How to apply for housing as an exchange student

Applicants for student exchange to University of Helsinki should apply for Unihome or Hoas quota housing via the university's Mobility Online portal as part of their exchange application, by the application deadline. You can choose only one option in the application. Please note that if you choose to apply for Hoas apartment, you must submit a separate application as instructed in Mobility Online.

With the housing application in Mobility Online it’s possible to receive a housing offer from either Unihome or Hoas. Kindly note that submitting a housing application does not guarantee a housing offer. Please follow the instructions on how to apply. Make sure that your email address in your Mobility Online application is correct. In addition, please note that if your application dates are different from the normal exchange duration, your housing application will go to the bottom of the housing list and your housing application will be one of the last to be processed.

The housing situation in Helsinki during the spring term is usually very good and at least until now everyone who applied for housing via Mobility Online has received an offer from quota reserved from Unihome/HOAS. During the autumn term there is more demand and we recommend looking at other housing options on the open market while waiting to hear from Unihome/HOAS. Although the search for a room may feel difficult and stressful, there are many options and the housing situation in Helsinki is much better than in many other European capitals.   

If Unihome / Hoas offers you housing, the housing offer will be sent to you by email (usually latest by June 30th if you apply for autumn or by November 30th if you apply for spring). Please note that housing offers may also be sent after these dates. Housing reservations will be made in co-operation between Unihome and Hoas and you can receive only one housing offer. If you decide to refuse the reserved housing, you will need to make your own housing arrangements. 

If you receive a housing offer, please read the accommodation/rental agreement carefully before signing it. There are differences between the agreement, its terms and regulations between Hoas and Unihome. The agreement is made based on the applicant’s exchange period. Please also note that you may receive an offer for a different accommodation type than what you have selected as prioritized in your housing application. In other words, even if you apply for an apartment from Unihome, you might receive an offer from Hoas or for a different type of housing than you originally applied for.

Please note that you are required to pay a refundable housing deposit to the housing provider by the deadline they will give you (ca. 500 euros). The deadline may be several months before arrival. The housing deposit can be returned, and housing cancelled if you cannot arrive in Finland. The cancellation must be made to the housing provider before the start of the agreement and the academic teaching period. Please also note that a cancellation fee (approx. 90 euros) may occur. If you are not accepted to the University of Helsinki, but have already paid your housing deposit, Unihome/Hoas is able to cancel your housing agreement without any costs and you’ll receive the entire deposit back. You will find more information about the deposit in the housing offer.

Different housing options from quota reserved from Unihome or Hoas can be seen on the housing application in Mobility Online and here below.

UNIHOME

Unihome offers exchange students furnished accommodation in Helsinki. When your studies are in Viikki or Kumpula Campus, Unihome Students is the place to stay, but thanks to the excellent public transportation City Centre Campuses are also easily accessible.

Unihome apartment types:
- Studio apartment with own kitchenette 16m2-28m2 (82 % of Unihome furnished studios)
- Room with shared kitchen (18 % of Unihome furnished studios)

Unihome Students, Unihome students is located in address Vuolukiventie 1 b, Helsinki
Autumn 2025
- Room with shared kitchen 528 €/30 nights
- Studio 20-23m2, 664 €/30 nights
- Studio 25-28m2, 679 €/30 nights

Payments by calendar months

HOAS

Hoas provides exchange students with three different furnished apartment type located in several metropolitan areas in Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa.

• Hoas accommodation type descriptions and prices
• Confirming a Hoas offer
• Hoas privacy policy
• Further information on Hoas for exchange students
• Hoas apartment types:
  - Studio apartment (7% of Hoas furnished exchange student apartments)
  - Shared studio apartment (6% of Hoas furnished exchange student apartments)
  - Room in a shared apartment (87% of Hoas furnished exchange student apartments)

Your housing provider informs you in the housing offer when it is possible to move into the apartment and how to pick up the keys to your dormitory. Normally contracts start on the first day of a month (September 1st or January 1st) and end on the last day of the month of that semester (December 31st or May 31 st), unless specified otherwise in the housing offer.

Please note that it is only possible to pick up the keys during office hours and reserve at least two hours for reaching the housing provider’s office from the airport. If you arrive after office hours, you will need to arrange your first night’s stay at a hostel independently. For spring semester please note that 1 and 6 January are national holidays in Finland and all offices will be closed.