit transfer You have to submit the request within 14 For those coming to the University of days after you had the possibility of receiving Helsinki with previous university experience, detailed information on the grade and on the it can be possible to transfer some of the grounds for grading. The same process is academic credits by submitting an also applied to recognition of a student’s application for credit transfer at the faculty. previous studies.
20 However, if you are not the Registry of the University of Helsinki satisfied with the teacher’s or the Faculty (P.O. Box 3, Fabianinkatu 33, 00014 Council’s decision, you may submit a University of Helsinki). More information can request for revision to the Academic Appeals be found on the Academic Appeals Board Board (oikeusturvalautakunta). Again, this page in Flamma: has to be done within 14 days from when you https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/HY287194 were informed of the decision. Any mail addressed to the Academic Appeals Board should be sent to
Transcripts
In the WebOodi information system you can opening hours of the Student Services, see your credits in real time. If the transcript please see is not complete and there are courses https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ missing, please contact the department that contact-us/student-services arranged the course. Normally courses Do not forget to check should be registered in a few weeks and that you have all of your courses registered within a month at the latest. before you take the free official transcript. For additional transcripts, you have to pay How to order your transcript online? 4.00 euro per readout. You cannot pay the You can order the unofficial transcript transcript payment in cash at the Student through WebOodi, Services: it has to be paid in advance. The www.helsinki.fi/weboodi preferable way to pay the fee is at the The readout will appear on the first page of following UniCafe student cafés (not the WebOodi within a couple of hours. You will restaurants): · Main Building (Fabianinkatu receive a notification that the ordered 33) · Physicum (Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, in transcript is ready to your University e-mail Kumpula) · Biocentre 1 (Viikinkaari 9, in address, [email protected] Viikki). For further information on Official transcript how to order transcripts by mail, and the Attending students can receive one official prices, please see transcript free of charge per term, issued in https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ Finnish, Swedish or English, at the Student during-your-studies/order-a-transcript Services. For contact information and
Language studies
International students are strongly advised some Finnish or Swedish. You can check the to learn at least the basics of either Finnish requirements from your faculty office. or Swedish - preferably at the beginning of their studies. This will help you to settle in, to Department of Finnish, Finno-ugrian stay informed of what is happening in the and Scandinavian studies university and in Helsinki and ultimately help Finnish Language and Culture / Finnish for you in finding a job in Finland. It is also part International Students of the degree requirements in some faculties that international students will study at least 21 University Main Building (Fabianinkatu 33), faculty. Therefore, please check the room 4005, 4th floor language requirements of your faculty from Postal Address: P.O. Box 3 00014 your Faculty’s Study Affairs Office. University of Helsinki Tel. +358 – (0)50 3182 365 Optional language courses [email protected] The Language Centre offers a variety of optional language courses at different levels. Office hours: Tue 10:00-12:00 and Thu These courses are open for all international 13:00-15:00 students too. Exchange students, however, Finnish Language and Culture is a section of do not have a right to attend any of the the Department of Finnish, Finno-Ugrian and English courses offered by the Language Scandinavian Studies. It offers Finnish Centre. Please note that at the elementary courses for beginners and students that are level teaching is given mainly in Finnish. This more advanced and a complete degree applies to study materials, too. At the more programme (BA and MA) called Finnish advanced level, teaching and materials are language and culture for students who in the language in question. already have a solid command of spoken and written Finnish (CEFR B2). More Finnish as a foreign language information is available from the Finnish Basic, intermediate and advanced Finnish Language and Culture Office and at courses are offered by the Department of http://www.helsinki.fi/fus/ Finnish, Finno-Ugrian and Scandinavian Studies at the Faculty of Arts. For more Swedish for International Students courses information, please see above. are arranged by the Language Centre (see the next page). Independent language learning in the Aleksandria Learning Centre Language Centre The Self-Access Centre offers facilities and Kielikeskus materials for independent studying in over P.O. Box 4 (Fabianinkatu 26) 40 languages. Teacher tutors in eight Study Advisers Tel. 02 941 22690, 02 941 languages are available for consultation 23359 once a week. Self-Access Centre staff is [email protected] available during opening hours. They can help you with general self-access issues, as Study advisers are available for consultation well as with using the equipment and finding on Mon-Thu 10:00-14:00 at the Language and choosing study material. Centre (City Centre Campus), and on Tuesdays 9:00-11:00 during teaching Other language activities periods in A-building room 171 (Viikki Campus). · Course Assistant Programme (1-3 ECTS http://www.helsinki.fi/kksc/english/ credits) invites international students to https://flamma.helsinki.fi/> Units > assist teaching and learning on certain Independent institutes > Language Centre Language Centre courses. This gives them the opportunity to meet Finnish students, The University of Helsinki Language Centre who in turn get to know international organises on the first hand language students and learn more about their courses and tests that are required for the languages and cultures. completion of degrees. The language · Language Clubs (during terms) help to studies and number of credits required of activate, develop and keep up your language international students vary from faculty to skills in a relaxed setting. Club meetings are planned by the participants. Welcome! 22 · In a Language Buddy partnership two each other's language. Thus you will have speakers of different native languages learn the role of both a teacher and a learner.
WebOodi
WebOodi is an electronic information system name and password, which you use to log in where you as a student can: complete the to your university email account and the annual registration to the university, see university intranet. degree requirements, browse through study Instructions for using guides and courses on offer, register for WebOodi can be found within the system. courses and examinations, check your On the website of the ICT Driving Licence credits and order an unofficial transcript of you will also find an introduction to WebOodi your credits, and give course feedback. and its functions http://www.helsinki.fi/tvt- You can also update your ajokortti/english/material.htm > The contact information through WebOodi; as a Computer Environment at the University of student you must make sure that your Helsinki > Planning your studies with address and phone number are up-to-date in WebOodi and Flamma. the student register. In some faculties and Some departments might departments WebOodi is also used as a tool not use WebOodi at all for registration to to make a personal study plan (PSP, HOPS their courses and exams. More information in Finnish). If this function is in use at your on how to register for courses and exams department, you will see a link to the can be found on the website of the personal study plan in the main menu of department, in the study guide, on the notice WebOodi. board of the department or in the department WebOodi can be found at office. If you cannot find the course you are https://weboodi.helsinki.fi/hy/ and you looking for in WebOodi, contact your faculty can use it both from home and on campus. or department office. You log in to WebOodi with the same user
ICT Driving Licence
The ICT (Information and Communication 5. Information security and privacy Technology) Driving Licence (3 credits) is a protection course designed in cooperation with the University of Helsinki's Faculties, the Centre To pass the course, the student has to for Information Technology and the Helsinki do the following: University Library. 1. Study the course goals for each of the five ICT Driving Licence modules. The goal of the course is to make sure 2. Take the entry level tests: the non- that each new student has the necessary monitored tests (5 tests altogether) give you ICT knowledge as well as the following an estimate of your skills and instruct you to skills: either: a) Take the monitored examination 1. Introduction to the use of computers directly (if you have studied the online 2. The UH computer environment learning material in advance), or b) Study 3. Modifying and presenting data the on-line course material on your own and 4. Information retrieval then take the monitored examination, or c) 23 Participate in the instruction arranged by The examination dates and times vary your faculty, study the online course according to the faculty the student is material and then take the monitored registered in. Taking the examination usually examination. requires advance registration. 3. Take the ICT Driving License examination For more information: 4. Answer the self-assessment http://www.helsinki.fi/tvt-ajokortti/ questionnaire and give feedback on the English course.
Studying for a minor in another university
All Finnish universities are parties to the University of Tampere Flexible Study Right Agreement (JOO), University of Turku which provides undergraduate, graduate University of Vaasa and post-graduate students of Finnish Åbo Akademi University universities the opportunity to include courses or a block of minor studies from Further information on the JOO agreement other universities into their degrees. With is available at the faculty study offices and at some restrictions, the national JOO www.joopas.fi agreement also applies to exchange How to apply students. It should be emphasised, however, 1. First, go to your faculty's study office and that it is not acceptable for exchange discuss your study plans with a study adviser students to complete all their studies at an responsible for the JOO application process institution, which they are not registered at. in the faculty. The studies you apply for must be integrated into your programme at the University of Helsinki. The institutions within the JOO agreement 2. Different universities have different are the following: application procedures and dates. Most of the universities use the electronic application Aalto University system JOOPAS but on some occasions you Lappeenranta University of Technology need to fill in the printable application form. National Defence College You will find further information, the Swedish School of Economics and electronic application system and printable Business Administration application form at www.joopas.fi Tampere University of Technology 3. The application is first processed in the University of the Arts Helsinki faculty. If it is approved, it is sent to the target University of Eastern Finland institution for consideration. The final University of Helsinki decision is made there. University of Jyväskylä 4. The right to complete courses is always University of Lapland granted for a fixed period. The study right is University of Oulu valid for a maximum of two academic years.
24 Summer studies
Although there is no summer term, some instruction is arranged during the summer Office hours: Please see the website of the (June to August), and many departments Helsinki Summer University. and libraries operate through the summer vacation period. Some departments arrange Helsinki Summer University offers e.g. examinations in the summer. In addition, the Finnish courses for foreigners, language Open University arranges a number of courses, university level courses and further courses included in the university degree education courses in various fields. Helsinki requirements: unfortunately, the majority of Summer University is not affiliated with the these courses are not taught in English. The University of Helsinki. Language Services of the University offers Finnish courses for international students also in the summer, as does the Helsinki Helsinki Summer School Summer University. Helsinki Summer School offers motivated University students and graduates a truly Open University international, strongly academic summer Avoin yliopisto session where the research-based teaching P.O. Box 4 (Fabianinkatu 33) and talented young minds meet and mingle 00014 University of Helsinki Tel. 02 941 to create something new. We provide you 22244 [email protected] with an August that will stand out in your http://www.avoin.helsinki.fi/open_univer curriculum! sity/ Helsinki Summer School 2015 will be organised from August 4 to 20 with a course Office hours: Please see the website of the offering that covers a wide range of Open University. academic fields and multidisciplinary topics. All our courses, organised by the University Language Services of Helsinki, are designed to challenge and Kielipalvelut inspire you in a learning environment that P.O. Box 4 (Vuorikatu 5A, 3rd floor) promotes equality. 00014 University of Helsinki Tel. 02 941 23234 · Make sure you have a place on a [email protected] course by applying early enough. Some http://www.helsinki.fi/kksc/language.serv of our courses are very popular and will ices/english/index.html be fully booked in early spring. · Our courses are only 50 EUR for Office hours: Mon-Thu 10:00-14:00 students and exchange students of the University of Helsinki. Helsinki Summer University · All courses are taught in English and Helsingin kesäyliopisto the credits granted are transferable. Kaisaniemenkatu 4A 00100 Helsinki Tel. 020 779 2400 More information about the courses, prices, [email protected] application process, accommodation etc. is www.kesayliopistohki.fi/ available on the Helsinki Summer School’s website: www.helsinkisummerschool.fi
25 Necessary supplies for studies
Copy cards and express print Book shops Unigrafia - Pikapainot Akateeminen kirjakauppa Keskuskatu 1/Pohjoisesplanadi 39 Tel. 09-701 0230 (switchboard) Tel. 09-121 4322 (switchboard) Pikapaino Keskusta (Vuorikatu 3) [email protected] Pikapaino Viikki (Viikinkaari 11) www.akateeminen.com/ Pikapaino Meilahti/Biomedicum Excellent selection of foreign books, (Haartmaninkatu 8) magazines, and papers.
For opening hours, please see the website Suomalainen kirjakauppa of Unigrafia http://www.unigrafia.fi/en Aleksanterinkatu 23 00100 HELSINKI Tel. 09 852 7777 Unigrafia maintains hundreds of copiers [email protected] throughout the University to be used by http://www.suomalainen.com/ anyone studying or working here. All Good selection of foreign books, machines are operated with copy cards magazines, and papers. (kopiokortti), a magnetic card. Copy cards are sold in the Express Print shops. It is Computer shops possible to purchase cards with different copy quantities. More efficient machines There are dozens of shops and department (with sophisticated features), can be found in stores in Helsinki that sell computers. Some the Express Print shops. You can operate retailers might even give student discounts, them with your copy card or have your when you show your student card. documents copied by staff.
Enrolment and registration
First year degree students https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ Your faculty at the University of Helsinki will new-students/enrolment mail you a letter of acceptance (by regular mail or email) including information on Exchange students accepting your place of study as well as on Exchange students are automatically submitting your enrolment documents. enrolled at the University of Helsinki once When enrolling all they have been accepted to study at UH. Bachelor and Master’s students are For exchange students required to pay the annual Student Union the Student Union fee is voluntary, but it is membership fee. For doctoral students the highly recommended that you become a fee is voluntary. Note: If you have both an member of the Student Union. By paying Bachelor/Master’s and a doctoral study right, the Student Union fee you can access the then you have to pay the Student Union fee student health care (does not apply to for Bachelor students. doctoral students), you can order a student For more information, card, you get discounts when eating at the please read the New Students website: Unicafe student cafeterias etc. 26 For more information, immediately. If you have a valid user ID of please read the New Students website: the University of Helsinki and an Internet https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ banking agreement with Nordea, Pohjola new-students/enrolment Bank, Danske Bank, or Aktia, the easiest way to pay and register is via WebOodi. Second year and beyond - Degree students For more information, please read: Registration for attendance (or http://www.helsinki.fi/studying/enrolmen nonattendance) is obligatory for all students: t_and_registration.shtml Bachelor, Master’s and doctoral in their second year and beyond. Registration for Registering for non-attendance the upcoming academic year starts at the Students who register for non-attendance beginning of May and runs usually until must also inform the Student Services (see August 31. contact information on page 30): this must After you have completed be done between May 1 and August 31. your annual registration, you can collect the student calendar and tags for your student Year tag for your student card card at one of the offices of the Student After registering you may collect the year tag Services. Tags for the student cards will be (the annual registration tag) for your student available from August 1. card at the Student Services. From the Further information on middle of August to late August there is also registration, the right to pursue studies, etc. a separate service point in the University’s is in Flamma: https://flamma.helsinki.fi/ Main Building (Fabianinkatu 33) where you Directory and services > Students > can collect the tag. Registration and enrolment. Please note that you have to be a registered student of the Cancelling your registration University of Helsinki to access Flamma: you If you have enrolled for the entire academic need a user identifier and a password to log year, but you graduate during the autumn in. term or otherwise want to cancel your registration, you can cancel your registration Did you forget to register? by contacting the Student Services (see If you miss the registration, you will have to contact information on page 30). re-enrol. For more information about To cancel the registration registration after the first study year, please for the autumn term or the entire academic read: year, you need to do the cancellation no later https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ than September 1. The cancellation of the continuing-your-studies registration for the spring term has to be done no later than January 15. You can ask Second year and beyond - Online for a refund of the Student Union fee at the registration on WebOodi Student Union customer service by WebOodi http://www.helsinki.fi/weboodi/ September 30 / January 31. is the preferable way of registering as it is done fully on-line: your registration is valid
Duration of studies
An amendment to the Universities Act Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree limiting the duration of studies leading to a came into effect on August 1, 2005. The act 27 sets a limit to how long a time an individual years. In Dentistry, Medicine, Psychology degree student can spend on studies leading and Veterinary Medicine there are diverging to a degree. optimal durations. Circumstances below are not included in The act pertains to: the duration of degree studies:
· new students, who have begun their · national military service studies in the 2005 - 2006 academic · maternity, paternity or parents’ leave year or later, · a maximum of one academic year (two · students, who have first begun their terms) of absence from studies, if the studies before the 2005 - 2006 student has registered as not attending. academic year, but are given a new right to pursue degree studies in 2005 - If the degree is not completed within the 2006 or later. defined time limit, the student may apply for an extension. The application for extension An optimal duration has been imposed on must include a realistic schedule for the completion of degree studies. Various completing the degree. The attached study degrees have varying time limits. The plan must indicate study modules the regular duration of a combined bachelor’s student plans to complete and a timetable for and master’s degree is five (5) years: the first the completion of them. degree, a Bachelor’s degree, should be More information is completed in three (3) years, and after the available at the faculty offices (see contact first degree, the Master’s degree in two (2) information on page 32).
Etappi – checkpoint system
The University of Helsinki uses a system of progress is supported by means of a checkpoints (ETAPPI-järjestelmä in Finnish) personal study plan and supervision. to support smooth study progress and, consequently, the timely completion of For further information about Etappi and degrees. planning your studies see: In this system of https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/studyprogre checkpoints, study progress is monitored by ss/HY055576 assessing the accumulation of credits. The https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ faculties determine the minimum number of new-students/plan-your-studies credits required at each checkpoint. Study
Practices affecting doctoral studies
Information about practices relating to https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/studyprogre doctoral studies can be found in Flamma: ss/
28 Student card
Membership of the Student Union (HYY) inside the University (UniCafes). These meal provides you with many benefits and prices will prove valuable when you compare services. One of the major benefits of them to Helsinki's restaurants. membership is a student card, providing you In addition, with the services on campus and discounts all exception of doctoral students, you’ll have around the country. convenient access to the services provided by the Finnish Student Health Services The Student Card is a smart card with the (FSHS). Consultations with general following information and features: practitioners are free of charge, while specialist physician services are provided at · Your picture a low cost. · Your personal information: name, Carry your Student Card date of birth and student number with you at all times – you may stumble upon · Your school-specific information: discount opportunities anywhere! The card university, faculty and student provides you with deals on school supplies, union travel, local transportation, long distance · A year tag: this is required to railway and bus travel, and also culture prove card validity events and entry fees.
Benefits and discounts For more information about the student card, As a student, you are entitled to a significant please see: student meal discount by showing your http://hyy.helsinki.fi/en/students/student- Student Card in student restaurants. You will card-and-year-tag also get an extra discount in the cafeterias
29 III University services
Student Services
Student Services on the campuses Change of address Opiskelijaneuvonta kampuksilla Since your contact information for university use is always obtained from the Student City Centre Campus Register, you have to take care that your (Main Building, ground floor) contact information is up to date. The P.O. Box 3 (Fabianinkatu 33) easiest way to change your address is 00014 University of Helsinki through WebOodi. If you do not have a user Tel. 02 941 22244 ID for the networks of the University, you can [email protected] give your new address by e-mail or phone to the Student Services. For opening hours, please see: https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ Change of Finnish personal identity (i.e. contact-us/student-services social security) number The University of Helsinki gives all Kumpula Campus international students a temporary identity P.O. Box 44 (Gustaf Hällströminkatu 2a) number to be used exclusively within the 00014 University of Helsinki University. After obtaining the official Tel. 02 941 50066 and 02 941 50065 Finnish Personal Identity Code (see page [email protected] 46), you should inform the Student For opening hours, please see: Services about it immediately. This https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ change cannot be made through WebOodi. contact-us/student-services A good idea is first to contact the Student The offices of the Student Services are Services, if you are not quite sure where located on two of the four campuses of the to look for the information! University of Helsinki. They act as gateways to the services at the University and they can Disabled Student Services help you find the right person or office. Vammaisten opiskelijoiden palvelut Annual registrations are also carried out at Disabled Student Adviser the Student Services. P.O. Box 3 (Fabianinkatu 33) The Student Services 00014 University of Helsinki supply student calendars upon proof of Tel. 02 941 22796 university acceptance and Student Union [email protected] membership payment. You may also acquire transcripts, certificates of attendance, If you have a disability, an illness or a discount coupons for transportation and learning disability, you might need some travel, as well as authorised certificates for special arrangements to be able to complete various purposes at the Student Services. your studies. For more information At the Student Services about the services, please see: on the City centre campus you can get https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ general advice about special arrangements. contact-us/student-services To ensure proper progress in studies you should also contact the faculty at the 30 beginning of the studies or as soon as the appointment) need arises. The practical arrangements [email protected] should be agreed upon by you and your https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ teacher before a course or seminar begins. careers/career-services The Student services and Intranet Flamma: Directory and services » faculty or departmental staff work together in Students » Studies and employment helping the students to cope. At the Student Services there is a student adviser The Career Services will guide and support especially for students with disabilities and you from the very start of your studies those who need special arrangements in during your first year at the University of their studies. You can contact the student Helsinki until one year after the completion adviser if you need more information or help of your degree. Career Services provide with arrangements that enable you to career guidance, career counselling, participate in lessons or examinations, courses, and information on the access lecture rooms with a wheel chair or if opportunities offered by the labour market. you need more time in taking an exam etc. If you need support to International Exchange Services improve your study skills you can also Kansainvälisen vaihdon palvelut contact study psychologists. P.O. Box 3 (Fabianinkatu 33, ground floor) For more information about the Disabled FI-00014 University of Helsinki Student Services: https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/services- Consultation hours of the Student Exchange students/HY054796 Coordinators: Mon-Thu 10-15:00.
