Postgraduates as members of OYY
The membership of the Student Union of the University of Oulu - OYY is primarily meant for undergraduate students, but students pursuing a licentiate or a doctorate can also join as members. Postgraduates are required to join in within the registration period of the University of Oulu (see Registration instructions for detailed dates) or within two weeks after being accepted as post graduate students. Membership is obtained by paying the membership fee (payment slips are available in the Student Union Office and Student Services of the University of Oulu).
The postgraduate membership fee for the academic year 2010-2011 is 45€.
Student Card and Discounts
Order your student card from Lyyra. The card costs 14,50€. If you don't have internet banking in a Finnish bank, you can pay the cost to the Student Union Office (choose bank transfer when ordering).
Postgraduates are entitled to all the services of OYY, but don't receive reductions in student restaurants or from VR train tickets. Local bus discounts in Oulu are only applicable to students under 30 or with an effective financial support decision from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA).
Postgraduates are not entitled to the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS - YTHS). International students can use the local municipal health care services if they register in the Local Register Office and apply for Oulu to be their municipality of residence.
Health Care for International Postgraduates
Postgraduate students will no longer have access to the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS) as of 1 August 2009.
Whether the international postgraduate and doctoral students have the right to use municipal health care services in Finland depends on among other things the terms of their residence, their employment status and their country of origin. Certain countries have social security agreements with Finland. In addition, EU/EEA citizens possessing a European Health Insurance Card are entitled to necessary medical treatment. Those researchers employed by the University of Oulu should check their right to the occupational health services.
More information on the Finnish social security system can be obtained from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela.
More information on the municipality of residence can be obtained from the local register offices.