Arriving in Helsinki

Academic year - when to arrive?

A Welcome Fair and orientation for new international students is held in late August - early September and in January of each year. It would make sense for you to arrive in Helsinki a few days before the orientation starts.

The academic year in Finland is divided into two terms (August 1 to December 31 and January 1 to July 31). At the University of Helsinki the terms are further divided into seven-week teaching periods.

In most Faculties the teaching periods for the 2013-2014 academic year are:

• September 2 to October 20
• October 28 to December 15
• January 13 to March 2
• March 10 to May 18*

* Includes Easter week and a two week optional intensive teaching period at the end of the period.

In the Faculties of Biosciences, Law, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy and Behavioural Sciences the teaching periods might vary from the dates above. Please check the exact dates from the Faculty.

More information and the dates for the Welcome Fair and orientation can be found on the Orientation website.

Arriving by plane

The Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is well connected to the University: bus 615 takes you directly to the City Centre. It is a five-minute walk from the bus terminal to the University's City Centre Campus and about ten minutes to the local HOAS office. From the bus terminal you can also take a bus to the other Campuses at Viikki, Kumpula and Meilahti.

For bus schedules and ticket prices, please see the Helsinki Region Transport website.

Arriving by train, ferry or coach

The central railway station, long-distance coach station in Kamppi and most of the harbours are all close to the City Centre and within walking distance from the City Centre Campus of the University.

Journey Planner website

A great help when you need to figure out how to get from point A to point B in the Helsinki Metropolitan area, is the Journey Planner website. You just type in the address of your starting point and the address of your destination and the website will give you the itinerary, including public transportation schedules and walking directions.

Visit the Journey Planner website.

Updated March 20,2013