For more information about study The International Exchange Services psychologists: provides services for both incoming and https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/HY314486 outgoing exchange students at the University of Helsinki. Organisation for students with learning disabilities E-mail addresses and phone numbers of The aim of the organization Helsingin the coordinators: yliopiston erilaiset oppijat ry.is to promote the cause of the students who are so called [email protected], tel. +358 2941 22441 diverse learners, i.e. students with different (Erasmus exchanges; incoming/outgoing) kinds of learning disabilities. The organisation was established in 2004. For more information, please see: [email protected], tel. +358 2941 http://www.helsinki.fi/jarj/hyer/ 22178 (Nordplus/Nordlys exchanges; incoming/outgoing) Career services Urapalvelut [email protected], tel. +358 2941 22177 and +358 2941 22241 P.O. Box 3 (University-wide agreements / other Pay a visit to: Main building, (Fabianinkatu programmes, incoming) 33), Service Forum of the Student Services, ground floor Website for incoming students FI-00014 University of Helsinki https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ Tel. + 358 2 941 22125 how-to-apply/exchange-studies (during Office hours: Tue-Thu 13:00-15:00 (or by 31 the application process Admissions Services https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ P.O. Box 3 (Fabianinkatu 33, 1st floor) new-students FI-00014 University of Helsinki (for accepted international students) Consultation hours: Blog for incoming students https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/cont https://blogs.helsinki.fi/welcometouh act-us/admissions-services Tel. +358 2941 24140 UH in Facebook [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/newstudents university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/how-to- uhhttps://www.facebook.com/HelsinkiUn apply iversity Admissions Services provides customer International Admissions Services service for applicants for degree Hakijapalvelut programmes and coordinates the admission procedure at the University of Helsinki.
International Staff Services
Kansainväliset This includes personnel coming to work in henkilöstöpalvelut/Henkilöstö- ja lakiasiat Finland from abroad and going to work abroad from Finland. The main objective of P.O. Box 33 the services is to distribute information and (Administration Building, Yliopistonkatu 4, assist in the preparation and practical 3rd floor) FI-00014 University of Helsinki matters of living in Finland/abroad. The services are available online, via e-mail, [email protected] phone and also in person at the http://www.helsinki.fi/intstaff/ administration building on the central campus and in the Töölö Towers residence. The services are https://flamma.helsinki.fi> Directory and available for all faculties and departments services > Human resources > International and international personnel working for the Staff Services University of Helsinki in Finland or abroad, International Staff Services at the University regardless of the length of employment or of Helsinki provides assistance and services the source of funding. Feel free to contact for all international personnel and their ISS for more information. departments at the University of Helsinki.
Study offices of the faculties
Each faculty has its own Study Office suunnittelijat) listed below are available for (opintotoimisto/kanslia), where the Study international students. If you are unable to Advisers (opintoneuvojat) are available for contact your faculty personnel during consultation on issues concerning curricula, consultation hours, please make an examinations, degrees and course appointment. Summer hours may vary: requirements. The International Coordinators (kansainvälisten asioiden 32 check your faculty’s website for them. Faculty office (Siltavuorenpenger 5 A, Helsinki) Postal address: P.O. Box 9 Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry FI-00014 University of Helsinki Maatalous-metsätieteellinen tiedekunta http://www.helsinki.fi/behav/english/cont act.htm International students: International Coordinator, Ms Sari Mikkola is available Faculty of Biological and for consultation by appointment at the Environmental Sciences Infocentre (Infokeskus) in Viikki, Bio- ja ympäristötieteellinen tiedekunta tel. +358 02 941 58247, International students: the International [email protected] Affairs Officer, Ms Virve Karhi Tel: +358 2941 57567 Study Office [email protected] (Viikinkaari 11, Infokeskus, 3rd floor) Office hours: Tuesdays 12-14 or by Postal address: P.O. Box 62 appointment 00014 University of Helsinki Tel. +358 2941 58449 Faculty Office http://www.helsinki.fi/af- (Environment House, Viikinkaari 2a) faculty/administration/office.html Office Postal address: P.O. Box 56 hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-15.45 00014 University of Helsinki Tel. +358 294 1911 Faculty of Arts http://www.helsinki.fi/bio/faculty/ Humanistinen tiedekunta Office hours: Mon-Thu 12-14 Consultation for international students Friday closed [email protected] tel. +358 2941 22347 Faculty of Law Oikeustieteellinen tiedekunta Faculty office: Visiting address: Metsätalo (street address: Study advising for MICL and rd Unioninkatu 40), 3 floor exchange/visiting students: Mervi Muru, For consultation hours, please see the Study Secretary faculty website: Room P320 http://www.helsinki.fi/hum/english/conta Master´s studies: [email protected] ct/index.htm Exchange students: law- [email protected] Postal address: Faculty of Arts, Faculty Tel. +358 2941 23204 Fax +358 2941 Office, P.O. Box 24, FI-00014 University of 22152 Helsinki Office hours during semesters: Tue–Thu 9– Faculty of Behavioural Sciences 11.30 (June-August by appointment only) Käyttäytymistieteellinen tiedekunta International relations and cooperation agreements: International students: the international Teija Isotalo, International Affairs Relations Officer Mr Turkka Lavaste Coordinator. Siltavuorenpenger 5 A, room 209 Office hours during semesters Tue and Thu Tel. +358 2941 20504 9-11.30 (June-August by appointment only), [email protected] [email protected] Tel. +358 504160620
33 Faculty Office Faculty of Science (Yliopistonkatu 3, Porthania building, 3rd Matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta floor, room P357) Postal address: P.O. Box 4 00014 University of Helsinki International students: the Planning Tel. +358-2941 22477 Officer of Academic Affairs is available for http://www.helsinki.fi/law/studies/general consultation Mon-Fri 10:00-15:00, tel. +358 /affairs_office.html 2941 50065 [email protected]
Faculty of Medicine Study Office Lääketieteellinen tiedekunta P.O. Box 64 (Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2a) 00014 University of Helsinki International students: Tel. +358 2941 50065 [email protected] http://www.helsinki.fi/facultyofscience/fa tel. +358 2941 26627. culty/office.html http://www.med.helsinki.fi/english/admin istration/office.html Office hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-15:00 (or by appointment) Study Office (Tukholmankatu 8B, 5th floor) Faculty of Social Sciences Postal address: P.O. Box 20 Valtiotieteellinen tiedekunta 00014 University of Helsinki Tel. +358 (0)9 191 26620 International students: the International http://www.med.helsinki.fi/english/admin Coordinator, Ms Marianne Järveläinen is istration/office.html available for consultation 9.15-11.00 or by appointment Office hours: Mon-Thu 9-11 and 12-15, tel. +358-2941 24807 closed on Fridays [email protected]
Faculty of Pharmacy A list of contact persons for international Farmasian tiedekunta students in the various departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences is available at International students: International http://www.helsinki.fi/socialsciences/stu Affairs Officer, Ms Virve Karhi dying/current/exchange_coordinators.ht Environment House, Viikinkaari 2a ml Tel: +358 2941 57567 [email protected] Study Office Office hours: Tuesdays 12-14 or by (Unioninkatu 37, entrance from appointment Snellmaninkatu 14 or through the gate at Yrjö-Koskisen katu) Faculty Office Postal address: P.O. Box 54) (Biocenter 2, Viikinkaari 5 beginning from 00014 University of Helsinki 1.8.2015, until that the address of the office Tel. +358 2941 911 is Viikinkaari 9) [email protected] Postal address: P.O. Box 56 http://www.helsinki.fi/socialsciences/ad 00014 University of Helsinki ministration/index.html Tel. +358 (0)9 191 59137 http://www.helsinki.fi/pharmacy/ Swedish School of Social Science Svenska social- och kommunalhögskolan Office hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-15:00 International students: International 34 Planning Officer, Ms AnneSophie Postal address: P.O. Box 4 00014 Hokkanen is mainly available for University of Helsinki Tel. +358 2941 911 consultation Tue and Thu 13:00-15:00 and http://www.helsinki.fi/teol/tdk/english/ad Wednesday 9-11, but also by appointment, ministration/faculty_office.htm tel. +358 2941 28406 [email protected] Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Eläinlääketieteellinen tiedekunta Study Office (Snellmansgatan 12) International Students: International Postal address: P.O. Box 16 Planning Officer, Ms Janna Koivisto is 00014 Helsingfors universitet available for consultation by appointment, Tel. +358 294 1911 tel. +358 (0)9 2941 57156, mobile +358 http://sockom.helsinki.fi/international/ (0)50 4154480, [email protected] Faculty of Theology Teologinen tiedekunta Study Office (Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2) Postal address: P.O. Box 66 00014 International students: Planning Officer University of Helsinki Ms. Anne Hopia is available at Vuorikatu 3, Tel. +358 2941-911, fax. 191 57161 2nd floor, room 210 on Thursdays between http://www.vetmed.helsinki.fi/english/ad 12:30-14:00 or by appointment (call or send ministration/administration.html an e-mail), tel. +358 2941 24016, [email protected] Office hours: Mon-Thu 9:00-15:00, Study Office International Study Affairs are available (Vuorikatu 3) Tuesday-Thursday from 9:00-15:00
Other services
Unisport environment conducive to exercise. A student on the move? UniSport offers meeting spots for members of the academic community at the two Where are you going in your studies? Are universities’ six campuses. UniSport you a busy first-year student or are you provides everything an active, or one about moving on to your minor studies? Find the to become that, person requires. sport or type of exercise that best suits your study rhythm. Challenge a friend to a salsa Training card class or take a break from the books on a A Training Card is the best exercise climbing wall. Start it as a student, and you’ll companion that you can have. A Training be an expert at it in later life. It looks like well- Card gives you access to all gyms on all being is your thing. campuses from morning to evening. You can UniSport is a joint venture participate in group fitness sessions as well between the University of Helsinki and Aalto as ball sports practices and clinics. University offering sports and exercise services. Our goal is to promote wellbeing in Courts and gyms the academic community and society in Exercise is better in groups. On our general by increasing awareness of personal campuses there are different kinds of sports wellbeing, providing sports and exercise grounds and gyms, and you can book time opportunities as well as fostering an in a gym for yourself or your group. Take 35 friends or people from your course to play badminton or floor ball, or even dance. Acces rights, IT guidance and computer labs Courses Contact information and opening hours: Courses in various sports guarantee an easy http://www.helsinki.fi/helpdesk/7000/eng/ way of getting to know new sports or leaning more - from jazz dance to weightlifting. The Legal Aid Committee courses are chargeable. The Legal Aid Committee of the Law Students’ Association (Pykälä ry) provides Club activities legal consultation and advice in legal matters. Interested in sports club activities and It is free of charge for members of the competing? The university’s sports clubs are Student Union of the University of Helsinki the right option for you. A number of martial (HYY). Read more about HYY’s membership art clubs and ball sports clubs train at our on page 40. facilities. Contact them to find out schedules Consultation is available for beginners´ courses and weekly trainings. by e-mail, telephone or in person. The Legal Aid Committee does not draft nor prepare To learn more and get the feeling documents but it can counsel in these matters and look through drafted documents. www.unisport.fi Tax related matters are excluded from the www.facebook.com/unisportfi consultation of the Committee. This means on Twitter that the Committee will not give any advice @unisportfi on tax related matters. Instagram @unisportfi Consultation hours during the academic term: Monday and Thursday 17:00-19:00. IT services Summer consultation hours will be Tietotekniikkapalvelut announced in the spring on Pykälä ry’s web page: http://pykala.fi/oikeusapu/ The IT Centre produces and offers students and personnel IT services at the university Contact us: http://www.helsinki.fi/atk/english/ E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (09) 278 5005 Helpdesk – IT support and guidance Address: Mannerheimintie 3 B, 5th floor, Tel. 02 941 55555 00100 Helsinki Open on working days 8.00 am –5.00 pm [email protected] Equality and Diversity http://www.helsinki.fi/helpdesk/eng Human Resources and Legal Affairs
On Helpdesk’s service site, you will find IT P. O. Box 33 (Yliopistonkatu 4, 3rd floor) guides and instructions. The IT pages for Tel. +358 2941 24292 freshmen can be found at: [email protected] http://www.helsinki.fi/helpdesk/7012/eng/ https://flamma.helsinki.fi/> Directory and Services > About the University > Equality Access rights and Accessibility New students can activate their user account http://www.helsinki.fi/henkos/tasaarvo/ at the Welcome Fair. Students receive index.htm (in Finnish) additional information about acquiring a user account with the acceptance letter from the university. The University of Helsinki is committed to http://www.helsinki.fi/helpdesk/5010/eng promoting equality and preventing 36 discrimination in all its operations. Equality supervision. The University has drafted and, as a related factor, accessibility instructions for the prevention of contribute to the quality of everyday life for inappropriate treatment and harassment. the diverse and multilingual University Flamma: community. The University strives to https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/HY1002421 promote a sense of community. This means University web site: that the University seeks to promote a sense http://www.helsinki.fi/henkos/tasa- of trust and mutual appreciation in all arvo/prevention_of_inappropriate_treat interactions. Recognition of the fact that all ment.htm people are different but equal facilitates the generation of trust. Harassment situations The University of Helsinki In harassment situations, sexual or Equality and Diversity Plan 2013 – 2016 otherwise, students may also turn to the includes the goals and measures to be taken Student Union’s harassment contact for the strategic period 2013–2016. Many of persons (contact information at www.hyy.fi). the goals featured in the plan take the form They guide students who feel that they have of permanent practices. The plan is available been harassed within the academic on the University website at community, with full confidentiality. http://www.helsinki.fi/henkos/tasa-arvo Harassment contact persons can also be and at Flamma contacted by e-mail at https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/HY1002390 [email protected] (the e-mail reaches both of them). Promotion of Accessibility The University of Helsinki offers advice for Childcare disabled students and employees in Lapsiparkki integrating into the academic community and in acquiring the necessary aids and learning The Student Union offers short-term materials. https://flamma.helsinki.fi/ > childcare for its members’ children of six Directory and Services > About the months and older. The Student Union University > Equality and Accessibility > Childcare Centre Lapsiparkki is open Mon- Promotion of Accessibility Thu 8:00-16:00 and Fri 8:00- 14:00 at Student Services for Disabled Students Siltavuorenpenger 3 C. http://www.helsinki.fi/studying/disabled_ The maximum time per student_services.shtml child is three hours for the fee of 4 euro per https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ hour. Reservations are to be made early in new-students/plan-your-studies> Special advance via [email protected] arrange- ments in studies and exams The Centre is often fully Special Arrangements: booked, so please cancel your reservation https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/special- should you not need it – otherwise full price arrangements/HY1001737 will be charged for the reservation. For more information, Prevention of inappropriate treatment contact the nannies, Mrs Marika Dolivo and The University disapproves of any kind of Mrs Katariina Haikala-Tikander at inappropriate treatment, bullying or [email protected], tel. 050 303 8333, or harassment. Students at the University of the Chief Financial Officer of the Student Helsinki have the right to a safe and pleasant Union, Mrs Merja Viitasalo, study environment. Consequently, all units [email protected], tel. 050 534 2963. and departments must ensure that their students are not subjected to harassment or inappropriate treatment in their studies and 37 Study psychologists all students studying either at undergraduate Opintopsykologit or master levels, including foreign exchange students. Are you struggling in your studies? Need to improve your study skills? More information online: Wish to overcome procrastination? https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/HY314486E Experiencing lack of motivation? mail: [email protected] Thesis-writing getting stuck? On the verge of burn out? University chaplain Finnish study culture: how to navigate new Yliopistopappi territory? If you need someone to talk to you can make Study psychologists are experts on learning, an appointment with the university chaplain. motivation and well-being. They provide You can also contact the university confidential individual counseling for study- chaplains if you wish to contact a community related problems. You can request an of your respective religion in Finland. The appointment on your own initiative. university chaplains help international A study psychologist will students to find contacts with different typically meet an individual student from one religious communities in Finland regardless to five times. The purpose of the service is to of the religion. help you make changes in the way you go Reverend Leena Huovinen about studying. The service is available for [email protected]
Helsinki University Library and the National Library of Finland
Information and library services of the Nelli portal and SFX links. Clicking on the University of Helsinki names of the e-material will bring up a form for logging on to services at the University of The extensive electronic and printed Helsinki. Fill in the form with your UH collections and services of the Helsinki username and password and permit the University library are available to you and to disclosure of your personal information. anyone else. Terms of use How to access online resources Access e- Please note as a user of e-material, you resources, such as databases, electronic have certain rights and responsibilities. You journals and e-books via will find the terms of use for each item in the - the website of the library, Nelli portal. Click on the i button by the item www.helsinki.fi/kirjasto/en/ or if you want to see its conditions for use. - the Nelli information seeking portal, www.nelliportaali.fi or - browse e-books in the BookNavigator, www.terkko.helsinki.fi/booknavigator How to borrow printed books To reserve, borrow and renew materials, you Remote access need a Helsinki University Library's Helka As a university student, you can access the card. You can get a library card from the e-material from outside the university library the first time you take out a loan by network through the library home page, the presenting a passport and a certificate of 38 attendance. You can also order the library card in advance on the web with this form: The Kumpula Campus Library Fields: https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/440 physics, geologic and atmospheric sciences, 22/lomake.html The ordered card will be chemistry, geography, mathematics and available for pick-up after 2 working days in statistics, computer science and astronomy any of the Helsinki University Library Access: Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2 locations. Material from Helsinki The Viikki Campus Library Fields: University Library may be returned in all biosciences, environmental sciences, food Helsinki University Library sites (Kumpula, sciences, nutrition, veterinary medicine, Main Library, Meilahti, Dental Library, Viikki). pharmacy, agricultural sciences, forest If you return or renew your loans late, sciences, applied economics and social overdue fines will be collected for them. Your sciences. Access: Viikinkaari 11, Viikki Info borrowing rights may be blocked temporarily Centre if your loans are late (usually 14 days) or you have unpaid fees (15 euro or more). The Meilahti Campus Library Terkko Fields: medicine and health sciences Support for learning Access: Haartmaninkatu 4 The libraries provide information skills training in the academic fields of the Dental Library Hammas Fields: dentistry university. The libraries also supply Access: Mannerheimintie 172 C 2nd floor computers and study rooms, both for quiet The National Library of Finland Fields: independent studying and for group work. extensive collections in the fields of humanities and social sciences and large Library locations and contact collections of periodicals, manuscripts, information microfilms, maps, music, and other special The Helsinki University Library comprises materials. The collections include the City Centre, Kumpula, Meilahti and Viikki • National Collection campus libraries. Information about • Slavonic Library - collection dates from the collections and services is available via the time of the Russian Empire website of the Helsinki University Library, • Music Library and the Finnish National www.helsinki.fi/kirjasto/en/ Sound Archive
Main Library in the Kaisa House Fields: Access: Fabianinkatu 35 Web page: behavioural sciences, humanities, law, www.nationallibrary.fi social sciences, theology Access: Fabianinkatu 30
39 IV Student Union of the University of Helsinki
Helsingin yliopiston ylioppilaskunta (HYY) Student Meals HYY Services Office With the student card, you receive discount Mannerheimintie 5 A 2nd floor in all the student restaurants and cafés in 00100 Helsinki Finland. Tel. +358 50 551 6146 The UniCafe student restaurants, owned by [email protected] HYY, offer you inexpensive meals on local www.hyy.fi campuses. www.unicafe.fi Keep up to date and follow us! www.facebook.com/HYY.HUS www.instagram.com/hyy_hus Student Health Care www.twitter.com/ylioppilaskunta Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) provides affordable everyday health care. One of the best things studying at the www.yths.fi/en University of Helsinki is its active community of students, the Student Union of the Help and Support University of Helsinki. HYY represents HYY’s specialists help and give advice to students, looks after their interests and HYY's members in problem situations provides friends and benefits. concerning their studies or everyday life. If you have any questions on housing or Membership income, for example, you can ask HYY’s By being a member of the Student Union you specialists for advice. gain several important discounts and Free legal assistance for HYY’s members services. All degree students registered at provided by Pykälä ry, find out more on page the University of Helsinki are automatically 36. members of HYY, and exchange students are also warmly welcome to join and enjoy Activities the benefits of membership! There are more than 250 different student The membership fee for organisations within the Student Union. the entire academic year 2015-2016 is 102 € From sports clubs and photography (or 52 € for the autumn term and 50 € for the associations to faculty organisations, there is spring term alone). something for everyone! Both the Student Union and the organisations arrange several More information on joining the Student events and parties throughout the year. Union: www.hyy.fi/join The Freshman Guide Member Benefits and Services Read more about student life in Helsinki from Freshman Guide published by HYY. Student Card You can find a complete list of all member As a member of HYY Student Union you benefits and services on HYY’s website. may order the national all-in-one Student www.hyy.fi/memberservices Card, which gives you many discounts all around Finland, including long distance Student Organisations within HYY travel. Fill out your application for the card The student organisation culture is and read about the numerous benefits at exceptionally rich and diverse in Finland and Frank’s website. in Helsinki. Over 250 different student www.frank.fi organisations within HYY open a field of 40 opportunities and make sure you find the 20–26 Nov: HYY celebrates its anniversary right people for right activities. Participating on 26 November. HYY Anniversary Week in organisations and their events is a great offers various cultural activities. way to network and meet people, make 6 Dec: Independence Day is celebrated with friends, have fun, learn new skills, challenge university students’ torchlight procession yourself and make the most of your student from Hietaniemi Cemetery to the Senate life. There is something for everyone: from Square. sport clubs and photography associations to 30 Apr – 1 May: May Day (Vappu) is the faculty organisations and student nations. largest university students’ celebration that You can find more information about starts each year on May Day Eve 30 April. organisations on HYY’s website. On May Day thousands of students gather in www.hyy.fi/organisations Kaivopuisto park for a picnic. 13 May: Flora’s Day is a spring festival in the HYY’s Events During the Academic Year end of the academic year. HYY arranges several events and festivities for members throughout the year. Influencing in HYY In the Student Union, you can make a 31 August: The Opening Carnival takes difference in many ways. You can join place on the City Centre Campus in the Main committee activities, give feedback to the Building of the University and in Porthania. Board or the members of the Representative 30 Sep: The Freshman Adventure is a city Council or aim at decision-making yourself. race where you get to know the student The easiest way to influence is to vote in the organizations, their clubrooms and other Representative Council elections, which are new students. held every two years.
