Don't wait - get prepared for your studies

The instruction belongs to the following themes

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.

New students, welcome to the University of Helsinki!

This page offers useful information on what new students should explore and do before the beginning of the academic year. You might even be able to embark on your first course before the orientation activities start! Have you already done everything described on the page First steps of a new degree student

To access all the information relevant to your degree programme, remember to select your programme in the menu above.

Kinldy note that information concerning the academic year 2024-2025 will be updated soon.

Digital skills course

Congratulations on your admission to the University of Helsinki!

To get your studies off to a good start this autumn, you can learn more about the University’s online environments before your studies actually begin with the orientation week. 

  • You can start to explore the material connected to the Student’s Digital Skills course 1 July onwards.
  • You can complete the course in August after you have been registered as an attending student for the autumn term, provided you have activated your user account.
  • The exact starting date of the course for the 2023-2024 academic year will be published at the end of June.

If you are able to activate your user account already during summer, we recommend that you complete the first part of the course, Student´s Digital Skills: Orientation (2 cr) at the beginning of the semester. This way you gain understanding of the digital environments used at the University and earn your first credits!

The course is compulsory for all bachelor’s students. If you have completed a bachelor’s degree at another university or institution of higher education and are now beginning to complete a master’s degree at the University of Helsinki, we recommend that you complete the course or at least read the course material. 

Find out more about the course Student’s Digital Skills.

Finnish courses & other language studies

Survival Finnish online meetings schedule 2023:

  • SF 1 A: Mon 14 Aug from 3 to 4.30 pm
  • SF 1 B: Tue 15 Aug from 3 to 4.30 pm
  • SF 2 A: Wed 16 Aug from 3 to 4.30 pm
  • SF 2 B: Thu 17 Aug from 3 to 4.30 pm
  • SF 3 A: Mon 21 Aug 3 to 4.30 pm
  • SF 3 B: Tue 22 Aug 3 to 4.30 pm

Survival Finnish consists of three meetings, which you can attend on the days that suit you. A and B are always the same class, but on different days. The time is given according to the Finnish time zone. Register online by 13 August 2023.

Survival teacher Verna Pelkonen can be contacted (verna.pelkonen@helsinki.fi) for any questions regarding Survival Finnish.

Survival meetings are open to all interested members of the UH community, eg. exchange students, degree students, employees, interns etc.

Other language studies

All bachelor's degrees include compulsory language and communication studies worth at least 10 credits. You can read more information about the language studies and other language activities in the University of Helsinki Language Centre's newsletter for new students. You can also read more about language studies and our other activities on the Language Centre’s summer orientation in Moodle. You can log in to Moodle after you have activated your University of Helsinki user account.

About your studies

Students working in the library of Kaisa House

Find out more about the University organisation and matters related to your studies. Do you have questions? Write them down so that you remember to ask them during your orientation week!

Recognition of prior learning

Have you completed any previous studies that could be recognised for your new degree? The recognition of prior learning will be considered on a degree programme-specific basis during the autumn term. More details will be provided during your orientation week. However, you can already read about the recognition process here.

If you have questions about the recognition of prior learning, you should wait until the beginning of the academic year. Teachers, student advisers and education coordinators cannot make recognition decisions concerning individual new students in the summer.

Library

The Helsinki University Library operates in the Main Library in Kaisa House on the City Centre Campus as well as campus libraries in Kumpula, Viikki and Meilahti. The Library also has a learning centre on the City Centre Campus: Aleksandria. The Library facilities feature group work areas, computers and reading spaces – in short, everything a student needs!

You can start reading e-books immediately when your university username is activated. Activate your customer information in the Helka database by signing in with your Helsinki University user credentials. You need a Helka card only to borrow printed books. Students at the University of Helsinki can acquire a digital Helka library card via the Studies Service.

Find out more about the Helsinki University Library

Student exchange

Although you are just beginning your studies, you may also be considering exchange studies at a university outside Finland or minor subject studies at another Finnish university. International Exchange Services can help you with your plans! 

