Passport

In general, a foreign citizen must carry a valid passport in order to enter Finland. Finland is a Schengen country (the link opens up in a new tab) and usually the checks at the common borders have been abolished. But under special conditions the border check can be introduced. The Schengen Area consists of EU member states (apart from the United Kingdom and Ireland) together with Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Nevertheless, citizens of Schengen countries must have a passport or an internationally recognised official identity card during their stay in Finland. We recommend those coming from the Schengen countries to bring a passport with them. It is absolutely necessary in case you desire to travel outside the EU from Finland, for example on study tours to Russia.

Students who are citizens of an EU country can enter Finland with their EU Identity Card. If they are planning to travel outside the EU during their stay in Finland, they need a passport.

Visa and residence permit

Please note that you should not come to Finland with a tourist visa since they cannot be extended in Finland.

Citizens of the Nordic Countries

Students coming from Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are allowed to arrive, reside, study and work without visas or residence permits in Finland and they  do not need to register at the Finnish Immigration Service either.

EU citizens and citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

EU citizens (the link opens up in a new tab) and citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can enter Finland freely (=without visa or a residence permit). However, if they stay longer than 3 months (90 days), they must register their right of residence (the link opens up in a new tab) at the Finnish Immigration Service within three months of arrival in Finland. Please note that if you travel outside the Finnish borders, you will be able to stay again for 3 months (90 days) in Finland without registration. In this case, please remember to save all your travel documents.

You can fill the application online. However, you will still need to visit a Migri office within three months of submitting your application to verify your identity and to show the original documents. Please note that Migri offices can get busy, so please book an appointment well in advance. You can also reach Migri by phone or email. Joensuu does not have a Migri office, the closest office is in Kuopio.

Please note, that the processing of an application is subject to a fee. Also be sure you have all the attachments and information needed to process the application. If any the documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, you must have them translated into one of these languages by an authorized translator. Please take all the original documents with you to the Migri office.

Non-EU citizens

Non-EU/non-EEA citizens (from countries located in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America) intending to enter Finland for more than 3 months (90 days) must apply for a residence permit for studying before their arrival in Finland. The residence permits in Finland are issued by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). It is recommended that students fill the application online (Enter Finland). It is possible to apply for a study-based continuous residence permit (type A) for the entire duration of the studies.

Sufficient funds and tuition fee

You must have sufficient funds for living in Finland during the entire period of your residence permit. You need to have at least EUR 800 per month at your disposal to cover your accommodation, food and other costs. If your studies take one year or longer, you must have EUR 9,600 in your bank account when you submit the application. If there is a tuition fee for your studies but you have not paid the tuition fee when applying the residence permit, you must also show evidence of sufficient funds to both pay the tuition fee and support yourself.

If you have been awarded a grant or scholarship (e.g. Finland Scholarship or Erasmus Mundus Scholarship) to cover your living costs in Finland, add proof of this grant or scholarship to your application. The money will be counted towards the income requirement.

At UEF: the tuition waiver / scholarship information is in the acceptance letter.

For more info: Finnish Immigration Service

You can submit your application online as soon as you have received your Certificate of Admission from the university. Applying electronically is the fastest and cheapest way to get a decision on your residence permit. You can also submit the application to a Finnish Embassy in your home country. If there is no Finnish Embassy or Consulate in your home country, you should contact the Finnish Embassy nearest to your home country. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland keeps a list of Finnish Embassies and consulates around the world.

The students need to

1) apply for the residence permit (online) and 2) make the arrangements for the compulsory visit to a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) office within three months of submitting the application to verify their identity. The embassy or consulate can get busy, so please book an appointment well in advance.

There might not be a Finnish mission in the country of your legal residence, thus you might have to visit another country. UEF recommends to start the residence permit application process as soon as possible.

What is required for the application?

• a valid passport
• a valid health insurance to cover the costs of medical treatment
• a letter of acceptance from the university
• sufficient funds for living in Finland
• if applicable, a clarification on tuition fee or scholarship
  

The Finnish Embassy will submit your residence permit application to the Finnish Immigration Service for a decision. Depending on the country you are coming from, it can take approximately 1–3 months to get a residence permit. Do not acquire airline tickets before the residence permit has been granted to you. It cannot be guaranteed that the residence permit decision will be ready before your flight to Finland, especially if your application is incomplete or submitted late.

Please apply for the Finnish Personal Identity Code at the same time with your residence permit! You can read more about the importance of having a Finnish personal identity code below “Registration of a foreigner in Finland and the Finnish personal identity code”.

Foreign citizens from all countries, who intend to stay in Finland for a year or longer, must also register at the the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Please read more below “Registration of a foreigner in Finland – Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV)”

If you need to apply for an extension to your residence permit, please read the instructions Finnish Immigration Service – Extended permit. Apply for an extended permit about three months before your residence permit expires and please note that you can only apply for an extension of residence permit while in Finland.

Embassies and Consulates

A list of Finnish Embassies and consulates around the world can be found Embassies, consulates general and honorary consulates by country

You may want to contact the Embassy or Consulate of your home country while in Finland. Contact details can be found on Representation of foreign states in Finland or in the nearest country to Finland.