41 V Studying in Finland
Residence Permit and Right of Residence in Finland
General requirements · an EU registration form A residence permit (oleskelulupa) is · your national proof of identity or necessary for foreigners wishing to stay in passport Finland for more than 90 days. Residence · proof of being registered with a Finnish permits must be obtained before coming to educational institution and having Finland (For EU/EAA regulations, see below) adequate health insurance cover from the nearest Finnish embassy or consulate. The residence permit can be Non-EU citizens applied online. The reason for entry must You must apply for a residence permit if be clearly stated. Foreigners coming to you plan to study in Finland for longer Finland as tourists will usually not be granted than 90 days. Apply for a visa if your studies a residence permit in Finland. Only in will take less than 90 days. You can study for exceptional cases can a residence permit be 90 days without a visa or residence permit if granted after you have already entered you are a citizen of a visa-free country. Finland. Apply for a residence permit as soon as you have received an Citizens of the Nordic countries acceptance letter from the university. You If you are moving to Finland from another can submit your application electronically at Nordic country (Sweden, Norway, Denmark http://www.migri.fi/studying_in_finland or Iceland), you must notify the local register If you have submitted office (see contact information on pages 46- your application via e-service, you need to 47) no later than one week after the moving visit a Finnish embassy to verify your identity date. Remember to bring your passport with and to present the original copies of any you when registering. supplements needed for the application. An application cannot be processed until you EU-citizens and citizens of have visited the embassy. Take the originals Liechtenstein and Switzerland of all your documents with you to the If you are a citizen of the EU, Iceland, embassy even if you have submitted your Liechtenstein or Switzerland you will not application electronically. Take also your require a residence permit for Finland. You passport and passport photo with you to the will be free to reside and study in Finland for embassy. Make sure that your passport is up to three months. If your studies valid for your entire stay in Finland or longer. continue for longer than 90 days you At the embassy, you will also be must register your right of residence fingerprinted for a biometric residence permit before the end of the 90 day period. To card. register you must visit your local police (see You can also submit the contact information on pages 44). application personally in paper to a Finnish embassy in your home country or in a To register your right of residence, you will country in which you are legally residing. need: Applying electronically is the fastest way to get the decision to your 42 application. For further information on must have a minimum of 560 euro a month, applying for a visa, the validity periods of or 6 720 euro a year, at his or her disposal. visas and visa application fees, as well as a list of countries whose citizens do not need What happens after the studies are visas, see the Ministry for Foreign Affairs completed? website: After completing the studies, the student http://www.migri.fi/studying_in_finland may remain in Finland if he or she can be granted a new residence permit on other Is a visa needed first? A visa is needed if grounds. The permit may be granted, for the student has to participate in an entrance example, for continuing studies (within the exam in Finland prior to being accepted at same field) or based on family ties or the educational institution and if he or she is employment. a citizen of a country that has not signed an A foreigner who has agreement on the abolition of visas with received a degree in Finland can also get a Finland. For information on visa applications, residence permit for search for work. please see the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website www.formin.finland.fi > Services > Can the decision be appealed against? Foreign nationals arriving in Finland You may appeal against the decision made You can apply for the on a residence permit application to an permit in Finland if you take an entrance Administrative Court. Instructions on how to exam here and start your studies soon after appeal are appended to the decision. the exam. You may stay in the country legally during the application processing Renewing your Residence Permit period, though your visa may have expired. Residence permits for students are normally Apply for the permit at a valid for one year from the issue date: the police service point in your place of date of expiration is printed on the permit. If residence. Contact the police to find out you are studying for several years, a new which service point in the area provides residence permit is required for each year. license services. The police will forward your The permit extension for studying is applied application to the Finnish Immigration for using the same form as for the first Service for a decision. residence permit application. When you apply for a new residence permit, you will How long is a residence permit valid? need: A residence permit granted to a student is temporary by its nature. If the studies last for · the appropriate form (OLE_OPI) more than a year, the residence permit is · your passport usually granted for one year at a time. A · information on the your means of temporary residence permit bears the letter support B. A new fixed-term residence permit is · information on your health insurance issued by the police. The application · a certificate of attendance from a should be submitted in good time before Finnish educational institution the previous one expires. · information on the progress of The police will issue the studies · a photograph applicant a new fixed-term residence permit if the criteria on which the previous fixed- These documents should be submitted at term residence permit was granted remain the local police office dealing with residence valid. The student must prove that he or she permits. For more detailed instructions see has secure means of support either through http://www.poliisi.fi/ > In English > a grant, stipend or other funds. The applicant Licences > Licences and permits for foreigners 43 Helsinki Region Immigration Police Please note that in Helsinki you should Offices submit your residence permit application several months before the permit runs Helsinki (Mon-Fri 9 am – 11 am): out and it may take a very long time to Pasilan poliisitalo 2,AULA 2, Pasilanraitio process your residence permit application 11 00241 HELSINKI Tel. 0295417911 (six to seven months for non-EU students). Elsewhere the average processing time is Note: the Helsinki Police Department shorter. For more information, see handles license matters by appointment. http://www.migri.fi/ (Finnish Immigration You can make the appointment by using the Service) or http://www.poliisi.fi/ (Police). electronic system at www.poliisi.fi or by calling 0295 418 180 (between 13:00- 15:00) Student’s health insurance Please note that this number is only for Citizens of third countries arriving in Finland making appointments for license matters for the purpose of studying are required to and not for enquiries. have health insurance, if the period of study lasts for more than three months. The EU citizens: The Helsinki Police requirement is the same for degree-seeking Department has a dedicated queue operated and for visiting/exchange students. with queue numbers for the registration of The term “third-country European Union citizens at the Pasila Police national” in this context refers to a person Station 2. The queue serves EU citizens who is not a citizen of either one of the EU from Monday to Friday between 12:40 and countries or a citizen of one of the following 3:15 p.m. countries: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or The dedicated queue Switzerland. Students from Quebec aims to ease the congested customer (Canada) are also exempted from the health service. Other applications will continue to insurance requirement. be handled by appointment. The exception Health insurance must be to the rule are completed documents which obtained prior to applying for a residence may be picked up from the INFO queue permit and the health insurance must be without an appointment. valid upon entry to Finland. Students applying for an extension of their residence Espoo (Mon-Fri 8.00 am – 4.15 pm): permit must also have valid health insurance. Nihtisillankuja 4 02630 Espoo The type of health insurance policy a student Tel. 0295 430281 needs depends on his/her duration of Note: the Espoo Police Department studies in Finland that, in turn, affects the handles license matters by appointment only. You can make the appointment by right of domicile in Finland. using the electronic system at www.poliisi.fi or by calling 0295 413 160 What kind of insurance will I need when (Mon-Fri 9.00 - 11.00). my studies last for more than three months? Vantaa (Mon-Fri 8.00 am – 4.15 pm): Kielotie 15 01300 Vantaa · The insurance deductible must not Tel. 0295 430 291 exceed 300 euros. Note: the Vantaa Police Department · Your insurance must cover medical handles license matters by appointment expenses in the amount of 100,000 only. You can make the appointment by euros if your studies in Finland last less using the electronic system at www.poliisi.fi or by calling 0295 413 620 than two years. A third-country student (Mon-Fri 9.00 - 11.00). who enters Finland to study for less than two years is not usually granted the right of domicile, i.e. a home 44 municipality in Finland, and therefore is international insurance companies. Finnish not entitled to municipal health care diplomatic missions and the Finnish police services. will provide further advice. Up till now, · Your insurance must cover medical Finnish insurance companies do not grant expenses in the amount of 30,000 private insurance equivalent to the Finnish euros if your studies in Finland last two health insurance scheme as separate years or longer. A third-country student insurance cover. who enters Finland to study for at least Foreign countries and two years is usually granted the right to international insurance companies offer a domicile, i.e. a home municipality in wide range of insurances. There are several Finland and is therefore entitled to international insurance companies that offer municipal health care services. More health insurance policies: check their about the right to domicile below websites for details and contact them directly (Popular Registration. for further information on prices and · Do not take out a regular travel coverage. insurance. It is meant for holiday trips lasting less than three months. MARSH Student Insurance Package (SIP) One good option is to take out the Marsh SIP · You must have insurance for your insurance which has been preapproved by entire stay in Finland. Your insurance the Finnish Immigration Service. This pre- must be valid at the time of your arrival approval will result in a quicker decision on in Finland. Take out a one-year your application for a residence permit. For insurance policy if you intend to study more detailed information about the type of in Finland for one year or longer. Be coverage you will need and its cost, please sure to renew your insurance prior to visit the insurance providers website: expiry. www.sipinsurance.eu Do not terminate your insurance policy, or you will have to cover medical and Please note that the right to use Finnish hospital expenses yourself if you become Student Health Service (FSHS) does not ill. exempt a student from having to take out health insurance. You can apply for insurance abroad at an insurance company in your home country or enquire about suitable insurance at
Population Registration
Basic information on people residing in The information registered is used for such Finland is recorded in the Population purposes as elections, taxation, health care, Information System. Information that is judicial administration and statistical registered includes e.g. name, date of birth, procedures. nationality, family relationships and address. A Finnish municipality of Under Finnish legislation, all foreign residence is registered for foreigners who citizens residing in Finland for a period have moved to Finland if they intend to stay longer than one year are required to here permanently and if they also have a register their details in the Population residence permit for at least one year. Information System. The registration takes Degree students, who study in Finland place at a local Register Office (maistraatti). for at least two years, are usually granted 45 a home municipality. Having the right of Citizens of EU/EEA-member states, domicile, i.e. a home municipality, Liechtenstein and Switzerland entitles degree students to for example When you register your right to reside in municipal health care services and Finland at the local police station, please ask student discount on the Helsinki region’s to be registered in the Finnish Population public transportation. Information System. By doing so, you will To register at the receive a Finnish personal identity code, population register office, bring your which will make your life in Finland easier. passport/formal identity card with a photograph as well as a valid residence For details, please see: permit with you. Citizens of the Nordic http://www.poliisi.fi/licences_and_permit countries do not need a residence permit. s_for_foreigners/eu_the_european_unio For EU-citizens and citizens of Liechtenstein n and Switzerland the residence permit is the registration certificate confirming your right Citizens of Nordic countries of residence, issued by the local police Visit the local register office (maistraatti) station in Finland. For non-EU citizens the and ask to be registered in the Finnish first residence permit is usually obtained in Population Information System. By doing the home country before arriving in Finland. so, you will receive a Finnish personal For more information on the different kinds identity code, which will make your life in of residence permits, please see the section Finland easier. Residence permit and right to reside in Finland. For details, please see: More information in http://www.maistraatti.fi/en/Services/plac English is available at the Population e_of_domicile_and_population_data/ Register Centre website at www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi A personal identity code is a series of numbers, consisting of the person’s date of Obtaining a Finnish personal birth, a unique identifying number and a identity code single-digit control character. The unique identifying number differentiates persons Foreign citizens who study in in Finland for born on the same day. An uneven number is at least three months should apply the same issued for men and an even number for kind of personal identity code as Finnish women. The control character is either a citizens have. The personal identity code is number or a letter. used for identification purposes in banks, For example, in the personal identity code hospitals, schools, institutions, by various 131052-308T authorities etc. · 131052 = date of birth (date/month/year) Citizens of non EU/EEA member states · 308 = unique identifying number When you apply for a residence permit, · T = control character. please ask to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System. By doing so, Before you have a Finnish Personal IDcode, you will receive a Finnish personal identity the university will give you a temporary code code already before arrival, which will make that you can use at the university. When you your life in Finland easier. get your official Finnish Personal ID-code, remember to inform the Student Services about it! For the contact information of
46 Student Services (see page 30 for contact Espoo information). Itätuulentie 1, PO box 49, 02101 ESPOO Tel: 029 553 9301 Helsinki Region Local Register Fax: 029 553 6326 Offices E-mail: [email protected] Open: Mon - Fri 09:00 - 16:15. Register Offices are local population register authorities. You will find the address and Vantaa telephone number of your local Register Kielotie 15, PO box 112, 01301 VANTAA Office online at Tel: 02955 3933 http://www.maistraatti.fi/en/ Fax: 02955 36466 E-mail: kirjaamo.ita- Helsinki [email protected] Albertinkatu 25, 00181 HELSINKI Open: Mon - Fri 09.00 - 16.15, no new Tel: 029 55 39391 queue numbers after 16.00. Place of Fax: 029 55 36191 domicile and population data phone hours Official e-mail address: 9-11 and 12-15. [email protected] Open: Mon - Fri 09:00 - 16:15
Financing of studies
Finland and especially Helsinki is quite an Most of the grants offered by the University expensive place to live. Even though Finnish of Helsinki and other institutions are universities have no tuition fees, you have to relatively small, ranging anything from 150 take into consideration that you need to have euro to 2000 euro. enough financial means to pay your rent, personal expenses, transportation costs, Exchange students meals etc. As a rule, exchange students (i.e. students Please make sure that who register for a limited period of studies you make the needed arrangements for through a certain exchange programme as adequate funding for your entire period of well as through a bilateral or multilateral study before leaving your home country. The agreement) are awarded a grant on the total living expenses of a single student basis of that programme or agreement. studying in Helsinki range from 700 to Erasmus and Nordplus grants are always 1000 euro per month - depending on your awarded to students in their home country. spending habits. See more about the cost of Please contact the International Affairs or living on page 48. equivalent at your home institution or your Finding temporary work own department for more information on or a part-time job in Helsinki can be difficult; grants and other benefits they may be especially if you do not have a sufficient offering. knowledge of Finnish or Swedish language. Therefore you cannot count on financing Visiting students your studies in Finland by working while you Visiting students, who come to study at the study. University outside the exchange There are also a very programmes or without any institutional or limited number of scholarships or grants that departmental agreements between their could cover the full financing your studies. home institution and the University of 47 Helsinki, have to finance their studies income is secured with a scholarship, a grant themselves. or other funds with which the student can support him- or herself during the academic Degree students year. Students must be able to prove that International degree students must arrange they have at their disposal at least 560 euro funding themselves. Look for the possibilities a month or 6720 euro for a year. If the at your home country. Is there a student educational institution offers free tuition, financial aid system in your country? What accommodation and meals, the required about grants and scholarships for studying amount can be reduced. abroad? The University of Helsinki Cost of living offers some start-up grants for students All students have to pay for their accepted to study in an International accommodation and living expenses as well Master's Programme. More information is as their books and other study materials. provided in the next chapter. The total living expenses of a single student Students already range from 700 to 1000 euro per month - studying at the University of Helsinki can depending on your spending habits. apply for e.g. the scholarships offered by the For rent in a student University of Helsinki Funds. More dormitory and residence hall you should information is available in the next chapter budget about 400 euro a month (in a and at the UH Funds website single room). The rent for a studio or https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ family flat is higher; it ranges from 500 to during-your-studies/apply-for-a-grant 850 euro a month depending on the flat and the location. Doctoral students Lunch at the Unicafe PhD studies at the University of Helsinki may student cafeterias costs between 2,60 and be either employed under a contact with the 4,40 euro for undergraduate and graduate university, grant-funded or self-funded. The students, for doctoral students the cost is funding source does not necessarily 4,60 to 6,40 euro. The price depends on the influence the content of the research, but it lunch and the method of payment. does affect the PhD student´s status at the Local transportation costs University and also other practical matters are about 24,80 euro / 30-days travels in such as immigration, health care, housing Helsinki and 49,30 euro / 30-days regional options etc. travels from Espoo and Vantaa to Helsinki You can ask for more (prices shown include the student discount information from your home faculty or which is available to undergraduate and department at the University of Helsinki. graduate students under the age of 30). PhD students already Your student status, and studying at the University of Helsinki can especially the Student Union membership, apply for e.g. the scholarships offered by the entitles mainly undergraduate and graduate University of Helsinki Funds. More students to various services at affordable information is available in the next chapter prices as well as to an abundance of student and at the UH Funds website discounts. The discounts for doctoral https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ (Ph.D.) students are more limited. during-your-studies/apply-for-a-grant Is a student allowed to work while Student's income studying? The Finnish government does not usually Students who have a residence permit fund the stay of foreign students in Finland. granted on the basis of studying may engage The applicant must show that his or her in gainful employment without restrictions 48 when the work consists of practical training Income from part-time or diploma work as part of a degree. work done during study terms may be taken During study terms into account in a discretionary manner in when actual instruction is being given, assessing the amount of available means you are allowed to do an average of 25 required for livelihood. However, this is not hours of part-time work weekly. The possible in the case of first residence permits. number of working hours is not restricted Citizens of EU/EEA- weekly but the restriction concerns each countries or Nordic countries can work term during which work can be periodised without restrictions during the studies. according to the situation. During holidays, You will also require a Finnish personal i.e. during summer and Christmas identity code (henkilötunnus) and a tax card holidays, you can work full-time without (verokortti). hourly restrictions.
