GUIDES

WHEN STARTING YOUR STUDIES

You have arrived at the University of Helsinki IT Center freshman page. The purpose of this page is to showcase the IT services offered by the University of Helsinki to new students, and to provide guidance in using them.

User account

In order to use the IT services provided by the University of Helsinki, you must first have a user account. Before receiving an account, your information must be entered in the UH student register.

You can activate the user account yourself by using Finnish bank credentials or an electronic ID card or, lacking these, at the user account service desk at the IT center.

The most convenient way to get a user account is to attend the bi-annual Welcome Fair for international students. You will also receive a lot of other inportnat information – as well as being able to get answers to any questions you may have on your mind.

You will need an official ID card (passport, driver's license or a police-issued ID card with a photo) upon acquiring your UH user account.

  • Before activating your user account, you should read the chapter on user accounts in the ICT driver's license study materials.
  • If you have a problems with your user account, you can seek advice from the user account office.

ICT driving licence

Attending the course in information technology and communications, also known as the ICT driving licence, is a part of every new student's freshman year. You can take a look at the university's IT services in advance by studying the ICT driving licence study material, available for everyone. In addition, the material provides useful information on computer use, data security and information retrieval in an easily understandable format. More info on taking the course.

Computer facilities

In the computer facilities, students may use work stations equipped with a wide range of most commonly used basic software, and may print documents within the limits of their printing quotas. Computer facilities are available at every campus excluding Meilahti. Some facilities are available 24 hours a day. In addition, most places have the option of connecting your own laptop computer to the university's wireless network.

E-mail

An e-mail address with the helsinki.fi extension is included with every student's user account. You can read your e-mail using any e-mail software or through the browser-based Webmail service.

  • More information on using the e-mail service, e-mail software settings and Webmail use is available in the ICT driving licence study materials on E-mail in the University of Helsinki and from the university Helpdesk's web site in the address {linkki}
  • Information on using and setting up various e-mail programs is available on the page {linkki}

Flamma and Alma

Flamma, the university's intranet, is a communications forum for the entire populace of the university. Flamma is slowly replacing Alma as the university's intranet, but the unit pages for some faculties are still located in Alma.

You can log in to Flamma at flamma.helsinki.fi. The Flamma front page shows collected study-related information on library and information services, study grants, studying in general and, among other things, has maps for various campus areas. Flamma also offers information on matters such as health and wellbeing, exercise and sport services and the activities of student organizations.

  • Further information on Flamma and Alma is available in the ICT driving licence study materials under The Computer Environment at the University of Helsinki.

Weboodi

Along with e-mail, Weboodi is probably the most important tool of every student. Through Weboodi you can plan your studies, order a summary of your studies and sign in for the coming semester. Most faculties also handle registering for courses and tests entirely through the oodi system.

Software distribution

The IT center has acquired extended licences for many software suites in use at the university, also covering use on the students' own computers. The programs intended for home use may be downloaded through software distribution. The software is only intended for use by the staff and students of the University of Helsinki. Passing these programs or parts of them to people outside of the University of Helsinki is strictly forbidden!

HY-VPN and remote use of databases

Some services intended for students, such as e-papers and article databases are only available when used on a computer connected to the university network. It is also possible to utilize these services from home by connecting your computer to the university network using the HY-VPN software. All you need is a connection to the internet and a university user account. For more information on the University of Helsinki's e-resources and using them can be found in the ICT driving licence study materials, in the section on information retrieval.

Using the home directory from your home

Your own home directory and home page directory, included in the user account, can also be used from your home computer by using the VPN portal. The portal allows you to transfer files between your home directory on the university network and your home computer.

  • Instructions on using the portal are available on the Helpdesk instruction pages.
  • You can log in to the portal at the address https://www.vpn.helsinki.fi.

Other useful information

Available help

The IT center offers several kinds of IT support to the students and staff. You can contact Helpdesk through phone or e-mail. You can also receive personal IT help at the Aleksandria study center, mainly related to studying. For more information on Helpdesk services and how to reach them, see the contact page of the instructions portal.

Instructions, guides and self help tools for the most common IT related problems have been collected to the instructions portal. The portal's instructions allow you to sort out problems by yourself in most cases.

The IT department's welcome letter for new students.