Checklist For First Year Students

Checklist for when you are starting your studies! There is useful information for continuing students as well.

Various informational events and orientations are organized for new students. In them you will get information about your studies and how to organise them. Various aspects of student life are also covered. New students are guided by tutor students.

On the University’s website, you can find instructions for the very first steps in your path  as a university student. Accept the study place, register as a student and carefully read the messages you receive from the university! After that, you can continue by checking out the list below, and you’ll get caught up in student life right away!

 

 

Start your studies

Get to know the Student Union

Students of the University of Oulu are automatically members of OYY, the Student Union of the University of Oulu. OYY acts as an advocate for its members in the university and the city, as well as offers specialist services for support in various student life related issues.

Get a student card

A mobile version of the student card can be used on the Tuudo or Pivo applications, or you may obtain a plastic student card.

 

Student card and benefits

Pay the FSHS fee

The healthcare fee for students in higher education is paid to Kela each semester. The fee is mandatory for all degree students registered as present, and entitles them to use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service, or FSHS. The fee amounts to 35.80 euros per semester. The due date for the autumn semester fee is 30.9.

 

More information about the healthcare fee and payment on the Kela website

Apply for the student financial aid

It is recommended to apply for the study grant and the general housing allowance as soon as your study spot and housing for the duration of your studies have been confirmed. During autumn’s rush, applications can take more than a month to process. Applications can be submitted online via OmaKela e-service.

Financial aid for studies pursued in Finland is available to Finnish citizens and, under certain conditions, to citizens of other countries.

 

Information about financial aid on Kela’s page

Find a roof over your head

Student housing in Oulu is provided by Pohjois-Suomen opiskelija-asuntosäätiö, or PSOAS. PSOAS offers rooms in shared apartments, as well as studios and larger apartments. The Oulu Region Youth Housing Association, or OsNa ry, is specialised in housing particularly for young people, and offers housing counsellor services. There are also various other housing providers in Oulu, offering housing in the vicinity of campuses and, e.g., in the city centre and its surroundings.

 

The PSOAS website

Getting around in Oulu

Oulu is a cycling city, and with the new cycle routes cycling has become even smoother. So, it is recommended for anyone who is able to go cycling, at least when the weather is nice during autumn and spring!

If you live further away from campus, public transportation is a good option for commuting. Students under the age of 25 will automatically receive a monthly ticket at the cheaper youth rate. Students aged 25 or older can receive a discount by visiting the Oulu10-service point to verify their student status at the beginning of each academic year.

Oulu public transport

Join your subject society

Each field of study has its own subject society that oversees the interests of students and organises leisure time activities and events. You can also purchase student overalls through your subject society! For more information on subject societies, consult your tutors.

 

List of subject societies on our website

 

Find hobbies and get moving

Wellbeing tutoring provides all students of the University of Oulu opportunities to try out new hobbies easily under the guidance of tutors. Culture, sports and lots of other activities are available.

UniMove provides the university sports services in Oulu. By paying the sports fee and downloading the app, you are entitled to participate in a wide selection of weekly classes and to register for different courses for a discounted price. Additionally, you can get significant discounts on sports services provided by partner organisations.

There are also various interest societies within the Student Union where you can continue your hobby with other students or find a whole new pastime activity. Interest societies offer activities such as music, exercise, art and games.

Wellbeing tutoring

UniMove

Interest societies

Stay updated

Follow the university’s communication channels to stay up to date on what’s going on in your courses and in the entire university community. Important information can be found, e.g., on the university’s ‘For students’ -page. You can also read the news via Tuudo! Make sure to update your most regularly monitored email address on Peppi in order to receive all the necessary information relevant to your studies.

Subscribe to OYY’s weekly newsletter to receive a summary of student life related news and events directly to your email throughout the academic year. Following OYY’s social media channels will also help you in staying up to date on what’s happening and what kind of participation opportunities are offered by the Student Union.

It is also recommended to join the email lists of your own study subject, subject society and umbrella guild in order to receive information specifically related to your field, faculty and subject society. For more information, consult your tutors.

Oulu Student Magazine and event calendar

Glimpses of the student life, stories about interesting people, research conducted in the University of Oulu, and the current phenomena since 1961.

By following the Oulu Student Magazine, you can stay up to date on news related to the University of Oulu, science, current phenomena, and Oulu’s culture. The Oulu Student Magazine is published in print four times per academic year, and as an online publication updated weekly at oulunylioppilaslehti.fi. You can also read the latest articles from the magazine on the mobile application Tuudo.

You may subscribe to the magazine’s annual edition (incl. four magazines, starting with the next print magazine) and get it delivered to your door at the member price of 9.90 euros. You can find the free distribution points of the Oulu Student Magazine on the Linnanmaa and Kontinkangas campuses of the University of Oulu. In the city centre area, the magazine can be picked up from, e.g., the Oulu Main Library or the Cultural Centre Valve. The print issue can also be read at Issuu.com.

In the event calendar, you can see all upcoming events in the higher education community, around and across faculty lines.

The Oulu Student Magazine is published mainly in Finnish, but each issue and the website contain some stories and articles in English as well!

Event calendar

Oulu student Magazine website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Any questions?

In questions related to your studies, it is advisable to first approach your teacher tutor. Your  tutor can also help you in getting started and will familiarise you with your studies and your field’s general practices. In questions related to housing, wellbeing and student’s rights, you may contact our specialists via help(at)oyy.fi, and we’ll help you figure things out!