Guidance Corner

Guidance Corner in the Kaisa house

Guidance Corner at City Center campus is located on the third floor of Kaisa House (Fabianinkatu 30), next to main doors.

Guidance Corners in the Viikki Info Centre Korona

Guidance Corners at Viikki Campus are on the 1st floor of Infocentre (Viikinkaari 11). There are two Guidance Corners in Viikki. First one is in the lobby next to the main doors. The other Guidance Corner is in the campus library premises in front of the Nile garden. Give feedback with the e-form about the facilities of Viikki Guidance Corners, they are constantly being developed.

Events are also held online. Please always check the location of the event.

The Walk-in Sisu guidance, arranged by Kaisa House Student Information, provides support for students with technical issues in the use of Sisu, with the focus on how to create and edit your study plan in Sisu. If you need assistance with the content of your degree or course equivalences, please contact the student services of your own faculty.

For more information about the events or about the technical issues in Sisu, please email studentinfo@helsinki.fi

Sisu user instructions can be found on the page Sisu instructions for students.

During the autumn 2022 you can come and meet the admission advisors at the Guidance Corner in the Kaisa house on the following Wednesdays from 2 to 4 PM:

• 24.8. (Also an open university adviser will be available today)
• 21.9.
• 12.10.
• 9.11.
• 14.12.

Please check always from the Guidance Corner´s or Admission Service´s website up to date information about service hours before visiting us.

We can help you with questions related to applying to the University of Helsinki. You do not need to book an appointment. Please note, that we do not accept enclosures of any kind at the Guidance Corner. 

You can contact us also via chat, phone or e-mail. You can find contact information from the Contact Admission Services website.

On Tuesdays, Guidance Corner focuses on student well-being. Various organisers advancing student health and wellbeing will be holding events and giving guidance and counselling on how you can improve your wellbeing and get support in your studies. 

Clubhouses support students

Date, time and location: 27 September 2022, 15.00–16.00, Kaisa House

Come along to gain some tips to help you study, and share your experiences and advice! You will also learn about the individual and collaborative support Clubhouses can offer students who are not progressing as well as they should, or are about to resume their studies after a break. No registration is required. Join the Helsinki Clubhouse counsellors at Kaisa House! 

How to cope with eco-anxiety

Date, time and location: 2 October 2022, 15.00–16.00, Zoom

We are living in the midst of an environmental emergency and other compounding crises. Looking the other way won’t make them disappear. How can you cope if you feel anxious about the current global situation? How can emotional skills and empathy help? In this Wellbeing Tuesday session, we will provide up-to-date information on emotions related to environmental anxiety and teach you techniques to boost your mental health. The instructor is Hanna from ‘Ympäristöahdistuksen mieli’, a project on eco-anxiety and mental health. The topic is of personal significance to her.

The session will be held in Finnish. Please register using the e-form by 12.00 on the day before the session. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link to the event.

Mental Health Day – revisited

Date, time and location: 11 October 2022, 15.00–16.00, Kaisa House and Viikki

Mental health will be in focus at Guidance Corners in Viikki and Kaisa House. How can you support and improve your wellbeing and mental health? Guidance Corner invites all members of the University community to come up with 100 tips for promoting mental health. Help others by telling how you look after your mental wellbeing.

You can participate in Finnish, Swedish or English. No registration is required. Join us at Kaisa House and Viikki!

Online all the time – What to do when social media and digital games overpower online lectures

Date, time and location: 18 October 2022, 15.00–16.00, Teams

Have you ever found yourself tuning out of a lecture to endlessly scroll through TikTok?
Or have you fallen into the routine of completing the daily quest of an online game at the end of each day?

Virtual worlds can bring us joy and a sense of companionship, but they can also become all-consuming, encroaching into other aspects of our lives. If you are concerned about your own or a friend’s digital media use, it may be difficult to know what to do. Join Helmi Korhonen of the Limitless Social Media Program and the Limitless Gaming Program to test your knowledge and learn about the support available.

The session will be held in Finnish. Please register using the e-form by 12.00 on the day before the session. Registered participants will receive a Teams link to the event.

Get moving and get learning

Date, time and location: 1 November 2022, 15.00–16.00, Zoom

Feeling tight, achy and tired? Could stretching and exercise help? Organised by UniSport and the Finnish Student Health Service, this remote event will provide you with information and concrete tips to help you restore your energy, release tension and clear your head on your study days. The session will be led by Johanna Häkkinen, a physiotherapist at the Finnish Student Health Service, and Marika Syväoja, a wellbeing specialist at UniSport. At the end of the session, you can also ask questions in the chat and discuss your concerns with the experts. Join us and learn how even small amounts of activity can make a clear difference to your wellbeing!