Important Links

Insurance: https://migri.fi/en/insurance
Sufficient funds: https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement-for-students
Enter Finland online form: https://enterfinland.fi/eServices/info/studypermit

Registration of a foreigner in Finland
Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV)

In the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (former Register Office) you can

• do the Registration of a Foreigner
• apply for the Finnish Personal Identity Code
• Apply for Municipality of Residence
• submit the Notification of Move

Registration of a foreigner in Finland and the Finnish personal identity code

All UEF students staying in Finland for longer than three months should obtain a Finnish personal identity code (the link opens up in a new tab) so if you don’t have it already, please visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency to receive it. The code is the key to transfering data between the university and different services. The code differentiates you from everyone else in the country, and you need it for, e.g., opening a bank account, in hospitals and the registration offices of different authorities.

Registration of foreigners (the link opens up in a new tab) always requires a visit at a Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s (DVV) service location. Please, book an appointment by using the online service and request to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System and to receive a Finnish Personal Code. You can also reach the DVV by phone or secure email. The information that is registered is used for various purposes, such as for elections, taxation, health care, judicial administration and statistical purposes. When you visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, you will need to bring a valid passport or other identification, UEF study certificate, as well as a possible certificate of marriage and birth certificates of any children moving to Finland with you. Also bring your residence permit if you have one.

After receiving the identity code, it is very important that you inform the Student and Learning Services’ customer service (contact information at the bottom of the page) about it as soon as possible so that we can save it to the student register Peppi. To save the ID code in the student register:

To save the ID code in the student register:

• You can visit our office and present the identity card or another document that displays the identity code.
• If you are unable to visit our office in person, and wish to handle the matter via email, please contact the Student and Learning Services’ customer service and request instructions for sending the identity code in an encrypted email message. Wait for instructions before sending the identity code.

Never send your Finnish personal identity code via open email.

If you are a non-EU citizen and you stay in Finland for longer than a year, please visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency for getting the Municipality of Residence. It entitles you to use some of the local services, for example the public health care.

Citizens of the Nordic countries do not need residence permits, but if they stay in Finland for more than six months, they are advised to register at a Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

Municipality of Residence

Read about Municipality of Residence at the DVV’s site

Notification of Move

If you are staying in Finland for longer than three months, you are required to fill out a Notification of Move form. You can fill out the form when you visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s service location or online. Alternatively, you can fill out the form at any post office. If you need help with filling the form out, please ask for instructions at the International Mobility Services.

Financing the studies

There are no tuition fees for the EU and EEA citizens at the University of Eastern Finland. The non-European citizens studying for a a whole Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree have fees which vary from 8,000 to 10,000 €/year depending on the programme. The fees need to be paid before you can register as a student at the University of Eastern Finland. The university also offers tuition waivers for degree students required to pay tuition fees.

In some cases the students may receive a full or a partial scholarship for the tuition fee.  Please note that these fees are for the degree seeking students only, not for the exchange students.

The students must also be able to cover all their own living costs in Finland (minimum of 560 euros per month for a single student). Further information on the average living expenses in Finland (opens in a new tab). It is good the remember that the actual  living costs depend greatly on personal lifestyle and habits.

Own finances are also one of the requirements for the Finnish residence permit, and finances need to be available permanently on the student’s bank account for the whole period the permit is applied for. Financing one’s stay and studies in Finland by working is not possible. The University of Eastern Finland is not offering any financial aid for students’ living costs but some programmes may offer those scholarships.

The tuition fees for visiting students are EUR 3500 for a full academic year or EUR 1750 for one semester. The tuition fees will also be collected when the study period is shorter than one semester (e.g. a visiting student staying at the University of Eastern Finland for three months will pay a tuition fee of EUR 1750). Visiting students cannot register before the tuition fee is paid, and proof of the payment is required to be presented upon registration. The University of Eastern Finland does not offer scholarships or other financial support for visiting students. More information on tuition fees of visiting students.

More information: Tuition fees and waivers (opens in a new tab).

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Students are responsible for planning, scheduling and completing their studies. The course information is available in UEF’s student and study register Peppi. In addition to Peppi, the Departmental Coordinators are always happy to offer information on the courses. Please remember that you have to register for all courses and exams separately and well in advance. Also, note that there are course-specific registration periods for courses and exams.

Please note, that you can sign up for courses only after you have registered as being present at the university. Registration for courses requires a UEF username and password that you will receive when you register as a student.

You register for the courses usually in Peppi. The course registration is especially important for the courses with limited number of participants, such as laboratory courses, field courses, language courses, or other small-group teaching.  Whereas some big lecture courses may not require registration at all – a list may be circulated at the first meeting of the course where participants sign their names. Please note that during the covid-19 pandemic it is important that everybody is registered to courses so that we know who is participating in each course.

The exchange students make a Learning Agreement when applying to UEF. The Learning Agreement is the starting point for the studies at UEF. Please note, that the Learning Agreement is not the same as course registration and does not guarantee a place in the course. Read more on courses offered for the Exchange Students in English (opens in a new tab) and find forms for incoming exchange students.

The degree seeking students make a personal study plan in cooperation with the academic coordinator of their degree programme.

It is important to note that some advanced courses may have set requirements on the skills and background knowledge of the participants and this may limit their availability for some students. Participation may also be limited because of programme regulations, the availability of equipment and/or instruments, or the teaching method employed. Course descriptions identify these limitations when they exist by indicating the required or suggested prerequisites and the maximum number of students that is allowed to participate. International students are advised to take note of these limitations.

