Living in Finland

Finland is a land of countless lakes, forests, fells and archipelagos – it is one the most extensive and unspoiled natural environments in Europe. Finland’s air, forests, lakes and drinking water are exceptionally clean by global standards. More than 70% of Finland’s land area is forest, which makes Finland one of the most forested countries in the world.

The air quality in Finland is excellent because Finland is situated far from large sources of emissions and the country has successfully cut back on its own emissions. Finland has four very distinct seasons – temperatures may vary between -35°C and +35°C.

Finland is a country of innovation and technology and has continuously topped related global indices. Finnish companies highly value innovation designed to solve problems in a pragmatic and surprising way. In fact, Finland is the home of many world-leading companies in areas such as forest products and the biomass industry (UPM, Stora Enso, and Metso), transportation services (KONE) and design (Iittala and Marimekko).

International students' tips for future students - video

General information

Finland is...

The safest place in the world.
The happiest country in the world.
The most advanced country in the EU in the utilisation of digitalisation.
The third most innovative country in the world.
The fourth most gender equal country in the world.
Finland ranks as the top OECD country in education.
Finland’s share of renewable energy in the country’s total energy consumption is the second largest in the EU.
Finland has the cleanest air in the world.
Finland is the water richest country in the world.

Facts about Finland

Currency: Euro (€)
International status: Independent since 1917, member of the European Union since 1995, first to adopt the Euro in 1999
Area: 338 000 km² (130 500 square miles)
Location: Northern Europe; shares borders with Sweden, Norway and Russia. Gulf of Finland and Estonia are to the south.
Capital: Helsinki - Helsinki metropolitan area has a population of over 1.7 million.
Official languages: Finnish 90.4%, Swedish 5.4%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 65%, Orthodox Christian 1%, no religious affiliation 32%, other religious communities 2%
System of government: Parliamentary democracy, presidential elections every six years, parliament (200 members) elected every four years
Population: 5.6 million

Cost of living in Finland

Finland is known for its high standard of living, which means prices are not the lowest in the world. However, the cost of living in Finland is about the same as in other EU countries. The expenses vary depending on the accommodation you decide to choose and your personal spending habits, including food, health care, social life, and travel.

In Lappeenranta and Lahti, living expenses including accommodation in a student apartment may amount to roughly EUR 700/month. However, it is useful to note that the expense for course books is low in Finland as most of the course books can be borrowed from the libraries. As a degree student in Finland, you will be issued a student card that entitles you to student discounts on meals and other services (e.g. transport, museums, cultural events and recreational activities).

A few approximate examples of prices from 2024:

Student lunch at the university 2.95 – 4.60 €
Single bus ticket 1.60 - 2.90 €
Monthly bus pass 42-45 €
Coffee at a café 3-5 €
Beer at a bar 5–9 €
Movie ticket 12-15 €

Saving tips - Flea markets and second hand shops are popular in Finland, so there are several of them around the city. In these places you can find all kinds of second hand products, such as furniture, electric appliances, tableware and clothes. The prices are very reasonable, and in places such as the Red Cross flea market and recycling centres you can find all of their items in a very good condition.

Finnish people

As a people Finns are often said to be relatively shy, quiet, straightforward and honest. They appreciate privacy and space. However, a visitor who accepts an initiative will soon overcome the first difficulties in becoming acquainted. Once the ice is broken Finns will show that they are open, warm and reliable. Honesty, independence and punctuality are the three characteristics most highly valued by the Finns.

If you ever struggle to find a topic for discussion with a Finn it is good to remember that Finns have a special passion for sports. Ask about ice-hockey, cross-country skiing or javelin and you might well have found a new best friend.

Practicalities and services

Banks

In order to open a bank account, you need to make the registration at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Many banks prefer to reserve an appointment in advance to open an account, so you might want to arrange a time for your visit. Before deciding on the bank you might want to find out what services they offer you and the costs – there are significant differences between banks. Ask your fellow students or your tutor students’ for their opinion and which bank they recommend.

