International student journey

Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. Please start this process as soon as possible after you have accepted your study place, as the process takes several months. You can begin the student residence permit application online at Enterfinland.fi. Please note that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate for identification as part of this process.

Given the increased demand for residence permit applications for studies in Finland, some countries have exceeded the usual processing time for residence permit applications. In worst case, this may lead to a situation where a student is not granted a residence permit in time to start the studies in autumn 2026. Therefore, we recommend that you start the residence permit application process immediately.

Carefully follow the immigration authorities’ instructions and regulations. Important things to note:

• You can supplement your application, so you do not need to have all the documents ready when you begin the process.
• You will need the official Acceptance Letter from Diak to attach to the application. You will receive this after you have paid the tuition fee and submitted your original degree documents.
• You are required to prove to have sufficient independent funding for living in Finland.
• You must have sufficient insurance coverage for immigration.
• Always be truthful in giving information to avoid a negative decision.
• In case you receive a negative decision, please contact Diak Admissions.

You can find detailed information and advice on the residence permit requirements and procedures on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website.

If you are an EU citizen planning to stay in Finland for longer than three months, you must register your right of residence. This registration is necessary to stay in Finland legally and access local services. The process is straightforward and can be completed through the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri).

For detailed steps, eligibility, and required documents, please visit the official Migri EU registration page.

Nordic citizens do not need to apply for EU registration at the Finnish Immigration Service. If you are a Nordic citizen (citizen of Denmark, Iceland, Norway or Sweden), register your personal data at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency

Universities of applied sciences and universities charge a tuition fee from bachelor’s or master’s level students studying for a degree in languages other than Finnish or Swedish. EU/EEA area and Swiss citizens are not subject to the charge.

Liability to pay tuition fees is governed by Section 13a of the Universities of Applied Sciences. The Universities of Applied Sciences Act in Finnish.

The current tuition fees at Diak are:

For students whose right to study started on or after 1 August 2024, the annual tuition fee is €9500.

Diak offers an early bird discount for applicants who accept the offered study place and pay the tuition fee within 14 days of receiving the offer letter from Diak. The early bird discount is 500 euros on the tuition fee of the first academic year.

If the tuition fee payment is made later than within 14 days of receiving the offer letter, the payment has to be made in full.

Please note that the tuition fee has to be paid by the deadline for accepting the study place at the latest. The applicant’s deadline for accepting the study place is visible at Studyinfo. In spring 2026, the general deadline for accepting the offer is 9 July 2026. Applicants offered admission on 3 July or later will have 7 days to accept the offer and pay the tuition fee.

Payment instructions

Diak has partnered with Flywire to accept tuition fee payments. Students who are liable to pay tuition fees will receive payment instructions by email. Diak does not issue invoices for tuition fees.

Link to Flywire payment portal

The payment options listed on Flywire depend on the country where the payment is made. If your country is not listed on Flywire’s drop-down menu, please contact Diak to receive alternative payment instructions. Diak does not accept cash payments.

More information about tuition fees can be found here.

Living costs

The monthly budget for living and studying in Finland (including food, accommodation, transport and entertainment) is about €700-1000. It is advisable to budget a larger sum for the first month after your arrival, as there are always essential items which need to be bought in the beginning of your studies.

The minimum monthly budget can be roughly divided as follows:

• Rent:
  • Student housing €400–800
  • Private housing €500-1000
• Food: €200-300
• Transportation: €60

Other expenses, e.g. study material, also need to be taken into account. Please note that expenses for study materials are relatively low in Finland, because you can borrow most books from Diak library or from other libraries.

Student discounts

University students are entitled to discounts for various services in Finland.

All students will receive a meal benefit which entitles them to meal discounts at all student restaurants in Finland. Students living in the Helsinki metropolitan area can also get a student discount on a monthly travel card for local travel inside the Helsinki metropolitan area.

An easy option to get all the student discounts is to obtain a Diak’s student union O’Diako student union card. The card entitles you to discounts on transportation (both local and long-distance), meals, and several other services (cultural and recreational activities) with one single card.

