Student benefits in Finland

Summary

In this video, Dasha highlights the benefits of studying in Finland, including affordable, high-quality student housing; cheap, healthy meals on campus; discounted public transportation; reduced-cost sports facilities; comprehensive healthcare services through FSHS; a student card offering various discounts; and free career services to help adapt to the local job market.

Takeaways

• 🏠 Affordable and high-quality student housing is available for all students in Finland, including international ones.
• 🍽️ Students can enjoy affordable meals on campus for around three euros, which includes a main dish, side dish, salad, bread, and a drink.
• 🚌 Significantly discounted public transportation fares are available for Bachelor's and Master's students with a valid student card.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Student discounts are offered for sports facilities, including public swimming halls and university stadiums.
• 🏥 Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) provides health services for a fee to Bachelor's and Master's students, but emergency care and hospitalization are not covered.
• 💳 The student card offers numerous discounts on various services including insurance, mobile subscriptions, and cultural events.
• 💼 Universities and trade unions provide career services to help students adapt to the local job market, including CV advice and interview tips.
• 🌐 Ensure you have a valid student card to access the various student discounts and benefits in Finland.
• 🌍 International students need to have private health insurance as FSHS does not cover all medical expenses.
• 🎓 Congratulations to those accepted into Finnish universities, and make use of the provided resources and services to enhance your student life.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is discussing the benefits of being a student in Finland, including affordable student housing, meals, transportation, sports, healthcare, discounts, and career services.

What is the first benefit of studying in Finland mentioned by Dasha?

The first benefit mentioned by Dasha is the high quality and affordable student housing available to every student in Finland.

What is typically included in Finnish student apartments?

Finnish student apartments usually include utilities such as water, internet, electricity, and heating.

What is the most common type of accommodation for students in Finland?

The most common type of accommodation for students in Finland is a room in a shared apartment.

What does the shared apartment arrangement usually entail?

In a shared apartment, students have their own private room but share common areas like the bathroom and kitchen with other students.

How can students apply for student housing in Finland?

Students can apply for student housing through their regional student housing organization's website once they have a study place and a certificate of acceptance.

What is the second benefit of being a student in Finland that Dasha discusses?

The second benefit is affordable meals available on campus or in student restaurants for about three euros.

What does a typical meal in a Finnish student cafeteria include?

A typical meal includes a main dish, a side dish, a salad, bread, and a drink such as water, milk, or juice.

What is the third benefit mentioned for students in Finland?

The third benefit is student fares for public transportation, which are significantly discounted for Bachelor's and Master's students.

What kind of discounts do Finnish students get on sports facilities?

Both private and municipal sports facilities provide student discounts to help students maintain their physical and mental well-being.

What services does the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) offer?

FSHS offers general, dental, and mental health services to students studying at bachelor's and master's level after they pay a fee to the social service KELA.

What is the sixth benefit that Dasha talks about?

The sixth benefit is the combo of discounts available with a student card, which can be used for insurance, mobile subscriptions, electricity, movies, theaters, restaurants, trips, cultural and sporting events.

What kind of support do universities and trade unions provide for students regarding career services?

Universities and trade unions offer career services such as advice on adapting CVs, writing cover letters, finding work, and tips on interviews.

What is the seventh and final benefit mentioned in the video?

The seventh benefit is the availability of career services by universities or trade unions to help students adapt to the local job market.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Affordable and Quality Student Housing in Finland

Dasha introduces the video and her experience in Finland. She highlights the first benefit of studying in Finland as the availability of affordable, high-quality student housing. Every student, regardless of nationality, has the right to rent reasonably priced housing that is modern and well-maintained, including utilities. These accommodations are typically unfurnished, and the most common type is a room in a shared apartment, where students have their private space but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen. There are also options for separate apartments for groups or families. Students can apply for housing through regional student housing organizations once they have a study place and a certificate of acceptance.

05:04

🍽️ Affordable Meals and Student Discounts

The second benefit Dasha mentions is the affordable meals available to students in campus cafeterias or student restaurants, costing about three euros for a full meal including a main dish, side dish, salad, bread, and a drink. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available. The third benefit is the discounted fares for public transportation available to Bachelor's and Master's students, which can be availed with a valid student card. The fourth benefit is affordable sports facilities, with discounts offered by both private and municipal sports facilities, including public swimming halls and university stadiums. The fifth benefit is healthcare and well-being services provided by the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) to Bachelor's and Master's students, which requires a fee paid to the social service KELA. The sixth benefit is the combo of discounts available with a student card, which can be used for insurance, mobile subscriptions, electricity, entertainment, and more. The seventh and final benefit discussed is the availability of career services provided by universities and trade unions, which offer advice on adapting to the local job market, including CV writing, job search strategies, and interview tips.

