HYY - Student Union of the University of Helsinki

Membership for all students
Wealth to support student activities
Students in University decision making
Reform of university admistration
Student magazines
Services for members
Support for student organisations
Read more about HYY

Membership for all students

Every undergraduate and graduate student enrolled in the University of Helsinki is automatically also a member of the Student Union (HYY) . For postgraduate students, the membership is voluntary.

The mission of HYY is "to represent the students of the University of Helsinki, look after their interests, and foster their academic, social and intellectual endeavours". HYY provides its members with a variety of services and represents them on various administrative and political forums. Compared with most student unions in the world, HYY enjoys remarkably high status at the University and at various levels of society at large.

Wealth to support student activities

HYY is very wealthy with its considerable landed property assets in the very centre of Helsinki. For example, HYY owns the Old Student House (Vanha), a historical building by one of the main thoroughfares, Aleksanterinkatu. It is a regular venue for instance concerts and happenings.

Hundreds of students carry out voluntary work within HYY for various academic, social, and cultural goals. An important part of the Union's work is the voluntary committees, informal working groups focusing on a specific field of interest. They are funded by the Student Union and open to all students. There are committees for academic affairs, environmental issues, cultural affairs, bilingual issues, etc. One of the committees is the European Student Network (ESN) committee, which works for the international exchange students of the University. Tsemppi, the organisation for degree students, caters for the needs of those students who study for a degree at the University of Helsinki.

Students in University decision making

The Student Union enjoys a legal status at the University. The Student Union is autonomous in its own affairs. This is guaranteed by the Universities Act. This same Act together with the Universities Decree regulate – and guarantee – the representation of students at all levels of university decision making. Universities themselves decide upon the quotas of different interest groups in their decision-making bodies.

Services for members

With the annual HYY membership fee (c. 90 euro) and the student card, Lyyra, members may use a great variety of services, take part in various events and activities, not to mention the discounts students get e.g. in travelling, cultural events, and some stores. Over 250 sub-organisations of HYY also organise a wide variety of social events. With the student card, Lyyra, HYY also subsidises students' meals etc. through a bonus system.

HYY is a founding partner in the Helsinki Student Housing Foundation HOAS, the largest student dormitory owner in and around Helsinki. HYY also owns two dormitories and maintains the Student Unions' Housing Agency that arranges private market apartments directly for students – without a commission.

HYY is also a founder of the student health care services, YTHS (the Finnish Student Health Service), as well as NYYTI, a voluntary association for preventive mental health care for students. The NYYTI Web site is in Finnish, but you may also contact them in English. The Student Union membership fee for undergraduate and graduate students includes a health care contribution, which entitles students to health care services by YTHS. Postgraduate students are not entitled to the services of YTHS. Health care is provided free, or in the case of more specialised treatment, at a very low cost. Please note that the health care contribution is not an insurance policy.

Other services by HYY are the student restaurants, UniCafes, throughout the Metropolitan region, and the Law Students' Association Legal Aid service paid by HYY, to name a few.

Student magazines

The student magazines, Ylioppilaslehti in Finnish and Studentbladet in Swedish, are sponsored by The Student Union and delivered to every HYY member. HYY also regularly publishes information leaflets, surveys and other material for its members.

Support for student organisations

HYY contributes annually roughly one million euros from its businesses to various organisations associated with the university. This sum is larger than the entire membership fee total.