The practice of opening a bank account varies according to bank and branch in Finland. Each case is decided individually by the bank. However, every bank has a statutory obligation to open basic payment account services to anyone who has a legal residence in an EEA member state. Please notice that you should always contact the bank beforehand to make an appointment and confirm the documentation you need with you.

In many banks you can get your account number immediately, but getting a Visa Electron bank card will take longer and an access to internet banking even two to four months after the account has been opened.

Please note that a VISA card, a MasterCard or equivalent is useful in Finland as there are cash machines everywhere.

Social security coverage for students (KELA)

Kela is the social insurance institution of Finland and has a key role in implementing the Finnish social security system. When you move to Finland from another country, your entitlement to benefits from Kela is determined on the basis of how long you intend to stay in Finland, which country you come from and your reason for the stay in Finland.

If you come to Finland from a country other than an EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom in order to study here for at least 2 years, you can usually receive a Kela card and certain benefits such as reimbursements from Kela for medicine costs. You are not, however, entitled to all Kela benefits. The DVV registration is a pre-requisite for the KELA registration.

If you come to Finland from another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom in order to study here, your stay in Finland is usually considered temporary. In that case, your country of origin is responsible for your social security benefits. You are, however, entitled to medically necessary health care if you have a European Health Insurance Card issued by your country of origin. Order the card before coming to Finland. More information: https://www.kela.fi/from-other-countries-to-finland-students-and-researchers

Registration and finnish social security number

Every foreign student needs a Personal Identity Number (also known as social security number or “henkilötunnus” in Finnish) that is used with different service providers and authorities in Finland for identification purposes. It is needed for example when opening a bank account, registering at the university, making work contracts, when visiting the hospital etc. You may have received the personal identity code already with your residence permit, but if you did not, you will receive it from Digital and Population Data Service Agency. DVV registration is free of charge. Read more: DVV info

Please note! LAB and DVV collaborate by arranging pop up -registration days at campus during the Autumn.

Read carefully the instructions and timetables on: Registering at Digital and Population Data Service Agency (check list bullet number 14).

Mobile phone and internet services

The main mobile operators in Finland are Elisa, DNA and Telia. In most mobile packages the operators offer, unlimited talk time and messaging are included, as well as internet connection. The prices may vary, but the services and coverage are as good with all operators.

The easiest way to get started with a Finnish mobile phone service is to buy a prepaid package. Prepaid subscription can be purchased from R-kiosks, some supermarkets (such as Prisma and City-Market) and online. The benefit of this service is that you do not need a personal identity code and an address in Finland and instead of purchasing by credit, you pay for the service before using it. When you need more credit to your prepaid card, you can buy more credit from the same kiosks. The prices for prepaid cards start normally from 10 euros.

Setting up a prepaid subscription is easy – after buying the package, install the SIM card and start using the new phone number. The prepaid SIM card has already been loaded beforehand with a certain sum with which you can call. You can follow-up on your balance and top up the balance online.
Elisa: https://elisa.fi/asiakaspalvelu/english/prepaid-instructions/
DNA: https://www.dna.fi/prepaid-liittymat/english
Telia: https://www.telia.fi/kauppa/liittymat/prepaid?anchor=in-english

With general mobile contracts, you need a Finnish personal identity code, and you must have an address in Finland.

Internet
All students will have wi-fi access (Eduroam) on campus for their studies. The mobile phone subscriptions usually include an internet connection that might be enough to be shared to your computer/laptop. If you need a separate internet connection to your apartment, a local companies can provide you with connection.

Emergency services

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.

Pharmacies and medicine

Medicines can only be bought from pharmacies in Finland. Pharmacies also sell vitamins, antihistamines, painkillers, and skin creams. The Finnish word for a pharmacy is apteekki.