Grants and scholarships
There is a wide range of grants and students who are accepted to study in scholarships offered by the University of an International Master's Degree Helsinki and other institutions for Programme. undergraduate, graduate and doctoral · The amount of each grant is 1000-1500 students. However, there are a very limited euro. number of scholarships or grants that · The application period is during April- could cover the full financing your August. Grants are awarded in October studies! The majority of the grants offered · More information is available online by the University of Helsinki and other https://university.helsinki.fi/en/stud institutions are relatively small, ranging ying /new-students/costs-and- anything from 150 euro to 2000 euro. finance#grants- and-scholarships- A good way to start is to at-uh ask about grants and scholarships from a · Grants offered by the University of professor or a teacher in your own Helsinki Funds department. In addition, your fellow students · The University of Helsinki Funds are might have some good ideas. As the range based on donations by private of different grants and scholarships is wide individuals and various organizations. and many of them are meant for a limited The total value of grants and field of study it is very hard for anyone scholarships given out by the Funds is outside your field of study to give hints or annually around 600 000 euro. suggestions on suitable grants or · Grants and scholarships are available scholarships to apply for. However, below for gifted and successful students, you will find information designed to make researchers and teachers of the the start a little bit easier. University of Helsinki once a year. · The application period is in January. The University of Helsinki offers the Grants are awarded in late March. following grants for its students: · Further information available at https://university.helsinki.fi/en/ International Student Grant studying/during-your-studies/apply -for-a-grant · The International Student Grant covers about 50 start-up grants to qualified 49 · More information is available in Flamma Grants for student groups https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/grants- students/HY1002351 · Student groups planning a study circle can apply for a study circle grant to Chancellor’s Travel Grant cover the expenses of the teacher’s salary. Application time is annually · For researchers and teachers as well during October-November. More as post-graduate students at the information is available in Flamma University for congress or other https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/grants- academic travel abroad. students/HY100235 · No fixed grant. · Grants for student organisations are · Application instructions available in available to student organisations Flamma Intranet: within the University of Helsinki who are https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/HY2785 planning a study trip or a seminar. 30 Application time is annually during · Further information available from October-November. More information [email protected] is available in Flamma https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/grants- Dissertation Completion Grants students/HY1002355 · For finishing doctoral dissertations, available round the year. Travel Grant for Master’s thesis students · 1-3 months, 1200 euro a month. · Application instructions and form · For advanced students who need to available in Flamma Intranet: travel abroad because of their thesis https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/HY2785 work. 29 · No fixed grant. · Further information available from the · Application closing dates vary office of your own faculty. according to the Faculty or the Department. · Application forms and further How to apply for a grant? information available at the Study 1. Make sure that you satisfy all the requirements set for the applicant. Offices of the Faculties and/or 2. If a specific form is required, you should departments. absolutely use it. 3. Find out in which language you are Get Your Master’s Thesis Written! Grants expected to write the application. 4. Make sure that all necessary information · The aim of the grant is to promote the is given on the application. finalizing of the master’s thesis by 5. The application should be clear in every providing for an intensive thesis writing detail. period (1-2 weeks) at one of the field 6. Do not chatter. A research plan or stations of the University in Hyytiälä, explanation how you use the grant is often Kilpisjärvi, Lammi, Tvärminne or Värriö enough. · The grant covers room and meals. 7. Submit the application before the closing · Offered twice a year, application time date. during October-November and April- May.
50 Support for Dissertation Printing Costs · Further information, tel. 02941 22386
· Available round the year. More information about grants and · The maximum amount per person is funding databases for Degree Students the amount that the doctoral candidate and PhD Students has used to cover the expenses of https://flamma.helsinki.fi > Directory and printing the dissertation, up to 1000 services > Students > Financing of studies > euro. Grants and scholarships and · Application instructions and form https://flamma.helsinki.fi > Directory and available in Flamma Intranet: services > Researchers > Research Funding https://flamma.helsinki.fi/en/HY2785 35
Planning a career and finding a job in Finland
Finding a job and planning a career are often job openings on the Career Services’ challenging tasks, especially in a foreign website and Flamma. country. The Career Services guides you http://www.helsinki.fi/urapalvelut/english when you’re developing your career / management skills. Flamma: Directory and services » Students The Career Services » Studies and employment organizes career planning and work life orientation courses in cooperation with Master´s programs and Faculties throughout the academic year. Please ask your program/department for more information. You may also participate in the Curriculum for Career course in the spring of 2016 which is open for all university students. Update your skills on our courses and events, or visit our customer service for more information.
There are four steps to successful career management:
· Self-assessment: Recognize your personal qualities, interests, skills and How to get started with job hunting in values. Finland? · Career opportunities: Explore your Finding a temporary job is often a matter of options in the labour market. luck and/or right connections − and a · Decision making: Make career working knowledge of Finnish. Be decisions and plans to achieve your persistent and don’t give up if you don’t goals. succeed at first. · Job-hunting skills: Write a good resume and succeed in an interview. · Look for a job you have education or other competence for. Don’t forget the You'll find up-to-date information about events and workshops as well as the latest 51 competence you have gained through student will for instance enrich the your hobbies, volunteering etc. organization’s working culture and · Think of possible places of work and improve the staff’s language opportunities for international students: competence. international companies and projects, · There are several language courses in embassies, etc. Use your imagination Finnish available for international and be creative, for instance a students. Join in - even a little Finnish Chinese student may be a good coach is very helpful, both in job hunting and for a person about to leave for China in your student life. in business. · Look for a place of work where your Remember networking colleagues are educated and know The most efficient way to find a job is foreign languages. networking, especially with Finns: ask all · Make a good CV (curriculum vitae) in your friends, colleagues, teachers etc. for good English. hints about job opportunities. Another · Sending open applications and efficient way to find a job is to contact phoning the employers afterwards is actively the organizations where you would much more effective than just filling in like to work. In advance, think what you can an application form. Remember that offer them (i.e. what you have done before), only 30% of vacancies are announced the skills you have, and what kind a work you publicly. would like to do. Don’t forget LinkedIn and Facebook! · Be energetic and daring − not humble, aggressive or arrogant! Helsinki region employment and · Emphasize your skills: language skills, economic development offices computing skills, knowledge of various The general website for employment cultures, etc. Hiring an international services is http://www.te-services.fi/te/en/
Taxation
If you are a foreign student, your income will Postal address: P.O. Box 400, 00052 Vero not usually be taxed in Finland if it is sourced Visiting address: Rajatorpantie 8 A, Vantaa outside Finland. On the other hand, if you (Myyrmäki) (1st floor) work for and are paid by a Finnish employer, you should pay Finnish tax. Visiting hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-16:15 Tel: 020 If you work in Finland, 612 000 contact the tax office and request a tax card. When you visit the local tax office, take along Branch offices your passport and student's ID card. Kaisaniemi, Helsinki Vuorikatu 14 For more information Visiting hours: Mon-Fri 9:00–16:15 about taxation in Finland, please see: http://www.vero.fi/en-US In To Finland Helsinki Area Tax Office Salomonkatu 17, doorway A, 2nd storey Pääkaupunkiseudun verotoimisto Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-12:00, 13:00- 16:00 www.intofinland.fi
In To Finland is the service point of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland 52 (Kela) and the Finnish Tax Administration those moving to the Helsinki Metropolitan for those coming to work or study in Area about the matters that first arise on Finland. It gives advice and instructions to coming to Finland.
Housing
Reserve time for finding an apartment Finding suitable accommodation in the Cancel unnecessary applications capital region can be challenging as there is Remember to cancel the unnecessary lack of housing in the area. You should start applications after finding accommodation, searching right away when you receive the because there are other students needing acceptance letter. The peak time is in the housing in the queue. beginning of the academic year. There is no guarantee that you will get a flat – you have to be active yourself. Housing options Below are a few options for where to look for Be prepared to pay 400-600€ per month housing. Some options are targeted only for Be prepared to have 700-1000€ for living students and some are open market options. expenses per month of which 400-600€ per month for housing. For the residence permit HOAS – the foundation for student you are required to have 500€ per month on housing in the Helsinki region your bank account but this is not enough for 20 % of the students in Helsinki Metropolitan living in Helsinki! Area live in a HOAS apartment. HOAS is a non-profit organisation providing student Apply for an apartment simultaneously housing. For arriving students, HOAS offers through various channels rooms in shared apartments as well as If you get a housing offer – take it! You family apartments and friend apartments. probably won’t get another offer and there is It is advisable to apply no temporary housing available. for an apartment as soon as you receive a confirmation on your place of study - Be prepared to live further away from the but no sooner than four months before centre or campus areas you need the apartment. Your possibilities The public transport in Helsinki is ranked to receive an apartment from HOAS are among the best in Europe. You can check improved if you are willing to live outside the the transport connections from your centre and campus areas. However, please apartment to the campus from the Helsinki remember that applying as soon as possible Region Transport Journey Planner does not guarantee that you will get an www.reittiopas.fi/en apartment when your studies begin! HOAS cannot guarantee housing for all students. Never send money or your passport If you haven’t received an offer by mid- information to anyone August it is likely that you won’t get a flat Do not send this information to anyone on from HOAS by the beginning of September. the open market before you have seen the Housing applications can be done online on apartment and signed a contract! An offer the HOAS webpages: that sounds too good to be true (e.g. a studio http://www.hoas.fi/www/hoaswww.nsf/sp flat under 500 euro in the centre) is usually a ?open&cid=homepage scam. 53 Note: for exchange students coming through Forenom offers flats for both short and long an official exchange programme there is a term needs. The rent starts from approx. separate application procedure. For those 500€/month/person (basic apartments). exchange students the applications can be Forenom apartments are best rented with a done online at: group of flatmates (notice that you have to http://www.hoas.fi/www/hoaswww.nsf/sp form the group yourself!). 3?open&cid=Content1082A http://www.forenom.fi/en/
HOAS also has a Facebook page where Other websites for rental apartments you can e.g. ask questions. http://www.facebook.com/hoashelsinki Vuokraovi: www.vuokraovi.com
Housing Option for Degree Students Oikotie (in Finnish): www.oikotie.fi/vuokra-asunnot The University of Helsinki has a housing quota for Master’s degree students that are HOAS Flea market moving to Finland and accepted to one of the http://www.hoas.fi/www/hoaswww.nsf/sp programmes listed on the Master 2?Open&cid=Content07FC5 programmes housing website https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ VVO www.vvo.fi/en new-students/housing#housing-option- for-master%27s-degree-students Find flat mates The residence period is from August 1st You can get in touch with other new 2015 to May 31st 2016 with a fixed-term international students and potential flat contract that cannot be terminated in the mates on Facebook middle of the term. The agreement is made www.facebook.com/newstudentsuh from the beginning of August but there is no rental payment for that month. You can No apartment before arriving in move in during August or in the beginning of Finland? September as you wish. If you haven't received a housing offer by mid-August it is likely that you won't get a flat Agronomy and forestry apartments by the beginning of September. In this case Latokartano student village provides it can be a good idea to secure yourself apartments for students of the Faculty of temporary accommodation for the whole of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of September right away. Most flats and rooms Helsinki. http://www.latokartanonyokyla.fi are vacant from the beginning of the month. On the list below you will find some hostel Forestry apartments options. The applicant has to be a student of forestry. The freshmen of forestry are Vuokrahuone.com: preferred as applicants. http://vuokrahuone.com/ http://silvica.kotisivukone.com/11 Stadion Hostel: http://stadionhostel.fi/ Forenom Forenom is an accommodation and Cheap Sleep: relocation service provider. The service http://www.cheapsleep.fi/book-bed/ covers the supply of accommodation in apartments from studios to family houses, Hostel Suomenlinna: and from basic apartments to luxury housing. http://www.hostelhelsinki.fi/fi/etusivu/ Apartments are fully furnished and equipped for quick moving in and comfortable living. 54 Eurohostel: http://www.eurohostel.eu/ Traveller’s home - Matkamajoitus Lönnrotinkatu 16 D 00120 Helsinki Tel. Other options +358-44-211 9526 [email protected] You can search for a hostel online or try to http://www.matkamajoitus.fi/ find accommodation through couchsurfing. Also visit Helsinki accommodation pages Contact us online to find temporary accommodation. If the semester is already about to start and you still haven’t managed to find a place to Hostels online stay you can contact the University of Suomen Retkeilymajajärjestö (SRM) Helsinki’s Student Services at [email protected] [email protected] http://www.hostellit.fi/?lang=EN Please note that the University of Helsinki does not provide Helsinki accommodation accommodation for students and we cannot http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en/stay- guarantee that you will find a place to stay – andenjoy/accommodation but we will do our best to inform our students about different providers of housing and Couchsurfing possible last minute housing options. http://www.couchsurfing.org/
Student health care
Finnish Student Health Service - Better also entitled to use the FSHS’s services. Student Health International university students are also entitled to use FSHS services, provided that The Finnish Student Health Service FSHS they have paid the annual health care fee as (in Finnish: Ylioppilaiden part of their student union membership fee. terveydenhoitosäätiö YTHS) A healthy If you need more information about student lifestyle and good interpersonal relationships union membership, please turn to your own affect your health, physical condition and student union. ability to cope. Please remember that An important aspect of FSHS only provides basic health care taking care of your wellbeing is to seek help services and does not e.g. perform extensive from health care professionals early enough. medical operations. It is important that you During your studies you can turn to the have your individual insurance. FSHS for issues related to health and ill FSHS is closed during the health. FSHS provides general, mental and weekends and public holidays. If you should oral health care services. Many of our require acute treatment when the FSHS services are free of charge. Helsinki is closed, please contact your You can use our services municipal health centre. if you are studying for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at a university or other FSHS Helsinki Töölönkatu 37 A 00260 institution of higher education and you have Helsinki www.yths.fi/en > Appointments: paid your student union membership fee to a Helsinki. student union that is affiliated to the FSHS. Those studying for a Licentiate of Medicine, Contact us online: www.yths.fi/en/e- Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine degree are communications 55 Read more: www.yths.fi/en/internationalstudents
Health care services and health insurance
Health care services Health insurance More information on health care services All non-EU citizens are required to have outside of the Student Health Care Services, health insurance when applying for a which were introduced in the section above, residence permit. For more information, see can for example be found on the Infopankki the section Residence Permit and Right to website, http://www.infopankki.fi/> Health Reside in Finland. All EU citizens should A foreigner who is not a make sure they have acquired a European permanent resident of a municipality in Health Insurance Card, which gives access Finland must pay the actual cost of treatment to medical care during a temporary when using public health care services. residence in another EU/EEA country or in Therefore it is very important that you Switzerland. Residents of an EU/EAA have a private health insurance to cover country are entitled to medical care while the costs of emergency treatment and staying temporarily in another EU/EEA hospitalisation. EU-citizens should have country or in Switzerland. The European their European Health Insurance Card. Health Insurance Card serves as proof of such entitlement. Health Counselling Service Anyone, covered under For more information about health care his or her home country’s social security services or advice about how to treat system, who intends to travel to an EU/EEA illnesses, you can always call the Health country or to Switzerland on holiday, for the Counselling Service (09) 310 100 23. The purpose of study, on a secondment service is also available in English and it (temporary work) or to seek employment can operates around the clock. The service is apply for the card. The card is available free confidential and enquiries are answered by of charge. experienced nurses and health care More information about professionals. The cost of the call is based the European Health Insurance Card, can on the operator’s charge plus the local be found at network fee. http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langI d=en&catId=509
KELA benefits – residence-based social security
To be eligible for social security benefits, the generally not covered under the general rule is that you must be living in residence-based social security system. Finland permanently. Please note that Your right to social security benefits in students, who have come to Finland only Finland is decided by reference to the length to study, are usually considered to be of your residence in Finland. If you intend to here only temporarily and are thus move to Finland permanently, you will normally be covered by the Finnish social 56 security system and will qualify for Kela residence, you may qualify for social security benefits as soon as you move to Finland. coverage from the date the change became Kela evaluates whether the residence is effective. One example of such a change is permanent or temporary. This evaluation marriage to a person who lives permanently takes into account the whole situation of the in Finland. applicant, which is affected by, for example, More information an employment contract in Finland, family Regarding residence-based social security, ties to a permanent resident of Finland or a more detailed information is available on the previous permanent residence in Finland. If website of the Finnish Social Security the residence isn't considered permanent, Institution - Kela, at http://kela.fi/web/en > social security coverage may be based on Our Services > Moving to or from Finland. the lenght of employment. As a further requirement, you are expected to have been In To service point issued a residence permit, which should Salomonkatu 17, doorway A, 2nd floor mainly be valid for at least one year P.O. Box 82, 00601 Helsinki (assuming a residence permit is required in Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am - 4:00pm the first place). Residence permits are issued by the Finnish Immigration Service. [email protected] Persons living in Finland solely for the http://www.infopankki.fi/en-GB/into/ purpose of studying cannot normally be covered under the Finnish social security In To is the service point of the Social system. However, if you have other reasons Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and besides studying for living in Finland, you the Finnish Tax Administration for those may be considered to have taken up coming to work or study in Finland. It gives permanent residence in Finland, in which advice and instructions on social security case you will qualify for social security and taxation matters. coverage. If the circumstances of Please note that the In To service point does your residence in Finland change, and you not have a telephone service. meet the requirements for permanent
Student financial aid
Finnish citizens studying at higher other (sufficient) income or progress poorly educational institutions are eligible for in their studies are not eligible for the aid and financial aid, which consists of a grant, a the aid can be required to be repaid. state-guaranteed loan and housing supplement. The study grant (opintoraha) International students amounts to about 300-335 euro per month International students who do not have a and does not have to be repaid. The student Finnish citizenship can get financial aid for loan guaranteed by state (opintolaina) is studies in Finland if they live in Finland on a applied for at a bank and its repayment permanent basis and they have come to begins after the completion of studies. The Finland for a purpose other than studying amount of the loan is 400 euro per month. (for example, work, family ties or return The amount of the housing supplement migration). They have to be registered as (asumislisä) depends on the rent and the permanent residents in the Finnish form of housing. Those students who have population register system and the purpose 57 of residence in Finland is determined by the Self-Employment Persons' reference to such matters as the residence Pensions Act comes to at least €1,000 permit, registration or acceptance to an per month. educational institution. Even persons who are in Even persons who are in Finland for the Finland for the purpose of study may be purpose of study may be eligible if they are eligible for financial aid on the grounds of family members of a citizen of an EU/EEA employment if country or of Switzerland who is employed in · The employment will last at least 4 Finland. months and they will work at least 18 hours a week on average, More information is available at · The self-employment will last at least 4 http://kela.fi/web/en/financial-aid- months and the earned income under forforeign-students
58 Vl Living in Finland
Advice and help for people moving to Finland
Finnish Immigration Service Swedish, service is also available in several Maahanmuuttovirasto other languages.