If you have signed up for a course in Peppi and then decide to drop it, you should remember to cancel your registration for the course.

Schedules and more detailed information about courses can be found in Peppi as soon as they have been confirmed by the Faculty. More detailed information on the courses can be obtained from the responsible lecturer of the course. Each programme sets the schedules for the courses which may lead to timetable conflicts with courses in different programmes. If courses overlap, students should discuss the situation with both lecturers and negotiate the best possible solution.

Changes in course schedules will usually be informed in Peppi or by email to the participants.

Sign up for courses in Peppi (opens in a new tab)

Read more on how to start your studies at UEF

Credits

The Finnish national credit allocation and accumulation system is equivalent to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). This means that credits (opintopiste) are the same as those in the ECTS. One year of full-time studies requires about 1600 hours of work and corresponds to 60 credits (30 credits per semester). Lectures, exercises, seminars, independent studies as well as examinations have been included in this estimate of required work load of a student.

Grades

Grading of courses at the University of Eastern Finland follows two basic practices: 1) Pass or Fail, or 2) applying a numerical scale with grading from 0-5 (maximum) for passed courses.

The performance (exams and assignments) of each student is compared to the goals of the course. If you want to discuss the principles of grading, please do so at the beginning of the course. Questions concerning credits should be directed to the contact person named in the course description or to the instructor of the course at the first meeting.

Transcript of Academic Record

The studies completed at UEF will be saved in the Peppi study register. A Transcript of Academic Record is the document listing all the courses the student has completed at UEF. Please note that failed or other non-completed courses are not shown in the UEF transcript. The student can use Atomi in Peppi (opens in a new tab) for checking the completed courses and getting a digitally signed transcript of records (opens in a new tab). Please note that the digitally signed documents are official only in their digital form and not as paper-printed copies. If you need an official paper version of your transcript of records with a signature and a stamp, please contact Student and Learning Services  (opens in a new tab).

Exchange students will be able to access Peppi for 4 months after their study right is finished. During that time they will be able to get the digitally signed Transcript of Records from Atomi in Peppi. If you need an official paper version of your transcript of records with a signature and a stamp, please contact Student and Learning Services  (opens in a new tab). 

Degree students who have completed all the required courses, the thesis and the maturity test are required to fill out a certificate application form and return it to the faculty office. Further information about degree certificates and graduation (opens in a new tab) can be obtained from the faculties.

Procedure in cases of suspected fraud and disciplinary measures

Welcome to start your studies with us!

The orientation programme for the new students starting their studies with us in Autumn Semester 2025 will be organized at 12-17 (Finnish time) on 1-3 September, 2025. In addition to these general orientation session each programme/study field will offer their own orientation sessios.

We wish you warmly welcome to join our orientation programme!

The first two days of the orientation (1-2 Sept) will be online webinars and the 3 Sept will be face-to-face on campus. The orientation programme and the links to the webinars will be available here later.

Orientation Programme, January 2025

Tuesday 7 January

Online webinars
12.00-12.10 Welcoming Words, Riikka Pellinen, Director of International Affairs
12.10-12.40 Digital Services, Usernames, and Access Rights, Kaisa Soininen and Tommi Eskelinen, Power Points (opens in a new tab)
12.40-13.40 Orientation Info and General Info about Studying, Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen, Power Points (opens in a new tab)

13.40-14.00 Break

14.00-15.00 How to Use Peppi and Tuudo? Kaisu Kärkkäinen and Tellervo Hirvonen, Recording 51 min. (opens in a new tab)
15.00- 15.30 For Exchange Students ONLY: Requirements and Paperwork for Exchange, Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen, Power Points (opens in a new tab), Recording 18 min. (opens in a new tab)

Wednesday 8 January

Online webinars
12.00-13.00 Official Matters, Päivi Haltilahti and Kirsi Konttinen, Power Points (opens in a new tab)
13.00-13.30 Welcome to the UEF Library!, Olli Hiltunen and Sofi Timonen, Canva (opens in a new tab)
13.30-13.45 The Services of Oppari, Harri Kurki and Alisa Rissanen, Power Points (opens in a new tab)

13.45-14.00 Break

14.00-14.45 Services of the Student Union (ISYY), Salla Haapavaara and Elina Pitkänen, PDF (opens in a new tab), PDF (opens in a new tab)
15.00-15.30 Activities for Students by JEIS Joensuu, JEIS representatives (for the students in Joensuu)

Thursday 9 January

Separate programmes in lecture rooms on campuses.

Joensuu Campus, room AU100, Aurora Building

12.30-13.30 For exchange students: Signatures and Stamps for the Exchange Documents, Päivi Haltilahti
13.30-14.30 Tips Followed by Questions and Answers, Päivi Haltilahti and Sami Tanskanen

Kuopio Campus, room CA100, Canthia Building

12.00-13.00 Getting to Know Each Other, Kirsi Konttinen
13.00-13.30 Activities for Students by ESN KISA, Kingsley Aliche and ESN Presentatives, Power Points (opens in a new tab)
13.30-14.15 How to Make the Most of Your Stay?, Kirsi Konttinen, PDF (opens in a new tab)
14.15-15.15 Signatures and Stamps for the Exchange Documents, Kirsi Konttinen

We wish to make the start of your studies with us as smooth as possible. This is why we offer an orientation programme for all the new international students at the beginning of each semester. The programme includes a lot of practical information and tips on how to get things rolling. We hope all our new students will be able to join the orientation.