You will receive more information about the student card and O’Diako in the beginning of your studies.

Student meals

As a degree student of university of applied sciences, you are eligible for discounted meals in student restaurants that participate in the meal subsidy programme​.

Read about how to prove your student status on Kela’s webpage(Avautuu uudessa välilehdessä).

You are entitled to the meal subsidy if you are based in Finland and are completing a bachelor’s or master’s level degree. You can qualify even if you are not a Finnish citizen.

If you are attending a higher education institution in Finland as an exchange student, you qualify for the meal subsidy for the duration of your exchange.

For more information on the meal subsidy, go to Kela’s webpage(Avautuu uudessa välilehdessä).

Currency and payments

Finland uses Euro (€, EUR, E, e) as its currency. Most stores accept Visa, MasterCard, and debit cards. In general, Finns tend to prefer card payments.

If you need cash, you can obtain it from a cash machine in the Otto Network. Otto machines work with international cards bearing the following symbols: Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron, Maestro, EC, Cirrus and Plus.

Bills, such as your rent, must usually be paid on the recipient’s bank account.

Start arranging your accommodation immediately after being accepted as a student. The housing situation in the Helsinki region can be challenging and housing is given on first-come-first-serve basis.

Student housing: The Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region HOAS​

Rental housing: M2-Kodit, Antti Korpi Student House , you can also search for rental housing in the private market through Oikotie and Vuokraovi.

The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS)provides student health services for degree students. However, the FSHS only provides basic health care services, which does not include urgent medical care or secondary health care in hospitals.

Read more on their services on the FSHS’ infromation page for new students.

Diak does not provide health insurance for international degree students, so please make sure you have valid health insurance during your studies.

Students from other EU or EEA countries must to provide a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) when accessing FSHS services. The FSHS will be required by law to ask to see a European Health Insurance Card to identify students who are covered by state-provided health insurance from a country other than Finland. The card must be obtained before coming to Finland. Students from Britain and Northern Ireland may provide a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Read more on FSHS website.

If you are non-EU/EEA citizen, make sure you have a valid health insurance that covers both accidents and illness. Turku UAS has insurance against injuries during studies, but it does not cover leisure time accidents or eventual illness during your stay. You are also required to have health insurance before applying for a residence permit for studies. Please read more about the requirements of the insurance on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.

Remember to bring essential items such as personal medication, medical report of pre-existing illnesses preferably translated into English, driving license, adapters and chargers for the electrical devices etc.

Please also note that Diak uses online learning environments and online tools, and therefore having a laptop is essential for studying. You’re required to have your own laptop computer available during your studies.

If you move to Finland with family and kids, your city of residence will support you in registering kids to school/daycare and finding employment for the spouse. International House Helsinki has great resources for all newcomers in the capitol region.

Daycare and education

• Helsinki
• Espoo
• Vantaa

Employment and integration services for the spouse

• TE office employment and integration services for the spouse 
• Jobhunting support for the spouse

A tax card is needed if you receive a salary or other income in Finland. You can order it online, calling the number 029 497 050, Filling in the paper form or Visiting the nearest Tax Office. 

Health Care

Only students are eligible for Student Health Care. Your family should use the Health Care services of the municipality:

• Public health care services in Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo
• Private health care services

In Finland the children under the age of seven have their physical, cognitive, motor, and psychological development monitored by the family nurse – Neuvola. Contact the health center in your area (Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo) and request an appointment with a family nurse – neuvola. 

Our students will answer your questions about student life in Finland. Please contact them via email peersupport@diak.fi. You can also meet our students in Zoom to have a face to face Q&A session. Please note that the peer support services are not available during the summer.

To ensure a smooth beginning for the newcomers, Diak offers International Tutor services for students arriving in Finland. The tutors can:

• answer your questions about Finland before arrival.
• pick you up from the airport if possible. Please inform your tutor asap once you have the flight schedule.
• guide you with arrival formalities and practical issues and
  help you to integrate to the Finnish society and student life.

International House Helsinki and the city of Helsinki offer many resources for newcomers in the Helsinki Metropolitan area.

