International degree student's journey

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Information

There are plenty of different ways to get to know the University of Helsinki. If you can’t find what you need on our website helsinki.fi or at the Finnish national education portal Studyinfo.fi, our Admissions Advisors are at hand to help. In some regions, you can also reach out to our educational representatives. To keep updated, you can sign up for our Admission Newsletter. It will also keep you informed about webinars and other events for applicants. If you want to know more about studies and student life, you can chat with our students or read their blogs. 

Before Applying 

We recommend that you book your SAT test (for applicants to the bachelor’s programme) and language proficiency test well before the application period starts. Please note that these do not apply to all applicants! Please also make sure you have sufficient funds to live in Finland.  

• Proving your English language skills - Bachelor's Programme in Science 
• Proving your English language skills - International Master's Programmes 

Application 

Once you’ve decided on the programme(s) you’d like to apply to and have checked your eligibility and the admission requirements from studyinfo.fi, you can begin your application on the website of the University. A helpful guide with Instructions for Applying is available to you on the helsinki.fi website! Don’t forget that support from our Admissions Advisors is available by email, chat, and phone. Once you have everything in place, hit the apply button! If needed, remember to apply for scholarships (from UH with the same application form) and/or a loan in time.  

Attachments 

Be sure to start gathering the attachments needed for your application as soon as possible to avoid added stress to the application process. You will typically need Proof of English Language Proficiency, Degree Certificate, Transcript of Records, Official Translations of Documents that are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, and Programme Specific and/or Other Attachments. Please refer to the Required Application Documents page for detailed information for the bachelor’s programme and for master’s programmes.  

Admission Result 

You will receive your admission result and the decision on the scholarships granted by the University of Helsinki by email. If you have been accepted, the email you receive from us is an official acceptance letter and is suitable for dealing with various authorities such as immigration etc. This same email will also contain instructions for the next steps for confirming your study place and registering your attendance. Make sure you read our newsletters for incoming international students and attend webinars for accepted students to get to know UH better! 

If you have been conditionally accepted, be sure to meet the conditions of your acceptance by the deadline given to you via email. 

We also strongly recommend that you begin applying for housing as soon as you receive your admission results, as students in Finland are responsible for securing their own accommodation. The page with housing instructions has all the information you will need to call Helsinki your home! 

Registering 

Once you have received a study offer, remember to accept your study place and register as attending for the upcoming academic year. When you register as attending, you will become a member of the Student Union HYY by paying their membership fee. If you are liable to pay for tuition, the University will register you as attending once we have received your tuition fee payment, which contains the HYY membership fee. If you are conditionally accepted, you are first required to fulfill the condition by the deadline.  In some cases, you may also register as non-attending or apply to defer the beginning of your studies.

• Guide for accepted students, bachelor’s students
• Guide for accepted students, master’s students 

Once you are registered as attending, you can activate your IT user account and start using your University of Helsinki email! If needed, you can then download your certificate of student status in Sisu. You will find instructions for all of this in the Instructions for students, which is the go-to place for any possible information students might be looking for. 

Preparing 

Kick-start your preparation reading  our newsletters for new international degree students. We invite you to commence administrative processes such as applying for a residence permit and getting health insurance as early as possible for a timely arrival.  

You will also receive links to a digital skills course and a pre-arrival course—both of which will help you understand the UH environment better. In addition to this, you will also receive an invitation to an exclusive app designed to help you network with other UH students and get to know your classmates! If you are keen on working alongside your studies, we also warmly invite you to explore job opportunities in Finland already at this point.

If you're looking for a checklist regarding all the preparations you need to take care of - don't hesitate to make use of our Uni Arrival Advisor. 

Arriving 

As your journey to the University of Helsinki approaches, we look forward to e-meeting you at the pre-arrival webinar organised for incoming international degree students and invite you to keep yourself updated on the latest student information from the Studies Service (studies.helsinki.fi). If you haven’t done so already, latest now is the moment to activate your Frank student card and to actively start using your helsinki.fi email account. Please remember that the International Student Advice is here to help you settle in and answer your questions on matters such as registering with the Finnish authorities, opening a bank account, getting student-priced transport tickets, and other topics related to living and studying in Finland.

Orientation 

The orientation week which contains official events and ceremonies as well as social events organised by your tutor and the Student Union HYY will aid a smooth UH commencement for you. During this week, you will not only be introduced to your degree programme and faculty and learn about course registration on Sisu (sisu.helsinki.fi) but also get to know about student life and benefits in Finland. Taking part in the orientation week is highly recommended to ensure an easy beginning of your studies and social life! 

Congratulations, you are now all set to kick off your studies! We are sure that the high quality degree programme you have enrolled in, in combination with your committed teachers and the guidance services offered at the University of Helsinki will create a fulfilling experience for you. We encourage you to utilise the library and study facilities on all four campuses, the versatile course selection available to you and the vast digital services of UH to your best advantage. What’s more? You can broaden your horizons by going on exchange or doing a traineeship abroad, taking part in courses and events organised by Una Europa or by diving into other international activities offered at UH. You can also continue your studies through the summer and even take courses from other Finnish universities through cross-institutional studies!

As a bachelor’s or master’s degree student at the University of Helsinki, you have access to the national Finnish Student Health Service and the public healthcare services. The University of Helsinki considers your physical and mental well-being to be a top priority and offers several services and support mechanisms for this purpose. In addition to the diverse mental well-being support available to you, you also have access to subsidised gym and sports facilities and nutritious student meals. All four campuses are also equipped with a prayer and meditation room for your utilisation.  

The university community has a variety of platforms to help you find your place in this new environment. At the heart of student life is the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) and its numerous student organisations and student nation. Getting involved in student organisation activities is not only essential for your social life, but also great for networking and learning valuable professional skills. You can also apply to become a student ambassador, a student tutor, or influence student affairs by providing feedback and submitting ideas. You can also influence decision-making by becoming a student representative on the University's governing bodies. Our Language Centre provides flexible pathways to improve your language skills, a language PSP (personal study plan) and a wide range of Finnish and Swedish language courses are also offered at the University. In addition, International House Helsinki’s comprehensive services for newcomers will make you feel right at home!

The Career Services of the University of Helsinki is your go-to place for a host of career-related workshops, fairs, counseling, as well as information on traineeships, and mentorship programmes. Furthermore, self-study materials for career planning and support for entrepreneurship are also available. And did you know? UH’s very own JobTeaser platform is here to make your traineeship and job search easier! 

Take a bow, you did it! We now warmly invite you to join us as a graduate by submitting your graduation request, joining us in celebrating your achievements at the graduation and conferment ceremonies, and collecting your degree certificate! 

You can also explore the possibility of further studies if that is your chosen path.  

As a member of the alumni community of the oldest and largest institution of higher education in Finland, we would like to remind you of the UH Alumni services! By registering in the cost-free Helsinki Alumni community you can start networking with other alumni around the world on LinkedIn or the Helsinki Alumni Hub. You can attend to alumni events online, in Helsinki or abroad! You also have an opportunity brush up on your skills or share your knowledge with the younger generation for instance  by becoming a mentor.

Don't forget the other benefits of being a UH graduate, such as Career Services, which you can use for one year after graduation, and the alumni discount for Unisport, which you get for two years after graduation. If you want to continue your education after graduation without a full degree, the Open University or HY+ could be the perfect option for you.