The specialists at International Exchange Services coordinate both student and staff mobility. You can contact International Exchange Services during office hours, by phone or by email for information about: 

The bilingual university

The two main official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. The University of Helsinki is the only bilingual multidisciplinary university in Finland. Together the University students and staff members create a multilingual community where Swedish plays its own unique part. The University also contributes to the debate concerning the Swedish society in Finland. Over a hundred Swedish-speaking researchers and teachers work at the University of Helsinki to offer you courses and student services in Swedish. There are around 2,000 Swedish-speaking students within the university!

The various kinds of student services are provided in Finnish, Swedish an English. IT Helpdesk, Student Services such as student counselling, International Exchange Services and Admissions Services are available in these three languages.

The Bilingual Affairs (Svenska ärenden) at the University Services co-ordinates and develops bilingualism at the University. In our newsletter we communicate about Swedish speaking courses and events. If you wish to subscribe to our newsletter (in Swedish), please contact us at svenska-arenden@helsinki.fi

For more information on the bilingual university, please click here.

Support for studies

Several units and individuals at the University of Helsinki can help you during your studies. For information on events and low-threshold activities, see the well-being events page.

  • On the Instructions for students website, see the Study support section for information about the individual arrangements and student counselling available to students. 
  • Career Services can support you with career planning, job seeking and traineeships – read the instructions available on the Instructions for students website: Jobs and career and Traineeships.
  • Sometimes you may need someone to talk to. The University of Helsinki’s university chaplains can help you in situations related to studies and personal life regardless of your religion or beliefs!

Everyday student life

Wellbeing in everyday life is important for students. Read about various services below and get a head start on student life!

Health care

During your studies, you can contact the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) in all matters related to health and illness. You can read from the Healthcare page on the Instructions for students about the services available through the FSHS.

Sports 

UniSport is for members of the University community on each University of Helsinki campus. UniSport’s wide range of sports and exercise opportunities has something for everyone – at a reasonable price! Physical activity is an excellent counterbalance to studying. Learn more about UniSport's services here.

Food

The University offers appetising dishes at low rates. UniCafe believes that student restaurant services delivered proficiently and with care make the everyday life of students healthier, smoother and tastier. UniCafe restaurants and cafés serve students with all kinds of preferences on all campuses. And don’t forget the UniCafe theme weeks!

You can read more about UniCafe and other student lunch options at the Student lunch page on the Instructions for Students.

Mental wellbeing and the promotion of the ability to study

There is a network of supporting services for your study ability and mental well-being. See more about them on the Mental well-being -page.

Also it is important to get to know Nyyti association, which supports students’ mental health through easily accessible services (e.g. themed web chats, online self-help courses and volunteer activities). Find out more about Nyyti!

Student life

Student life and the academic year feature a wide range of academic traditions and student events. The Student life website features an event calendar and information on the University of Helsinki Student Union HYY.

Orientation and tutoring

Each faculty and degree programme organises its own orientation week, during which you can learn more about your degree programme and its teachers and practices as well as your campus, and be integrated into the academic community. You will also meet your tutor and tutor group and will likely get to participate in your first student events.

Click here for more information on your faculty’s orientation week!

Ask Me!

Staff in Ask me!- campaign T-shirts

The entire university community is already looking forward to your arrival! We want to make sure your first weeks at university go as smoothly as possible. During the first week of your studies, this pink logo will guide you with any questions you have! The Ask Me! campaign will be held on 4 to 8 September. Ask Me! campaign is also active on the university's Instagram account @universityofhelsinki, where e.g. Kaisa House Student Advice is answering students' questions at the beginning of their studies. The timetable will be specified in August.

Get to know the University's ethical guidelines

The goal of the training focused on the ethical guidelines of the University of Helsinki is to increase students’ and staff's awareness of themes associated with ethics. As a university community, we strive to promote ethically responsible conduct also in terms of public engagement.

The training helps students and the university community familiarise themselves with the different perspectives of ethical conduct by reviewing the guidelines as well as by watching videos and completing reflection assignments. The training is completed in Moodle as a single self-study offering and it takes about fifteen minutes to complete. Link to the Ethical guidelines course page.