Welcome guide

Budget to plan

The monthly budget for living and studying in Finland (including food, accommodation, transport and entertainment) is about €700-1000. It is advisable to budget a larger sum for the first month after your arrival, as there are always essential items which need to be bought in the beginning of your studies.

The minimum monthly budget can be roughly divided as follows:

• Rent in student housing (€300–600) or private housing (€500-850)
• Food (€200-300)
• Transportation (€60)
• Other expenses (e.g. study material, also need to be taken into account)

Please note that expenses for study materials are relatively low in Finland, because you can borrow most books from Haaga-Helia’s library or from other libraries.

University students are entitled to discounts for various services in Finland.

ID document required

• EU Citizens : ID card or Passport
• Non-EU Citizens : Passport

Long Stay Visa

For more information please click here.

Insurance

Students coming to Haaga-Helia should obtain all necessary insurances (e.g. health, luggage, home insurance) prior to their arrival in Finland. Students who are not Finnish citizens cannot normally obtain insurance from Finland. Please note that Haaga-Helia does not offer insurance to students.

Non-EU/EEA citizens arriving in Finland for the purpose of study are required to have health insurance if the period of study lasts for more than three months. https://migri.fi/en/insurance.

EU/EEA citizens should obtain the European Health insurance card from their country of residence prior to departure.

In addition to the health insurance/European Health Insurance Card, students are recommended to have private travel insurance, for example covering luggage and travel expenses in case of a cancellation due to illness, and home insurance, if necessary.

Banks

The policy for opening a bank account depends on the bank. It is advisable to contact the bank beforehand and inquire about the possibility of opening an account and asking what documents are needed. Banks in Finland are open Monday to Friday 9.30-16.15. 

Banks operating in Finland: 

• Aktia 
• Nordea 
• OP-Pohjola 
• Danske Bank 

Accommodation

Exchange students who apply to study in Helsinki (Haaga, Pasila/Malmi campus) can apply for accommodation from HOAS (Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region).

Due to the large number of applicants, housing is not guaranteed to all applicants, especially in the autumn semester, but most applicants normally receive housing through HOAS. However, as the housing situation in Helsinki is very challenging, students are strongly recommended to apply and accept accommodation offered by HOAS as finding affordable furnished accommodation from the private market in Helsinki can be very challenging.

Students coming to study at the Porvoo Campus will automatically be offered housing and do not need to fill in a separate accommodation application

Ride to campus

Pasila Campus is super easy to reach : every single train in Finland stops in Pasila Station which is right next door to the campus ! The journey from Helsinki Airport to Pasila takes about 25 minutes, and from the City Centre only 5 minutes. Other campuses are also easy to reach with public transport.

Academic registration at the university

Orientation sessions are offered in the beginning of each semester. For more information please click here.

Transport plan

In Helsinki, students are entitled to public transport at discount price.  Most common solution is the monthly plan. Required certificates for the discount will be issued during orientation sessions.

Mobile plan

Telecommunication is affordable in Finland and can be easily activated. Various companies offer fast prepaid services and sometimes give out sim cards as a welcome gift to new students. More information is available during orientation.

Health insurance

Students coming to Haaga-Helia should obtain all necessary insurances (e.g. health, luggage, home insurance) prior to their arrival in Finland. Students who are not Finnish citizens cannot normally obtain insurance from Finland. Please note that Haaga-Helia does not offer insurance to students.

Non-EU/EEA citizens arriving in Finland for the purpose of study are required to have health insurance if the period of study lasts for more than three months.

EU/EEA citizens should obtain the European Health insurance card from their country of residence prior to departure.

In addition to the health insurance/European Health Insurance Card, students are recommended to have private travel insurance, for example covering luggage and travel expenses in case of a cancellation due to illness, and home insurance, if necessary.

Health – Complementary coverage

Students who have obtained a private health insurance may use the private health care services.

Residency permits

EU Citizens do not need a residence permit. For non-EU citizens information is available via this website.  Registration for EU citizens is arranged in cooperation with the Population Registry Office and HH International Services and information is available each semester during the orientation.

Introduction

Haaga-Helia is a strongly business orientated university of applied sciences in Finland. Through education, research and development, we prepare professionals for business and services. We focus on co-operation, entrepreneurship, innovation and internationality.

Haaga-Helia operates on five campuses in Helsinki, Porvoo and Vierumäki.

Pasila campus is located in Eastern Pasila, in Helsinki, right next to Pasila railway station, Mall of Tripla and Messukeskus, Finland’s biggest congress and exhibition centre. The campus is within easy reach by train, tram or bus. Pasila campus is our biggest campus.

Haaga campus – Haaga Hospitality campus – is located in Helsinki, in the green and pleasant Haaga district.

Malmi campus is located about a five-minute walk from the Malmi railway station. At Malmi campus, you can study full-time in the business degree programme. A majority of the students at Malmi are adult students who study part-time in the business degree programme.

Porvoo campus is located near the idyllic Old Town of Porvoo. Porvoo Campus offers a modern, international and innovative learning environment.

Vierumäki is a unique environment in the middle of nature near the city of Lahti, about a 1,5-hour ride from Helsinki. At Vierumäki campus, we offer studies in sports and wellbeing.

