Application Process and Important Information for Applicants

1. Choose the course you wish to apply for. Make sure you fulfil the criteria of the course.
2. Choose your accommodation, if you wish to reserve it already at this point.
3. Choose your social programme, if you wish to reserve it already at this point.
4. If you need a visa, get a scan of your passport (pdf/jpg).
5. Go to the application system to submit your application. The link to the application system is available on each course page. If your home university has an agreement with the University of Helsinki / Helsinki Summer School or you will receive a scholarship from your home university, please mention this on your application form. Fill in the application for carefully. Be sure to complete the tasks on the left-side menu. After the tasks are completed, return to the My application  and click on Edit application and submit your application.
6. Wait for your acceptance e-mail.
7. Once you have received an e-mail confirming your acceptance to the course and the instructions for paying, pay the fees within one week (seven days). Pay only the fees you have been instructed to pay. An acceptance and invitation letter for visa matters can be sent only after we have received your course fee.
8. If you did not reserve accommodation or the social programme when you applied to the Helsinki Summer School, you can make the reservations later, provided that we still have room. Do not pay the fees before receiving a confirmation of your reservation and the instructions for paying.
9. Get prepared for the course. Check out your course area in Moodle. IT usernames will be sent in batches in June and July depending on your application time.
10. Prepare for your journey. We highly recommend having an insurance, as the Helsinki Summer School does not have insurance on your behalf.
11. Make sure you have paid everything before coming to Helsinki.

Finland is a party to the Schengen Agreement, which allows people to move freely within the Schengen area (all the Nordic countries and the EU with the exception of Great Britain and, Ireland and Cyprus). Accordingly, anyone entering Finland from within the Schengen area needs only a valid passport or some other official document issued for travelling purposes.  Students coming from outside of the Schengen area will need a passport and possibly also a visa.

How can I find out if I need a visa?

Check the list provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland to see if you need a visa in order to enter the Schengen area.

If you need a visa:

Contact the nearest Finnish Embassy for further assistance.
Mark it in your online application and upload a scan of the first page of your passport to your application.

Note:

• The Helsinki Summer School team cannot provide you with any assistance in obtaining a passport or visa.
• We cannot guarantee that you will receive a visa – the Finnish authorities make that decision.
• We strongly recommend that you begin the application process for a visa as early as possible, as it may take many weeks. Please note our cancellation policy should your visa application be denied. We also recommend you do not pay the accommodation fee or the social programme fees before you have been granted a visa.

Make sure that your visa allows for a few travel days both before and after the Summer School session. 

Helsinki Summer School students benefit from the great services and facilities offered by the University of Helsinki.

Moodle Online Learning Environment

Helsinki Summer School uses Moodle online learning environment for distributing study materials, course programmes and general information. Some of the courses use it also for group work, learning assignments etc. Students will receive their credentials for Moodle before coming to Finland.

Learning Centres and Computer Facilities

Helsinki Summer School students have access to the University’s Learning Centres and receive a IT username that allows unlimited access to the extensive computer facilities, and to use the wireless Internet connection at the University.

Libraries

Students are issued a certificate of attendance allowing them to get a library card and borrow books from the Helsinki University Library.

Please click for further information

Student Restaurants

Helsinki Summer School students may enjoy lunches at UniCafe student restaurants at any of the campuses.

Please click for further information

Sports Centres

Helsinki Summer School students are entitled to use the gym and participate in the group training sessions offered by the UniSport gyms and sports centres at the University of Helsinki for a student friendly price at any of the campuses.

Please click for further information (please choose “In English” from the top of the page).

After the Summer School course session, we will e-mail the official transcript, the course diploma, and the course description to students who have passed their course. A certificate of attendance will be handed to you already during the last day of the Summer School course.

Extra transcripts

If you need to order extra copies of your transcript check this website for more information.

Credit transfer

As Helsinki Summer School gives ECTS credits for its courses, you can easily transfer credits to other European universities using the ECTS system. We do, however, recommend that you check with your home institution before applying to HSS to be sure that the credits are transferable.

More information about the ECTS credits is available on the website of the European Commission.

Helsinki Summer School offers scholarships for asylum seeker/refugee background immigrants in Finland

Helsinki Summer School offers 10 scholarships on their summer courses for asylum seeker/refugee background immigrants in Finland. Free-of-charge SIMHE-places are not available on the Intensive Finnish Course.

• Requirements:
  • Minimum of two years of studies in higher education
  • Good academic English skills
  • Other course-specific criteria
   
• Additional requirement: a certificate proving that applicant
  • has been granted an asylum OR
  • has a residence permit on basis of subsidiary protection OR
  • has entered Finland as a quota refugee

If you meet the SIMHE-requirements, check the course selection and submit an application. Remember to specify in your application that you’re a SIMHE applicant.

NB! Do not attach any SIMHE-documents into your application. After you have submitted your application, the HSS team will contact you and advise how to submit the required documents.

For additional information, please contact: summer-school(at)helsinki.fi