The University of Helsinki received over 900 exchange applications from around the World in various programmes for the autumn 2016 or for the whole academic year 2016-2017! We want to thank you all warmly for applying!
If your application is approved, you will receive your acceptance letter by e-mail, sent by the University of Helsinki. Acceptance information is usually available around the mid-June or latest by the end of June. Before that your application is considered by your host faculty. Please try to wait patiently!
Classes have already ended or will end soon, and summer is nearly here! Wondering what to do in the sun? These tips will help you make the most of your summer in the city, whether you are staying in Helsinki for an internship, studies, or just a holiday.
A summer evening in Helsinki – the light offers a pleasent contrast to the long winter nights
Short on money? Don’t worry! This facebook page advertises free events in Helsinki.
Up for a swim or just wanna bask in the sun? You can check out all beaches and public swimming pools in Helsinki on the Helsinki City website. All beaches are free-of-charge, but the swimming pools have a small entrance fee. Water quality is monitored at the beaches by the Helsinki City Environment Centre during the period of 15.6.-31.8.. If you’re in an exploring mood, pick an island to visit from this list (unfortunately only in Finnish). Uunisaari and Pihjalasaari are most easily accessible by public transport.
Into sports? Anyone can play on the city’s tennis or basketball courts. Just go wait by the court for your turn, no reservations needed! There’re also lots of jogging tracks and sports parks where you can enjoy all sorts of games, all listed on this website.
Summer is the high season for fleamarkets! Whether you need to get rid of your stuff before leaving Helsinki, or you feel like checking what’s on offer, Hietalahti and Hakaniemi fleamarkets are sure to satisfy your needs! Hietalahti fleamarket is open every day and the Hakaniemi fleamarket on Sundays. Read more on opening hours and how to book a table to sell your own stuff here.
It’s fun to barbecue! You can do it for free at the Teurastamo barbecue spot (unfortunately the website is currently only available in Finnish). There’s lots of space to hang out and cook. Coals and lighter fluid are usually found at the spot since people leave behind whatever they don’t need. There are also shops around the area where you can purchase anything you might need for cooking.
Nuuksio is lovely no matter the time of year, but camping is easier when it isn’t freezing. See hiking routes, sights and services here.
Remember also to check out Helsinki summer classics! Run your own restaurant on Restaurant Day on May 21, celebrate Midsummer’s Eve in Seurasaari with the traditional midsummer bonfires, attend a Helsinki Pride event between June 27 and July 2, enjoy Kallio Block Party on August 6 (the Facebook event will be updated closer to the event), and marvel at the Night of the Arts on August 25 when the whole city will be taken over by art.
The Night of the Arts is celebrated as part of the Helsinki Festival between August 19 and September 4, when a host of events will overtake Helsinki and celebrate the city. Festivals in general are popular throughout the summer, and cater to most every taste in music.
We hope your summer will be unforgettable, sunny, and filled with friends and new discoveries in this lovely city of ours!
What is career planning? How do I market my knowledge and skills? What are the building blocks of a good job application or a CV? How to be successful at a job interview?
The University of Helsinki Career Services offers career skills training during the spring semester 2016 at the Centre Campus. The course consists of four 3-hour training sessions, and individual assignments between classes. The Curriculum for Career -course will be held in the University Main Building (Päärakennus, Fabianinkatu 33), in lecture hall 7 (sali 7).
The sessions are held as follows:
• Tuesday 10.5. at 9-12
• Wednesday 11.5. at 9-12
• Tuesday 17.5. at 9-12
• Wednesday 18.5. at 9-12.
Training sessions are open to all University of Helsinki students. The course language is English, but the course assignments may be handed in in Finnish, English or Swedish. The course can be completed as a 1 or 2 –credit course, depending on the amount of individual assignments. Course assignments will be handed in through Moodle. Please negotiate with your faculty/department about the credits if you plan to include the course in your degree. Career Services cannot register credits.
The course will be organized if a minimum of 20 students enroll. For further information, please contact: urapalvelut@helsinki.fi.