The session will be held in Finnish. Please register using the e-form by 12.00 on the day before the session. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link to the event.

Self-compassion

Date, time and location: 8 November 2022, 15.00–16.00, Zoom

Do you suffer from excessive self-criticism in your day-to-day life? Did you know that self-compassion can act as an antidote to the demands we place on yourselves? Self-compassion is about relating to ourselves constructively and kindly, being inwardly understanding and encouraging in challenging situations.

In this workshop, we will explore self-compassion, its effects on wellbeing, relationships and studying, and ways of enhancing it. We will carry out self-compassion exercises and discuss the topic together.

The session will be held in Finnish. Please register using e-form by 12.00 on the day before the session. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link to the event.

Single or in a relationship?

Date, time and location: 15 November 2022, 15.00–16.00, Kaisa House

Join us for a discussion on being single or in a relationship. Are our choices based on the expectations and opinions of others, or do we make decisions based on our own values and needs? Our goal is to increase your self-knowledge and help you carve out your own path. We will discuss the expectations we have in our relationships and whether one person can meet all our needs. This session is for everyone interested in informally discussing the topic with experts from the Finnish Student Health Service.

The session will be held in Finnish at Kaisa House. Please register using the e-form by 12.00 on the day before the session.

The Sharing Club

Date, time and location: 22 November 2022, 15.00–16.00, Kaisa House

We provide a forum for discussion on all topics, from loneliness, exhaustion and anxiety to depression and other mental health issues. Nothing is off limits. You can talk to the University chaplains about how you are feeling or what you are going through at the moment. Many feel better just talking to somebody about what is on their mind. We will get through together.

The session will be held in Finnish at Kaisa House. No registration required.

Is this all there is to it? What to do when you feel lonely during studies

Date, time and location: 29 November 2022, 15.00–16.00, Zoom

It can be a massive disappointment: Is university not the best time of my life? What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel alone? These are just some of the questions you may ask yourself if you feel lonely. What can you do about it? What can help? Join an online session on the topic led by Annina Lindberg of the Nyyti association’s ‘Yksinäisyystyö korkeakouluissa’ initiative on loneliness in higher education. The session will increase your understanding of loneliness, how to overcome it and whom to contact for support.

The session will be held in Finnish. Please register using the e-form by 12.00 on the day before the session. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link to the event.

How to cope with eco-anxiety

Date, time and location: 13 December 2022, 15.00–16.00, Zoom

We are living in the midst of an environmental emergency and other compounding crises. Looking the other way won’t make them disappear. How can you cope if you feel anxious about the current global situation? How can emotional skills and empathy help? In this Wellbeing Tuesday session, we will provide up-to-date information on emotions related to environmental anxiety and teach you techniques to boost your mental health. The instructor is Hanna from ‘Ympäristöahdistuksen mieli’, a project on eco-anxiety and mental health. The topic is of personal significance to her.

The session will be held in English. Please register using the e-form by 12.00 on the day before the session. Registered participants will be sent a Zoom link to the event.

Do you need a break from studying? Would you like a cup of coffee or tea? Come and meet the University’s guidance counsellors and career counsellors, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, every other Wednesday at Guidance Corner in Kaisa House and Viikki starting 7 September. While doing so, you can chat with us and, if you wish, discuss your studies and career considerations.

• Kaisa House Guidance Corner (Fabianinkatu 30), at 14.00–15.00 19 October, 16 November and 30 November
• Viikki Guidance Corner, Library (Viikinkaari 11), at 14.00–15.00 7 September, 21 September, 5 October, 2 November and 14 December

We look forward to seeing you there!

We are organizing free online break exercise sessions as follows

• on Mondays at 12.30-12.45
• on Wednesdays at 13.30-13.45

Carefree Shoulders is an energising 15-minute break workout focusing on the back and shoulder region and freeing up those stiff muscles. Carefree Shoulders is well-suited for beginners, and no gym clothes are needed. Carefree shoulders are in Finnish, but the movements are easy to follow.

You can take part in an online break exercise on the Mywellness platform. Detailed instructions for using Mywellnes can be found on the Unisport website. You can also find the workouts and links in the weekly calendar of group exercise.

You can also download the Break Pro exercise break programme to your computer.