How to start your studies?

1. Make sure you keep in touch with your programme/academic coordinator and with your student tutor.
2. Study the orientation material in our student website Kamu (opens in a new tab) .
3. Complete the UEF Digistartti.
4. Join the general orientation webinars.
5. Join the orientation session of your own programme if offered.
6. After registering as a student at UEF and activating your username, start signing up for courses and feel free to contact UEF staff members if you have any questions or concerns.

How to Complete the Credit for the Orientation?

In order to complete the credit (1 ECTS) for the course Orientation for the New International Students, you should

Join the orientation sessions (both the general ones and the field-specific ones).

1. Study the orientation material through the links on this website and in Kamu (opens in an new tab)
2. Complete all the assignments in the Digistartti (opens in a new tab).
3. Register for the course Orientation for International Students in Peppi 1 – 31 Jan, 2025 . The course code 1131003-3009.

Please make sure to complete all of these in case you wish to earn the credit.
The deadline for completing the requirements is 31 January 2025.
The credits will be marked within 3 weeks from the deadline.

The orientation offers

• essential information on studying and university life at UEF
• tips on different practical matters
• information on Finland and on the Finnish culture
• a possibility to meet other students

Those who complete all parts of the programme will earn 1 ECTS credit. Please register for the orientation course by 30 September in Peppi (opens in a new tab). Peppi is the Student and Study Register at UEF. Please use the course code 1131003-3008 when registering for the orientation.

The pre-arrival webinar was held 25 November. Please find here below the Power Points and the recordings of the webinar.

13.30-13.45 Arriving in Finland and at UEF, Power Points (opens in a new tab), Recording (opens in a new tab)
13.45-14.15 Accommodation in Joensuu (Elli), Power Points (opens in a new tab)
13.45-14.15 Accommodation in Kuopio (Kuopas), Power Points (opens in a new tab), Recording (opens in a new tab)
14.15-14.30 Break
14-30-15.00 Services of the Student Union (ISYY), Power Points (opens in a new tab), Recording (opens in a new tab)
15.00-15.30 Registration and UEF Usernames for New Students, Power Points (opens in a new tab), Recording (opens in a new tab)

***

The Semester starts with the Orientation Programme

The orientation for the Autumn Semester starts at the beginning of September and the orientation for the Spring Semester starts usually on the first working day right after 6 January . The programmes will be published here about a month before the start of the orientation.

Other introductory courses

Other introductory courses (opens in a new tab) to studying at UEF:
University Study Skills (only for the degree seeking students), University Computing Skills, and Information Skills and Sources.
Language courses are offered by the Language Centre (opens in a new tab).

For the Master’s Degree Students at UEF

If you are studying for a Master’s Degree at UEF, your studies will start with the Orientation Programme at the beginning of September. However, the Master’s  programmes  of European Forestry, Forestry CBU and Transfor-M will start already earlier in August.

For the incoming Exchange Students at UEF

The Autumn Semester starts at the beginning of September and the Spring Semester on the first working day after Epiphany 6 Jan. The semesters start with the Orientation Programme. Usually the exchange students start their exchange period at UEF at the beginning of the semester but it is possible to start the exchange studies at another time, too, if the suitable courses are available. The students coming for a research project or  for a practical training can negotiate their schedule with their supervisor at UEF and with their home university.

For information on the Academic Calendar at UEF.

Welcoming Words from Our Rector

Choose English subtitles from the settings.

ISYY is here to advocate UEF students’ rights ant to provide services!

The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (opens in a new tab), ISYY, is UEF students’ advocacy and service organisation. All Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students of UEF despite their study field are automatically required to join ISYY according to the Finnish University law. Additionally, doctoral students and exchange students may join ISYY on a voluntary basis.

As a part of the UEF registration process (opens in a new tab) you are paying the Student Union membership fee (opens in a new tab). If you’re not a degree student, paying the ISYY membership fee is voluntary. ISYY provides services and activities for a fun and meaningful student life and we are here for you, so that your studies in our university would go as smoothly as possible!

As an ISYY member you are a part of our active student community. We organise recreational activities, events, sports services and also possibilities to impact student life in our campuses. We also advocate for your interests, so that you can focus on studying!

Student Union activities are a great way to meet new people with the same interests, You only have one (student) life – make the most of it!

Our Membership Services (links will open in a new tab):

• Term Sticker to a Student Card
• Interest Advocacy
• Recreational Activities and Events
• Possibilities to Make an Impact in Student Union and UEF
• SYKETTÄ University Sport Services
• Equipment Loan Service (e.g. sports equipment and board games)
• Venue Hire
• Club Activities
• International Services (e.g. Survival Package to Exchange Students)
• Communication Services, such as Weekly Feed Newsletters)
• Support and Services (e.g. Grants and Trainings) for Student Associations
• Office Services
• Anti-Harassment Contact Persons
• Free Student Calendar, get your own from ISYY Office!

Read more about ISYY Services (opens in a new tab).

Survival package for Exchange Students

Exchange students who are members of the Student Union can rent a Survival Package which includes some essential homeware items to start your exchange abroad, such as kitchenware, bed sheets and towels. The idea is reusing, so most of the items are second-hand. The package content is slightly different in Joensuu and in Kuopio.

For more information: ISYY survival package (opens in a new tab).