Lautatarhankatu 10 (Customer Service) Visiting address: City Hall, Pohjoisesplanadi (P. O. Box 18), 00581 Helsinki 11-13 or Sofiankatu 1 Tel. +358 295 419 600 (Mon-Fri 11:30- Postal address: P. O. Box 1, 00099 City of 15:00) Helsinki [email protected] Virka-info tel. information service +358 (09) http://www.migri.fi/frontpage 310 11 111 Mon-Fri 9-16 Registry Office, for sending additional [email protected] information regarding matters pending at the http://www.virka.fi/en/info Finnish Immigration Service. The Virka Info Public Information service No appointment is necessary, but there is a desk is open Mon–Fri 9–19, Sat–Sun 10–16. queue number system in place. No numbers dispensed after 14.30. Information services for immigrants Virka Info is specialized in helping Customer service is open Monday-Friday immigrants with questions concerning work, 11:30-15:00. Requested details and other education, housing, residence permits, documents may be delivered at any time general legal justice, social and health during office hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00- services and any other question connected 16:15. with living in Finland.
Please note, no applications can be An appointment to see a consultant can be submitted directly to the Finnish Immigration made by phone or in person. Service. Applications must be submitted at the local police: for more information, see the Infopankki - Info Bank section Residence permit and right to reside Info Bank is a web portal that contains basic in Finland in this handbook. information about Finnish society and culture, For application fees, see the webpages: permits needed by those settling in Finland, http://www.migri.fi/services/processing_f housing, studying Finnish, finding ees employment and starting a business, education, health care, social services, Virka Info - information services of getting help in a crisis, cultural and leisure the city of Helsinki services, and NGOs and associations, as well as links to websites where you will find Virka Info is a public information service that additional information. Information is answers questions about the City of Helsinki available in 14 different languages. and its services at the information desk of www.infopankki.fi the City Hall lobby, as well as by the phone and e-mail. In addition to Finnish and 59 NonDiscrimination Ombudsman Internet: http://www.syrjinta.fi (On the (Yhdenvertaisuusvaltuutettu - webpages information is available in over diskrimineringsombudsmannen) 20 different languages)
The Ombudsman for Non-Discrimination is Postal address: Office of the Non- an independent and impartial authority Discrimination Ombudsman, P.O.Box 24, responsible for promoting equality and FI-00023 Government, Finland tackling discrimination. The Ombudsman provides counselling and advice to victims of Street address: Vuorikatu 24, Helsinki discrimination. The Ombudsman can provide both legal advice and assist the The duties of the ombudsman include: victim in reporting the incident to the customer service (helping victims of appropriate authorities. discrimination) promoting good ethnic The Ombudsman for relations, improving the status and rights of Non-Discrimination may be contacted by minorities, foreigners and immigrants in those who have experienced or observed society, the implementation of equality, discrimination on the grounds of origin, taking initiatives, drawing up reports, language, nationality, religion or belief, proposals and recommendations and opinion, political or trade union activity, issuing public statements on discrimination family circumstances, age, sexual and co-operation between public authorities orientation, health, disability or any other and minority organisations. personal characteristics. Issues relating to discrimination on the grounds of gender and gender identity are dealt with by the Refugee Advice Centre Ombudsman for Equality. Pakolaisneuvonta ry.
Customer service number: 0295 666 817, The Refugee Advice Centre (RAC) is a non- weekdays 10:00-12:00 governmental organisation founded in 1988 E-mail: [email protected] by other Finnish NGOs. RAC provides legal aid and advice to asylum seekers, refugees · If you need to see one of our officials, and other immigrants in Finland. you must make an appointment beforehand. Kaisaniemenkatu 4 A, 6th floor 00100 · The caller has to pay the standard call Helsinki Tel. 075 7575 100, fax 075 7575 charge, although there is no separate 120 service charge. The office can return [email protected] your call on request. www.pakolaisneuvonta.fi · If you do not know any Finnish, Swedish or English, you can write a Opening hours during Mon-Fri 9.00 am – letter or e-mail in your native language, 4.00 pm. in which case the office will have the letter or e-mail translated. This will not SOS Center - crisis prevention for cost you anything. We kindly ask you to foreigners keep your letter to a maximum of two The SOS center helps foreigners and their pages. family members living in Finland in different crisis of life. The center serves adult clients. Administrative issues: 0295 666 800 Help is short term therapeutic conversation Media contacts: 0295 666 813 help. It is important to make an appointment Personnel e-mail: beforehand. You will find more information [email protected] on the website of the SOS Center at 60 http://www.mielenterveysseura.fi/en/sup The Legal Aid Office offers legal aid for port-andhelp/support-and-help- persons living Finland, entirely or partly free foreigners of charge, depending on the client’s income. You can have advice, documents or Maistraatinportti 4 A, 4th floor assistance during a trial both in civil and 00240 Helsinki criminal cases. Tel. +358 9 41350 510 Porkkalankatu 13 G, 2nd floor 00180 Helsinki Tel. +358 29 56 60120 The crisis services are open on Mon-Thu (Appointments) 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00, on Fri 9:00– Mon-Fri 8:00-16:15 12:00. [email protected] http://www.oikeus.fi/oikeusapu/en/index. Legal Aid Office html Helsingin oikeusaputoimisto
Transport and travel
Transport in the Helsinki Region Loading http://www.hsl.fi/EN/ The Travel Card can be loaded at over 300 locations throughout the Helsinki Travel card Metropolitan Area. You can load your Travel The Travel Card is an electronic card, which Card at any loading point regardless of your makes it easy to use public transportation in resident municipality or the period (internal the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. You can use or regional) you want to load on your card. the travel card on local busses, metro, trams, All loading points display the Travel Card trains and the Suomenlinna ferry. You can sign. either buy a personal travel card (advisable You can load both value is you use public transportation regularly) or and season for the card. For single travels a multiuser travel card. A multi-user travel value is the best option but if you are a card can be used by any person holding the regular user a season ticket will be the card who belongs to the same customer cheapest. A season ticket can be 14 - 366 group. A personal travel card can only be days and the value anything between 5 - 400 used by the owner of the card. euro. You can load the period so that it will be valid from the day the card is loaded or Where to buy the card from a chosen day during the subsequent 60 A Travel Card can be purchased at any of days. You can also load two consecutive the public transport service points. The card periods on your Travel Card. The interval payment is 5.00 euro. The validity of the between the periods i.e. the end of the first card is 5 years from the date the card is period and the beginning of the next period sold. You will need a passport or an ID card can be 0 - 60 days. The periods are priced to prove your identity. separately. For more information about the travel card, please read: Prices and student discount https://www.hsl.fi/en/information/travel- You can find the complete list of fares in card Helsinki on the Helsinki Region Transport website, https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and- fares. 61 A student discount is Service points in Helsinki available for undergraduate and graduate students under the age of 30. (Students Central Railway Station Metro Station, aged 30 or over must receive Student Open Mon-Thu 7.30am-7pm, Fri and on Financial Aid fom the Finnish Social Security eves of public holidays 7.30am-5pm, Sat Institution (Kela) in order for them to be 10am-5pm granted the student discount.) Both degree students Itäkeskus Metro Station and exchange student get the student Open Mon-Fri 10am-5.15pm discount for the first study year with a certificate that will be available at the Pasila Welcome Fair (26– 27.8.2015 and 14– Opastinsilta 6 A, HSL Main Office Open 15.1.2016) and the Student Services. Mon-Fri 8.30am - 4pm Degree students – second year and beyond You can also use the sales point search on From the second study the Helsinki Region Transport webpages to year on degree students can update their find your closest service point: discount status at a Helsinki Region https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and- Transport service point. fares/sales-points Before the student discount can be granted degree student Taxis must register as permanent residents of the To order a taxi in Helsinki, call 0100 0700. If municipality at the Register Office (see the the need for a fare is immediate, for advance section Population Registration). Students bookings the number is 0100 0600. The cost also need to complete their annual of an advance order is 7,10 euro (March registration as attending students before the 2015), and it will be added to the fare as discount can be granted. Students need to shown by the meter. obtain either a valid year tag on their student For taxi rates please see card or a certificate that proves that they are the website of Taksi Helsinki, attending students for the following study http://www.taksihelsinki.fi/en/ > Taxi fares year to get the discount. There is also a rate For more information calculator on the website that helps you to about the annual registration, please see estimate the cost of the trip. page 26. Have the pick-up address ready when you call, also mention if you Lost cards have any special requests for the ride (e.g. If you have lost your Travel Card, you can you need a mini bus, you have a lot of contact the Travel Card customer service, tel. luggage etc.). Also mention if you are (09) 4766 4000 (Mon-Fri 7:00am- 7:00pm, planning on paying with a Visa Electron card. Sat-Sun 9:00am-5:00pm). You can also The central taxi contact a Travel Card service point. reservation number in Espoo and Vantaa is 0100 7301. Inspections Persons that travel without a valid ticket will Kutsuplus be charged a penalty fee of 80 euro and the An alternative to taking the taxi is the price of a single ticket. You must have a valid Helsinki region transport HSL’s Kutsuplus ticket also on the platform area of the metro. on-demand minibus service. You can book a ride online with your computer or mobile phone. Kutsuplus buses operates in an area that extends to Tapiola and Leppävaara in 62 the west, to Ring Road I in the north and to Driving license permit Itä- keskus in the east. The buses run from If you would like to obtain a driving license Monday to Friday from 6.00 am to 12.00 while in Finland, you will find more midnight. For more information, see: information on the website of the Police https://kutsuplus.fi/home http://www.poliisi.fi/> In English > Driving Licence. The site gives comprehensive Driving in Finland information on the driving licence and the application process. Foreign driving licenses Driving licenses issued in another EU or Drunken driving and drugs EEA country and interim driving licenses In Finland, under the Penal Code, the driver issued in the Nordic countries entitle the of a motor vehicle is guilty of drunken driving holder to drive motor vehicles in Finland if he/she has a minimum of 50 mg of alcohol equivalent to those indicated on the non- per 100 ml of blood, or a minimum of 0.22 Finnish license. The driver must be at least mg per litre of exhaled air. The limits for 18 years old. The right to drive is valid aggravated drunken driving are, respectively, regardless of whether the person is in 120 mg (blood) and 0.53 mg (exhaled air). Finland as a tourist or residing permanently. A driver can also be guilty A person residing of drunken driving or aggravated drunken permanently in a country that has signed the driving when under the influence of other Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic Convention intoxicants than alcohol if his/her driving and who holds a national or international ability is impaired or seriously impaired. driving license or an official Finnish or For more information, see Swedish translation of a national driving the website of the Police at license is entitled to drive motor vehicles http://www.poliisi.fi/trafficsafety/surveilla equivalent to those indicated on the non- nce_of_intoxicant_use Finnish license provided that the person fulfils the Finnish age requirement to drive Helsinki by bike such vehicles. The afore-mentioned driving Using a bike is by far the cheapest - and license is valid in Finland for two years from often also the fastest - way to move around the start of the holder's period of permanent within the Metropolitan area. Remember to residence in Finland provided that the wear a helmet! A great help in finding license is valid and no other reason exists for bicycle routes is the Journey Planner for the termination of its validity. Cycling which can be found on the Helsinki The above also applies to Region Transport (HSL) website: driving licenses issued in Hong Kong, Macao http://pk.hsl.fi/en or Taiwan under the regulations of the area and international driving licenses. Bicycle centre The right to drive is based The bicycle centre at the Narinkka Square in on the possession of a driving license issued Kamppi offers emergency repair, facilities to a person living permanently in a country that allow cyclists to service their bikes, and that has signed the Convention. A driving information. There is also a supervised bike license acquired in such a country during parking area. Fore more information, see: temporary residence (for example as an http://www.hel.fi/www/Helsinki/en/maps- exchange student) does not entitle the and-transport/cycling/centre/ holder to drive in Finland. For more information, Bicycle rentals please see: http://www.poliisi.fi/> In English > Driving License. Greenbike Bulevardi 32, 63 tel. 050-550 1020, Long distance busses http://www.greenbike.fi There are three main private long distance The shop also sells second hand bikes. bus companies and several smaller ones operating in Finland. Most companies offer Bicyclean Helsinki student discounts for undergraduate and Luotsikatu 2, Katajanokka (May – graduate students. By purchasing tickets September) early you can also get good discounts! Tel. +358 41 4763 317 Selkämerenkatu 6, Ruoholahti (May – Matkahuolto September) Undergraduate and graduate students are Tel. +358 41 4763 318 granted a 50 per cent discount on long Luotsikatu 2, Katajanokka (October – April) distance coaches if the trip covers at least 80 Tel. +358 41 4763 317 km and the ticket is purchased in advance. http://www.bicycleanhelsinki.com/ In order to benefit from this discount the The shop also sells new and second hand student must present a valid student card bikes. bearing the Matkahuolto emblem and issued by a student organisation. You can also look for more options on the You can also get a Internet! student discount with VR and Matkahuolto (long distance busses) joint student card on Railways bus and train services. The card is free of The railway network in Finland covers most charge but you need an €8 semester or year of the country reaching all the way from sticker as proof of validity. Joint student Helsinki to Kolari, Lapland. There is also a cards and semester and year stickers are direct connection from Helsinki to St. available at VR ticket offices and Petersburg. All long distance trains are Matkahuolto service points. operated by VR – the Finnish Railways. For more information, please see: VR offers undergraduate www.matkahuolto.fi/en/ and graduate students studying in Finland reduced-fare travel on long-distance trains. ExpressBuss There is an up to 45-55 per cent discount for Undergraduate and graduate students are single tickets. When purchasing and using granted a 50 per cent discount of the price of the student ticket, the Finnish student card, a normal single ticket for a one-way trip of at valid for the current academic term, must least 80 km. The discount is granted by always be shown. presenting a student card jointly issued by You can also get a Matkahuolto and VR or by presenting a student discount with VR and Matkahuolto student card bearing the Matkahuolto (long distance busses) joint student card on emblem and issued by a student bus and train services. The card is free of organisation. Discount tickets can be charge but you need an €8 semester or year purchased on buses or at bus stations. sticker as proof of validity. Joint student For more information, please see: cards and semester and year stickers are http://www.expressbus.fi/etusivu available at VR ticket offices and Matkahuolto service points. Onnibus For further information This bus company operates between certain contact the Student Services (see page 30) larger cities in the Southern Finland. or directly from: VR Ltd, Finnish Railways, Onnibus doesn’t offer student discounts, but information in English, tel. 0600 41 902 is otherwise very affordable. Prices range (€1,99/answered call + lnc) Mon-Sun 7.00 between 3 to 20 euro depending on the route. am -10.00 pm or online at www.vr.fi 64 For more information, please see: http://www.onnibus.fi/ Linda line offers fast boat rides to Tallin www.lindaline.fi/en/ Travelling by boat Nordic Ferry Center offers cruises to St. Boat lines - the floating hotels - operating Petersburg www.ferrycenter.fi regularly between Finland and other countries may grant discounts to students. In St. Peter Line offers cruises to St. order to receive the discount, you must Petersburg http://www.stpeterline.com present valid proof of your student status: i.e. a student card or some other proof. Very Kilroy Travels Helsinki often, they have special price campaigns, KILROY travels is a full service travel agency when they do not offer any discount. In specialised in student travelling with addition, the amount of the discount varies complete travel bureau services. It provides from one company to another. Next are the cheapest possible flights, hotels, trains, mentioned some of the boat lines that offer adventure trips, study tours, student and trips to neighbouring countries. youth tours as well as regular flight, train and boat tickets. Travel information is also Operating companies available. KILROY issues International Student Identity Cards (ISIC) and IYTC Viking Line offers cruises and rides to cards. Stockholm and Tallinn www.vikingline.fi Kaivokatu 10 D (Kaivopiha) 00100 Helsinki TallinkSilja offers cruises and rides to Tel. +358 9 680 78 200 Stockholm, Riga and Tallin [email protected] www.tallinksilja.com http://travels.kilroy.eu/
Mail and telephone
Mail Telephone Stamps can, among other places, be purchased at post offices and R-kiosks. Regular phone Stamps are also available at the Thin A regular home phone (lankapuhelin) is not Corner shop in Porthania (Yliopistonkatu 3). recommendable for the high price of the More information is available online at phone and connection when compared to a www.posti.fi/ > In English mobile phone. However, if you wish to have There are two kinds of more information on this option, you can see online for phone operators. letterboxes; a blue and a yellow. In places where both letterboxes are found side by Mobile phones side, first class letters should go in the blue box and second class letters in the yellow A mobile phone may be the best solution to box. In locations with just the yellow your communication needs. They are a relatively cheap way of communicating in letterbox, both first and second class letters should be placed in the yellow box. Finland, especially if you tend to move often There are dozens of branch offices in or want to keep in touch with your family and friends. There are several providers of Helsinki: for the one nearest, see http://www.posti.fi/private/posti mobile phone networks: DNA, TeleFinland, sservices/tools/postofficesearch/ Kolumbus, Saunalahti, Sonera and others. New operators come and go with every 65 a refill voucher from a prepaid dealer. It is also possible to reload airtime from the EMERGENCY CALLS: 112 Internet. (Police, ambulance, fire department and/or social worker) A word of warning! Using the mobile phone for international How to make an emergency call: calls in Finland can become very expensive: 1. If you can, make the call yourself to make especially for the receiving person! The sure that the information got through. charge per minute can be several euros. 2. First, tell what has happened. Telephone calls are normally billed on one- 3. Tell the exact address and municipality or month cycle and can add up to a large total town. - the first bill is usually a shocker! Use the 4. Answer the questions put to you. phone wisely and remember to pay all bills 5. Act according to the instructions given to due before you leave the country. you. 6. End the call only when you have been given Calls from Finland permission to do so. · Dial the international prefix (e.g. 00, passing year and companies merge to form 990, 994, 996 or 999) a new brand: these are just a few examples. · The country code (without the general For more information visit prefix 0) a phone shop and see which one offers the · The area code (without the general best deal on phones and network solutions. prefix 0 or to Spain without 9) The prices of new phones vary from 40 euro · The subscriber's number to several hundred euros, depending on the model and additional features. Calls to Finland You can either first buy a To call Finland from abroad first dial the phone and then choose your operator freely international prefix of the country you call or choose a phone-plus-airtime package. from, second the country code to Finland With a monthly charge, you can have a (358), third the area code without the prefix state-of the- art cell phone and a certain 0, and fourth the subscriber's number. amount of airtime. Note: most of the phone- plus airtime packages are fixed term (cannot Calls in Finland be terminated before the end of the contract) To make an automatic call in Finland, the and the contracts are often up to 24 months. If you have a smartphone area code is used with the prefix 0. For number enquiries dial 118, please note that (a phone with advanced computing calling number enquiries is usually capability and connectivity) you can also expensive. choose to have an internet connection on top of your airtime. Area Codes in Finland Some operators (e.g. 02 Turku and Pori Sonera, Kolumbus, Saunalahti and DNA) 03 Häme also offer prepaid subscriptions. To get started, buy a prepaid starting package, 05 Kymi 06 Vaasa which normally costs round 20 euro and 08 Oulu includes varying amount of airtime. The prepaid subscription’s coverage area is the 09 Helsinki 013 North Karelia whole Finland, but you cannot usually make 014 Central Finland international calls. You can recharge your 015 Mikkeli subscription with more airtime by purchasing 66 016 Lapland The cheapest way is to use your PC for 017 Kuopio calling. You must have a computer with a 018 Åland soundcard, microphone and loudspeakers. 019 Uusimaa A more recommendable combination is a Mobile Phones: 041, 044, 045, 046, 049, headset (headphones) with a microphone. 040, 050, 0400, 0500 and many more. One option is using Skype: Cheap international calls on the internet www.skype.com
Money and banking
banking usually takes two to four weeks after If you are studying in Finland for a longer the account has been opened. time it is advisable to open a Finnish bank When you open an account. Opening an account will be easier if you make some preparations even before account, you will be given a bank card (automaattikortti), by which you can check you leave your home country. EU your balance and withdraw money from regulations regarding opening a bank ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) in account define that the following documents Finland: Otto (withdraw) machines are for are usually needed in order to open a bank account: withdrawing money and maksut (payments) machines are for paying bills. When a bank account is opened, most banks offer service · Your passport packages for their customers. Note: Major · Residence permit card (if applicable) credit cards are accepted throughout Finland. · Finnish Personal ID number (if applicable, see page 46) Paying bills · A registration certificate from the In Finland bills are largely paid on the university Internet on-line bank services or on bank · Reference letter from your own bank in transfers. You can move the money directly your home country/previous country from your account to your billers with a of residence. The Reference letter is a transfer. Note: getting access to internet certificate, given by the bank that you banking usually takes two to four weeks after have been using, of an existing, an account has been opened. satisfactory customer relationship and Banks also have ATMs taking care of matters on time. It is also that can complete these transfers a recommendation for establishing a automatically, which cuts down considerably customer relationship. The Reference on bank time and charges. Even then, you letter should be written for the purpose are charged a few cents, but it is still much of opening a bank account cheaper when compared to the option below. · Bank account statements for the past 3 If you do not use the on-line service or a months from your own bank in your machine, bank-to-bank transfers are the home country/previous country of most common way to pay your bills. These residence transfers, to pay, for example, your rent, can · An address in Finland be made for fees that can be very high: the so-called processing fee can be as high as NB! The practice of opening a bank account 8.00 euro! Check the rates with your bank! varies according to bank and branch in And use an ATM or the internet instead. Finland. Each case is decided individually by the bank. Also getting acces to internet 67 Money exchange Stockmann department store and Mikonkatu If you want to save, change your currency 11. In addition to Forex, there are several free of charge at Forex or a similar service. similar places operating along the same Three central locations in Helsinki are the principles. Railway Station (Rautatieasema), the
Schools and day care
English School There are some state run and private http://www.eschool.edu.hel.fi international schools and private international day care centres in the Helsinki Maunula Primary School area. Please contact the appropriate schools http://www.hel.fi/hki/mauna/fi/In+English and day care centres for further information. Below are links to some relevant sites. Ressu Comprehensive School http://www.hel.fi/hki/ressuy/en/Etusivu/ City of Helsinki Education Department http://www.hel.fi/www/opev/en International School of Vantaa Day care and education http://www.hel.fi/www/helsinki/en> http://www.edu.vantaa.fi/isv/ International School of Helsinki Daycare and education http://ish.edu.hel.fi/
Voting
elections(kunnallisvaalit) citizens of other You have to be a citizen of Finland to be able EU countries and to vote in the Finnish presidential or parliamentary elections. In the EU also citizens of other non-EU Nordic Countries (i.e. Iceland and Norway) have the (European Union) parliamentary elections, right to vote under the same conditions as in citizens of other EU countries have the right to vote in Finland. To be able to vote, you the EU parliamentary elections. In municipal elections, also other residents besides have to be over 18 years old and to have a citizens have a right to vote, if the persons in registered municipality of residence (kotikunta) in Finland 51 days prior to the question are over 18 years old, have a registered municipality of residence 51 days Election Day. You should contact your local prior to the Election Day and have lived in register office for registration. A prerequisite for the right to vote is that you enrol with the Finland for the minimum of two years. For more information, voting register in Finland. In municipal please see http://www.vaalit.fi/en/index.html
Climate and survival tips for winter
owing to the humid atmosphere and sea Climate Finland’s climate is milder than that of many winds, it always feels colder in Helsinki than the temperature might suggest. Although the other areas of the same latitude. However, temperature may on some days exceed 68 even +30 degrees centigrade in the warmest as the sand and salt used on icy sidewalks summer months, in southern Finland the and roads, winter boots should be long-term average is between 14 and 18 waterproof, warm, lightweight and stain degrees centigrade for July and between -6 repellent. Winter clothing essentials might and -13 degrees centigrade for February. include a down (or polyester) coat or parka, The annual precipitation mittens or gloves, a wool hat or earmuffs and in the south is about 700 millimetres. The long underwear. Dressing in "layers" is ground is covered with snow three to five advisable, since you will often move from months in the south and up to seven months well-heated buildings into the wet and cold in the north. The average depth of the snow and then back. In Finland all the houses varies between twenty and eighty have central heating and warm water is centimetres and lakes are frozen six months available around the clock. a year. During the summer, it never really gets dark, and in the north, the sun does not Wind chill factor set. In the winter, the days are six hours long Take into consideration the wind chill factor. in the south, and in the north, the sun cannot High winds blowing on a cold day lower the be seen for two months (kaamos). temperature even further and a temperature of -20 degrees centigrade with a wind of 10 Some survival tips for winter kilometres per hour (that is quite normal for Helsinki) feels like -25 degrees. Ears, fingers, Clothing toes or cheeks that have been exposed to Do not take chances with the winter cold! freezing temperatures for even a short Warm winter clothing should not be period may be severely damaged. If any part considered a luxury. Seek advice from those of your body should lack feeling or become familiar with the climate. Look for comfort pale or slightly blue, seek medical help and simplicity in clothing. In order to immediately. Helsinki is a windy city - round withstand slush, snow, sleet and rain as well the year!
