How to apply for housing as an exchange student

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University of Helsinki highly recommends exchange students (not visiting students) to apply for housing with the housing application form in Mobility Online.

How to apply?

Applicants for student exchange to University of Helsinki should apply for Unihome or Hoas housing via the university's Mobility Online portal as part of their exchange application, by the application deadline. In addition, if you choose to apply for Hoas apartment, you must submit a separate application as instructed in Mobility Online.

With the housing application in Mobility Online it’s possible to receive a housing offer from either Unihome or Hoas. Kindly note that submitting a housing application does not guarantee a housing offer. Please follow the instructions on how to apply. Make sure that your email address in your Mobility Online application is correct. In addition, please note that if your application dates are different from the normal exchange duration, your housing application will go to the bottom of the housing list and your housing application will be one of the last to be processed.

If you have not received a housing offer from Unihome/Hoas or did not apply via Mobility Online, please try with Housing for incoming visiting students and Open market housing options.

Housing offer and deposit

If Unihome / Hoas offers you housing, the housing offer will be sent to you by email (usually latest by June 30th if you apply for autumn or by November 30th if you apply for spring). Please note that housing offers may also be sent after these dates. Housing reservations will be made in co-operation between Unihome and Hoas and you can receive only one housing offer. If you decide to refuse the reserved housing, you will need to make your own housing arrangements.

If you receive a housing offer, please read the accommodation/rental agreement carefully before signing it. There are differences between the agreement and its terms and regulations between Hoas and Unihome. The agreement is made based on the applicant’s exchange period. Please also note that you may receive an offer for a different accommodation type than what you have selected as prioritized in your housing application.

Please note that you are required to pay a refundable housing deposit to the housing provider by the deadline they will give you (ca. 500 euros). This may take place several months before arrival. If you do not pay the housing deposit on time, you will not have housing in Helsinki! The housing deposit can be returned, and housing cancelled if you cannot arrive in Finland due to official decisions by the government or late residence permit. The cancellation must be made to the housing provider before the start of the agreement and the academic teaching period. Please also note that a cancellation fee (approx. 90 euros) may occur. If you are not accepted to the University of Helsinki, but have already paid your housing deposit, Unihome/Hoas is able to cancel your housing agreement without any costs and you’ll receive the entire deposit back. You will find more information about the deposit in the housing offer.

Housing options and prices

Different housing options can be seen on the housing application in Mobility Online and here below.

UNIHOME

Unihome offers exchange students furnished accommodation in Helsinki. When your studies are in Viikki or Kumpula Campus, UH-Students is the place to stay, but thanks to the excellent public transportation City Centre Campuses are also easily accessible.

Unihome apartment types:
- Studio apartment with own kitchenette 16m2-28m2 (82 % of Unihome furnished studios)
- Room with shared kitchen (18 % of Unihome furnished studios)

UH-Students, Unihome students is located in address Vuolukiventie 1 b, Helsinki
- Room with shared kitchen 465 €/30 nights
- Studio 20-23m2, 615 €/30 nights
- Studio 25-28m2, 630 €/30 nights

Autumn 2024
- Room with shared kitchen 498 €/30 nights
- Studio 20-23m2, 644 €/30 nights
- Studio 25-28m2, 660 €/30 nights

Payments by calendar months

HOAS

Hoas provides exchange students with three different furnished apartment type located in several metropolitan areas in Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa.

Move-in dates and keys

Your housing provider informs you in the housing offer when it is possible to move into the apartment and how to pick up the keys to your dormitory. Normally contracts start on the first day of a month (September 1st or January 1st) and end on the last day of the month of that semester (December 31st or May 31 st), unless specified otherwise in the housing offer.

Please note that it is only possible to pick up the keys during office hours and reserve at least two hours for reaching the housing provider’s office from the airport. If you arrive after office hours, you will need to arrange your first night’s stay at a hostel independently. For spring semester please note that 1 and 6 January are national holidays in Finland and all offices will be closed.