Some useful links:

• The Newcomer’s Checklist: Non-EU citizen
• Quick Guide: Moving to Helsinki
• Info video for international students
• Settling in Finland

Check when it is possible to pick up keys for your permanent housing. And remember that your housing is not furnished. If you arrive at night, during the weekend or on national holiday, book a temporary housing for the first nights. Also if you have not received permanent housing before arriving in Finland, be sure to make arrangements for temporary housing early enough! The City of Helsinki and the City of Espoo also have lists of hotels and other accommodation types on their pages.

• Search for a hostel here
• Browse MyHelsinki pages

Platforms to browse and compare short-term accommodation options in Finland: Booking.com, Hotels.com, Trivago.com, Momondo.com, Airbnb.com.

Send arrival information to your tutor well in advance to see if pick up from the airport will be possible.

How much luggage will you bring?  Will you be able to take a bus or do you need a taxi?

If you come with a family, please note that in Finland children under seven must have a safety seat that must be booked in advance with the taxi company. Taxis follow this regulation carefully.

Helsinki’s public transportation system is easy t navigate, comprehensive, clean and safe. elsinki Region Transport (HSL) is the capital city area’s public transport operator. It serves every neighbourhood, meaning that even those living far from the city centre can get around easily without a car. 

HSL operates a large fleet of buses, over a dozen commuter trains, several tram and light rail connections, a crosstown underground metro service, and even a few ferries. Park & Ride facilities allow people to park their car or bike and continue their journey on public transport. Each mode of transportation has its own rules about using it and presenting your ticket. See the HSL website for details.

The HSL app is a free application that allows you to plan trips and buy tickets on your mobile phone or other electronic device.  The app’s mobile tickets are valid on all modes of HSL public transport in the capital city area.

Alternatively, you can purchase an HSL card at a HSL service point. The HSL card costs a small fee at the outset, and can hold either value or a season ticket. Season tickets have a set price for unlimited travel within a certain period of time, available as a one-off purchase or an auto-renewing subscription. You can find the HSL app here.

All international students have to register at Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). It is recommended to book an appointment to avoid queues.

Read more about the registration here.

HSL travel card provides the easiest and most economic way to travel in the capital region. It is valid on local trams, trains, busses, metros and Suomenlinna ferry.
Students living in Helsinki region get a 40% student discount. Read more about the student discount here.

Get your Travel Card at HSL service point. You can have your travel card in the HSL app once you get a Finnish bank account. HSL app has a useful Journey planner that gives you the best routes and shows where your bus is in real time. The Journey Planner also tells you which ticket you need for your journey.

You will need a certificate from DVV office that proves that you have submitted a DVV registration form that states that you are a resident of Helsinki, Espoo or Vantaa.

Book a visit to the police station. Take a passport photo code with you. An identity card is mandatory to open a bank account in Finland. You can find the instructions for applying for an identity card here.

It is recommended to open a bank account in Finland, since bank identification is often used in various online services, such as online shopping, public health care services, public administration etc.The policy for opening a bank account depends on the bank, so it’s very hard to give exact steps for opening a bank account. We recommend that you contact the bank beforehand and inquire about the possibility of opening an account and asking what documents are needed. Note! In order to be able to open a bank account you must first be registered by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Banks in Finland are open Monday to Friday 9.30-16.15. Banks operating in Finland: S-bank, Nordea, Aktia, OP-Pohjola, Danske Bank.

You can buy a Finnish SIM card from R-kioski. Elisa, DNA, Telia, Moi are the biggest mobile companies in Finland. 

After you have received your local SIM card and a new phone number, remember to notify the Diak IT Services at tuki@diak.fi, so that they can add your new phone number to your contact details on MyDiak.

Most apartments in Finland are rented unfurnished. A great way to find affordable homeware is to look for it second hand. Second hand stores include: kierrätyskeskus, second-hand stores, online second-hand store, Flea Market, Kontti second-hand, Vähän Käytetty and Tori (only in Finnish). 