Medicines such as antibiotics, birth control pills, and asthma medication can only be bought with a prescription from a doctor. Medical prescriptions are usually electronic – doctors do not tend to issue paper prescriptions, however they can if asked. You can purchase medication prescribed to you at any pharmacy by presenting personal identification. The pharmacist can find your electronic prescription in the online database with your personal details.

You can view your own prescription and medical information through the MyKanta service. You log into the service with your Finnish online banking credentials. You can renew an electronic prescription through MyKanta, your doctor, or a pharmacy. Pharmacies and doctors may charge a fee for renewing a prescription.

Public libraries

Libraries in Finland are open to everyone. Most libraries have self-service hours (6-22) on weekdays. The libraries online services are available at any time, in any place.

You can use all library's services when you have a library card. You can order the card at the library or online.

Obtaining a library card is free (first card free, new card usually 2-5 euros). Note, you must be at least 18 years old and you are asked to present a photo ID (for example a driving license or a passport) and fill out an application form which can be done online or at service desks.

In addition to loaning books you can also loan free of charge for example (depending on the libraries services):

Digital and audio books for the phone
Movies and CDs
Music players and e-materials for music
Board games and various games for consoles
Season tickets for cultural and sport events

Some libraries offer also services such as:

Study rooms for group or solo study sessions
Game and TV rooms
Music studio
3D printing
Digitization and editing services.

You can also make a purchase proposal for material that cannot be found in your own library's collections.

Info about libraries in

Grocery stores

Student dining on campuses

Public transport

In Finland, using public transport is the most affordable and ecological choice. The systems are often on time and are comfortable to use. You can get a student discount for public transport in most cities.

Check the eLAB pages for more information on public transport and students discounts in the Lahti and Lappeenranta region.

For travelling between cities, check the Matkahuolto website for long-distance buses, and the VR website for long-distance trains.

City bikes offer a fast way to move around Lahti and Lappeenranta. City bike season begins in April and lasts for seven months.

Public transport Lahti - Blog post

Public transport Lappeenranta - Blog post

Driving in Finland

People with a driving license issued abroad are usually allowed to drive in Finland, but in some situations such license must be exchanged for a Finnish driving license. Check if your license needs to be updated to a Finnish one and about the process: https://ajokortti-info.fi/en/basic-informationabout-driving-licence/validity-foreign-driving-licences-finland.

Before heading to the Finnish roads, familiarize yourself with the Finnish traffic rules and traffic signs. Also, driving in the winter conditions might be new to you. The cars should have winter tires during the winter months (depending on the weather conditions) and the speed limits are also lower for winter.

If you own a vehicle in Finland, you have to pay vehicle tax, the car must be inspected, and an insurance is compulsory. More information As a foreigner on Finnish roads | Ajokortti-info

Child day care and education services

Electricity contracts

Electricity (= sähkö in Finnish) is the main source of energy in Finnish homes. For example, gas is rarely used.

If you live in Lahti / in Lappeenranta shared apartment (furnished student apartment), you don’t need to make your own electricity contract. The electricity payment is included in the rent.
If you live in other apartment types, you may need to make your own electricity contract.

Please note that it may take a day or two to turn on the electricity after moving in. Electricity is bought from electricity companies. The cost of electricity in Finland consists of two components, electricity sales and electricity distribution. You can purchase electricity from any operators in Finland, but you cannot choose the electricity distribution network. The local distributor in Lahti region is Lahti Energia and in Lappeenranta Lappeenrannan Energiaverkot Oy. This system means that you will have to make two different agreements for the electricity!

Check that your charger cables are compatible with the Finnish power plugs or use an adapter! In Finland, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type F are used. The standard voltage is 230 V at a frequency of 50 Hz. Read more: https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/finland/

Recycling

While living in Finland it is important to remember to reduce and recycle waste as much as possible.
You will normally find the recycling instructions next to the waste containers outside your home, and if not please ask them from your lessor.