The numerous student associations within the student union are open to all students, and you too are invited to join! There are so many different student associations to choose from, though, so we’ve made joining one a bit easier for you: representatives of different student associations have written about what they do, and why and how to join them. These stories will be shared in a series of blog posts in February.
Last week we started this series with student nations. This week representatives of international interest association will present their activities, and the last post will then introduce faculty student associations connecting students studying the same subjects.
Here are the student associations Thespians Anonymous, Helsinki University Scouts, and Debating Society introducing themselves:
Thespians Anonymous
Thespians Anonymous (TA) is a multi-national amateur theatre group within the University of Helsinki. We put on one to two full-length productions each year: usually one in the autumn semester and one in the spring semester. We also do acting workshops, playreadings, parties, and other events, so there are many opportunities to hang out with us!
‘Laskiainen‘, Finnish for Shrove Tuesday, is a celebration traditionally held in February, and celebrated especially by students. This year Shrove Tuesday falls on Tuesday, February 9th. In previous times, laskiainen was the last celebration before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, but nowadays it mainly means a day of sleigh-riding. Laskiainen is not a public holiday, however, so you’ll still have lectures!
Overall-wearing sledders at Ullanlinnanmäki on Shrove Tuesday, ‘laskiainen’.
During the day traditional Finnish Shrove Tuesday dishes, pea soup and Shrove Tuesday buns, are offered also at UniCafes. The Shrove Tuesday bun, or ‘laskiaispulla‘ in Finnish, is a special type of bun made just for this occasion by filling a traditional Finnish bun with whipped cream and either raspberry jam or almond paste. Both types of filling have their avid supporters, and the nation remains divided about which of them is the best. We recommend you to try both, and decide for yourself!
Student life is not just about completing your degree. Student life is also about meeting new people, dialogue, sharing ideas, learning together, and forming lifelong friendships
One of the best things about studying at the University of Helsinki is the active community of students. Community spirit improves your well-being, and over 250 different student organisations within the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) open up a field of opportunities. Participating in the events and activities of these organisations is a great way to not only make friends and have fun, but to learn new skills and gain access to networks which can prove useful in your future working life.
Helsinki gave exchange student Esteban Halabi Flores the chance to practice one of his favourite hobbies: languages.
“So the sun is up before 6 in the morning, and it goes down after 10 at night?!” Last summer, my mother was mesmerized when I told her about the length of a typical Finnish day. I had recently gotten off the long flight coming from Costa Rica, and was in the process of reporting back to her with all the new curiosities of life up north. As a native from the Tropics, seeing the sun past 6 in the evening was both confusing and exciting. What was I going to do with all those new hours of daylight? Continue reading “Short and long days”
The University of Helsinki Welcome Fair for new international students is once again over for this spring term.
A big thank you from all of us at the Student Services and International Exchange Services to you who visited and worked at the fair! Once again, an awesome fair!
In case you missed the Welcome Fair or did not have a chance to get all official things sorted out there, we have gathered a checklist of the things you will need to do after your arrival:
Are you staying in Finland over the Christmas holidays?
You may be going to Lapland, travelling elsewhere within Finland or the other Nordic countries, or staying in Helsinki to experience a Finnish Christmas. If this is the case, here is what you can do in Helsinki during the holiday period:
Christmas is just a week away and the activities at the University of Helsinki are quieting down.
Most of the staff is taking a few days off during Christmas and the New Year, so we ask you to be patient if you do not get an answer to your email straight away. Please note that the Faculties are also closed during Christmas and the New Year.
We’ll be back around January 7th and we hope to see all of the new exchange and visiting students at the Welcome Fair on January 14th, 2016! More information on the Welcome Fair and the orientation is available on the Orientation website.
Prepare for your stay in Helsinki!
In order for your studies in Helsinki to begin as smoothly as possible, we encourage you to take some time and go through the materials on our New students website. You will find all necessary information on the practicalities there.
Another great resource is the Orientation Handbook. In it you can find answers to almost all questions that you have regarding your life in Helsinki and studies at UH. Have a look at the PDF version already before your arrival, you will get a hard copy at the Welcome Fair.
Wishing you a peaceful and fun-filled Holiday Season!
International Exchange Services and Student Services
University of Helsinki
