How do I find an apartment?
Degree students at Hanken are responsible for arranging for their own accommodation.Finding suitable accommodation in the Helsinki region can be challenging, so we advise you to start looking right after receiving your welcome package. The rental level is can be (approx. 700€ for a studio apartment in Helsinki) due to a lack of housing in the region. The peak time is at the beginning of the academic year.
Apartment hunting advice:
- Apply early and reserve time for finding an apartment!
- Apply for apartments simultaneously through various channels
- If you are offered a suitable apartment, accept the offer instead of waiting for a better one - the real estate market is fast-paced
- Be flexible regarding location - it is easier to find an apartment outside the centre and campus area
- Remember to cancel unnecessary applications after finding an apartment
Remember that it is easy to travel around the Helsinki region: the public transport system is ranked among the best in Europe! You can check the transport connections from your apartment to the city centre or campus area on HSL's Journey Planner.
Student housing options in Helsinki
Apply for housing through the Foundation for student housing:
- Foundation for student housing in Helsinki HOAS
Hanken has partnered with HOAS reserving a limited number of HOAS apartments for non-Finnish new students at Hanken. The apartments in question are furnished apartments with shared kitchen and the rental agreement is for 12 months. Any inquires concerning these apartments are to be address to HOAS, not Hanken, since HOAS is the provider of this housing option.Not all students are able to get housing through HOAS. Only around 50 % of the international students in the Helsinki metropolitan area live in HOAS housing.HOAS also has a Facebook page where you can ask them questions.
Student Housing options in Vaasa
Students admitted to a specialisation in Vaasa can apply for In Vaasa, the students can usually get student housing through The Student Housing Foundation in Vaasa, VOAS.
- Foundation for student housing in Vaasa VOAS
HousingAnywhere
To encourage student-to-student rentals, Hanken has joined HousingAnywhere, a platform where people can rent out their rooms to international students. It originally started as a platform where outgoing exchange students could rent out their apartment to incoming exchange students, but it has expanded since. Note: be critical of the rental prices and compare them to those of the private market to avoid overpaying for rent.
Other useful housing links:
- CIMO - Centre for International Mobility
- VVO - private agency offering housing for rent/sale
- SATO - private agency offering housing for rent/sale
- Vuokraovi - online marketplace for rental properties
- Craigslist - marketplace for apartments and other things in Finland
- Expat Finland - site with useful information for expatriates in Finland (accommodation information also included)
- Facebook groups:
Property search terms in Finland:
| Finnish | English |
| Alue | Region (e.g. Uusimaa) |
| Aluetarkennus | District (e.g. Helsinki) |
| Asunto/Asunnot | Apartment/Apartments |
| Etsi/Hae | Search |
| Hinta | Price |
| Huoneluku | Number of rooms (often shortened to 1h, 2h etc.) |
| Kaikki | All, everything |
| Kerrostalo | Block of flats |
| Loma-asunnot | Holiday houses |
| Maakunta | Province (e.g. Uusimaa) |
| Omakotitalo | Detached house |
| Pari-talo | Semi-detached house |
| Pieni | Small |
| Pinta-ala | Size (m²) |
| Talo(t) | House(s) |
| Vuokra | Rent |
| Vuokra-asunnot | Rental apartments |