Do you feel that your studies are not progressing as quickly as you would like? Do you need help in finding your strengths and recognising your skills? Have you lost sight of the goal of your studies? Do you need peer support? 

If you answered any of the above questions in the affirmative, Guidance Corner’s peer groups may be just the thing for you!

Themes for the English groups during the academic year 2022-2023:
Career Writing
Clarify your direction - reach your goal with the support of peers

Note! The groups have got their own page in Instructions for Studies. Please read more about the groups on this page. 

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Please note that the groups do not provide degree programme or faculty-specific study guidance. If you need help, for example, in determining what studies are missing from your degree, please contact your faculty's Student services.

Get the best tips from our Career Counselors on recognising your skills, job search, fixing your CV and LinkedIn! 

You’ll find more information, dates and registration on JobTeaser. 

• Recognise your skills
  Wondering what skills have you developed exactly during your education, your working life experiences and eg. in your hobbies and other extra-curricular activities? In our Recognise Your Skills Workshop you will get the chance to map out your skills and strengths and also to verbalise them in a way that will be helpful to you when looking for jobs.   
• Effective job search
  How to begin job searching? How do I write a good application and CV and stand out from other candidates? What kind of possibilities does social media offer for job search? How do I find jobs from the hidden job market? In the workshop, you will get the opportunity to read and comment on the other participants’ CVs in an encouraging environment.
• Learn how to LinkedIn
  Update your LinkedIn-profile to a whole new level! In this workshop we will look at your LinkedIn-profile especially from the point of view of job search and networking. What do the recruiters pay attention to in your LinkedIn-profile? How do you stand out from the other candidates? You will receive help in writing your profile text, get the opportunity to comment on other students LinkedIn-profiles and receive constructive feedback on your own profile. 
• LinkedIn feedback session
  Do you already have your LinkedIn profile set up, but you are wondering if it describes you and conveys the right message? Are you using the right keywords? Is your headline relevant? Are your goals, visions and competencies clearly articulated in your profile? In this workshop you will be able to ask questions and discuss your profile with your peers. 
• Nail your job interview
  Come and get tips for a successful job interview! How to prepare yourself for the interview? What are the most common interview questions and how you should construct your answer to those? And which questions are not allowed in the interview? During our workshop you will get answers to these questions and will get the opportunity to practice the interview setting in a group of 3- 4 students. 
• Make the most out of your traineeship!
  Are you starting your traineeship during the spring or summer, and are wondering how to get ready for it beforehand? In the Make the most out of your traineeship workshop you will get to reflect your own goals for the traineeship and discuss how you can make sure that your work tasks will be meaningful during your traineeship. The workshop includes both individual and group work. 

Important. In order to browse jobs after logging in, under Courses, select your field of study. Only this way job offers by Finnish employers will be directed to your dashboard. Read more about JobTeaser.

Are you concerned about job-seeking or issues related to traineeship? Do you need practical advice on polishing your CV?

The University’s career services provides walk-in job search guidance to support your job hunt. You can come for guidance without an appointment, if you require support in the following matters:

• Feedback on your CV and cover letter 
• Support in building your LinkedIn profile 
• Practical questions concerning job search 
• Questions concerning traineeships, including funding for traineeships. 

The duration of the meeting is a maximum of 20 minutes.

During the autumn 2022 the Drop-in support for job search will be offered on the following dates at 12–14

September:
Tue 6.9. (Kaisa House, Guidance Corner)
Tue 20.9. (Zoom)

October:
Tue 4.10. (Viikki Guidance Corner)
Tue 18.10. (Zoom)

November:
Tue 1.11. (Kaisa House, Guidance Corner)
Tue 15.11. (Zoom)
Tue 29.11. (Viikki Guidance Corner)

December:
Tue 13.12. (Zoom)

Join the Zoom-sessions using this link: 
https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/68188597276?pwd=QkttOXY2MjBOT3BCTjRhZURQME52Zz09

Meeting ID: 681 8859 7276
Passcode: 352587

Please note, that you will be let in to the Zoom session only every 20 minutes but you can join the waiting room any time between 12 and 13.40. In the Guidance Corners we are using queue numbers.

Do you need ideas on sources for your seminar thesis? Are you familiar enough with the databases in your field? 

Guidance Corner organizes regular guidance sessions on information retrieval for theses and the use of electronic publications.

