Moving to Finland and financial matters
This page gives you further information for planning your move to Finland.
Student benefits and services
Living in a student-friendly culture has its perks! Students in Finland are offered a wide selection of benefits, from discounted public transport to low-cost housing and healthcare.
Finland’s student-friendly culture aims to support the well-being and financial stability of its students. There is a wide range of affordable services and discounts that offer ways to save money as a student, such as:
- public transport discount in the Helsinki capital region
- student housing
- discounted meals at student canteens
- free to low-cost student healthcare and mental health services
- sports and wellness services by UniSport
- discounts to numerous stores, services, events, and transportation
Most of the student perks are available through the student card, which serves as proof of your student status. The student ID card is the simplest way to get discounts and it offers plenty of benefits nationwide and online.
Student union & student card
Aalto University Student Union (AYY) advocates its members’ rights and offers student housing and other services. As a member of the student union, you can for instance:
- get a student card
- apply for AYY housing
- rent AYY’s facilities
In addition, you get to be part of a truly unique community with more than 200 sub-organisations!
Student housing
There are student apartments available throughout the Helsinki metropolitan area. Due to the great public transportation services, accommodation options can be sought in the entire capital region. With some student accommodation options at the Otaniemi campus, you have an opportunity to live in a full-service campus setting, unique 91ÇàÇà²Ý University. The main student housing providers for Aalto students are HOAS and AYY.
Housing for students
Learn more about accommodation for both short and long-term stay in Finland.
Tutustu Aalto-yliopiston Otaniemen kampukseen osallistumalla englanninkieliseen virtuaalikierrokseen.
Meal benefit for students
Aalto University students are entitled to a discounted meal at student canteens, priced at around 3 euros per meal. Only on the Otaniemi campus, there are more than 20 restaurants that offer diverse meal options daily. You can also use the meal benefit in other university campuses’ restaurants around Finland.
Student discounts for public transport
Students are allowed a 40% discount for seasonal tickets on public transport in the Helsinki capital region (HSL). You can also find lowered student prices for other public transport such as long-distance buses, trains, and even flights.
Student healthcare
Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) provides general, mental and dental health care to university students. All general and mental health appointments, including appointments with specialists and physiotherapists as well as group activities, are free of charge for students. Appointments with a dental hygienist are also free but students are charged a fee for dentists’ appointments. The FSHS health centres are located in Töölö, Otaniemi and Viikki.
Students' sports and wellness services
UniSport is the provider of the Aalto University sports services. Operating on six campuses in Helsinki and Espoo, UniSport is a sports centre for the whole university community.
The sports centres offer a wide range of sports to choose from, facilities for training on your own as well as in a group, and other wellness services. The best training buddy for anyone wanting to stay fit is the UniSport Training Card, which students can purchase at an affordable student price (less than 180 euros for the whole year).
Read more about personal finances and budgeting tips for students
Living in Finland
What is everyday-life in Finland like? How should one prepare themselves for seasonal weather? Read what it is like living in Finland!
In this blog post, Olia shares her experience of living on campus and provide insights into the various housing options available.
Being a student on the budget is certainly one kind of a quest! Aalto student ambassador Anastasiia gathered a few tips that she has used to cut her costs.
Student ambassador Francesco gives you all the necessary tips on how to get a cozy and well-furnished room on a budget and without stressing too much!
Student support networks
In addition to the financial and health-related perks, there are additional services that support students’ mental wellbeing. You can get counselling, for instance, for study skills or coping with stress, or find supportive network from the student community.
The psychology service for students offers counselling and support for learning, motivation, self-regulation, study skills and coping with stress. The meetings are confidential and the aim is to discuss the problem or situation brought up by the student, working together on possible solutions.
The psychology service supports students’ development and is involved in developing a more learning-oriented teaching culture at the university level. Central activities include individual and group counselling as well as the development of teaching.
More information on psychology services
You can contact a university chaplain for counselling regardless of your religion. All conversations with the university chaplains are confidential and you can discuss with them anything that is weighing on your mind.
More information on Aalto chaplains' services
Nyyti is a registered association that promotes and supports students’ mental well-being and life management skills. More information on the activities of the student support centre is available on
Many student organisations operate within the Aalto University Student Union (AYY). The students of the School of Business have their own association, the , whereas the association for the students at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture is called . The culture of the students at the schools of technology (Aalto SCI, Aalto ENG, Aalto ELEC and Aalto CHEM) is promoted by the AYY guilds for technology students.
- (ayy.fi)
- (ayy.fi)
- (facebook.com)
Read student stories
Student Aitor Urruticoechea: The future needs people who look beyond the technological nuances
For Aitor Urruticoechea, studying at Aalto is more than just the program name. What he enjoys the most in his studies is being able to hop around, discover new passions, work with different people, and learn how interconnected everything is.
Student Lisa Petry: Signals are present in nearly every field of engineering and technology
Lisa Petry, a master's student in the Signal Processing and Data Science major, thinks that the increasing adoption of AI in industries highlights the need for skilled professionals who can work with data and therefore can provide a deeper understanding of the world around us based on given data.
Chemical engineering student Ella Haravuori combines bioproduct development and food sciences
Ella Haravuori studies chemical engineering at Aalto University and food sciences at the University of Helsinki. Ella is particularly interested in biobased packaging materials that can replace plastics in food packaging.