Keywords

💡Student Housing

Student housing refers to the accommodations provided specifically for students, often by educational institutions or private entities. In the video, it is highlighted as a key benefit for students in Finland, characterized by its affordability and high quality. The script mentions that every student has the right to rent reasonably priced, well-maintained housing equipped with essentials like water, internet, and heating. The video also describes common types of student housing, such as shared apartments, where students have their private rooms but share common areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

💡Affordable

Affordability in the context of the video refers to the cost-effectiveness of services or goods provided to students, ensuring they are accessible without imposing significant financial strain. The script emphasizes the affordability of student housing, meals, and other services as a major advantage for students in Finland. For instance, the video mentions that student apartments are 'reasonably priced' and campus meals cost only about three euros, which includes a variety of food options.

💡Shared Apartment

A shared apartment is a type of housing where multiple individuals have their private rooms but share common areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. The video script explains that this is a common type of accommodation for students in Finland, allowing them to have their own space while splitting the costs and responsibilities of communal areas with roommates. This arrangement is highlighted as a way to maintain affordability and foster a sense of community among students.

💡Student Card

A student card is an identification document issued to students that often grants access to various discounts and services. In the video, the presenter mentions that having a student card in Finland provides numerous discounts in many places, such as insurance, mobile subscriptions, and cultural events. The card is portrayed as an essential item that can significantly reduce costs for students and enhance their lifestyle.

💡Public Transportation

Public transportation encompasses the government or privately operated systems of buses, trains, and other vehicles that provide transportation to the public. The video discusses the discounted fares available to students on public transportation in Finland, which is a significant benefit as it allows students to travel affordably within and between cities for their studies or leisure.

💡Student Discounts

Student discounts are special reduced prices or offers given to students by businesses or service providers. The script from the video emphasizes the wide range of student discounts available in Finland, which include not only housing and transportation but also sports facilities, cultural events, and more. These discounts are portrayed as a way to support students financially and enhance their overall experience in the country.

💡Health Care and Well-being

Health care and well-being refer to the medical services and support systems designed to maintain or improve an individual's physical and mental health. In the video, it is mentioned that Finnish student health service (FSHS) offers services to students at a reduced fee, which includes general, dental, and mental health services. This is important as it ensures that students have access to necessary health care, contributing to their overall well-being.

💡EU Health Insurance Card

The EU Health Insurance Card allows EU citizens to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another EU country, free of charge or at reduced cost. The video script advises international students to ensure they have private health insurance, while EU citizens should have their EU health insurance card for coverage, indicating the importance of health insurance in accessing necessary medical care.

💡Career Services

Career services are programs and resources designed to assist students and graduates in their career development, including job search strategies, resume writing, and interview preparation. The video mentions that Finnish universities and trade unions offer career services to help students adapt to the local job market, providing advice on CVs, cover letters, and interview tips, which are crucial for students building their professional lives.

💡Social Service KELA

KELA is the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, responsible for providing social security services, including the student health service fee mentioned in the video. The script explains that students need to pay a fee to KELA to be entitled to services from FSHS, illustrating how social services in Finland are structured to support students' health care needs.

💡Trade Unions

Trade unions are organizations that aim to achieve common goals for their members, such as improving safety, wages, and working conditions. In the context of the video, trade unions in Finland offer career services to their members, which can include advice on job hunting and professional development, supporting students in their transition into the workforce.

Highlights

High quality affordable student housing in Finland

All students have the right to reasonably priced student housing

Student apartments are modern, well maintained, and fully equipped

Student housing is typically rented unfurnished

Common type of accommodation is a room in a shared apartment

Some apartments offer private bathrooms for individual students

Separate shared apartments for female and male students

Options for separate apartments with friends, partner, or family

Student housing organizations can be found through university websites

Affordable meals available on campus for about three euros

Meals include a main dish, side dish, salad, bread, and a drink

Vegetarian and vegan options available in student restaurants

Student fares for public transportation are significantly discounted

Student discounts available for long distance train and bus trips

Student discounts on sports facilities to promote health and well-being

Finnish student health service offers services for a small fee

FSHS covers general, dental, and mental health services

International students need private health insurance for hospitalization

Student card provides numerous discounts in various places

Career services by universities and trade unions assist with job hunting

Universities and trade unions offer free advice on CVs, cover letters, and interviews

Transcripts

Hi everyone and welcome back to Study in Finland's  YouTube channel. My name is Dasha, I've lived in  

