Lahti is situated in the southern part of Finland and it is part of the Helsinki metropolitan area. Its location makes it easy to travel to the biggest cities in Finland and to the neighboring countries. As a city it is known for its environmental expertise and for being a renowned design center. Lahti hosts a great variety of activities throughout the year, from cultural to world class sporting events.

Lahti campus

The new Lahti campus is a modern learning environment which is built on former factory premises. Mixing old and new provides a unique and inspiring setting for learning and working. More information here.

Every exchange student is responsible for applying for and finding their own accommodation.

In Lahti students can apply for student accommodation at the Kuukkeli-Kodit and Lahden Talot.

Please apply for the accommodation as soon as you receive the acceptance letter from LAB.

Note! Please do not make your housing application before you have received an official acceptance for exchange period by LAB.

Kuukkeli-Kodit

Kuukkeli-Kodit offers furnished flats. All of them are shared room apartments. Please note that Kuukkeli-Kodit will make you only one housing offer. It is highly recommended to accept that offer, if you wish to have an apartment by the time your studies begin. The application for housing is made in Kuukkeli-Kodit website. More information here.

All questions related to the accommodation at Kuukkeli-Kodit must be addressed to kuukkeli@kuukkeli-kodit.fi

Lahden Talot

Lahden Talot offers furnished and unfurnished flats. Most of the exchange students will be located in shared apartments, but couples and families may also get a place in a studio or two-room apartment. Mention in your application that you are an exchange student.

Please note that Lahden Talot will make you only one housing offer. It is highly recommended to accept that offer, if you wish to have an apartment by the time your studies begin. The application for housing is made in Lahden Talot website (follow the link from the bottom of this page). If you do not get a furnished apartment, please contact your tutor (after you have been appointed one) to get tips where to find cheap furniture.

All questions related to the accommodation at Lahden Talot must be addressed to asiakaspalvelu@lahdentalot.fi

Other housing service providers

You can check other housing service providers from our housing website. 

Lappeenranta’s special location in the border region between the East and the West, on the southern shore of the fourth largest lake in Europe, Saimaa, has favored and shaped local business and industry and also added unique features to the local culture. Throughout history, excellent transport links in all directions have been considered to be a vital element for the vitality of the region. The region’s natural beauty and Karelian atmosphere attract visitors to the area.

Lappeenranta Campus

Lappeenranta campus, shared by LAB University of Applied Sciences and LUT University, is the largest higher education campus in Southeast Finland. 10 000 people work there, 3 400 of them being LAB students.

More information here. 

Every exchange student is responsible for applying for and finding their own accommodation.

LOAS

In Lappeenranta students can apply for student accommodation at the Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation LOAS. More information here.

All questions related to the accommodation must be addressed to LOAS, info@loas.fi (general address)

Note! Please do not make your housing application before you have received an official acceptance for exchange period by LAB.

We recommend our exchange students to also apply for shared accommodation and we recommend that you select as many different apartments as possible for your application.

Other housing service providers

If you don´t get a housing offer from LOAS or you want to check other housing service providers please see our housing website.  

You will receive a personal username and an official student email account upon your arrival. You will have access to Microsoft's cloud service Office 365.

Courses at LAB University of Applied Sciences are delivered flexibly, utilizing digital solutions. Various electronic platforms and materials are used in the learning process and course contents. Students connect to the learning environment using their own mobile devices, such as a laptop or a tablet with a keyboard. LAB provides a wireless network on campus as well as support for using your own device.

All exchange students will get their own personal tutor student. The tutor student will be in contact with you before your arrival to Finland, meet you on your arrival in the Travel Centre and show you around LAB and the city. Tutor students will also help and support you during your whole exchange period in Finland.

The tutor students are second year or older degree students at LAB. You can ask the tutors anything, the answer is not always known, but at least they know where to get help. Besides helping you, the tutors will also take care that you enjoy your student life by arranging different kinds of events during the academic year.

Remember though, that the best thing about being in a foreign country is to find things out by your own and to notice that you really are able to survive in new surroundings, although it may not always be easy. This gives you the best memories and experiences.

Lahti

You can get yourself a personal library card from the academic library of LAB University of Applied Sciences. The library card is available for free and applied online. In Lahti the library is located at the NiemiCampus.

Lappeenranta

LUT Academic Library provides library services in different specialist fields for researchers and the general public. It is one of the European Documentation Centres in Finland and the joint library for the LUT University and LAB University of Applied Sciences. The library has an extensive collection of literature titles and journals, both in print and electronic format.

We provide individual support for exchange students with special needs. Our student exchange coordinators make the required arrangements together with the student service experts. Please be in contact well in advance if individual support is needed.

As an exchange student at LAB you will get a student price meal in our campus restaurants​. The price per lunch is 2.95 €. You will receive the KELA meal subsidy card during the orientation, which entitles you to the discounted price.

MOVEO provides high quality, affordable and versatile sports services for higher education students. MOVEO members get an access to gym and group exercise lessons. 

MOVEO Lahti

MOVEO Lappeenranta

The student union of LAB University of Applied Sciences is KOE. KOE's mission is to make sure that your studies go as smoothly as possible. They promote the interests of all the students of LAB and the quality of education. They make the students’ voice heard in the decisions that concern students. KOE also organizes events and free time activities to counterbalance the busy student life.

As a member of the student union you will get a student card. With the student card, you are entitled to a huge amount of member benefits and discounts in Finland. As a member of KOE you also get benefits at KOE’s events.

Hello new student, and congratulations on your study spot! 

We are your friendly local section of Erasmus Student Network, or ESN. You can find one of our sections in both Lappeenranta and Lahti! The sections are independent and exist for students, by students. Each section's mission is to bridge the gap between international and domestic community here in Finland. Sections mainly focus their events towards exchange students, however anyone who is internationally minded can and should be apart of the community! All of the events are held in English, and ESN also works with partners around Finland to offer you unforgettable trips to places like the Finnish Lapland!

We hope to see you soon!

Best,
ESN Lappeenranta and ESN Lahti 

The student discount for a season ticket is 30% of the price of an adult season ticket. The discounts are valid for the entire LSL (Local and regional bus transport in Lahti) service area. There is no student discount for single and mobile tickets.

More information about LSL student discount here.

More information about purchasing the Waltti travel card from here. Make sure you have your ID and the necessary certificates with you.  

Full-time students can get a student discount on personal season and value tickets in Lappeenranta public transport, regardless of their municipality of residence. Student status must be updated at the customer service point at the beginning of the academic year or semester. A valid student card or student certificate is sufficient proof of student status.

More information about tickets and prices

In case of emergency, call 112. This number connects you to the ambulance service, police, and fire department. The service workers speak Finnish, Swedish, and English well. Emergency services are trusted in Finland, and your situation will be handled professionally and with care.

It is a good idea to install the free 112 Suomi application on your phone. When making an emergency call through the app, your exact location (even if you are in a moving car) will automatically be shared with the emergency response centre.