ISYY Offices at UEF Campuses

In Kuopio, ISYY Office can be found from Studentia building (C-door) and in Joensuu, from Haltia building (2nd floor). You’re welcome to pop in when you’re on campus! ISYY office opening hours and exceptions can be found from ISYY website’s front page.

ISYY office opening hours and exceptions (front page) (opens in a new tab)
ISYY office contact information (opens in a new tab)

Follow ISYY’s Social Media!

By following ISYY’s communication channels you’ll have information about your student community and services for students. You’ll also be notified of our upcoming events, to which every ISYY member is warmly welcome to join. In addition to our own news, we’ll also give you information about other local and national matters regarding student life.

You should follow not only our social media channels, but also our weekly newsletter, Weekly Feed, which will be sent to your email every Tuesday. As an ISYY member you’ll be automatically added to the mailing list in the beginning of semester.

Other Useful Information

• From ISYY General Info (PDF file, opens in a new tab) you can, e.g., get more information about us, our services and benefits for our members as well as how you can make an impact on student life on campus!
• We have collected useful information for new international students (opens in a new tab) to the ISYY website.

Follow ISYY’s Communication Channels (links will open in a new tab):

• ISYY website
• ISYY newsletter
• ISYY on Facebook
• ISYY on Instagram
• ISYY on Youtube
• ISYY on Viva Engage

Associations and ISYY Clubs on UEF campuses

There are a wide range of Student Associations, Campus Associations and ISYY Clubs that are operating on UEF campuses in Joensuu and Kuopio. Student Associations gather together UEF students who study the same subject, Campus Associations gather students with the same interest (e.g. politics, theater or choir). ISYY Clubs operate under ISYY and they gather together students with the same interests or hobbies. Read more about associations and clubs from the ISYY website (links will open in a new tab).

• Student Associations
• Campus Associations
• ISYY Clubs

ISYY Clubs

ISYY has clubs for various different hobbies and activities. All ISYY members are welcome to join any club activities! In Joensuu, there is e.g. a Japanese culture club (JOOJAKU), board game club (Joensuu Board Gamers), Magic the Gathering club (MtG Guild) and a chess club (Joensuu Chess Club). In Kuopio, there is e.g. a board game club (Kärmes), UEF Muslim Students’ Club and a chess club (Itä-Suomen Akateeminen Shakki).

Joensuu’s Exchange and International Students (JEIS)

JEIS is a Student Union (ISYY) club dedicated to organising fun free time activities, events, and trips for both Finnish and international students.The most important task of JEIS is to introduce Finnish culture and lifestyle to international students and to give Finnish students an opportunity to gain international experiences in Joensuu by organising diverse events and activities. In addition, JEIS is active in promoting intercultural understanding on and off campus.

For more information: ISYY Clubs (opens in a new tab)

Health insurance for incoming international students

UEF requires that all incoming international students must have a valid personal health insurance and a travel insurance from an internationally recognized insurance agency for the whole duration of their stay in Finland. Insurance should cover all costs related to a treatment of sudden illness, accidents and accidental death. It is also important that the insurance also covers travels to and from Finland.

EU Citizens

All the citizens of the EU countries (opens in a new tab) and Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are entitled to use the public health care services on the same basis as Finnish citizens, when they are covered by health insurance in their home country and when they have a European Health Insurance Card (opens in a new tab). This card gives access to medically necessary public health care during a temporary stay in Finland. Students should always carry it with them in case of a sudden illness or an accident. However, students from the Nordic countries do not need the European Health Insurance Card.

You should note that health care is not completely free of charge even for EU/EEA citizens. Please also note that the European Health Insurance Card is not valid during your journey to and from Finland or during trips to other countries.

Those who wish to use the services of a private doctor shall first pay the doctor for the treatment. Later, students with the European Health Insurance card or equivalent documents (citizens of the Nordic/EU/EEA countries, Switzerland or Québec) can apply compensation from Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) and they will be compensated for a part of the medical fee. Alternatively, they can claim for the compensation from their own health insurance offices later after returning to their home countries.

Non-EU Citizens

Students from non-EU/EEA countries must have a health insurance and a travel insurance.

Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries must be covered by a private health insurance from an internationally recognized, reliable and financially sound insurance agency. The insurance should be without deductible. Non-EU/non-EEA citizens must have an insurance to obtain the residence permit for Finland.  The health insurance must be obtained prior to applying for a residence permit and it must be valid upon entry to Finland.

Students applying for an extension to their residence permit must also have appropriate health insurance. The insurance must be valid throughout the entire stay in Finland.

The insurance deductible may not be more that 300 €. If  you study in Finland less than two years, the health insurance must cover both sickness and accident related medical treatment up to 120,000 €. If you study in Finland for at least two years, your insurance cover must be up to 40,000 € for medical expenses. If the studies last two years or longer, health insurance must cover medical expenses up to a minimum of EUR 40 000. This is because the students will usually have a place of residence in Finland and are therefore entitled to the public health care services. Check the possible updates for the insurance requirements (opens in a new tab) by the Finnish Immigration Service, Migri  (opens in a new tab).

Please remember to apply for the Municipality of Residence (opens in a new tab) at the local DVV (Digital and Population Data Services Agency, opens in a new tab) Office in Finland as soon as you arrive to receive access to the public health care.

