Checklist for new postgraduate students
The checklist on this site is for postgraduate (PhD, doctoral) students. A postgraduate student is someone who already has a higher academic degree from a higher education institution: i.e. the student is a Master's degree holder.
The duration of a Master's degree (including undergraduate and graduate studies) is at least four to five years of full-time study. The Master's degree must include a Master's thesis.
Before arrival
Immigration
Your immigration procedure and right to reside in Finland depends on your nationality. You must apply for a residence permit if you plan to stay in Finland for longer than three months. EU citizens, citizens of the Nordic countries, Liechtenstein and Switzerland do not need a residence permit.
Residence permits are issued by the Finnish Immigration Service MIGRI. You must submit your residence permit application to a Finnish embassy in the country of your legal residence. Please note that your status as PhD Student affects whether you should apply for the residence permit as a student or as a researcher.
Insurance & Health Care
Health insurance is one of the obligatory requirements for obtaining a residence permit as a student. The student’s health insurance must be valid upon his/her entry to Finland.
The University of Helsinki has partnered with Student Insurance Package (SIP) provider MARSH and is able to recommend this insurance package that is pre-approved by the Finnish Immigration Service.
For all European citizens, the European Health Insurance Card is a necessity: it simplifies the procedures for any medical assistance needed during your temporary stay in Finland.
Please note that PhD Students are not entitled to use the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). FSHS provides health care for undergraduate and graduate students only.
If you are a doctoral student employed under a contract you are entitled to preventive occupational health services and general medical care by the University. It is however still recommended to have an additional health insurance at least for the first 12 months. Doctoral students employed under a contract may also purchase the Student Insurance Package (Sip).
Housing
Finding accommodation in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area can be a challenge. The University of Helsinki and the Student Union have compiled a Housing Guide with useful hints and the most important sources of information for house hunters.
Please note that the Foundation for Students in the Helsinki Region (HOAS) is able to offer accommodation for PhD Students only rarely.
After arrival
Immigration police and Register Office
Citizens of EU/EEA countries do not need a residence permit or visa, but they need to apply for a right to reside in Finland at the local police station within three months of arrival. For more information see the website of the Police.
Citizens of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) are registered at a Register Office if the stay in Finland lasts longer than 6 months. More information is available on the website of the Register Office (Maistraatti).
Regardless of your nationality you have to register at the municipal register office (Maistraatti). Acquiring a permanent address and place of domicile (kotikunta) entitles you to enjoy municipal benefits, including, if your stay last for over two years, also the right to use municipal health care.
Registration at the University
As a PhD student you have to register as either attending or non-attending for each academic year. More information on the annual registration is available at Studying website.
Top of page
Every day life as a PhD Student
Public transportation & Travel Card
The Helsinki Metropolitan Area travel card makes it easy to travel around in the Metropolitan Area. The remotely readable and reloadable Travel Card can be used on all forms of public transportation in the Metropolitan Area - on buses, trams, local trains, metro (in Helsinki), as well as on the Suomenlinna ferry.
No matter which mode of public transport you choose, the same ticketing and fare collection system is in use on all transport modes. Fare pricing is based on zones which are determined by municipal boundaries. Information about tickets and fares, timetables and routes and a journey planner can be found at HSL website.
Eating in University Cafeterias
Unicafe operates in several locations across the University Campuses. Please refer to Unicafe Restaurants site for information about the cafeterias and services hours and Unicafe Price List for the prices.
Links for you to get started
Info Bank
Info Bank, (Infopankki) contains basic information about Finnish society and culture, permits needed by those settling in Finland, housing, studying Finnish, health care and social, cultural and leisure services as well as links to websites where you will find additional information. Please visit the Info Bank Website.
In To
In To is the service point of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and Finnish Tax Administration for employees moving to and from Finland. In To also helps self-employed persons, students and companies hiring and recruiting foreign labour. The In To multi-lingual officials give you service on social security and on taxation matters in Finland and direct you to the authorities who are connected to the immigration. Please visit the InTo Website.
KELA
KELA, the Finnish Social Security Institution looks after basic security for all persons resident in Finland. The terms and conditions of the benefits provided by Kela are defined in legislation. Kela is also responsible for providing public information about its benefits and services, for undertaking research to develop social security further, and for compiling statistics, estimates and projections required for the planning and monitoring of benefit programmes and other operations. Please visit the KELA website.
Employment and Economic Development Offices
Employment and Economic Development Offices offer services to the unemployed, those who are currently working or entering the working life as well as to employers. The Employment and Economic Development Offices have 200 outlets all over Finland. The Employment and Economic Development Offices offer individual customer service and Internet services that jobseekers can use on their own. Please visit the Employment and Economic Development Offices website.
HYY, the Student Union of the University of Helsinki
Members of HYY, the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, are entitled to many benefits and services offered directly or indirectly by the Student Union. Doctoral students can also become members of the Student Union if they wish to do so. Student benefits for postgraduate students are more limited than those of the undergraduate students. Please visit the HYY website for more information.
Updated March 20, 2013
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