Food and shopping
Student cafeterias · Rotunda, University Library, The cheapest meals in town are served in Unioninkatu 36 the 19 student UniCafe restaurants run by · Metsätalo, Fabianinkatu 39 the Student Union. Show your Lyyra Card to · Topelias, Unioninkatu 38 get the discount during the lunch time hours: · Ylioppilasaukio, Mannerheimintie 3B normally between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm · Biokeskus, Viikinkaari 9 (these might vary). Check the UniCafe · Chemicum, A.I. Virtasen aukio 1 website for updates and menus: · Kookos, Haapaniemenkatu 6 www.hyyravintolat.fi/en/ See appendix E · Meilahti, Haartmaninkatu 3 for a Menu and grocery guide. · Ruskeasuo, Kytösuontie 9
· University Main Building, Yliopiston Food at reasonable prices päärakennus, Fabianinkatu 33 In the shops mentioned below, you can buy · Porthania, Yliopistonkatu 3 food and everyday goods at reasonable · Olivia, Siltavuorenpenger 5 prices. Many shops are also open on · Valtiotiede, Unioninkatu 37 78 Sundays.
69 Alepa Limited selection, reasonable prices. Tax free purchases If you plan to study in Finland for a shorter K-shops/Citymarket time and would like to save money on some Good quality, reasonable prices: especially of your larger purchases, you can buy items Pirkka label products. tax-free at most department stores and some shops (Look for a "tax free for tourists" Lidl sticker on the door!). If you present a foreign Good quality, reasonable prices, not the passport, you will receive a slip, which will regular Finnish selection. entitle you to a percentage refund upon leaving the country. Remember that the S-Market/Prisma customs officials may ask you to produce the Good quality, reasonable prices: especially sealed items you declare for reimbursement. Rainbow label products. Clothing and furniture Siwa Here you can find tips for finding clothing to Small local shops with limited selection, get through the three cold seasons (and the reasonable prices. Some Siwas are open warm one, too). Furniture for reasonable also on national holidays. prices can be bought at second hand shops and flea markets. Good palces to start are Valintatalo the Recycling Centre (kierrätyskeskus) Limited selection, reasonable prices. service points; you can find them online at Many others: look around! www.kierratyskeskus.fi Delicacies and special foods There are also two Ikea stores near Helsinki in Espoo and Vantaa, Stockmann’s Food Department for contact information and instructions on Aleksanterinkatu 52 how to get there, see Excellent selection, occasional bargains. http://www.ikea.com/fi/> Services in English. The traditional market halls The small shops in traditional market halls For one-stop shopping, check out the sell local specialties as well as international shopping centres in Helsinki and the delicacies, for more information, see: surrounding area. http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en/see-and- experience/shopping-in- Clothing and other things at reasonable helsinki/markets- and-market-halls-in- prices helsinki Tokmanni “The Kallio Bazaar” Not the latest fashion, but cheap. Also sells The Hämeentie area of the Kallio District is household items. Vilhonkatu 5 (Kaisaniemi) known for its range of ethnic food stores. Hämeentie 111 (Arabia) Insinöörinkatu 2 Some of them are listed on the following (Herttoniemi) Turunlinnantie 4 (Itäkeskus) webage: http://www.lintulaakso.net/kallionbasaari Anttila /luettelo.php Reasonably priced fashion and household items. Salomonkatu 13 (Kamppi) Itäkatu 3-5 Behnford’s (Itäkeskus) City Center (Keskuskatu 6) U.S. and U.K imports and others: Vegemite and Marmite available! 70 Kodin1 Iso Omena Reasonably prized household items and Piispansilta 11 (Espoo) furniture. Kaisaniemenkatu 5 (Kaisaniemi) Second hand shops and flea markets Seppälä Reasonably priced fashion. Helsingin kirpputorit Mannerhiemintie 20 (Forum shopping centre) On this webpage are listed 80 flea markets Urho kekkosen katu 1 (Kamppi shopping all over Helsinki. A map is also available. centre) http://www.kirpputorihaku.com/kirpputor i/helsinki KappAhl Reasonably priced fashion. UFF Aleksanterinkatu 21 Mannerheimintie 20 http://www.uff.fi/ (Forum) Fredrikinkatu 36 Hämeentie 4 H&M Hämeentie 29 Reasonably priced fashion. Iso Roobertinkatu 4-6 Aleksanterinkatu 48 Mannerheimintie 20 Mannerheimintie 104 (Forum) There are dozens of others! Talk Runeberginkatu 4 C with your fellow students to find the best Turunlinnantie 12 places to shop for clothes. Look for sales! Hietalahti flea market Department stores in the centre At the west end of Bulevardi. Almost anything at reasonable prices, outdoors on Stockmann the market. Aleksanterinkatu 52, especially on the”Crazy Days” (Hullut päivät) in October and April. Salvation Army Flea Market Pelastusarmeijan kirpputori City Sokos http://www.pelastusarmeija.fi/kirpputorit Mannerheimintie 9 Helsinki Koulutanhua 6 Shopping centres in the Helsinki area Malminraitti 1 Mannerheimintie 90 Forum Vantaa Mannerheimintie 20 (Helsinki) Laukkarinne 4 Liesikuja 1 Itäinen Valkoisenlähteentie 15 (outlet flea Kamppi market) Urho Kekkosen katu 1 (Helsinki) Recycling Centre Itäkeskus (Clothes, furniture and other stuff) Itäkatu 1-7 (Helsinki) Kierrätyskeskus http://www.kierratyskeskus.fi/ Jumbo Kyläsaarenkatu 8 (Large things!) Vantaanportinkatu 3 (Vantaa) Kauppakartanonkatu 12 Kutojantie 3 (Espoo) Sello Rusthollarinkatu 1 (Espoo) Leppävaarankatu 3-9 (Espoo) Hosantie 2 (Vantaa)
71 Libraries and cultural centres
Helsinki Metropolitan Area Libraries Helsinki Metropolitan Area Libraries The extensive services and collections of http://www.helmet.fi/. Helsinki Metropolitan Area Libraries are available to everyone and free of charge. Virtual Library The libraries form together the HelMet library You can also use library services on the Web. network consisting of all the public libraries From the website http://www.helmet.fi you in the capital region. Customers have access get information about our service and to both national and international library happenings and you have access to the networks and can very often find here catalogue database of books and other materials that are unavailable, materials. You can search for information; reserved or in use in the university libraries. reserve items and renew your loans. You are never far from a public library; apart http://www.helmet.fi/. is also available via from the main library in Itä-Pasila, there are mobile phones http://m.helmet.fi/ over 60 branch libraries in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen Pasila Library Rautatieläisenkatu 8,Itä-Pasila Library Services Entrance from Kellosilta 9 To obtain a HelMet Library card and user http://helmet.fi/pasilalibrary ID, you need a valid identification card with your photograph and date of birth. In addition, The collection contains books, newspapers you need to give your address in Finland. A and magazines in several languages HelMet Library Card can be used for including more than twenty thousand books borrowing books and other materials from in English. As the Multilingual Library in the Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa Finland, the library has books in over 80 City Libraries. In addition to lending books, languages. The book stacks of HelMet public library services include information Libraries are situated in Helsinki Main retrieval, newspapers and magazines, audio Library. Workstations for using internet, books, language courses and CDs, DVDs, email and other software are also available, Blu- Ray discs, console games, sheet music, as well as a wireless net connection. recordings as well as e-books, e-magazines and other e-material. Rikhardinkatu Library Rikhardinkatu 3 More information: For opening hours and more, please see: http://www.helmet.fi/elibrary http://helmet.fi/rikhardinkatulibrary
The Helsinki City Library has more than one The library contains a British Collection with hundred thousand books in English and material about Great Britain and its culture. subscribes to over 200 newspapers and This collection is a donation from the former magazines in English. In some cases Items British Council Library. In addition, the may also be borrowed through the library's specialities include a large selection interlibrary lending service. In addition to of Swedish fiction and books on the arts. free-of-charge workstations, you have access to several Finnish or foreign Library 10 databases online. For opening hours and Elielinaukio 2 G Main Post Office further information, see the web page of http://helmet.fi/library10 72 The Library 10 is a combination of music and http://www.cimo.fi (CIMO) IT. The Library 10 has a collection of over 40 http://www.studyinfinland.fi/ 000 music recordings and a wide array of music books, sheet music and videos. The Are you interested in pursuing higher library also has magazines and newspapers education studies or practical training in in English, books on IT, publishing and Finland? Do you wish to know more about media, countries and travelling. The library’s scholarship opportunities in Finland? well-equipped customer workstations can be CIMO's web service www.studyinfinland.fi used in processing images, sounds as well contains a database of English-language as videos. Also using your own laptop in the degree and non-degree programmes, library is easy. In the Audio-editing and information about Finland as a study Rehearsal rooms, one can practice or destination, our higher education institutions, record music. In maker´s space you can and practicalities concerning scholarships, use for example 3D-printer and vinyl cutter. admissions systems and living in Finland. The Stage functions as a venue for cultural CIMO operates under the performances, discussions, and other Finnish Ministry of Education. It administers exhibits. scholarship and exchange programmes and is responsible for implementing EU Library of the Parliament education, training, culture and youth Eduskunnan kirjasto programmes at national level in Finland. Aurorankatu 6 CIMO also promotes and organises FI-00102 Eduskunta international trainee exchanges. In addition, [email protected] CIMO advances teaching of Finnish http://www.parliament.fi/library language and culture in universities abroad. www.facebook.com/Eduskunnankirjasto Please note that in order www.twitter.com/Edarifi to apply for trainee exchange programmes in The Library of Parliament not only serves the Finland you have to contact the appropriate Parliament but also serves anyone who contact organisation in your home country. needs information concerning Parliament, Please do not hesitate to contact CIMO's law or society. The collections include Information Services by telephone or e-mail domestic and foreign literature in the fields of for more information. law, social sciences and parliaments as well as materials on the European Union and the Fulbright Center United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Hakaniemenranta 6 OECD and other international organisations. 00530 Helsinki The Archive of Parliament is part of the Tel. +358 44 5535 286 Library of Parliament. Electronic information [email protected] resources are available via the Library’s http://www.fulbright.fi/ website. Information service Tietosilta is open for Centre for International Mobility visitors by appointment. (CIMO) Kansainvälisen liikkuvuuden ja yhteistyön The Fulbright Center offers several keskus CIMO scholarship programs for Finnish and U.S. citizens for study, research and professional P.O. Box 343 opportunities in the United States and 00531 Helsinki Finland, and provides information and Tel. +358 295 338 500 advising on studying in the United States and Canada. 73 [email protected] Deutsche Bibliothek http://www.iichelsinki.esteri.it German Library For up-to-date opening hours, please see Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu 7 the website of the Italian Cultural Institute. 00130 Helsinki The Italian Cultural Tel. 09-669 363, fax 654 010 Institute offers a wide range of Italian [email protected] courses for all levels. Furthermore, it gives http://www.deutsche-bibliothek.org/ information about studying in Italy. The Institute also has a library. For up-to-date opening hours, please see the website of the Deutsche Bibliothek. Russian Centre of Science and The German library has Culture an extensive collection with volumes on Nordenskiöldinkatu 1 German language literature, linguistics and 00250 Helsinki study of literature and the history and Tel. 09-436 0040, fax 09-444 784 geography of the German speaking [email protected] countries. In addition, Deutsche Bibliothek http://fin.rs.gov.ru has a German language Fennica collection. For up-to-date opening hours, please see Institut Français the website of the Russian Centre. The French Institute of Finland Russian Scientific and Cultural Centre offers information on various aspects of today’s Kaapelitehdas C 2 Russian life. It also organizes cultural and Tallberginkatu 1 C 135 scientific exhibitions, concerts etc. The FI-00180 HELSINKI Russian Centre of Science and Culture also Tel. 09-2510 210 has a library and offers language courses for [email protected] students of all levels. http://www.france.fi/ Caisa For up-to-date opening hours, please see International Cultural Centre the website of the French Institute of Finland. Helsingin kansainvälinen kulttuurikeskus The Institut français de Finlande offers a wide range of French Caisa is an International Cultural Centre in courses for all levels and organises the the heart of Helsinki. Caisa's main goal is to international French language tests and support the multicultural development of the diplomas TCF, DELF and DALF. The Centre city by promoting the interaction of people also has a library and houses the Campus from various cultures, and by providing France agency that gives advice on studying information to all its visitors about different in France cultures as well as about Finnish society. Caisa organises events open to the public, Istituto Italiano di Cultura such as cultural festivities and evenings, Italian Cultural Institute discussion forums, exhibitions and concerts. Caisa also provides for its visitors free Vuorimiehenkatu 11 B (Office) access to the Internet in the Caisa's Ullankatu 3 A 2 (Library) ITworkroom. 00140 Helsinki Tel. 09-68113321, fax 68113333 Entrance via Mikonkatu 17 C or Vuorikatu14 or Kaisaniemi metro station 74 Postal address P.O. Box 4771, 00099 Open on weekdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Helsinki City Familia offers a unique opportunity to meet Tel. 09-310 37500 (information) people from different parts of the world and Fax 09-310 37511 learn about various cultures and customs. [email protected] The club arranges club nights, courses (e.g. www.caisa.fi/ Finnish language courses), Play Groups for Children, cultural evenings, discussion Mon-Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm and during events groups, group outings etc.