Academic calendar

All details about the academic calendar are available here.

Spring semester 2022

Spring semester begins 1.1.2022 and ends 31.7.2022.
Spring semester lessons will be during 17.1.2022 – 20.5.2022.

Intensive weeks: 3. – 14.1.2022 (weeks 1 – 2)
3rd period: 17.1. – 18.3.2022 (weeks 3 – 7 & 9 – 11)
Intensive week: 21. – 25.2.2022 (week 8)

Intensive week: 21. – 25.3.2022 (week 12)
4th period: 28.3. – 20.5.2022 (weeks 13 – 20)
Intensive weeks: 23.5. – 17.6.2022 (weeks 21 – 24)

Holidays: 6.1., 15.4., 18.4. and 26.5. In addition 14.4. teaching ends at 5.30 pm.

Summer 2022

5th period: 23.5. – 19.8.2022 (weeks 21 – 33)

Autumn semester 2022

Autumn semester begins 1.8.2022 and ends 31.12.2022.
Autumn semester lessons will be during 22.8.2022 – 16.12.2022.

Intensive week: 15. – 19.8.2022 (week 33)
1st period: 22.8. – 14.10.2022 (weeks 34 – 41)
Intensive week: 17. – 21.10.2022 (week 42)
2nd period: 24.10. – 16.12.2022 (weeks 43 – 50)

Holidays: 6.12., 19. – 30.12.2021 (weeks 51 – 52)

Language courses for international students

Finnish language courses are offered each semester . More info here. 

Libraries

Library services are available on all campuses.

In addition, Haaga-Helia students have access to extensive e-library services via Finna database.

The city of Helsinki offers also a very good library network.

Canteens

Affordable cafeterias are available on all campuses. Price for a full lunch is often less than 3 euros. Students will also receive a meal benefit card, which is valid in all university restaurants in Finland, so they can enjoy the student discounts also in other areas in Helsinki and beyond.

Activities at university

All activities are available here.

International relations contacts

International Services support Haaga-Helia’s degree students going abroad and incoming exchange students. We also support Haaga-Helia’s staff and teachers in international mobility.

• Our email service addresses:
• Outgoing Haaga-Helia degree students: outgoing@haaga-helia.fi
• Incoming exchange students, courses for exchange students, orientation programme, arrival, immigration: exch@haaga-helia.fi
  Staff Week, Erasmus+ staff exchange opportunities at Haaga-Helia: staffexchange@haaga-helia.fi
• Grants (exchange studies and international work placement) for Haaga Helia degree students: grant@haaga-helia.fi
• Other questions: international@haaga-helia.fi. More info here. 

Students’ house

Services offered on campuses and online.

University health service

• Exchange students can use the public healthcare services of their city of residence in Finland.
• Helsinki
• Porvoo
• Haaga-Helia offers professional psychological support for all students.

Alumni

Alumni are part of the international network – graduates from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and School of Vocational Teacher Education. They are an important link between the university and working life.

Alumni relations’ goal is not only to create new connections, but also to maintain the high-value of our education and to develop the quality of our degree programmes. All details here. 

Extra scholar activities

Student Union Helga arranges a variety of activities for students. Helga also has an active Erasmus Student Network. 

Student jobs

International exchange and degree students are allowed to work during their stay in Finland – with certain restrictions. The restrictions have to do with the nationality (EU/EEA or non-EU/EEA) and the nature of employment.

EU/EEA citizens have the right to work in Finland without any work permit or restrictions on hours.

Students coming from outside of the EU/EEA countries and with a student residence permit are allowed to work part-time, if the working time comes to an average of 25 hours per week at most.

Tips

Enjoy the nature, try Finnish food, bring warm clothes, travel to other parts of the country and experience Lapland !

To do list

• Seaside and archipelago : Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and various island within easy reach by public ferry traffic from city centre
• Architecture : OODI library, Alvar Aalto buildings, Temppeliaukio Church
• Parks and forests : Central Park (which is actually a forest) , Nuuksio National Park (1h by bus from city centre)
• Winter sports – skiing, skating, swimming !
• SAUNA !

Students associations

More information is available here. 

City maps

Click here to access the map of the city

Useful addresses, venue, adresses and contact numbers

• Pasila Campus: Ratapihantie 13
• international@haaga-helia.fi

Emergency

In case of emergency please ring 112.

Pharmacies and doctor appointments

Are you looking for a pharmacy? More information here.

Security guidelines in matters of Covid-19

Available at private and public clinics. More information here.

Important and useful laws and rules

For more details on rules and obligations in Finland please visit this website.

Do’s and don’ts

• Don’t be late ! Punctuality is much valued.
• Don’t wear shoes indoors
• Don’t interrupt – wait for your turn to talk
• Don’t be bothered by moments of silence
• Don’t sit next to someone in bus if there are free seats
• Don’t jump the queue
• Do try the sauna
• Do enjoy the nature
• Do dress up for the weather
• Do respect personal space
• Do try to speak at least a couple of words in Finnish
• Do try Finnish food

Acronyms

HH : Haaga-Helia University

Annual event’s calendar

Please find here the calendar of events.