More information about recycling in Lahti and Lappeenranta

Waste sorting webinar by Salpakierto

Blog post about recycling

Cleaning instructions and safe housing

In Finland we have four seasons

Autumn

Autumn landscape

Autumn is the most colorful time of year in Finland. In autumn, the trees take on a stunning red and yellow spectrum. Autumn in Finland means that temperatures drop from summer and autumn start about end of August. The weather is cool and often rainy and windy. The autumn in Finland is also quite dark, as the days get shorter and the sun sets earlier compared to summer. Wind- and rain-resistant jackets and footwear are a great choice!

Autumn lasts until October or November, when the snow falls.

Picture adapted according to Finnish Meteorological Institute

Winter

Winter landscape

Winter is the coldest season in Finland, with temperatures often near freezing. In Finland, winter is a time to enjoy stunning icy and snowy landscapes.

Winter starts around November and lasts until the beginning of spring, around the end of February, when the snow starts to melt. During the winter months temperatures in Finland often dip below freezing. The air tends to be dry when it's cold. Winter days are generally dark because the sun rises late and sets early. It's important to note that in Finland, snow or low temperatures do not lead to school or work cancellations!

The ground can be icy and slippery, particularly when temperatures hover around freezing. Be sure to dress warmly in winter. You'll need a thick winter jacket, a hat, gloves, a scarf, and warm winter shoes. Layering your clothing is essential to stay comfortable in the cold. It's advisable to buy winter clothes in Finland, as we have clothing specifically designed to keep you warm.

The lack of daylight during winter can lead to mood drop. Make sure to get enough vitamin D, and if necessary, consider using a bright light therapy lamp to help cope with the darkness.

A day in the Finnish winter - Blog post

Picture adapted according to Finnish Meteorological Institute

Spring

Summer

Blog texts from Finland

Exchange students in Lapland - part 1

Exchange students and tutor teacher did a trip to Lapland. The week was success. We got to know each others better, enjoyed the nature and winter activites as well as Dutch and Finnish meals.

Moi! We are Erja, Lisa, Rick, and Sam and we are exchange students from The Netherlands. We study at LAB University for five months. The first day of school, our tutor teacher Katri was already waiting for us. She told us about Finnish people and how they are quiet and reserved. Katri herself, however, isn’t a typical Finn. In fact, she invited us to come with her and her friends to Lapland for a week.

In February it was finally time! We went to Lapland by train, which was hell on earth. But, compared to the week we had in Lapland, it was all worth it.

On the first day we were exhausted from the train ride, but we went skiing for the first time. It was hard, but seeing the bright northern lights that day was the best reward we could have wished for. We even saw them in pink! Picture 1 - Northern lights

Besides hunting for aurora nearly every night, we also sleighed with huskies and raced on a snowmobile. Lisa was sad that the snowmobile didn’t go faster than 45 km/h.

At our first dinner together in Lapland, we all received a blank postcard. The idea was that everyone writes a card to themselves with what they hope to do and to see this week. This was such a lovely idea, and it might be something we would continue to do in upcoming trips.

During the week, we stayed in a typical, wooden cottage with three Finnish ladies who taught us about Finnish culture and traditions. We went to sauna and then outside to the snow. With the most sisu, Sam and Rick made snow angels. Every day, it was someone’s shift to cook dinner and so we had Finnish and Dutch foods. We made pulla, they were delicious! We roasted sausages during the skiing trips, and we tasted mämmi. Not everyone was very fond of that desert…

Speaking of desert, we learned that Finnish people divide the desert into the amount of people regardless of size, while Dutch people just take the amount, they are hungry for.

After dinner, we did exercise every evening with Katri’s 84-years old mother via Whatsapp-video. This was very nice to do and made for fun moments with each other. Picture 2 - Kesänki

We skied through the most beautiful parts of nature, the trees covered in snow and the peaceful surroundings. Skiing was very fun and tiring at some times, but we all liked going downhill the best. The Finnish ladies were impressed by our courage and sisu, and they were very proud of us! We learned about naavat and made mustaches with it.

