Haaga-Helia Guide for International Degree Students 2018–2019 Welcome to Haaga-Helia and Finland! 1 CONTENTS WELCOME TO HAAGA-HELIA .................................................................................................... 5 1. FINLAND .................................................................................................................................. 7 2. HAAGA-HELIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES ............................................................. 9 2.1. HAAGA-HELIA DEGREE PROGRAMMES ......................................................................... 10 2.2. HAAGA-HELIA CAMPUSES ............................................................................................ 11 3. ADMISSION ........................................................................................................................... 15 3.1. GENERAL GUIDELINES ................................................................................................... 15 3.2. FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS AND TUITION FEES ............................................................. 15 3.3. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................... 16 3.4. SAT TEST AS AN ALTERNATIVE ...................................................................................... 16 4. BEFORE COMING TO FINLAND ............................................................................................ 18 4.1. HOW TO APPLY FOR ACCOMODATION ......................................................................... 20 4.2. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS .............................................................................................. 22 5. FIRST DAYS ........................................................................................................................... 24 5.1. ORIENTATION ................................................................................................................ 24 5.2. TUTOR SERVICE ............................................................................................................. 31 5.3. LATE ARRIVALS .............................................................................................................. 25 6. STUDYING AT HAAGA-HELIA .............................................................................................. 26 6.1. ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2018–2019 .............................................................................. 26 6.2. STUDY PERIODS AND HOURS ........................................................................................ 26 6.3. ACADEMIC CULTURE .................................................................................................... 27 6.4. STUDY METHODS .......................................................................................................... 28 6.5. COURSE ENROLMENT .................................................................................................... 28 6.6. COURSE ATTENDANCE .................................................................................................. 29 6.7. COURSE ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................... 29 6.8. TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDS AND OTHER CERTIFICATES ................................................... 30 6.9. FINNISH LANGUAGE STUDIES ........................................................................................ 31 7. HAAGA-HELIA GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SERVICES ................................................ 33 7.1. ADMISSIONS OFFICE ..................................................................................................... 33 7.2. STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE .............................................................................................. 33 7.3. ACADEMIC ADVISORS AND STUDENT COUNSELLORS ................................................... 35 7.4. INTERNATIONAL SERVICES ............................................................................................. 35 8. HAAGA-HELIA FACILITIES AND SERVICES .......................................................................... 37 8.1. IT AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES ............................................................................. 37 8.2. LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES ......................................................................... 38 8.3. STUDENT’S PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING ............................................ 38 8.4. STUDENT FINANCIAL AID .............................................................................................. 38 8.5. STUDENT UNION HELGA AND HAAGA-HELIA STUDENT COMMUNITY........................... 39 8.6. STUDENT BENEFITS ........................................................................................................ 40 8.7. STUDENT CAFETERIAS AND RESTAURANTS.................................................................... 42 8.8. SPORT FACILITIES ........................................................................................................... 42 8.9. PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AT HAAGA-HELIA ............................................................... 42 8.10. MULTICULTURAL AND LANGUAGE POLICIES ................................................................ 43 8.11. HANDICAPPED STUDENTS AT HAAGA-HELIA ............................................................... 43 9. LIVING IN FINLAND .............................................................................................................. 45 9.1. FINNISH CULTURE .......................................................................................................... 45 9.2. CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT ............................................................................................... 47 9.3. HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES ........................................................................... 48 9.4. SAFETY .......................................................................................................................... 54 9.5. ACCOMMODATION ...................................................................................................... 54 9.6. COMMUNICATION ........................................................................................................ 57 9.7. COST, MONEY AND BANKING ....................................................................................... 58 9.8. SHOPPING ..................................................................................................................... 60 9.9. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ......................................................................................................... 61 9.10. FOOD .......................................................................................................................... 62 9.11. TRANSPORTATION ....................................................................................................... 63 9.12. WEATHER AND CLOTHING .......................................................................................... 68 9.13. WORKING IN FINLAND ................................................................................................ 69 9.14. RELIGION ..................................................................................................................... 70 9.15. LEISURE ACTIVITIES ..................................................................................................... 70 Check list ................................................................................................................................... 73 Useful links ................................................................................................................................ 75 Footnotes .................................................................................................................................. 80 Index .......................................................................................................................................... 81 EDITORS: Reija Ahmaoja, Taru Hinkka, Mari Pihamaa, Noora Viljanen GRAPHIC DESIGN Anne Kaikkonen / Timangi PHOTOS Marek Sabogal (page 29. Courtesy of AMCHAM) ILLUSTRATIONS Joonas Tauriainen and Anne Kaikkonen / Timangi Helsinki, April 2018 The information laid forth in the handbook is subject to changes. WELCOME TO HAAGA-HELIA This guide is meant for the international degree students of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. It has been written to help the international degree students settle in to Haaga-Helia and Finland. We warmly recommend that you read it through carefully. The guide is useful for international students who are planning to study at Haaga-Helia as well as for students who have already been accepted to Haaga-Helia. Additional information on the study practices and methods applied at Haaga- Helia can be found from our Students’ Guide. A list of websites and other information sources mentioned in this guide are listed at the end of the guide. Haaga-Helia Campus Guides offer more detailed campus-specific information, for example on opening hours and campus facilities. Enjoy your studies at Haaga-Helia! EDITORS: Reija Ahmaoja, Taru Hinkka, Mari Pihamaa, Noora Viljanen GRAPHIC DESIGN Anne Kaikkonen / Timangi PHOTOS Marek Sabogal (page 29. Courtesy of AMCHAM) ILLUSTRATIONS Joonas Tauriainen and Anne Kaikkonen / Timangi Helsinki, April 2018 The information laid forth in the handbook is subject to changes. Vierumäki Porvoo Helsinki 6 1. FINLAND The Republic of Finland is situated in Northern Europe. Finland borders Sweden