Career Guidance and Counselling for immigrants

The service is intended for immigrants living in Finland who have completed a higher education degree either abroad or in Finland, or who are interested in starting higher education studies in Finland. SIMHE career guidance helps you to map your skills and find suitable study and career paths for yourself in Finland.

We do not offer ready-made solutions, but instead provide you with ideas on, among other things:

• what kind of study or career path might suit you
• recognizing your own skills and areas for development
• tips for networking
• ideas for learning and practicing the Finnish language

You can participate in individual guidance and/or group guidance (see below).

Go to our SIMHE services.

Are you already studying at Metropolia? Do you need support for career planning or would you like to discuss topics related to job seeking or finding an internship? This service is intended for those who are already studying at Metropolia.

You can find career guidance services open to Metropolia students on the Job Search Support page.

You can book an appointment with career coaches through JobTeaser.

Are you applying to Metropolia as a degree student? Metropolia Admissions Services will provide you with support and advice on matters related to the application process and applying to studies.

If you have questions about the content of a specific degree program, please contact the degree program head or study counsellor. Their contact information can be found on the degree program’s web page.

Visit Metropolia Admissions Services' page.

Career guidance at Metropolia’s Open UAS helps you plan your own career path. You can get guidance, for example:

• if you want to complete individual Open UAS courses
• if you are considering applying for degree studies via the Open UAS study path ("väyläopinnot")
• if you want to develop skills needed in working life
• if you are exploring different career options.

The guidance session lasts 30 minutes and is free of charge. It is intended for everyone interested in Open UAS studies, but not for Metropolia’s degree students. In the guidance session, you can talk with a career coach about your future plans.

Learn more about Metropolia’s Open UAS.

Book a free appointment for Open UAS career guidance here.

In SIMHE’s personal guidance, you will receive individual advice on career planning, skills development, and study opportunities. Together with a career coach, you can, for example, discuss:

• What kinds of study paths or supplementary training would suit your situation?
• Are you interested in completing a full degree or just individual courses?
• How can you take the next steps in learning Finnish and developing your professional Finnish skills?
• How can you make use of and build your own professional network in Finland?

Starting from October 2025, you can meet with a coach twice (previously, only one meeting was possible). In the first meeting, you can share your situation and goals. After the meeting, you will receive a summary by e-mail. In the second meeting, you can review your progress and receive further support if you need it. If the first meeting is enough for you, there is no need to book a second one.

Subject-specific guidance is available in the following fields:

• ICT (Information and Communication Technology)
• Social and Health Care
• Arts and Culture
• Education

If these fields do not suit you, select "Any field."

Book a time for individual SIMHE career guidance

Please note! It’s helpful if you answer the following questions in the message field in advance and share your responses with your coach to support the guidance process.

Practical instructions for those attending a guidance session

• Career guidance sessions are available in Finnish and English and last 1 hour.
• The default format for the session is online. However, if you prefer to have your session by phone or on-site, please indicate your preference when booking and we will try to arrange it.
• The service is free of charge.

Booking your session

• We regularly add new available slots at the beginning of each week. If you do not see any available times right now, please try again at the beginning of next week.
• The available time slots have been selected to best suit our coaches. If none of the offered times work for you, please email simhe [at] metropolia.fi (simhe[at]metropolia[dot]fi) and let us know what times would suit you better—we will do our best to accommodate your request.

After booking

• Once you have booked a time through the Vihta system, you will receive instructions by email. Please read them carefully and, if necessary, return any pre-information forms before your scheduled time.
• After your session, you will receive a summary and useful tips by email.

In group guidance sessions, you will receive peer support from others who are in a similar situation. You can discuss career opportunities, studying, learning Finnish, and job search. There is also dedicated time for job searching during the session – you even have time to send a job application on the spot! Each group session lasts 2.5 hours.

You can join and leave whenever you like, but we recommend arriving on time. At the beginning, shared information will be given to everyone, and at the end, there will be time for open discussion or to focus on your own job search.

Group guidance sessions in spring 2026

• Monday 19 January at 1 PM - 3.30 PM
• Monday 16 February at 1 PM - 3.30 PM
• Monday 16 March at 1 PM - 3.30 PM
• Monday 13 April at 1 PM - 3.30 PM
• Monday 11 May at 1 PM - 3.30 PM
• Monday 8 June at 1 PM - 3.30 PM

Register here for the spring group career guidance

Place: Showroom, Myllypuro Campus, Building C, Myllypurontie 1, 00920 Helsinki

Note: You are encouraged to use Finnish during the event, but you are welcome to join even if you do not speak Finnish well yet. The coaches speak clear and simple Finnish, and they can explain things in English if needed. The materials are available in English.