You should choose an internationally recognized, reliable insurance company for your insurances. Check the insurance providers (opens in a new tab) recommended by Migri. Migri requires an insurance from all non-EU students and they assess each insurance policy and its terms and conditions individually when they process the residence permit applications. Check what the insurance policy must include on Migri’s site. Please note that you as a policyholder should discuss all the issues with your insurance company, the University of Eastern has no right to do that.

NOTE: Students seeking a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at UEF have the right to use Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS/YTHS). However, this does not exclude the student from having to take out the private health insurance.

Accident Insurance Policy

UEF’s statutory Accident Insurance Policy is limited. Here are the conditions in short
-covers international students if they are taking a degree at UEF
-covers for students in unpaid practical training only
-the training has to be a part of the student’s curriculum
-in typical conditions only
-accidents during lectures, breaks, or anywhere outside the training are not covered

The University of Eastern Finland has taken out a statutory accident insurance policy for students, which is compliant with the act on compensation for studies-related accidents (460/2015). The insurance covers accidents that have occurred in conditions typical of studying during a person’s participation in practical teaching that can be paralleled with work or in an unpaid internship which is compliant with the curriculum or the basics of the degree, either within the institution or at an external host organisation.

The statutory accident insurance policy does not cover accidents occurring during lectures, breaks or on the regular way to or from the university. As regards internships, the insurance policy only covers unpaid internships. If the student receives salary during the internship, the student will be covered under the accident insurance policy of the employer.

Open University students can be regarded to be covered under the university’s accident insurance policy only if their studies include an internship that is compliant with a faculty-approved curriculum and that can be paralleled with practical work.

Non-Finnish students are covered under the insurance policy in Finland irrespective of their nationality, provided that they have enrolled as degree-seeking students at a Finnish educational institution.

The insurance policy is in force everywhere in the world. The accident insurance policy is also in force during a degree-related practical training abroad, provided that the training abroad is included in the student’s curriculum at the University of Eastern Finland. However, it is important to notice that the insurance policy is an accident insurance policy which is only in force as regards practical work. When travelling abroad, it is always recommended to take out a travel insurance policy which complements the insurance coverage also as regards travel illness, discontinuation, cancellation, and transportation back home.

Third Party Liability Insurance

The third party liability insurance policy of the University of Eastern Finland covers university students and exchange students as regards work in which they can be paralleled with university staff. This means when they work under the supervision and instruction of the university’s hired staff. The university’s third party liability insurance is not in force when the student’s internship takes place outside the university. Furthermore, university’s own students who have gone on exchange are not covered under the third party liability insurance.

Further information on matters relating to accidents of students:

• Joensuu Campus: Kari Reinikainen
• Kuopio Campus: Tarja Saastamoinen

Form, reporting occupational accidents (in Heimo, opens in a new window, logging required)

Four different health care sectors

• Finnish Student Health Service (for the Master’s and Bachelor’s degree students only, not for exchange students)
• Public Health Care
• Private Health Care
• Occupational Health Care

Finnish student health service, FSHS

• Offers preventive health care, medical care, mental health care and dental care (NOT emergency health care).
• Available for the students in Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes who have paid the Healthcare fee for Students in Higher Education to KELA: https://www.kela.fi/healthcare-fee-for-students-in-higher-education
• NOT available for exchange students.
• NOT available for the PhD students.

Fnnish Student Health Service (opens in a new tab) (Ylioppilaiden terveydenhuoltosäätiö, YTHS) provides all Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students of the University of Eastern Finland, with preventive health care, medical care, mental health care, and dental care. Please note that FSHS offers NO emergency or hospital treatments, nor maternity care. The services of FSHS are limited and only available during the opening hours. In case of an emergency, for example, you will need other health care services. FSHS runs health centres in 16 university towns and the student can have treatment at any of the centres.

Student Health Care Fee

Please note that FSHS provides health services only for degree students (not available for exchange students) who have paid the health care fee to KELA. Further information on the health care fee from KELA’s website: https://www.kela.fi/healthcare-fee-for-students-in-higher-education (opens in a new tab).

Booking an appointment with FSHS

The consultation fees for students at FSHS are very reasonable and services like consultation with a nurse or a general practitioner are free of charge.

Please note that if you are given a referral to Public Health Care, for example to the North Karelia Central Hospital or the Kuopio University Hospital, you will be charged the valid fees and you will not get any student reductions.

You should make an appointment for each visit to FSHS. If you are unable to keep the appointment, remember to cancel it no later than the day before in order to avoid any fees. The nurses, however, are available for consultation every morning without an appointment. For dental care you should be prepared to wait even up to a month for an appointment. Only in the case of an acute toothache it is possible to provide you with treatment during the same day.

Students who cannot use the Finnish Student Health Services are advised to use the public or private health services.

Public health care in Finland

If you are an EU citizen, you can use public health care. Please note that you should have your European Health Insurance Card or proof of health insurance available when booking and having a consultation with a General Practitioner (GP). Consultation is subject to fees.

• Available for all the EU/EEA citizens with the European Health Insurance Card (opens in a new tab) under the same conditions as for the local residents.
• Available for the non-EU/EEA citizens if they have a place of residence (opens in a new tab) in Finland.
• Available for the citizens of the countries Finland has a social security agreement (opens in a new tab) with.
• eHealth service (opens in a new tab)
• Public Health Care in Joensuu (opens in a new tab)
• Public Heath Care in Kuopio Only part of the information is in English. (opens in a new tab)

Making an appointment at a health care centre in Joensuu. (opens in a new tab)

Making an appointment at a health care centre in Kuopio. Only part of the information is in English. (opens in a new tab)

Private health care

Available for everybody who can afford to pay more expensive fees than in the public health care. If you have a private insurance, you might be able to cover the cost from your insurance.