We learned a lot of new Finnish words, such as tunturi, revontulet, and some bad words as well. But the best word of all: no niin. You can use the word whenever you want and now, we know how to use it :D. Erja timed the use of no niin perfectly, which made for a funny and memorable moments!

The week in Lapland unfortunately came to an end, and we have returned to school. The school is very nice, teachers are casual and flexible regarding deadlines and exam dates. This is comparable to The Netherlands, where teachers are informal and are equal to students.

We also like that there is warm, cheap lunch at school. It is great for the student’s wallet!

Writers:

Erja Rijsdijk is an exchange student in physiotherapy, LAB University of Applied Sciences. Originally, she is a student in AVANS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

Lisa Holtgrefe is an exchange student in nursing, LAB University of Applied Sciences. Originally, she is a student in AVANS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

Rick van de Haterd is an exchange student in physiotherapy, LAB University of Applied Sciences. Originally, he is a student in AVANS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

Sam van Kuijk is an exchange student in health technology and innovation, LAB University of Applied Sciences. Originally, she is a student in AVANS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.

Picture 3 - students

Exchange students in Lapland - part 2

Hoi! I’m Katri, senior lecturer in physiotherapy and tutor teacher for exchange students. I have worked with international students for more than 20 years. When I was a student, I went abroad as an exchange student myself, first to Belgium, then to Norway. What I learned is the importance of getting to know local people and local cultures.

During wintertime, I do a lot of skiing and I especially love winter swimming. First, I go to the sauna to warm up and then I walk in a bathing suit along a snow-covered path to dip into a hole in an ice-covered lake. I asked Erja, Lisa, Rick, and Sam if they wanted to join me and experience this. They were very brave and came to the sauna with me and our local winter swimming group and dipped into the lake, as well. We all wore bathing suits. In the sauna I heard that they were planning a trip to Lapland. Since I was going there myself with my sister and a friend, we invited them to join us for a week of winter sports in Äkäslompolo. We were happy to have them share the cottage with us because we had such a great time.

Our first day in Äkäslompolo we three Finnish ladies taught our young friends how to do cross country skiing. They were eager to learn, learnt very fast, and skied 4 kilometers the very first day on a flat lake area. The second skiing day we took a picnic with us and skied to the foot of the fell Kesänki and had picnic there. Refreshed we walked a very steep path in the snow carrying our skis up to the top of the fell. There were no trees but a lot of wind, so there were no ski tracks. We skied down the hill in thick unbroken snow with our cross-country skis. Erja, Lisa, Rick, and Sam were very fast learners and skied up to 20 kilometers a day.

In the cottage, Eeva, Pirjo and I cooked Finnish food on our cooking days, and Erja, Lisa, Rick, and Sam cooked delicious Dutch meals when it was their turn to cook. We loved the world’s best salty pancakes and learnt that apple Nutella pancakes are a part of the main course. Not dessert. We also enjoyed a typical Dutch family meal of mashed potatoes mixed with bacon and kale served with fried sausages and applesauce. Delicious. During meals we had interesting and humoristic discussions when comparing our cultural habits. The topics varied from tulips, sports, and studying to euthanasia.

As a teacher I learnt that exchange students prefer the classroom teaching. Although the online learning has its advantages, it is not the best method for exchange students. For them online learning means lonely days inside their rooms in a foreign country not getting to know other students and not making any friends. This is what I have been discussing with my colleagues after the trip. At present, we are planning the new curriculum which starts in 2024. In the future we want to offer exchange students study courses which include more classroom teaching here in LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland.

Writer: Katri Kämäräinen is a senior lecturer in physiotherapy, LAB University of Applied Sciences. She is the tutor teacher of exchange students.

Picture 4 - Katri and students