Welcome to Spend a Semester/Year with Us!
If you received an acceptance letter from Metropolia to your email, congratulations - you will spend the next semester or academic year with us! We are looking forward to having you here in Finland!
You will find a lot of important information here in 2 sections:
- Field-Specific Information for your study field, including for example information about the orientation days
- Next Steps to Check for all incoming students
There are several things that need your urgent attention, so make sure you read both parts properly and follow the instructions.
Field-Specific Information
Next Steps to Check
Accept the offered exchange in Mobility-Online as soon as possible
- Log in to the Mobility-Online system
- Click on the link “Accept or reject the offered exchange period”
- Choose “Yes” or “No”
- Save the decision by clicking “Submit”.
By choosing “Yes” you also commit to the exchange process, and by choosing “No” your application process ends here.
Inform Metropolia’s International Office immediately if there are changes to your exchange period.
Arrange accommodation before arrival
If you have not yet applied for housing, do so most urgently. See more information on Accommodation. Make sure to have a place to stay for your first few nights and most definitely for your whole stay in Finland before arrival!
HOAS will send housing offers via e-mail to those who have applied for housing at HOAS
- HOAS housing offers are sent out during June/November.
- Once HOAS has found you a room they will send you a housing reservation by e-mail. Check your e-mail on a regular basis - also junk mail / spam mailbox.
- If you have not received a housing reservation e-mail by July/early December, apply for other accommodation options.
- When you receive an offer, accept it by the given deadline. If you do not accept it by the deadline, the housing will be offered to someone else. You will not get a second offer. If you need more response time, please contact HOAS.
- If you didn't get the kind of housing or location you wished for, it means that your first choice was no longer available. It is common in Finland to live further away from the campus, and the public transportation system is excellent.
- Read the detailed instructions on the HOAS website for exchange students. Please note especially that a signed housing reservation is a valid tenancy agreement which cannot be cancelled or edited afterwards. The agreement will be made only for full semesters.
Receiving the HOAS keys
You can move in to your HOAS apartment earliest on the 5th of August (To be confirmed). You will get your HOAS keys either from your tutor upon arrival, or at the METKA office - not at the HOAS office!
If you have a student tutor, your tutor will bring your HOAS keys to you upon arrival. If you do not want a tutor - collect your HOAS keys yourself at the Student Union METKA’s office. HOAS keys are available to be picked from METKA's office in Myllypuro campus.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Address: Myllypurontie 1, Helsinki. Room MPB6006 - B-tower, 6th floor, right next to Metka Cafe.
Phone number: +358 50 374 3269
Apply for a residence permit (if needed)
Non-EU citizens: Check if you need a residence permit and begin the application process immediately. Note that the process takes at least 6-8 weeks. Please look into the Enter Finland e-service for permits, and for further information consult the Finnish Immigration Service.
In order to start and finish your studies properly at Metropolia, we recommend that you apply for some extra days or weeks before and after your study dates in your residence permit application. This will enable to you to travel to Finland before the orientation days begin and leave Finland some days after the studies. In case you apply for extra days or weeks before and after your study period, make sure that your insurance is valid for the full period you are in Finland, not only the study dates.
Check the validity of your passport
Make sure you have a valid passport for your entire stay in Finland. For EU citizens national identity cards are also sufficient.
Check your health insurance
Arrange health insurance for your stay in Finland.
- If you come from outside EU/EEA-countries, take a private travel and/or medical insurance. You will need the insurance already for the residence permit application.
- If you are from EU/EEA-countries, get the European Health Insurance Card for health care services from your country of residence. Also a private health insurance is strongly recommended for easier access to a private sector care as the public health sector is experiencing staff shortage and high demand and it is possible they cannot give appointments unless in a very urgent case.
See more on insurance.
Purchase travel tickets to Helsinki and arrive before the orientation days of your field of study
Orientation days are organised for all incoming exchange students at the beginning of the semester (see the dates and programs in the Field Specific information sections above). Participation in the orientation is compulsory. You will get important practical information about studying at Metropolia UAS and get to know other exchange students.
Sign up for a student tutor
You can sign up for a student tutor by filling in the online form by 16 June. We warmly recommend signing up for a tutor, since it doesn't cost anything and the student tutors are your best guides in Finland and at Metropolia during your first days, and they will help you meet and socialize with other students. Tutors will be in touch with the students before the exchange period begins.
Check your documents
- Make sure your passport or other travel document is valid for the full period of your exchange
- non-EU students: you have a valid residence permit for studies
- for non-EU students holding a study-based residence permit in another EU-country: a print-out of the certificate of your right to stay in Finland (sent to you by the Immigration Service via email within 30 days of submitting the Mobility Notification) and your residence permit
Get excited about coming to Finland!
Your contact person before and during your exchange is the International Relations Adviser in your field of study here in Metropolia.
Explore our website with plenty of information on Metropolia’s services and the Helsinki region. We are also on Instagram (@metropolia_exchange). To see what’s happening in the student circles, check also the website of Metropolia Student Union METKA.
We are happy to have you with us and help you with any questions you might have. You will always have someone to talk to; your tutor, the International Office staff, the contact persons of your field of study in Metropolia and fellow students. We are here to make your stay in Finland as pleasant and memorable as possible.
Metropolia commits to respecting the principles of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education to facilitate and support your exchange experience in Finland.
WELCOME TO FINLAND - TERVETULOA SUOMEEN!
Upon arrival
- Arrive to Finland at least a couple of days before the orientation to leave time for settling in
- Please pick up an envelope containing study related documents (incl. public transport discount document) before the orientation days from the info desk of your own Metropolia campus. Your International Relations Adviser will inform the date when the documents can be picked up. In case you cannot pick up the documents before the orientation, you will receive them during the orientation.
- You can check the transport connections in HSL Journey Planner. Your student discount for the monthly ticket is valid for the whole period of study. For day tickets, see HSL website.
- If possible, get the monthly ticket with the student discount from HSL already before orientation!
- Make sure you know how to get to the orientation site (see your orientation programme in the Field Specific Information section above)!
- Changes in your Learning Agreement can be made in the beginning of the semester.
Follow Metropolia Exchange on social media!
Instagram: @metropolia_exchange
Facebook: Metropolia International Exchange