Student life
Xamk is a community of over 12 000 students and staff members!
“It’s your time to enjoy student life and create wonderful memories!”
Explore the possibilities
Services for students
Activities and hobbies
Housing
Financing your studies and benefits & health care
Services for students
Starting a new life in a different country is a big step — and it often comes with surprises you never thought to prepare for. Getting to know a new culture takes time, and that’s totally okay!
At Xamk, we will do our best to create an inspirational learning environment and support our students. Therefore, we have created services, which will help our students not only enjoy their studies, but also their lives in Finland!
Integration teams
Integration support is part of the International Services’ activities at Xamk. The integration support team guides in questions related to settling and living in Finland and campus town. Often with different local actors, the integration support team organises activities and events for the students to get familiar with the different campus cities.
Student Affairs Office
Located on every campus, the Student Affairs Office offers guidance on academic and practical matters. Each degree programme has a dedicated advisor, and our 24/7 e-services ensure help is always available.
Student Life and Community
Join various student associations and events organized by Student Union Kaakko. From sports to hobbies, Kaakko fosters community spirit, promotes well-being, and ensures there’s something fun for everyone.
Student Tutors
Our student tutors act as your peer guides, helping you adjust to campus life, routines, and your new environment. They foster team spirit in your group and keep you informed about events and opportunities.
Activities and hobbies
Activities to try in Finland
Skiing, skating, sledding, wall-climbing, ice fishing, swimming in lakes, hiking, camping, canoeing, paddle boarding… the opportunities are endless!
Activities on campus
Bored on your free period? Try some of our campus activities such as basketball, gym, air hockey, disc golf or table tennis.
Want to listen to a podcast? Check our podcast about hobbies In Finland here! Xamk’s Wellbeing Management student Abdessamad tells about his hobbies and free time activities in campus town Mikkeli. What are these hobbies? How did he find them? What activity he has found to be good for a better understanding of Finns and the Finnish culture?
I play bowling with my friends. I also do cycling tours in Mikkeli, which is one of our campus cities. I heard about these hobbies from my friends.
– Abdessamad, student at Xamk
Trips in Finland
Visiting Finnish Lapland is a must experience! Try downhill skiing, visit Santa Claus village or see the Northern Lights from a glass igloo. Taking a ferry ride to nearby countries like Sweden or Estonia is extremely popular and worth experiencing. Many students like to visit other Finnish cities such as Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä and of course the other campus cities.
I am the type of person who enjoys peace, Finnish nature, fresh air, and its general stability. Those are things that literally make Finland stand out from other destinations.
– Quynh Anh Vu, Xamk alumni
Housing
The housing situation in South-East Finland is good, compared to the situation in the Helsinki region or other similar European metropolises.
The rental level is relatively low, and finding affordable accommodation is quite easy. However, you should keep in mind that at the beginning of the autumn term there are many students looking for accommodation. So, remember to be quick to apply for housing either through the student housing services or in the private rental sector.
Housing costs
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of Helsinki is around €800–€1,200, while outside the city center, it ranges from €600–€900.
Outside Helsinki the rental prices of apartment are lower, a studio apartment is about 350–700e and a three-room-apartment 750–500e / month.
Pay attention to the fact that there is a limit for how many people can live in an apartment. Studios are usually only for individuals or for two people, depending on the rental agreement, the number of people living in an apartment must be agreed with the landlord and the agreement is binding.
Want to listen a podcast? This round table dealt with the usual practices and some details to pay attention to when looking for housing and signing contracts in Finland as well as additional services that impact international students on a daily basis such as banking services, phone and internet contracts.
Rent levels for studio apartment during four years, as a average rents in the area. The general housing allowance has been deducted from the sum.
Financing your studies
All degree students at Xamk are responsible for covering their own tuition fees and living expenses. Make sure you have sufficient funding for the entire duration of your studies.
Please note that international students coming to Finland solely for studies are usually not covered by Finnish social security and are therefore not eligible for student financial aid from the Finnish government.
Finding a job
Looking for a job in Finland can be a long process, not only for foreigners but for Finnish people too. It´s important to keep in consideration that finding a job can be a lengthy process, but not impossible. Please do not expect to find a job right after your arrival to the country.
Speaking Finnish is a crucial point when looking for a job in Finland. Learning and practicing Finnish language in your free time is highly recommended.