Some private medical centres:
Mehiläinen (opens in a new tab)
Pihlajalinna (opens in a new tab)
Terveystalo (opens in a new tab)

Occupational health care (for uef staff)

Available for the UEF staff members. Further information in Guide for International Staff (opens in a new tab).

***
EU citizens

Before arriving in Finland all EU citizens are advised to obtain European Health Insurance Card (opens in a new tab) from their home country and always carry it with them. This card entitles everybody to treatments at the same price as Finns in case of sudden illness or accident. If you do not have the card, please ask your own health insurance office to send it to you. Finland also has social security agreements related to health care with some other countries but we advise you to carefully check the coverage of the insurance agreement and conditions on which benefits are available at your own health insurance office before arriving in Finland.

Please note that in addition to the European Health Insurance Card you will need a travel insurance because the EHIC covers the costs only in Finland and only under the same conditions as for the local people. So if you travel outside Finland or need a transportation back home when ill, it will not cover those costs.

Non-EU citizens

Non-EU/EEA citizens are advised to take a private health insurance with sufficient coverage which is a prerequisite for getting the residence permit for Finland. Further information on student insurance (opens a new tab).

Medical history and prescriptions

Please note that you should take your prescriptions with you if you have an illness that requires regular medical treatment. It is also recommended that you bring your medical history, translated into English, with you. No vaccinations are required for registration at the University of Eastern Finland.

The Finnish Social Security and it’s benefits are based on residency and it is defined by the Act respecting Residence-Based Social Security. Usually international students are not eligible for the Finnish Social Security system, as their residency in Finland is not considered permanent in nature. If you have a permanent dwelling and domicile in Finland (studying is not enough for this), you will be covered by the Finnish Social Security system. In this case, Social Security Card (Kela card) will be granted to you. For further information, see Kela (opens in a new tab) (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland).

All permanent residents of Finland are covered by pension security, i.e., health care services, health insurance benefits, parenthood benefits and family benefits. Some benefits involve additional requirements on residence in the country, mainly related to the duration of the residence.

Kela handles benefits related to different circumstances in life. Most commonly, students apply for a daily allowance under the Health Insurance Act, general housing allowance, compensation of doctor’s fees (if they have visited a private medical centre), and family benefits, i.e., maternity grant, maternity and parental allowance and child home care allowance. If one of the student’s parents is dead, he or she may have benefits related to family pensions for the duration of the studies. You can enquire about these from Kela and your pension provider or the Finnish Centre for Pensions.

Tips for managing your affairs:

• be active and find out yourself about social benefits and ask for advice;
• utilise e-Services;
• remember to apply for the benefits by the deadlines (application periods vary between benefits);
• fill in the application carefully and ensure that the required attachments are enclosed to make the processing of your case easier and quicker;
• if you are in a rush to submit an application, remember that it can be complemented later;
• respond to requests for further information sent to you, as they are not needlessly sent out; the decision on your case requires more information. Additionally,
• find out if you have a private insurance policy for accidents or illness.

Help for different life situations are gathered in this site.

TUUDO

Download mobile application “TUUDO” to your own phone!  TUUDO offers most useful information in well-being and health services for students.

The campus cities Joensuu and Kuopio are about two hours from each other. This means that you should choose either of the cities where you live and complete the studies. It is not possible to commute between the cities.

The student housing is offered by independent, non-profit student housing companies, that are not part of the University of Eastern Finland. They offer accommodation in different parts of the city but no on-campus dormitories are available.

As an exchange student you can apply for housing as soon as you have received the official Letter of Acceptance from the University of Eastern Finland but no sooner than three months before your arrival. You don’t need to send the housing company your formal letter of acceptance, just your application.
If you are a non-EU citizen and coming to study for a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree at UEF,  you should apply for housing only after receiving the Residence Permit.

Student Accommodation in Joensuu

Student Housing Company Joensuun Elli
Merimiehenkatu 30
tel. +358 (0)13 337 7800
e-mail: kodit@joensuunelli.fi
Check the website for opening hours

Accommodation in Joensuu for both international and Finnish students is offered by Joensuun Elli (opens in a new tab), an independent Student Housing Company that provides housing for more than 3000 students. Joensuun Elli has several housing units located in different parts of Joensuu and  they are situated within 0.5–7 km from the Joensuu campus. Most students live in a shared flat where they have a private room and they share kitchen, bathroom, and toilet with 1-4 other students. Exchange students are usually accommodated in a furnished room with a bed and a mattress, a desk, a chair and a wardrobe. There are no curtains, rugs, linen, dishes, cutlery, etc. in the flats. The Student Union rents survival packages to cover the basic needs. Both Finnish and international degree and post-graduate students are normally accommodated in a room without furniture (only wardrobe). Students arriving with their family (i.e. spouse and/or children) may apply for a two-bedroom family flat. Please note that you can apply a family apartment also with a friend or a relative.