It is important to also buy clothing for the Finnish weather. Our winters can be very cold, and it is important to dress appropriately. Here is a helpful guide for dressing for the cold winter weather.

Many International degree students wish to work part-time while studying. While thinking of part-time work options, make sure that the work does not affect your study success and progress. International degree students are allowed to work during their stay in Finland – with certain restrictions. The restrictions have to do with the nationality (EU/EEA or non-EU/EEA) and the nature of employment.

If you are a Nordic or EU/EEA national, you have the right to work in Finland without any work permit or restrictions on hours.

If you come from outside of the EU/EEA countries, you have the right to work part-time with the student’s residence status. You are only allowed to work for an average of 30 hours per week. For more information on the regulations of study and work, please see MIGRI’s website.

Please note that you should not rely on financing your studies only by working. Part-time work is not always easy to find. Often some Finnish language skills are required.

A tax card is needed if you receive a salary or other income in Finland. You can order it online, calling the number 029 497 050, Filling in the paper form or Visiting the nearest Tax Office.

Before starting to work in Finland get to know the employee’s rights and obligations.

Part time job hunting websites:

• Jobly
• Barona
• Oikotie
• Duunitori

In the field of Social Services in Finland, knowing the local language is important. Good command of Finnish gives you wider employment possibilities. Below you will find some good materials to get started with Finnish language learning:

• Kielibuusti materials for university students to learn Finnish
• https://uusikielemme.fi/
• https://tasteoffinnish.fi/
• Koti Suomessa -sivuston terveys- ja hyvinvointi: https://kotisuomessa.fi/web/site-45256/state-jurdgmbtei/page-88063
• Puhutsä suomee: puhutun kielen verkkokurssi: https://sites.google.com/view/puhekielikurssi/puhekielen-verkkokurssi
• Suomen kielen keskitason YKI-tehtäviä: https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2015/12/15/keskitaso-0
• Suomen verkkokielioppi: https://openlearning.aalto.fi/course/view.php?id=158
• Finnish with Anna YouTube-kanava: https://www.youtube.com/@FinnishWithAnna
• Suomen kursseja: https://finnishcourses.fi/

Weather

• Winter can reach -20°C or lower, especially with heavy
  winds in Helsinki.
• Days are very short (sometimes only a few hours of
  daylight).
• Invest in proper winter clothing: thermal layers, waterproof
  shoes, gloves, hat.
• Vitamin D supplements are commonly used due to low
  sunlight.
• Summer in Helsinki is bright and lively, with long daylight hours, festivals, seaside activities, and people enjoying parks and outdoor life.

Daily living

• The general emergency number in Finland is 112. It is a joint service for health-related emergencies, the police and the fire department.
• Learn basic Finnish phrases like: Moi (Hi), Kiitos (Thank
  you), Anteeksi (Sorry) to help you in daily life.
• Always check schedules in advance (buses, trains, offices) – Finns consider punctuality as very important.
• Many services have limited hours, especially on weekends.
• It is advised to carry a bank card. Cash is rarely used.

Diak student union O’Diako hosts orientation activities, student activites, get togethers and parties throughout the academic year, and these events are a great place to meet new people. You can find their event calendar here.

You can also keep an eye out for student events hosted by other higher education institutes in the Helsinki Metropolitan are and in Finland in general.

Social media is an important tool for making and maintaining connections. After meeting someone, it is common to add them to apps like Instagram or WhatsApp to stay in touch. You can also use platforms like Facebook or Meetup to find student groups and events.

Language cafes and clubs

A language club is a relaxed and informal space where students meet to practice speaking different languages. At places like Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak) and around Helsinki, these clubs usually bring together both local and international students.

• Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak) language clubs: Regular, informal sessions to practice Finnish and English with local and international students.
• Library language cafés (e.g. Oodi Helsinki Central Library): Free and relaxed meetups where people practice languages through casual conversation.
• Café-based language meetups: Informal gatherings in cafés around Helsinki where people
  meet and talk.
• Student union or ESN language nights: Social events with games and discussions that combine
  language practice with opportunities to meet new people.