Finland for almost nine years and during this year  I'm telling you about studying and life in Finland,  

sharing tips and my experience I believe you've  already heard that Finland is a great place to be  

a student, so today I would like to discuss several  benefits that students get here. My personal top  

one is high quality affordable student housing.  Every student in Finland, local or coming from  

abroad, has a right to rent a reasonably priced  high quality student housing. Student apartments  

are modern, well maintained and have everything  you need for a comfortable life: water, internet  

electricity and, of course heating to keep  you warm during the winter months. As a rule, student  

housing is rented unfurnished, so you will have to  get your own furniture and all other things that  

you need in your daily life. The most common type  of accommodation for students is a room in a shared  

apartment, meaning that you will have your own room,  your own private space, and you will share bathroom  

and kitchen with other students. I actually also  had my own bathroom in my first apartment when  

I moved to Finland, so I shared only the kitchen with  other girls. There are usually separate shared  

apartments for female and male students, and  probably you will share the apartment with one  

to three students. Shared apartments is only one  type of student accommodation, you can also apply  

for a separate apartment with your friends, or  with your partner or family if you come with  

your partner and children. Usually every region has  their own student housing organization and you can  

apply for accommodation on their website once  you get a study place in Finland and you get a  

certificate of acceptance. Check out the website  of your university where you got accepted, they  

probably have the right link to a student housing  organization or just google a student housing and  

town where you get accepted and you will find the  right student housing organization. My second top  

benefit in Finland for students is affordable  meals. When you're student in Finland you have  

a right to have a meal on campus cafeteria or in  any other student restaurant, for about three euros  

and that meal includes a main dish, a side dish,  a salad bread and a drink of your choice. It's  

usually water, milk or juice. In every restaurant  there are vegetarian and vegan options available,  

so it's a very easy and affordable way to grab  lunch during your studies or some cafeterias  

work even until the evening so you can also grab  a dinner for that affordable price. Benefit number  

three is student fares for public transportation.  Bachelor's and master's students are entitled to  

significantly discounted fares in public  transport. City areas as well as companies offering  

a long distance train and bus trips across Finland  offer student discounts with a valid student card,  

so make sure you get one once you start studying  in Finland. It will give you a lot of discounts  

in many different places. Benefit number four  is affordable sports. Both private and municipal  

sport facilities provide student discounts to help  students to take care of their body, mind and soul.  

Public swimming halls provide very good  discount and allow students to train for  

very cheap prices and some university campuses  have their own stadiums where students can, of  

course, train for absolutely free. Student benefit  number five is health care and well-being. Finnish  

student health service or FSHS, offers services to  students studying at bachelor's and master's level.  

In order to be entitled to the services of FSHS, you will have to pay a fee to social service KELA.  

Last year the fee amounted to 35 euros and  80 cents per term and once you've paid this  

fee you will be entitled to general, dental and  mental health services. Please note while you  

will always receive treatment when necessary, any  kind of emergency medical care or other type of  

hospitalization is not covered by FSHS, therefore  international students have to ensure that they  

also have private health insurance valid and EU  citizens have to have their EU health insurance  

card. Benefit number six is this kind of combo.  As you remember I've mentioned a student card so  

for sure you should get that when you arrive to  Finland and start your studies, because that gives  

you numerous discounts in many many places. For  example, you can get a discount for an insurance,  

mobile subscription, electricity subscription,  movies, theaters, restaurants, trips cultural and  

sporting events, and just always make sure to ask  if any kind of company provides student discounts.  

I think these student discounts are really helpful.  They help you to relax after studies, enjoy your  

usual lifestyle that you might have had in  your own country, and kind of kick-start your  

social life here in Finland and meet new people,  while doing all of that in an affordable way.  

And the last benefit number seven. Probably  not last benefit of being a student in Finland  

but the last one in this video is availability of  career services by universities or trade unions.  

As you can imagine building your life abroad  can be challenging. You will have to adapt to  

a local market, and universities and trade unions  can help you with that. They provide really great  

help by giving advice on how to adapt your CV,  how to write a cover letter, where to look for work,  

and also maybe give some tips on how to go through  interviews here in Finland, so definitely make sure  

you make a good use of that while it's all  for free. Check out your university pages  

for career services or if you  become a part of a trade union  

make sure you check their website. All the  necessary information will be there. That's  

it from me for today. By the way huge congrats to  those who got accepted to Finnish universities  

and will be coming here next autumn. Let me know  in the comments if you're one of those people  

and also if you have any questions also please  leave them down below in the comments and we will  

be happy to help you. Otherwise I wish you a great  start of the summer and I'll see you soon. Bye!