Student Tips

Being a student in Finland is an exciting and enriching experience! Here are some tips to help you navigate life while enjoying everything Finland has to offer.

Budget-Friendly Living

Living in Finland as a student doesn’t have to break the bank. With a bit of planning and awareness of the options available, you can make your budget stretch further while enjoying your time here.

Here are some tips to help you live affordably.

Grocery Shopping

Save money on groceries with budget-friendly stores:

Lidl: Known for its low prices and good quality, Lidl is a popular choice for students.
S-Group (Alepa, S-Market, and Prisma): These stores offer a wide range of products, often at competitive prices. The smaller the store - the higher the prices tend to be. Shopping at larger stores like Prisma is recommended when possible.
K-group (K-Market, K-Supermarket, and K-Citymarket): While slightly more expensive with higher end quality, they also have affordable brands and discount sections for items nearing their expiry date.

Student Card Benefits

Make the most of apps designed to provide exclusive student deals:

Frank App: The go-to app for student discounts in Finland. From clothing to entertainment and restaurand deals, find offers tailored for degree students.
Slice: Another useful app for general student discounts. Available for everyone with a student union membership.

If you have a valid student card, use the offers on the apps or just show your card and ask if there's a student discount available!

ESNcard is not considered as a valid student card, but it holds many benefits locally, nationally and internationally!

Second-Hand

Find great deals on second-hand items, from furniture to clothing:

Facebook Marketplace: A popular platform to buy and sell locally.
Tori.fi: Finland’s leading online marketplace for second-hand goods.
Flea Markets (Kirpputori): Check out local flea markets like UFF, Fida and Kierrätyskeskus, for unique finds at affordable prices.

With these tips, you’ll be able to live comfortably on a student budget while still enjoying all that Finland has to offer.

Nowadays drifting is trendy, and you'll be able to find coolest street styles from second-hand stores.

Student Lunch Places

Pasila Campus

Student lunch at the Pasila Campus is available right next door in the Helsinki Business College building.

Restaurant Pääraide offers range of nutritious foods with a vegetarian option always available. The Bistro Café of the campus itself occasianally offers a light lunch for a lower price.

Lunch price is 2,58 €

Haaga Campus

Student lunch at the Haaga Campus is conveniently available inside the campus building itself.

Restaurant Caffeli is a boutique student lunch spot with great variaty and quality in daily food options. Each day offers one vegetarian option alongside the regular option.

Lunch price is 2,95 €

Porvoo Campus

With a new restaurant, student lunch at Porvoo campus is available inside of the campus building.

Food & Co. Porvoo offers a good variety of lunch for the two UAS' of the Porvoo campus.

Unicafé

With multiple locations around Helsinki, Unicafé is a trusted lunch or dinner spot for students in the region.

With extended opening hours into the evenings and weekends at most locations, Unicafé offers a wide variety of food options throughout the week.

Lunch price is 2,95 €

Taking Care of Your Well-Being

Exercise Options in Helsinki

Did you know we offer our members a 20% discount to padel court bookings at Open Padel? Read more here.

Gyms

Consider joining a local gym close to you or a 24/7 gym like Fitness24Seven, which offers affordable memberships and access to multiple locations across Finland, making it a convenient and budget-friendly option.

Other gyms, such as Elixia and Fressi, provide more mid-range options with additional amenities like saunas, and wellness services for those seeking a bit more variety and comfort.

Zone Fitness is available for members of a student union.

Healthcare Services

Exchange students are not eligible for the Finnish Student Health Service.

There are two health care systems available for exchange students:

Public sector (municipality or wellbeing county)
Private sector (private medical clinics)

Both options are available for everyone in case of a need for treatment, while country of origin may determine your rights. More details on Kela website.

General Emergency Number: 112

Exploring Finland

Trains

VR trains are a comfortable and efficient way to travel across Finland. They connect major cities like Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku.

Buses

Long-distance buses like Onnibus and Matkahuolto offer affordable options for reaching both bigger or smaller towns and cities.

Ferries

Ferries are a great way to visit Åland or nearby countries like Sweden and Estonia. Ferry operators include Viking Line, Tallink Silja, and Eckerö Line. We offer our members up to 50% off on departures with Viking Line! More info here.

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