Information seeking and reference management

• every Monday at 15-16 in the Guidance Corner of Kaisa House, from 12 September to 19 December 2022. 
• Thursday 10th November from 2PM to 3PM, in the Guidance Corner of Viikki Campus Library. 

There are more events in Finnish.

See more about the course selection from the Courses at the Library website.See also the library’s remote guidance on information seeking.

Library tours 

Welcome to the Helsinki University Library tours!  

During the library tours, you will be able to visit the library premises in the Kaisa House and the Viikki campus library with our librarians. You will also get tips on how to use library’s spaces and services in your studies.   

Library tours are organized as follows:  

Kaisa House (meeting place: Kaisa House, 3rd floor, Guidance Corner) 

• Thursday 6th October 2.15pm-3pm (This tour will be held in Finnish) 
• Monday 10th October 2.15pm-3pm (This tour will be held in English) 

Viikki Campus Library (meeting place: Viikki Infocenter, 1st floor, Guidance Corner (in the lobby) 

• Thursday 6th October 2.00 pm-2.30pm (This tour will be held in Finnish) 

Warmly welcome to visit the library! 

Academic advisors and counselling psychologists organise study sessions open to all students over remote connections on Zoom. These sessions are based on the Pomodoro Technique. The sessions include introductions to and occasionally also utilisation of other learning techniques, such as the SMART technique. 

The goal of these sessions is to provide you with a time when you will have the opportunity to concentrate on and make progress in your academic assignments under supervision, together with other students. No registration is needed for the sessions. 

Once a month, at the beginning of the study session, counselling psychologists will give brief introductions to themes related to studying. The dates and themes the following:

6 October Tools for focusing without multitasking
20 October Exams and deadlines approaching? Support for the final sprint
24 November Feeling tired and fatigued? Perspectives on taking care of yourself and your resources during studies

The introductions will be held in Finnish but the material will also be available in English. 

Tomato Thursday study sessions at 10.00–12.00 every Thursday starting 8 September

Join the Zoom-session by pressing the link below:

https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/69351130176?pwd=WW9Qck1NNW53QWZ3cDFFVjZGNWVoZz09
Meeting ID: 693 5113 0176
Passcode: 467349

General guidelines 

Please book a quiet workspace suiting your needs for the study session. The session supervisor will review the principles of the technique and provide tips for smoother work. You should choose a study assignment you wish to actively work on during the Pomodoro session. The sessions are attended remotely, and you do not have to keep your camera or microphone switched on. 

If you have any questions about the Tomato Thursday sessions, you can send email to opinto-ohjaajat@helsinki.fi. 

SMART and Pomodoro techniques 

The Pomodoro Technique encourages focused work: the idea is to work intensively for 25 minutes, followed by a short break. During the breaks, you should try to get your mind off the task, for example, by stretching. One two-hour session includes three to four such Pomodoro intervals. Sessions based on themes chosen by counselling psychologists include two to three Pomodoro intervals. 

The SMART technique is a tool that can help you break down tasks and assignments into smaller pieces and set achievable goals. Segmenting a task often helps you get going and get a grip on your studies. 

With the help of videos accessible in the side panel, you can also use the SMART and Pomodoro techniques for independent study. 

Are you interested in the future of the university and global perspectives? Then join us for our guidance corner sessions!

Una Europa is a European Universities Alliance that the University of Helsinki is part of together with eight other universities. We are working to create the European University of the Future!

We will be discussing more about Una Europa’s different focus areas (AI, Cultural Heritage, Sustainability, One Health and European Studies) and also talk more about the personal and professional opportunities that an alliance like Una Europa and international experiences can give you. You can learn more about how Una Europa is providing new opportunities for all students and why experiences in international environments, whether here in Finland or abroad, can be valuable both on a personal and professional level!

Come join us and learn more about Una Europa and how you can benefit and participate!

If you have any questions please reach out to Una Europa project coordinator Stinne Vognaes (stinne.vognas@helsinki.fi).  

The specific program will be updated at autumn 2022, so keep an eye out to see what themes and guests will be joining us on which dates. 

Student Life 2.0 is an event series in English open for all students but particularly for international and internationally-minded students. This is your opportunity to learn more about how to get involved at the university, how to connect with the international community at the university and learn more about making the most of student life in Finland. We welcome everyone to join us at these weekly events to meet new people and learn about interesting topics. Check out the program below for the specific themes and dates. Events will either be online, or in Kaisa House or Viikki Information centre Korona.

