Leaving for Finland

Practicalities

Here are some reminders of practicalities that you need to think of before you leave home for your studies at Hanken. This is not a conclusive list, make sure you take into account any additional requirements your home country may require. For more detailed information please also read information specifically aimed at the student category you belong to (Exchange, MSc, Doctoral students)

Accepting your place of study
If you have been accepted as a degree student, you should confirm that you accept the place of study offered to you at Hanken. Please note that if you fail to do so, you will lose your right to study at Hanken irrevocably. Please read the information enclosed with your acceptance letter carefully and follow the instructions.

The above does not apply for exchange students. The home university informs Hanken about accepted students. Please read the information on the web pages Exchange studies at Hanken.

Accommodation
Degree students at Hanken are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. The services of the Foundation for student housing in Helsinki and the Foundation for student housing in Vaasa are also available for international students. Please visit HOAS and VOAS for more information and application forms.

Exchange students at Hanken are offered student accommodation for their stay in Finland. Please read the information on the homepage for exchange students for more detailed information on how to accept your accommodation arranged by Hanken.

Other useful information sources for finding accommodation in Finland:

CIMO (Centre for International Mobility)

VVO Private agency offering housing for rent/sale.

SATO private agency offering housing for rent/sale.

Oikotie , offering housing for rent/sale.

Craigslist , marketplace for apartments and other things in Finland

Site with useful information for expatriates in Finland, accommodation information also included.

Property search terms in Finland:

Money
Before you come to Finland to study, you should make sure that you have sufficient funding to cover all expenses for the duration of your stay.

• A certificate to prove that you have sufficient funding for your studies is required to obtain a residence permit.
• There are no tuition fees for regular degree programmes at Hanken at the moment.
• Make sure that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses for the duration of your stay in Finland, including travel to and from Finland.
• See to it that you have sufficient insurance coverage before you leave for Finland. Hanken carries no liability in case of accident or illness.
• It may be difficult to find a job, so do not rely on financing your stay in Finland with a job.

Cash
The currency used in Finland is the Euro (€, EURO).

It is advisable to bring cash with you to cover the first weeks' expenses.

Credit cards
The major credit cards (Visa, Eurocard, Access, MasterCard, Diner's Club, and American Express) are accepted throughout the country. Automatic cash points(ATMs) accept credit cards.

Currency exchange
Money can be exchanged at most banks in Finland as well as at many currency exchange offices in larger cities.

Please consult your own bank on how to best handle your money transactions while in Finland.

Electrical equipment
Electricity: 230V 50Hz

Electric plug details: European plug (Europlug) with two circular metal pins

Getting to Finland
It is easy to fly to Finland and the connections are very good from all over the world. More than twenty airlines have scheduled flights to Helsinki. Crossings into Finland by land from neighbouring countries is easy and comfortable, serviced by regular busses and trains. Baltic ferries run from Sweden, Estonia and Germany to Helsinki, Turku and Hanko.

Clothing
Remember to bring clothes appropriate for the different seasons. Winters in Finland are quite cold and it is good to be prepared. Warm sweaters, jackets, boots, scarves and gloves are smart to bring. Autumn and spring can be somewhat windy, so it is advised to bring windproof clothes. Summers are mild.

Personal items
What you need to bring depends on the accommodation. Find out in advance how the room/apartment is equipped.

Expences

Sufficient funds naturally vary with individual spending habits. The monthly costs for a student could, however, be broken down roughly as:

Students will have to pay a deposit for all types of accommodation upon arrival. This money is refunded when you leave. Take into account the deposit for accommodation and the first month's rent when you set up your budget. Remember to reserve enough cash for expenses you will have during the first weeks!

The currency in Finland is the Euro (€).

Students do not have to pay any tuition fees at Hanken. All international students coming to Hanken need to assure they have sufficient funds for their stay in Finland. Please read the information on funding relevant for your student group (Exchange students, Master's students, Doctoral students). Students should not rely on finding a job while in Finland.