Please also check out INFOPANKKI at Monikulttuuriyhdistys Familia Club ry www.infopankki.fi, a web-based service, Yrjönkatu 29 A, 4th floor which provides information and links in 14 00100 Helsinki languages to most areas of life in Finland. Tel. 044 7738 628 [email protected] Familia www.familiaclub.fi Multi-cultural Association Familia Club Ry
Leisure activities
Check Vantaa tourist information Citizen's Offices in Tikkurila and in Myyr- For what’s going on in the City of Helsinki: mäki provide information about tourism in Vantaa and adjacent areas: http://www.hel.fi/www/Helsinki/en/cult ure/ For various attractions: Vantaa Info, Myyrmäki Myyrmäkitalo, Kilterinraitti 6 www.visitfinland.com For Finnish Art: 01600 Vantaa http://www.kansallisgalleria.fi/en/ Tel. 09 8393 5455
Vantaa Info, Tikkurila Dixi, Ratatie 11, 2nd floor, Tourist and traveller information 01300 Vantaa Tel. 09 8392 2133 Tel. 09 8392 3086 Helsinki city tourist & convention bureau [email protected] Pohjoisesplanadi 19 http://www.vantaa.fi/en/tourism Tel. 09-3101 3300 [email protected] Concerts www.visithelsinki.fi There are two major event sites Lippupalvelu and Tiketti that provide you with tickets for Espoo tourist information concerts, summer festivals, entertainment, Visit one of Espoo's Citizen's Offices for cultural events and sporting events in the city. tourist information, for more information, You must register for membership to reserve see: http://www.visitespoo.fi/ tickets on-line. You can see the monthly [email protected] programme available at teir webpages. Show your student card for possible student discounts. 75 Q-Teatteri Lippupalvelu: www.lippupalvelu.fi Q-Theatre Tunturikatu 16 Tiketti: www.tiketti.fi/ Tel. 09-4542 1333 www.q-teatteri.fi Lippupiste www.lippu.fi This list is by no means exhaustive. For Theatres more information on theatre performances in Helsinki and elsewhere in Finland, please Kansallisteatteri see www.tinfo.fi Finnish National Theatre Läntinen Teatterikuja 1 Opera Tel. 010 733 1331 (tickets) Finnish National Opera www.kansallisteatteri.fi Helsinginkatu 58 Tel. 4030 2211 (tickets) Helsingin Kaupunginteatteri www.ooppera.fi Helsinki City Theatre Ensi linja 2 Museums and art exhibitions (tickets from Lippupiste) www.hkt.fi Helsinki City Museum Sofiankatu 4 (Office) Svenska Teatern Tel. 09-310 36630 Swedish-speaking Theatre www.hel.fi/hki/Museo/en/Etusivu Norra Esplanaden 2 Tel. 09-6162 1411 (tickets) Helsinki City Museum has various divisions www.svenskateatern.fi at different addresses with varying opening hours (see the Museum’s website for details Lilla Teatern and opening hours), such as: Plays mostly in Swedish Eriksgatan 2 · Burgher’s House Tel. 09-3940 310 (tickets) · City Museum www.hkt.fi/lillateatern/ · Hakasalmi Villa · Sederholm House KOM-teatteri · Tram Museum KOM Theatre · Worker Housing Museum Kapteeninkatu 26 (Tickets from Lippupalvelu) The admission to all museums and www.kom-teatteri.fi exhibitions of the Helsinki City Museum is free. Ryhmäteatteri Pengerkatu 11 and Helsinginkatu 25 Helsinki Art Museum (Tickets from Lippupalvelu) http://www.hel.fi/hki/Taimu/fi/Etusivu www.ryhmateatteri.fi The Helsinki City Art Museum has it’s Ylioppilasteatteri exhibition space in the Tennis Palace Student Theatre (Tennispalatsi).In addition to holding Aleksanterinkatu 23 exhibitions, theMuseum operates as the Tel. 045 348 1555 (tickets) regional artmuseum for Uusimaa, maintains www.ylioppilasteatteri.fi the KluuviGallery and looks after and augments theCity of Helsinki’s art collections. 76 Thesecollections also include the city’s The Finnish National Gallery is the largest public works of art. art museum organisation in Finland and a national cultural institution. The main units of Art Museum Tennis Palace the organisation are the Ateneum Art Salomonkatu 15 Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tel. 09-310 87001 Kiasma, the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, and the Central Art Archives. For up-to-date opening hours, please see the website of Helsingin taidemuseo. Ateneum – Museum of Finnish Art Kaivokatu 2 Public Art Tel. +358 294 500 401 There are about four hundred outdoor www.ateneum.fi/ sculptures, environmental works and historical monuments in Helsinki. The oldest Ateneum houses large collections of both old works date from the late 19th Century, and and modern art. The Art Museum of the there are some individual monuments of an Ateneum includes Finnish art from the 18th even earlier provenance. century to the 1960s as well as foreign works of art from the latter half of the 19th century to National Museum of Finland the 1960s (van Gogh, Gauguin, Munch, etc.) Mannerheimintie 34 Tel. +358 40 128 6469 (ticket office) Sinebrychoff – Museum of Art [email protected] Bulevardi 40 www.nba.fi/en/nationalmuseum Tel. +358 (0)294 500 460 www.sinebrychoffintaidemuseo.fi/ Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00, Mon closed Kiasma - Museum of Contemporary Art The museum presents Finnish life from Mannerheiminaukio 2 prehistoric times to the present. Tel. +358 294 500 200 www.kiasma.fi/ Amos Anderson Art Museum Yrjönkatu 27 Central Art Archives Tel. 09-684 4460 Kaivokatu 2 tel. [email protected] +358 294 500 200 http://www.amosanderson.fi/ www.fng.fi/
For up-to-date opening hours, please see The Central Art Archives is a diverse the website of Amos Anderson information centre for visual arts that collects The Amos Anderson Art Museum and stores materials related to Finnish visual specialises in 20th century Finnish art. It also arts in particular. arranges a large number of exhibitions on special themes, covering both contemporary For up-to-date opening hours of the units of and more traditional art. Most of the dozen the The Finnish National Gallery, please see or so special exhibitions held every year their respective websites. concern the visual arts, but applied arts and cultural history are also covered. Finnish Science Centre Heureka Kuninkaantie 7 Finnish national gallery Tel. 09-85 799 www.fng.fi/ Tikkurila (Vantaa) www.heureka.fi/
77 Opening hours vary; please see the centre’s Movie theartres run by the Andorra Culture website for up-to-date information. and Entertainment Center are used for movie showings during most of the movie What else? festivals and events in Helsinki. For more information on smaller and unique museums, contact the Helsinki City Tourist & This list is by no means exhaustive. For Convention Bureau, Pohjoisesplanadi 19 more information on movie threatres in (see above). There are excellent museums Helsinki area search online. also in Espoo, Järvenpää, Kerava, Tuusula and Vantaa. For more information, contact Movie Festivals the local tourist offices. For suggestions, see There are several movies festivals and clubs http://www.museot.fi/ in the Helsinki Region through out the year. Below is a list of the largest ones and you Movies can search online for more options! All films are shown in the original language with Finnish and/or Swedish subtitles. The Rakkautta ja Anarkiaa majority of films are foreign with a high Love and Anarchy is an international movie percentage of Hollywood features. A weekly festival that seeks to screen films that would programme is available in every cinema. otherwise not be seen in Finnish theatres. Prices vary from 7.50 to 17.50 euro. Matinee http://hiff.fi/en/ showings tend to be cheaper. DocPoint Finnkino – the largest chain of movie DocPoint Helsinki is one of the largest threatres in Finland, several locations in the documentary film festivals in the Nordic Helsinki Region http://www.finnkino.fi/ countries. In Finland, it is the only festival solely dedicated to documentary films. Orion http://docpoint.info/en Eerikinkatu 15 https://kavi.fi/fi/ohjelmisto Espoo Cine The Espoo Cine International Film Festival is A movie threatre run by the National concentrated on new European movies with Audiovisual Archive that screens yearly around 100 movies on show. independent and classic films in their original http://www.espoocine.fi/ language. Ticketscan be bought from the box office or online.The box office opens a Season Film festival half an hour beforethe first show. Season is an international movie festival that holds a special place for films with a focus Kino Engel on women’s issues, female filmmakers and Sofiankatu 4 actresses, as well as films that question http://www.cinemamondo.fi/kino-engel/ gender roles as a whole. Season also includes the Fashion Film Festival which A movie theatre run by Cinema Mondo that shows a wide range of movies for fashion screens films from around the world. As a lovers. http://www.seasonfilmfestival.fi/ speciality there are outdoor shows during summer time. CINEMANIA is your guide to the wide ranging film Dubrovnik & Kino Eerikinkatu 11 Tel. festivals and movie events in the Capital 0201751620 http://andorra.fi/ Region. You can see various movie events on their webpages and like CINEMANIA on Facebook. The printed guide is also in free 78 distribution in libraries, bars and cultural · Drive motor vehicles off road without venues around Helsinki. the landowner’s permission. http://www.cinemania.fi/english/ · Fish or hunt without the relevant permits. Outdoors activities Vast areas of forest and waterways as well Related sites as traditional public rights of access provide Collection of sports and outdoors excellent opportunities for enjoying the great opportunities in Helsinki outdoors. The term "public rights of access" http://www.hel.fi/www/helsinki/en refers to specific rights everyone has when The green areas of Helsinki moving about no matter who owns the land http://www.hel.fi/www/helsinki/en/housin in question. g/nature/nature-green-areas
Everybody has the right to Outdoor recreation in Helsinki www.hel.fi/hki/liv/en/Recreation · Walk, ski or cycle freely in the countryside, except in gardens, in the Outdoors recreation in Espoo immediate vicinity of people’s homes, http://www.espoo.fi/en- and in fields and plantations which US/Culture_and_sport/Outdoor_Recreati could easily be damaged. on · Stay or set up camp temporarily in the countryside, a reasonable distance Everyman’s rights in Finland from homes. http://www.outdoors.fi/en/hikinginfinland · Pick wild berries, mushrooms, and /rightsandregulations flowers, as long as they are not protected species. Restaurants and coffee shops · Fish with rod and line. In Helsinki, there are hundreds of · Row, sail or use a motorboat on restaurants licensed to sell alcohol as well as waterways, with certain restrictions; dozens of coffee shops. The restaurants swim or wash in inland waters and the range from small, intimate eating stops to sea. conference and congress centres and · Walk, ski and fish on frozen lakes, crowded pubs. Bar and restaurant guides list rivers and the sea. some choices, but ask for local advice or wander around and you may find places far It is forbidden to more fascinating than those listed. Tipping is not common in Finnish restaurants and · Disturb other people or damage nightclubs, although it is standard that property. cloakroom attendants expect 2 to 5 euro for · Disturb breeding birds, or their nests or taking your coat. young. · Disturb reindeer or game animals. Eat.fi · Cut down or damage living trees, or A good way to locate restaurants and coffee collect wood, moss or lichen on other shops is to use the eat.fi website which people’s property. offers information of almost all the · Light open fires on other people’s restaurants in Helsinki area. On the site you property, except in an emergency. can find contact informations of restaurants, · Disturb the privacy of people’s homes, locations on map and reviews by other by camping too near them, or making customers http://eat.fi/en/helsinki too much noise, for example. · Leave litter. 79 Restaurant day Refreshments Restaurant Day originated in Helsinki, in All alcoholic beverages, except medium May 2011 and it happens four times a year, strength alcohols (max. 4.7% alc.), are sold about every three months. On Restaurant exclusively in ALKO shops. Mild alcoholic Day anyone can set up a restaurant or café beverages (wines and strong beer and cider) for a day. It can be anywhere: at your home, are sold to 18-year-olds, but to buy spirits at the office, on a street corner, in your you have to be 20. Be prepared to show your garden or inner courtyard, at a park, or on ID. Alcohol in Finland is either quite or the beach – only your imagination is the limit! extremely expensive (depending where you More information about Restaurant Day come from…). However Alko’s selections online http://www.restaurantday.org/ are very wide, the service very professional and you can for example find high quality imported wines and beers that you might not find anywhere else. More information at Alko webpages http://www.alko.fi/
80 Appendix A: From student to students: TSEMPPI’s survival guide for new international students and researchers
The following is a guide to the things you will about what's going on with Tsemppi and need to do before and after you arrive in Tsemppi PhD through our Facebook groups: Helsinki. It was written by members of Tsemppi: Tsemppi, the organization for internationally- http://www.facebook.com/groups/Tsemp minded students and researchers. We hope pi/ this gives you useful information about living Tsemppi PhD: and studying in Helsinki, and we look http://www.facebook.com/groups/Tsemp forward to seeing you at our events offered piPhD/ all year round. Please note that you The ‘Tsemppi’ group is intended for all, and should also check the university’s studying the ‘Tsemppi PhD’ group concentrates more pages as they provide you with official and on doctoral students and postdoc essential information about other matters researchers. You can also find information when starting your studies at the University about us on our official blog: of Helsinki. There are also several useful http://blogs.helsinki.fi/tsemppi-hy/ manuals, which you may have received during Orientation Week. You can also find 2. Arrange housing some useful resources on the University of The Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Orientation website: Helsinki Region (HOAS) owns quite a bit of https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ real estate in the Helsinki area. They offer new-students/orientation-and-welcome- affordable housing to students, including fair single/shared/family apartments and studio flats. Things to do before you arrive: Note: You should do this 1. Find TSEMPPI on Facebook and Visit as early as possible! It may take some time our blog for HOAS to find accommodations for you, Moving to another country and starting your and they work on a first come first serve studies at a new university is a great basis. For more information about their adventure, but you might face some apartments and the application process, go challenges on the way. Remember, you're to the HOAS website: http://www.hoas.fi not alone! There have been others who have While HOAS is by far your gone through the same process as you; they best bet, it is also possible to find apartments can provide support and help you get settled on the private market. You can either sublet in! from an individual apartment owner, or rent We at Tsemppi help new from a rental agency. Contract length and international students adjust to life in Finland terms depend on particular agreements. and to get involved at the university as You'll find both open-ended month-to-month quickly and smoothly as possible. There are and longer term one or two year contracts. also other people and institutions that But beware! It can be very difficult to find provide assistance, from your study housing on the private market. Most coordinator, to the student union and other apartments in Finland are owner-occupied student organizations. While you might get and the Helsinki market is extremely to know them in time, we're here to help with competitive! any problems you might have from the Another very convenient beginning! You can get the latest updates option is to look for a room in a shared apartment. If you are looking for a room to 81 rent or a flatmate to share the costs of a The cards will be ready in bigger flat join the Facebook group for late- September/early-October. Once your student apartments: card is ready (they will send you an email to https://www.facebook.com/groups/11248 let you know), you can pick it up from the 9548797522/ Student Union's central office in the New Student House (Finnish: Uusi ylioppilastalo Remember that if you are offered a place to or just Uusi), Mannerheimintie 5A, 2nd floor. rent, DON’T TURN IT DOWN thinking that More information about the card and how to you will probably find something better; in all use it can be found at: http://myfrank.fi likelihood, you will not find another place right away and having a roof is essential in a 5. Pack warm clothes country where temperatures get well below The average temperature in Helsinki in zero in the winter. September is between 8 and 15 degrees Celsius - and it only gets colder from there! 3. Mandatory health insurance But no worries, there are plenty of stores Health insurance is now mandatory for where you can buy warm clothes, international students, for more information secondhand and new. And of course, it is not about exactly what type of insurance is always cold! Summer in Helsinki might be required for you, check the following link: short, but it is warm and beautiful. More https://university.helsinki.fi/en/studying/ information about the weather in Helsinki new-students/before-arrival#health- can be found on the English pages of the insurance Finnish Meteorological Institute: http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ 4. Get your student ID card With the official student card you’ll be able to Things to do once you arrive in prove your student status whenever it is Helsinki: needed. For example, you'll need to show it 1.Get a Finnish identification number to get student discounts in numerous shops Foreign citizens who study in in Finland for and businesses in Finland. It also serves as at least three months should apply the same your library card and provides a convenient kind of personal identity code as Finnish payment system for the UniCafe student citizens have. The personal identity code is cafeterias. You'll be using it a lot, so be sure used for identification purposes in banks, to order one! You can order your card from hospitals, schools, institutions, by various the student service website: authorities etc. https://frank.fi/en/student-card/ Keep in mind that there Citizens of non EU/EEA member states are thousands of students ordering the card When you apply for a residence permit, once the semester has started and make please ask to be registered in the Finnish sure to order it as soon as you have paid the Population Information System. By doing so, student union’s membership fee. Being a you will receive a Finnish personal identity member of the student union is not code already before arrival, which will make mandatory if you are an exchange student or your life in Finland easier. PhD student, but it brings many benefits, not the least health care in the student union’s Citizens of EU/EEA-member states, health services (for all except PhD students, Liechtenstein and Switzerland sorry!), which is definitely a big plus. When you register your right to reside in You'll need to have paid Finland at the local police station, please ask the student union's membership fee, and to be registered in the Finnish Population submit a digital photograph. The card costs Information System. By doing so, you will about 15 euros and you’ll need internet receive a Finnish personal identity code, banking or Visa/MasterCard to pay for it. which will make your life in Finland easier. 