Information for parents

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.

The University of Helsinki offers excellent services for international students. A competent and friendly staff helps the student at every step from the application process and tutoring towards the graduation.

While the university provides its students with diverse academic counselling services and new students receive plenty of support from university personnel as well as peer tutors, as the parent of a new student you play a significant supporting role as well.

How can I support my child in university studies?

Based on our experiences of counselling new students, we have put together the following tips to help parents support their children in their university studies.

1. Support the student’s independence

Let the student make his or her own decisions. Decisions on what field to study and what programme to take shouldn’t be only based on making the safest or most practical choice. Allow space for decisions based on scientific curiosity. At the University of Helsinki, all students are treated as equal and mature adults who plan their own studies and choose their courses independently.

2. Listen and reassure, urge the student to ask for advice

Almost every student will find university studies difficult and doubt their choices at some stage of the first year. This is perhaps most common among students for whom universities are an entirely new world. Getting used to new study methods and studying cultures can feel difficult. Talking to student advisers usually helps. Students can also contact a study psychologist, if necessary.

3. Encourage the student to get to know the university staff and participate in events and activities organised by the study programme and the Student Union

Studying at a university is a highly independent undertaking that can feel lonely at first. For this reason, we encourage our students to get to know other students, the staff of the study programme and the faculty, and to go meet instructors and professors during their office hours.

The Student Union offers a vast range of recreational activities and clubs that can help bring balance to university life. Research has shown that the students with close ties to their faculty’s staff and other students are the ones who get the most out of their studies.

4. Encourage studying for the sake of learning

People study at universities to become academic experts, but the years spent in university also include intellectual exploration and personal growth. Many students are used to collecting credits and focusing on their grades. However, at the University of Helsinki we also encourage our students to study for the sake of learning – to increase their understanding. Our university is at the forefront of research in teaching and learning, and it is important for us that each of our students identify the learning methods that are the most effective for them.