Approximate prices in Finland:

Groceries (Source: Statistics Finland, Price statistics. For the latest up-dates please visit: www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_hinnat_en.html)

Leisure

Necessities

Immigration Formalities

Residence permit
Please see the information provided by the Finnish Immigration Service for detailed instructions. The Finnish Immigration Service is the government authority responsible for issuing residence permits in Finland. You can also contact the Finnish embassy closest to you for more information. You can find contact information at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Please note that the fact that you have been admitted to Hanken does not automatically mean that your application for a residence permit in Finland will be approved. The two processes are completely separate and handled by different authorities.

Nationals of the Nordic countries
If you are a citizen of Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Iceland, you do not need a residence permit to study in Finland. Citizens of the Nordic countries may reside, work and study in Finland without any limitations. If the stay in Finland lasts longer than six months, nationals of the Nordic countries should register with the local register office of their home town.

More information on mobility between the Nordic countries can also be obtained from the Hallå Norden website.

Nationals of the EU or EEA countries
All EU/EEA students except nationals of the Nordic countries need to register their right of residence if the period of study in Finland exceeds three months. Please visit the website of the Police for more information.

If you are a citizen of an EU/EAA member country you can apply for registration of your right of residence after you have arrived in Finland. The application is to be submitted to the local police station. The addresses of the police stations in Helsinki and Vaasa are:

Helsingin poliisilaitos ( Helsinki Police Department, Immigration Services)
Address: Viljatie 2 B
Phone: + 358 71 877 0111

Pohjanmaan poliisilaitos ( Ostrobothnia Police Department)
Address: Korsholmanpuistikko 45
Phone: + 358 (0)6 210 0411

Students of other nationalities (not citizens from EU, EEA or Nordic countries + Switzerland)
Students from countries that are not EU/EAA member countries, who wish to stay in Finland for more than 3 months, must be in possession of a residence permit already when entering the country. The application for the permit should be submitted to the Finnish embassy in the student's country of origin. However, if the student lives in another country than his or her home country, the application should be submitted to the Finnish embassy in the student's country of residence. The application for a residence permit for the purpose of studies must be submitted immediately when you have received the letter of admission to Hanken, as it can take several weeks, or even months, for the application to be processed by the authorities.

Please note that it is important that you submit your application for a residence permit as soon as possible and that you make sure to enclose all of the required documents at once. Check with the embassy or consulate before you submit your application. If your application is not complete, the process will take a lot longer and you might not obtain your residence permit in time for the start of the studies at Hanken.

Applicants already resident in Finland
The local police station will provide information about renewing the residence permit. The police should be contacted in good time before the residence permit expires.

Finnish identification number
A foreigner residing temporarily in Finland can receive an identification number (also known as Finnish social security number) if he or she needs one, for example in order to work. The one requirement is that the person has to have a residence permit at least for the period of one year. For more information, please visit the Register Office.

Insurance and Health Care

Insurance

All students arriving in Finland must make sure that they are fully covered in case of illness or accident during their travel to and from Finland and during their entire stay here.

In order to avoid the costs, which in case of intensive care or difficult operations can be very high, students coming from outside the EU, EEA or Nordic countries must have their own medical insurance. A valid insurance is also a pre-requisite for the residence permit.

In addition to health insurance, we strongly advise students to arrange their travel insurance and insurance for personal possessions against theft, loss or breakage already in their home country before leaving for Finland.

Ace Group & Marsh Belgium offer affordable insurance options for international students who are coming to Finland for their studies.

Hanken carries no liability for students, who upon arrival in Finland do not have sufficient insurance coverage. We urge all students to contact an insurance company and the local authorities in their home country, to get full details on insurance matters, before leaving for Finland.

Health Care
All exchange students and Master's students are required to become members of the Student Union. Membership is optional for doctoral students.

A health care fee is included in the Student Union's membership fee Members of the student union are entitled to use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). This service covers regular medical consultations, appointments with specialists, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, x-ray and laboratory testing as well as general and to some extent dental care. The FSHS does not provide emergency or hospital services.

In case of illness or accident during the weekend, you can turn to the municipal services of the health care centres. Students from EU-countries need to obtain a European health insurance card from a health insurance service in their home country before departure. Nationals of other countries must arrange their health insurance privately before departure.