Tips for Moving to Helsinki and settling in!

RememberOn arriving at the airport you can take the Finnair bus straight to the town center for around 7€ (https://www.pohjolanliikenne.fi/cs/…), but the train also leaves from there now as do various buses depending on where you are heading (https://www.hsl.fi/). And don’t be afraid to ask for help, generally people are very helpful and speak good English here.
The student accommodation can be very plain when you move it so its worth bringing some little touches with you, photos of friends and family, maybe your favourite throw or duvet cover to help you settle in quicker.
The majority of student accommodation is unfurnished, there is the usual suspect of Ikea for cheap furniture but check out the recycling center http://www.kierratyskeskus.fi/in_en… There are several of them across the Helsinki area, you can get bigger furniture, linen, pots, pans and dishes etc. They even do a nifty student discount.
And yes winter does get a bit chilly here! If you have a good warm coat and shoes with good grips pack them with you. Things like thermals you can buy pretty cheapily in the supermarket once the colder weather arrives.

And don’t forget your best resources too – the student ambassadors! We have all been in your shoes so please feel free to really ask us anything we are here to help you.

Sara Haapanen, International Student Ambassador