Rent for a room in a shared flat is about 190-300 euros/month. Rent includes electricity, heating and water. Tenants who have a furnished room need to pay a reasonable additional fee for the furniture. In all flats there is a possibility to have the ElliNet internet connection for 20 euros/month. There are no computers in the flats, and in order to be able to use the internet connection, tenants may have to buy a suitable adapter for their personal computer. Note that the internet will not be available right away. (There are also other possibilities, for example, a mobile broadband modem that you can purchase from a tele-communications company and is usually a cheaper alternative.). There is a free laundry room and a public sauna in every housing unit. Private sauna or a parking space for car can be reserved for an extra fee. There are no meals or cleaning service available.

How to apply for housing (opens in a new tab) with Joensuun Elli. Fill out the application carefully. Please note that if your stay requires a Resident Permit, you should apply for housing only after you have received the permit.

As soon as you receive an accommodation offer by email, you should reply whether you accept or refuse the offered accommodation. Usually you will receive a housing offer about one month before your planned arrival. Acceptance of offered accommodation is legally binding and will be considered as a signature on the lease. Rent must be paid from the confirmed date onwards. Unconfirmed reservations will automatically be cancelled and the applicant will lose the accommodation offered and the application will no longer be valid.

A tenant’s lease begins always on the first day of the month and it can be made for full months only, ending on the last day of the month. This means that the tenant has to pay the rent for a whole month even if he or she does not need the apartment for the entire period.

For further information about apartments, their location, applying, etc., see the Joensuun Elli website (opens in a new tab).

Temporary accommodation in Joensuu

You may need to find temporary accommodation if you arrive in Joensuu before your room is vacant. There are several hotels, hostels, and other options in Joensuu, for example:

• Hotel GreenStar (opens in a new tab)
• Sports Institute of Eastern Finland ISLO hostel (opens in a new tab)
• Scouts’ Hostel budged accomodation (opens in a new tab)
• Apartmentos Joensuu (opens in a new tab)
• Holiday Linnunlahti (opens in a new tab)
• Furnished apartments Kotimaailma (opens in a new tab)
• Furnished apartments Forenom (opens in a new tab)
• Assembled accommodation in Joensuu (only in Finnish, opens in a new tab)
• airbnb

Student accommodation in Kuopio

Kuopio Student Housing Company
Torikatu 15
tel. +358 (0) 17 264 0700
e-mail: customerservice@kuopas.fi
Check the website for opening hours

Kuopas (Kuopio Student Housing Company) is a public company owned by the City of Kuopio that builds and maintains student housing in Kuopio. More than 3000 students and their families live in Kuopas housing and most of our international students live with Kuopas. Kuopas has 30 apartment buildings around Kuopio and they are situated within 0.5–8 km from the campus.

The rent of shared student apartments includes internet, water, heating and free laundry, but it does not include utility bills, such as electricity and parking. Common sauna session (women and men separately) is free once a week. If you prefer to go to sauna by yourself, you can reserve a sauna term for yourself (1 hour/week, always at the same time). There is a free Internet connection (10Mbit) in every Kuopas apartment. You can upgrade it if you need a faster connection, but they will charge you for it. All furnished shared apartments have a modem.

Most international students live in shared and furnished apartments (communal apartments). Each student has got their own room but kitchen and bathroom are shared with 1-4 other students of the same gender.

If you are coming to Kuopio with your family you can apply for a family apartment. Family apartments’ sizes vary from two bedroom apartments to three-bedroom apartments. Family apartments are mainly for families, but sometimes if they are free, it might be possible to rent them amongst friends.

Further information on Kuopas housing (opens in a new tab)

Apply for accommodation by filling out an on-line application form (opens in a new tab). If you are an exchange student, you can apply for housing as soon as you have received the official Certificate of Admission from the University of Eastern Finland. If you are a non-EU citizen and coming to UEF to study for a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree, please note that you can apply for housing after receiving the residence permit.

When applying there is no need to send Kuopas your formal letter of acceptance, just your online application. Fill out the application carefully and send. Keep checking your email regularly, because Kuopas will send you a proposal for tenancy agreement on a room or an apartment by email. Usually you will receive this proposal about one month before your planned arrival. You also have to pay a deposit.

Application deadline for housing in Kuopio:

15 June

• for autumn semester (Aug-Dec)
• full academic year (Aug-May)

15 November

• spring semester (Jan-May)

You can apply for housing at other times as well. However, it is advisable to apply before the application deadline. The demand for student housing is high in the Autumn Semester, and this is why you might receive an offer for the apartment starting from 1 August even if you arrive only in September. If you want to be sure to have an apartment, you can accept the offer. If you don’t want to accept it, Kuopas will offer you an apartment later on if they are available.

Please also note that the tenancy agreement always begins at the beginning of a calendar month and it finishes at the end of a calendar month. For example, if you wish to arrive at the very end of the month, you should be prepared to pay rent for the whole month.

Temporary accommodation in Kuopio

You may need to find temporary accommodation if you arrive in Kuopio before your room is vacant. There are several hotels, hostels, and other options in Kuopio, for example:

• Kuopio Hostel Hermanni (opens in a new tab)
• Hotel Savonia (opens in a new tab)
• Kuopio Hostel Matkustajakoti (opens in a new tab)
• Niiralan Kulma (opens in a new tab) (Probably the most competitive rents.)
• Furnished accommodation Kotimaailma (opens in a new tab)
• Furnished accommodation Forenom (opens in a new tab)
• Qasa (opens in a new tab)
• Tekman Tuki Association (opens in a new tab)
• airbnb