Category: Student life

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Printed version of the Orientation Handbook for International Students now available!

You might have already gotten to know the online version of the Orientation Handbook 2013-2014. Now the book is also available in printed form and if you are already in Helsinki you can come and get your own copy from the Student Services at the university main building (Fabianinkatu 33, ground floor). For those who will be arriving in Helsinki at the beginning of the academic year, the handbook will be handed out at the Welcome Fair 28/8-29/8. Until then we advise you to use the online one.

The handbook contains a lot of practical information that will help you get started with your student life and to navigate through daily life. It includes for example general information about living in Finland and studying in the University of Helsinki. It’s the ultimate survival guide for new students so browse through and also let your friends know!

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Greetings for the summer from Queer Students’ Association OVI ry!

Ovi is an association for gender and sexual minorities and it works under the University of Helsinki Student Union. Ovi holds weekly events where everyone is welcome. In the early spring we received a grant from the University of Helsinki Student Services for organizing a project, and now we want to share with you our experiences of this project’s early stages.

The project is an international queer conference. Participants will come from our umbrella organization ANSO’s (Association of Nordic and Pol-Balt LGBTQ Student Organizations) member organizations around the Northern Europe. The conference will be held in early August in Helsinki. The point of the organization is to provide organizations a chance to network and cooperate. For individual participants the conference will teach and offer more information and understanding of queer politics, accessibility and spreading acceptance and community. Continue reading “Greetings for the summer from Queer Students’ Association OVI ry!”

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See you at the Welcome Fair!

One more month and then you will hopefully be on a plane/train/bus/boat to Helsinki. The first not-to-be-missed opportunity to get to know the University and the Campuses as well as to get all the official matters out of the way is the Welcome Fair.

The Welcome Fair takes place on August 29 to August 30, 2013, and the venue is the Language Centre of the University of Helsinki (address: Fabianinkatu 26). Continue reading “See you at the Welcome Fair!”

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Housing Option for Master’s Degree Students

We have a brand new housing option especially for Master’s degree students: apartments right in the heart of the city on Hietaniemenkatu 14 and within good connections on Ida Aalbergin tie 1 for a reasonable price!

The apartments are reserved for students that have been accepted to complete a Master’s Degree at the University of Helsinki and are moving to Finland from another country. The deadline for the applications is 12th of July 2013. The residence period is from September 1st 2013 to May 31st 2014 with a fixed-term contract.

Read more about applying on our website!

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The Flower Day

The Flower Day (or Flora Day) is the second official celebration of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. It is the joyful spring festival of all university students, celebrated every year on 13 May. University students have celebrated a spring festival at least from the beginning of the 19th century.

The celebration in 1848 was as a special day in the origins of Finnish national identity. That year, the Maamme song, which later has received the status of Finland’s national anthem, was sang for the first time by the students gathered in Kumtähti Field. Also an early version of the Finnish flag was used for the first time on that occasion – afterwards, this flag became the flag of the Student Union. So, in addition to being the university students’ spring festival, the Flower Day is now also celebrated as the “birthday” of the Finnish national anthem. This year will be the 165 anniversary of the Maamme song. Continue reading “The Flower Day”

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Vappu – celebrating spring and student life!

Spring has now finally arrived in Finland and with it, of course, the big carnevalistic spring celebration: Vappu. For many students it is the highlight of the year. On the 30th of April and 1st of May you can see people wearing the Finnish student cap, ylioppilaslakki, and students wearing overalls and doing silly things all over Helsinki. The celebration begins on Tuesday afternoon and continues all Wednesday. Here follows some practical info and tips to help you to experience the best of it: Continue reading “Vappu – celebrating spring and student life!”

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Meet our students: Shristi Neupane from Nepal wants to promote peace and understanding

Shristi Neupane studies at International Master’s Degree Programme in Plant Production Sciences (picture and text: Dina Nitisa)

In spite of freezing temperatures outdoors, Helsinki is possibly the warmest place one might choose to spend the winter. I’m not talking about the heating system (though it is generally excellent), rather – the remarkable people one meets daily in the campuses of University of Helsinki: the teachers and students, each carrying their own unique story of their past and future, but all sharing their current common belonging to the university. Enrolled in the International Master’s Degree Programme in Plant Production Sciences, a student from Nepal Shristi Neupane enjoys the high standard of the studies, as well as embraces herself in a variety of extracurricular activities the City of Helsinki offers. Continue reading “Meet our students: Shristi Neupane from Nepal wants to promote peace and understanding”

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Academic action network promotes entrepreneurial mindset at University of Helsinki

The social world around you needs improvement. Something should be done about climate change. The elderly need to be taken better care of. There is something strange in the neighborhood, but who are you going to call?

Tieteestä toimintaa (‘academic action’) network gathers people who want to create more academic entrepreneurship. Network opens new doors for different projects and start-ups. Organizer Outi Kuittinen from think tank DEMOS HELSINKI shares her insights and experiences on Academic action -network. Continue reading “Academic action network promotes entrepreneurial mindset at University of Helsinki”

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HYY’s Anniversary Week – celebrations all week long!

Monday the 26th of November, is the Student Union’s (HYY’s) 144th anniversary. HYY’s birthday is traditionally celebrated in the form of an anniversary week. These ten days are packed with diverse cultural and other events, all of which are free of charge or very inexpensive for members of the Student Union. Join us in celebrating the 144-year-old Student Union!

You can find the whole program of the week on HYY’s webpage, but here are a few highlights for you.

The anniversary week ends on Wednesday, 28 Nov, with the Art for Us! event in Ateneum art museum. There is free admission to Ateneum with the student card throughout the day. The most interesting program is related to the international 52 Souls exhibition opened just two weeks earlier, featuring poetic, mystical and sensory interpretations of nature. There will also be non-stop workshops and performances by a pop-up quartet.

If art isn’t your thing, maybe you would like to visit Debate Night organized by the University of Helsinki Debate Society? If you are hungry for theatre, check out the English speaking theatre festival FELT IF, which is co-organised by Thespians Anonymous Theatrical Society. There are short performances every night 20-25 Nov at Kaapelitehdas.

Still not your thing? Check out the full program of the anniversary week and find your own way of celebrating HYY’s birthday. Between all the soap making, table hockey tournaments and Mayan calendar predictions we hope you will find something to your taste and have a great time!

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