New to the North

Date, time and location: 12 October 2022, 16.15-18.00, room 115 Language Center, Fabianinkatu 26

Target group: International degree students & exchange students who are staying for a full academic year

Come along to hear about cultural adjustment, how to cope with autumn darkness, events and things to do in the autumn in Helsinki, and a bunch of other useful tips to help you integrate! Student Ambassadors will also be present to share their experiences about settling in in Helsinki. Sign up by 9 October so we know how many refreshments we order!

Ambassador Cafe

Want to meet new people, ask questions about study life, hang out or just grab a cup of coffee? Come to an Ambassador Cafe! In these low-threshold events two student ambassadors are at hand to hang out & help with any possible questions you might have. Feel free to pop by or stay to chat for two hours. Ambassador Cafes are held in English and all internationally minded students are welcome! Coffee & tea are on the house.

• Friday 4 November, 15.00-17.00, Kaisa House Guidance Corner
• Friday 25 November 15.00-17.00, Viikki Guidance Corner (Lobby)
• Friday 16 December, 15.00-17.00, Kaisa House Guidance Corner

In the autumn 2022, the Student Union of the University of Helsinki will hold Representative Council elections. The Representative Council is the highest decision-making body of the Student Union, for which 60 representatives are elected.

Council election pop-up in September

Come and find out how to run for the council and what the work entails.

• Tue 13 September 12.00–15.00, Guidance Corner in Kaisa House
• Mon 26 September 12.00–15.00, Guidance Corner in Viikki Library

Council election pop-up in October

Why should members of the Student Union be interested in the elections and vote? Come to Guidance Corner to find out!

• Wed 5 October 12.00–15.00, Guidance Corner in Kaisa House
• Mon 17 October 12.00–15.00, Guidance Corner in Viikki Library

Advice on the call for student representative candidates for the Student Union

Does the teaching programme seem weird or the completion methods confusing, and are you unsure what to do about it? Become a student representative and make a change! This autumn, the Student Union of the University of Helsinki are seeking new student representatives for all degree programme steering groups at the University. A specialist and a selection coordinator responsible for the Student Union’s student representatives will be available at Guidance Corner to answer your questions about the application procedure and student representation. There will also be a competition with prizes, so be sure to come by and find out what it’s all about!

• Tue 11 October 11.00–13.0, Guidance Corner in Viikki
• Thu 13 October 12.00–14.00, Guidance Corner in Kaisa House

Representative Council voting pop-up

Now is the time to vote your candidate into the Representative Council! Visit the pop-up voting desk to have a chance to win cool prizes.

• Wed 26 October 12.00–15.00, Guidance Corner in Kaisa House
• Tue 1 November 12.00–15.00, Guidance Corner in Viikki Library
• Wed 2 November 10.00–13.00, Guidance Corner in Kaisa House

In all Guidance Corner events, the participants commit to following the principles for a safer space. When attending a Guidance Corner event, meet all participants with an open mind, respect their diversity and let everyone define their own experiences.

Furthermore, please respect the time of the event organisers: If you have signed up for an event, do attend. This way the event organisers can plan their events based on the real turnout. If for some reason you cannot attend an event that has a limited amount of space, let the event organisers know.

In order to create a comfortable atmosphere and open interaction, we would ask you to adhere to the following principles:

• We hope that you will keep your video on in events that have interactive elements (e.g. workshops), if technical or other reasons will not prevent you from doing so. This way both the event organiser and the other participant will get a more realistic experience of being together. We especially encourage you to use your camera during small group assignments (in break-out-rooms). Ultimately, the choice to use or not to use a camera is always yours though!
• The participants will usually get more out of the event if there is discussion between people. So please feel free to open up your mike or write your comments on the chat (or any other platform that is being used). However, you can usually participate in events also as a listener.
• In some events and workshops, the organiser will use the break-out-room function to divide the participants into smaller groups. Often these small group sessions can be the most fruitful part of the event, as during these the threshold for sharing your ideas is lower. Please help create a safer space and a more participatory conversation in small groups: respect different kinds of opinions, express your ideas in a friendly manner and give and take space in the conversation equally with others.

You can also use the following settings, if you want to change your background or your name on Zoom:

• You can blur your background so that your working environment cannot be seen on the video. This can be set up by pressing the arrow located next to the camera icon and by selecting "Choose a virtual background". From the menu that opens select "blur". You can also upload a background picture from the same place.
• You can change your name by pressing the "Participant"-title. This will open the list of participants. After that take your cursor on top of your own name and select first "More" and then press "Rename".