82 For details, please see: Transport (www.hsl.fi) and the public transit http://www.poliisi.fi/licences_and_permits_f Journey Planner (www.reittiopas.fi). or_foreigners/eu_the_european_union Citizens of Nordic countries 3. Get a bank account Visit the local register office (maistraatti) Once you have your Finnish ID number, you and ask to be registered in the Finnish should apply for a bank account as soon as Population Information System. By doing possible, as electronic payments are used so, you will receive a Finnish personal heavily (read: almost solely) in Finland. You identity code, which will make your life in will find banks throughout downtown, the Finland easier. largest being Nordea (www.nordea.fi), Danske Bank (www.danskebank.fi) and For details, please see: Osuuspankki (www.osuuspankki.fi). For http://www.maistraatti.fi/en/Services/place_ more information see page 67. of_domicile_and_population_data/ Most often when you open a basic checking account, the bank will 2. Get a Helsinki travel card provide you with a Visa-Electron card – a To avoid unnecessarily high transportation debit card you can use to access your costs, it's important to get a Helsinki travel account at businesses in Finland and a few card as soon as possible. There is a reduced other European countries. rate for Helsinki residents, as well as for students (though the latter doesn’t apply to 4. Get a mobile phone doctoral students). In Finland your phone and your operator You will receive a special contract are separate, so you buy your own form with a university stamp at the phone and are generally free to move Welcoming Fair. Take this to the Helsinki between operators at will. If you are not Region Transport (HSL, Helsingin Seudun bringing a mobile phone with you, you'll find Liikenne) service point under the main many places to buy phones throughout railway station. Bring your passport, and if downtown, for example in the shopping you already have it, proof of your registration complex around the Old Student House in the population system and your Finnish ID (Finnish: Vanha Ylioppilastalo). Be sure to number. In order to get the travel card, you also ask about used phones. You should need to live in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, browse the different operators for the best Kirkkonummi, Sipoo or Kerava. When you contract deals. If you don’t already have a go to get your card you’ll need to have a valid phone, many operators offer package deals address in one of these cities. The card that include a phone. You can check the costs 5 euros. websites of the main mobile phone operators If you plan to travel in Finland: - regularly outside of Helsinki city limits, and Telia-Sonera: www.sonera.fi want to pay with time, you should ask for DNA-Finland: www.dna.fi regional (seutu) time when loading your card. Saunalahti: www.saunalahti.fi It's more expensive, but you will need this Elisa: www.elisa.fi option if you live in Espoo or Vantaa. If you Another option is to buy a prepaid SIM card. are using money instead of time, press R-Kioski shops sell a variety of prepaid cards; number 2 to buy a single ticket for the whole it's worth taking a bit of time and talking to region. As a rule of thumb, if you take public the shop-keeper about the Appendix A transit to school each day then paying by different cards (DNA, Elisa, etc), since they time is a much better deal, but if you mostly charge different rates per minute.. walk to the university then it may make more sense to load money onto your card and only 5. Stock your fridge pay per use. For more transportation related Most grocery stores in Finland belong to one information check out the Helsinki Region of two large retailing cooperations. The S- group operates a number of super markets 83 in and around Helsinki: Alepa (a small store outside the EU/EAA need to have private with long opening hours), Smarkets (slightly health insurance. larger), and Prisma (the Sgroup's hypermarket). The other main retailing group is the K-group. They operate K-markets of all 7. Apply for a KELA card sizes - from one to four Ks, indicating the If studying is not the only reason you've size of the store. A quadruple-K market is come to Finland (for example, if you have a also known as a CityMarket. The K-group family, a job contract of more than four also operates the more general department months, or you have Finnish citizenship), store Anttila. you should apply for a KELA card, which A good option for cheap entitles you to many different benefits, from toiletries and household supplies is community health care to (in some cases) Tokmanni, which is located in the Itäkeskus monthly study allowances. For eligibility Shopping Centre and in the Kaisaniemi requirements and benefit details, check their metro station. If you would like to buy rare website: www.kela.fi foods and delicacies, visit Stockmann Herkku under Stockmann, which is rather 8. Sign up for Finnish classes pricy but a high quality place. The area Some faculties might require you to around Sörnäinen (two metro stops east complete a certain number of credits of from Kaisaniemi) has a good selection of Finnish language studies. Even if they don’t, shops for ethnic groceries. For lower prices Finnish is crucial if you eventually decide to and slightly different selection of food, Lidl is seek work in Finland. We’re not kidding -- also a good option, located for example in without Finnish language skills, finding even Kamppi and Sörnäinen. a part-time job is can be a major challenge! Registration usually takes place during the 6. Health care first two weeks of September and the The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS, courses are divided between different types or YTHS in Finnish) covers all of students (exchange, International undergraduate and graduate students, Master’s students, etc.). Check the web including exchange students (provided they pages of the faculty for more information: are members of the student union), who http://www.helsinki.fi/fus/studying/finnis have a valid student card, which entitles you hforinternationalstudents.html to care from the Finnish Student Health Please note that, Service. Unfortunately, doctoral students are generally, you have to register for Finnish not covered. Most basic health requirements, classes. Even though it might be possible to including dental care, are offered. You will join a Finnish class even without having have to pay a small deductible for many of registered beforehand, it is strongly the services. For more information about recommended to do so as classes fill up health care services, locations, and quickly and those having registered are coverage, check the FSHS website: given priority over those simply showing up www.fshs.fi/en to first class. Emergency treatment If you miss the and hospital care are not covered, and we registration period, or if all the classes are recommend that you obtain additional full, it should still be possible to make some coverage for these. Students from EU/EEA arrangements. Degree students are usually countries and Switzerland should bring a given priority when registering for Finnish European Health Card or an E106 form, classes required for their degree. A good proving that they are covered by the health idea is just to go to the class anyway and try care system of their own country. They will your luck, since there are always a number then be entitled to the same health care of people who don’t show up or drop out. benefits as Finnish citizens. Students from
84 9. Get the most out of the orientation have a website and mailing list where they week post information about what's going in the Attend the mandatory Orientation Course for department, for example, special classes, new international students (at the end of conferences, department events/parties, August or the beginning of September - your and traineeships. At the moment a lot of the welcome pack will have more detailed info information is only in Finnish, but some have about the time and place). Although the posted some in English too and most course is intended for undergraduate/ organizations have someone responsible for graduate students, doctoral students new to international students. Finland may also find it worthwhile. The They can also help you course provides you with valuable get a pair of overalls (Finnish: haalari), the information about all the official procedures ‘official’ party uniform of all Finnish students. at the University, and where to go if you need Your department's organization is also a help finding more information. Not only that, great place to start meeting fellow Finnish but you get credits for attending, which in students! For a list of faculty and department some of the Master degrees is required for organizations, and their websites, check the the degree. HYY website: You should also http://hyy.helsinki.fi/index.php. And if you participate in a tutor group. You will be find organizations from your department or placed in a group according to your faculty, which match your interests, remember to and your tutor will show you around and sign up for their mailing list. This way you will explain how things really work! It's a great automatically receive information about their opportunity to get to know both new and old events! students from your faculty/department. While you could look up some of the 12. Get your IT-account and email information you’ll get, there’s a lot that you address can only get from other students! Students at the University of Helsinki are provided with an IT account and email 10. Come to Tsemppi's first events of the address. You should go to Welcome Fair on year the 26th -28th of August or 14th- - 15th of The program of Tsemppi's first meeting of January, or if you arrive after that, the IT the year will be packed with especially useful service point in the Kaisa Library and sign up information for new international students. for your account. You will be given a user Be sure to join us, and get to know other name and password that you can use to internationally-minded students and access university computers and your email researchers! The Tsemppi Welcome party is account. Information about the IT service also worth checking out, it’s a good place to point and opening hours can be found at: meet both the new international students http://www.helsinki.fi/helpdesk/eng/cont and the older members of Tsemppi. More act/service_desks.html information about the Tsemppi program will be posted in late summer. For location and 13. Get your night-access key program details please check the Tsemppi A number of the University's computer labs, blog http://blogs.helsinki.fi/tsemppi-hy/ or including Aleksandria in the city centre, are our Facebook page available for use after-hours. In order to get http://www.facebook.com/groups/Tsemp access to these facilities, you need a pi/ magnetic access key. For more information on getting a key: 11. Contact your Faculty/Department's https://flamma.helsinki.fi: Directory and Student Organisation services » Staff services » Information You should ask your tutor or advisor about technology » Services for teaching and getting in touch with your department's research » Computer laboratories student organization. Most organizations 85 14. Get a gym subscription The University of The University of Helsinki • YLE News in English: provides excellent sports facilities and http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/ classes to its students for very reasonable • Helsinki Times: www.helsinkitimes.fi prices. Access to the University's gyms and • SixDegrees English Language Magazine: Appendix A various activities/classes (e.g., http://www.6d.fi/6d/ aerobics, salsa dancing, squash, yoga) for • Latest Finnish new in English an entire year costs 100 Euros. For this price http://finlandtoday.fi2./ you get an unlimited access to the gyms and classes. You can also pay for shorter time 2.Get involved with student organizations periods. Besides the faculty and department The University Sports organizations mentioned above, the Student Service (Unisport) has facilities in all four of Union (Helsingin Yliopiston Ylioppilaskunta, the University's campuses: the City Centre, aka HYY) has dozens of organizations for Kumpula, Viikki and Meilahti. The opening students with common interests, including a hours for the different facilities are different number of internationally-oriented groups. on each campus. Opening hours and class The following is a list of some of the Student schedules can be found on the English Union's international organizations: - pages of the University Sports Services website: https://unisport.fi/ · Tsemppi: In order to participate in http://blogs.helsinki.fi/tsemppi-hy/ the classes and use the facilities, go to one · AIESEC: http://aiesec.fi/hy of the sport centres in any of the campuses · AEGEE: www.aegee-helsinki.org and sign up. Once you've paid, they will give · ISHA - International Students of you a sticker to put on your student card, or, History Association: if you don’t have it yet, a separate card. http://blogs.helsinki.fi/ishahelsinki/ There's a computer close to entrance of the · CISSI - Committee of International sport centre. Before going to gym, you will Social Scientists: have to scan your card at the computer and www.facebook.com/internationalcis select what activity you'll be participating in. si For the individual and group sport classes · University of Helsinki Debating you can register in advance. Using the same Society: www.helsinkidebating.org user name and password that you use for · HYKY - Helsinki's Youth and Student your email account, you can register for UN Society: www.helsinki.fi/jarj/hyky sports classes online on their website. You · CSSAUH - Chinese Students and can also register at any of the sport centres, Scholars Association of Espoo: at the counter. Note, if you don't participate http://sites.google.com/site/cssa- in the class you registered for you will be espoo/ charged a fee, so remember to cancel in · advance if you can't make it to the class! A full list of the Student Union's ONCE YOU'VE SETTLED IN organisations can be found at: http://hyy.helsinki.fi/en/organisations/hy 1.Find out what's going on in Finland and ys-organisations/international- the world organisations
Once you've taken care of all the very important things mentioned above, you may 3.Renew your residence permit want to look for some English language If you're from outside the EU, you'll need to news and entertainment. The following is a renew your residence permit for each year of short list of English language media in your studies. Foreign (non-EU/EAA) Finland students staying more than 3 months need 86 to renew their visa, which is usually only transcript or letter from supervisor. valid for one year at a time. Processing the - Applications can be made at the renewal application may take 4-6 months, so Immigration Police Offices (Pasilanraitio 11, the application should be filed well before the Länsi-Pasila, Building 2). There is a queue old visa expires. Your passport will remain for EU citizens on during the weekdays from with you while the application is processed. 12:40 to 3:15 pm. Non-EU citizens must To renew your visa, you'll need: make an appointment. - A valid passport. - Proof of 6000 euro in your bank account or a certificate from your sponsoring - Several months after applying, call the organisation demonstrating financial support police to check on the status of your visa for the next year. (they will not call you). If it's ready, you can - A registration certificate (Finnish: go and pick it up. opiskelutodistus), which you can get from Student Services in the main building. We are looking forward to meeting you! - A completed application form for a residence permit for studies (OLE_OPI). TSEMPPIÄ! - Proof of progress in studies – e.g.,
87 Appendix B: List of abbreviations a (approbatur) = = grade aman. (amanuenssi) = amanuensis ass. (assistentti) = assistant aud. (auditorio) = auditorium cl (cum laude approbatur) = grade dos. (dosentti) = docent h (huone) = room ke (keskiviikko) = Wednesday kh (kollokviohuone) = colloquium room kk (kuukausi) = month kl (kevätlukukausi) = spring term ko (koulutusohjelma) = degree programme krs (kerros) = floor ks (kielistudio) = language lab l (laudatur) = grade L (luento) = lecture la (lauantai) = Saturday leht. lehtori) = lector, lecturer lk (lukukausi) = term, semester ls (luentosali) = auditorium lkv, lv (lukuvuosi) = academic year ma (maanantai) = Monday ov (opintoviikko) = (old Finnish) credit op (opintopiste) = (ECTS) credit pe (perjantai) = Friday pv (päivä) = day R (ryhmäopetus) = teaching in a group rh (ryhmätyöhuone) =working group room sh (seminaarihuone) =seminar room sl (syyslukukausi) =autumn term sl+kl (syys- ja kevätlukukausi) = autumn and spring term sl/kl (syys- tai kevätlukukausi) = autumn or spring term su (sunnuntai) = Sunday sv (suuntautumisvaihtoehto) = line of study t (opetustunti) = teaching hour ti (tiistai) = Tuesday to (torstai) = Thursday tuntiop. (tuntiopettaja) = teacher vk (viikko) = week vs, vsn (viransijainen) = (official) substitute vt (viikkotunti) = hours per week vt. (virkaatekevä) = acting Y (yleisopinnot) = general studies yliass. (yliassistentti) = senior
88 Appendix C: Addresses of some university locations
A (A-building) Latokartanonkaari 9, Viikki B (B-building) Latokartanonkaari 7, Viikki Biocenter 1 Viikinkaari 9, Biokeskus 1, Viikki Biocenter 2 Viikinkaari 5, Biokeskus 2, Viikki Biocenter 3 Viikinkaari 1, Biokeskus 3, Viikki C (C-building) Latokartanonkaari 5, Viikki Chemicum A.I. Virtasen aukio 1, Kumpula D (D-building) Latokartanonkaari 11, Viikki E (E-building) Latokartanonkaari 3, Viikki ECO Economicum, Arkadiankatu 7 EE (EE-building) Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Viikki Exactum Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2 B, Kumpula F (+ number) Fabianinkatu HR Hallintorakennus = Administration Buildining HYY Mannerheimintie 5A = New Student House Infocenter Viikinkaari 11, Infokeskus Korona K6 Kirkkokatu 6, Tieteiden talo P (+ number) Porthania = Porthania, Yliopistonkatu 3 (First digit indicates the floor, e.g. P607 is on the 6th floor of Porthania.) Physicum Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, Kumpula PR Päärakennus = University Main Building, Fabianinkatu 33 (Usually, Main Building auditoriums are marked as ls1 (New Side) or aud XII (Old Side), with no indication of the building.) Ra Ratakatu 6 A SP (+ number) Siltavuorenpenger SSKH Snellmaninkatu 12 / Yrjö-Koskisen katu 3 U (+ number) Unioninkatu
89 Appendix D: Calendar of events and flag days
AUGUST 19 St. Henry’s Memorial Day 1 Official start of the academic year and FEBRUARY autumn term 2 Candlemas 24 – 30 Intensive period 5 Runeberg’s Day - celebrating the National 26 to 27 Welcome Fair & Orientation Course poet for new international students 7 Shrove Sunday 31 Opening ceremony and student carnival 14 Valentine’s Day SEPTEMBER 28 Kalevala Day - celebrating the Finnish 23 Autumnal Equinox (the length of day and National epic and Finnish culture night is equal) MARCH 30 Student Union’s Freshman Adventure 7 – 13 Examination and independent study OCTOBER week 10 Aleksis Kivi’s Day - celebrating the 8 International Women’s Day Finnish national writer 19 Minna Canth’s Day – day for equality 19 to 25 Examination and independent study 20 Vernal equinox (the length of day and week night is equal again) 24 United Nations Day 13 Annunciation Day 24 Last day of DST (Daylight Saving Time) 20 Palm Sunday TBA Rector’s reception for international 25 Good Friday students and scholars 27 Easter Day NOVEMBER 28 Easter Monday 2 All Saints’ Day 29 First day of DST (Daylight Saving Time), 6 Swedish Day (Svenska dagen) APRIL 9 Father’s Day 9 Mikael Agricola’s Day - celebrating the 20 Universal Children’s Day Father of the Finnish language 20 to 26 HYY Anniversary Week 27 National Veteran’s Day 29 1st Sunday in Advent 30 Vappu Eve - a student carnival, starting DECEMBER with the crowning of the statue of Havis 6 Independence Day Amanda in the Harbour Market Square 6 2nd Sunday in Advent MAY 8 Sibelius Day, 1 Vappu Day - a holiday for students and 13 Santa Lucia Day - from the Swedish workers Tradition 5 Ascension Day 13 3rd Sunday in Advent 8 End of the teaching period for academic 14 to 20 Examination and independent study year 2014 – 2015 week 9 to 15 Examination and independent study 20 4th Sunday in Advent week 22 Winter Solstice (the day of the year with 9 to 31 Intensive period the least hours of daylight) 12 Snellman’s Day - Finnish philosopher + 24 to 26 Christmas Mother’s Day 28 Holy Innocents' Day 13 Flower Day - Celebrating the end of 31 New Year’s Eve spring JANUARY 15 Whit Sunday 1 New Year’s Day JUNE 2 to 17 Intensive period 4 Flag Day of Defence Forces 6 Last day of Christmas (Epiphany) 21 Summer Solstice (the day of the year with 14 to 15 Welcome Fair & Orientation Course the most hours of daylight) for new international students 25 – 26 Midsummer - the Finnish national 18 Spring term begins holiday celebrating summer outdoors
Appendix D JULY 31 The official end of the academic year
91 Appendix E: Menu and grocery guide aamiainen breakfast kaneli cinnamon alkoholi alcohol karamelli sweet, candy alkoholiton non-alcohol kastike sauce, dressing anjovis anchovy kasvis- Whatever begins with appelsiini orange this word is vegetarian, but it maycontain astianpalautus A place where you rturn cheese or egg. See the end of this list. plates, forks, knives etc. after eating. katkarapu shrimp, prawn aurajuusto (also sinihomejuusto) keitto soup blue cheese, similar to Roquefort kerma cream banaani banana kevyt light broileri broiled chicken kevätkääryle spring roll burgeri (hampurilainen) (ham)burger kiinankaali celery cabbage dippi dip kiisseli stewed juice thickened Feta Greek white cheese with potato flour gratiini gratin kinkku ham gulassi goulash kirjolohi rainbow trout hampurilainen hamburger kirsikka cherry hapan sour kiusaus a type of casserole hapanimelä sweet and sour (usually anchovy or ham with sliced hapankorppu (thin) crisp bread potatoes) hauduttaa simmer, steam (muna)kokkeli scrambled eggs hedelmä fruit kookos coconut herkku delicacy kotikalja (non-alcoholic) beer like herkkusieni champignon, mushroom drink herne pea krepit crêpes hillo jam kukkakaali cauliflower hiutale flake kuningatar(hillo) a mixture of raspberry and hunaja honey blueberry jam härkä, häränliha beef kurkku cucumber höystö ragout kuuma vesi (kuumaa vettä) hot iso big, large water for tea or cocoa jauheliha minced meat (normally a laji course, dish, sort mixture of beef and pork) lammas, lampaanliha mutton jugurtti youghurt lasagne lasagne juoma drink lehtisalaatti lettuce juures, juurekset vegetable, vegetables leike escalope, cut juusto cheese leikkeleet cold cuts kaali cabbage leipä bread kahvi coffee liha meat kahvila café, cafeteria linssi lentil kala fish lohi salmon kalapuikko fish finger lounas lunch kalkkuna turkey lämmin warm kampela flounder maito milk kana chicken makaroni macaroni, pasta (kanan)muna egg makea sweet 92 makkara sausage puolukka lingonberry maksa liver pulla bun mandariini tangerine punajuuri red beetroot mansikka strawberry punaviini red wine margariini margarine purjo(sipuli) leek marinoitu marinated puuro porridge marja berry pyre purée mausteinen spicy, hot pyttipannu fried diced meat or meetwursti Bologna (salami) sausage, onions, (mushrooms) and sausage potatoes mehu juice (normally about pyörykät (meat, fish, etc.) balls 50% water) päärynä pear munakoiso eggplant, aubergine rahka curd (tomaatti) murska crushed tomatoes ranskankerma sour cream mustikka blueberry, bilberry raparperi rhubarb muusi mash(ed potatotes) rapea crisp nakki frankfurter, wiener rasvaton non-fat nauta, naudanliha beef ravintola restaurant (normally noutopöytä self-service buffet licensed) nuudeli noodle riista game näkkileipä (thick) crisp bread riisi rice ohra barley rouhe crushed ohukaiset, ohukkaat thin pancakes rullat rolls omena apple ruoka food, meal paistos something baked, e.g. a ruokakerma cream for cooking pie. salaatti salad (usually green paahtopaisti roast beef salad) pannukakku thick pancake savu-, savustettu smoked pala slice, cut sei, seiti coalfish, coley paneroitu breaded sieni mushroom (wild) ...pannu something roasted or sika, sianliha pork fried silakka Baltic herring paprika (sweet) pepper silli herring papu bean sinappi mustard parsa asparagus siskonmakkara (-keitto) pork sausage pasta pasta (soup) pata casserole sitruuna lemon pekoni bacon smetana sour cream perhe- family-size, large (e.g. sokeriton sugar-free pizza) sose mash peruna potato suklaa chocolate pieni small suolainen salty pihvi steak suolakurkku pickled cucumber piirakka pie (sweet or salty) suuri large pinaatti spinach sämpylä bread roll pizza (or pitsa) pizza talon ...... of the house piimä sour milk tee tea porkkana carrot teevesi hot water for tea or cocoa poro reindeer tomaatti tomato porsas, porsaanliha, possu pork tonnikala tuna 93 torttu (sweet) tart, pie tulinen hot, spicy täyte filling täytetty, täytteiset filled with uuni ...... baked in oven vadelma raspberry valkosipuli garlic valkoviini white wine vanilja vanilla veri blood vesi water vihannes vegetable viillokki fricassee vispikerma whipping cream voi butter vuoka casserole vähä- low in (something): e.g. low-calorie wokki wok yrtti herb
Some useful abbreviations • G = gluten-free • K = vegetarian • L = lactose-free • V = contains garlic • VE = vegan • VL = low-lactose
94