Note: As a student, you are expected to focus mainly on studies. However, if you move to Finland with a spouse, your spouse might be allowed to work in Finland
(depending on the type of residence permit obtained).
While English-speaking jobs exist, especially in tech and hospitality, knowing Finnish greatly increases your chances.
Want to listen a podcast? The very first episode of Mattipedia discusses about job search in Finland – what kind of challenges and solutions Xamk’s International Business Management student and project researcher Valéria from Brazil has encountered during her three years in Finland?
In this podcast episode Xamk’s students Mariia and Samuel talk about practical training in Finland. What kind of practical training experiences Mariia has gained? How did she find her practical training placements? How does she perceive the Finnish work culture? Listen and learn about practical training.
Scholarships at Xamk
The Finnish higher education institutions charge tuition fees for students outside the EU/EEA area. The fees concern the study programmes conducted in English.
Instructions for paying the tuition fee are given to the admitted student in the offer of admission.
- the Early Bird scholarship: a 10% discount on the tuition fee for the first study year
- the scholarship based on study progress: a 20% discount on the following year’s tuition fee with good study progress
- Xamk Award: raise your discount on the following year’s tuition fee from 20% to 25-35% with creditable integration and active participation in the local community
- Studies in Finnish language and culture: get additional deductions on the following year’s tuition fee by completing studies in Finnish language and culture.
- scholarship for humanitarian reasons (Ukrainian citizens)
Xamk award
To encourage to be part of the Finnish society, students who qualify for the scholarship based on study progress, can reduce their following year’s tuition fee to up to 35% by being active in their local community.
During your studies you can be involved in various activities: be part of a locally operating association as a hobby instructor or a member of a hobby group, volunteer, take part in extracurricular activities by Xamk’s integration team, community and student union activities, as well as gain work experience.
Student benefits, health care and living costs
Health care
All degree students (bachelor and master degrees) enrolled for attendance in higher education can use the health care services provided by FSHS. Students can use the health care services primarily in the town where the studies are located in but also remote services and consultations are available.
Students who are entitled to FSHS services are required to pay the health care fee annually to Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, regardless if they use the services or not. Kela is a government agency that provides basic economic security for everyone living in Finland.
Also foreign students must pay the healthcare fee. You don’t have to pay the fee if you have social security coverage from another EU/EEA country or from Switzerland or the United Kingdom and you send the required document of it to Kela. More info on new students website!
Other benefits
- Discounts in public transport
- Students in bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes are eligible for discounted meals at the Xamk restaurants on our campuses and other student restaurants across Finland.
- You have access to affordable student housing
- Nationwide and local discounts
Students have to pay for their own living expenses (including food, accommodation, clothing and social activities) and costs for books and other study material.
Cost of living in Finland
When planning your studies in Finland it is important to know the costs for the living and studying and to arrange sufficient funding for your studies.
For a single person, the estimated monthly costs (excluding rent) are around €936.8.
For a family of four, the estimated monthly costs (excluding rent) are approximately €3,408.0
Basic utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for an 85m² apartment cost around €100-€150 per month. Internet costs are approximately €20-€30 per month
Transportation costs include a monthly pass for local transport at around €60
Language studies and studying Finnish
Studying Finnish is worthwhile, and Xamk offers a variety of courses for this. All bachelor’s degree programmes contain compulsory language studies in English, Finnish and Swedish. In the objectives and the content of language courses, the focus is on the needs of your future career. In addition to the compulsory language studies of different degree programmes, Xamk offers optional language and culture studies.
Tips for students
Although the videos are focused on Kouvola, most of the information is valid all around Finland.
Getting started
How to look for your new accommodation? These, and more of your queries related to starting your journey, are answered in this video.
Moving to Finland
Know more about practical aspects of moving to Finland, including to pack in your luggage, how to reach Kouvola through public transportation, and other aspects about settling down.
Living costs
Living in Kouvola can be more affordable compared to living in bigger cities in Finland. This video will help you in figuring out how to handle your finances wisely, save money and create a monthly budget.
Shopping
Which kind of stores are available for you to shop in the area? Where can you buy your groceries and other essentials from?
Good to know about Finland
As you start living your new life in a new country, there are many nuances of trying to settle in smoothly and effectively in a new culture. This video will guide you through the essentials of your new life in Finland.
Part-time jobs
In Finland, finding a job can be time taking process, even for a local person. What are the essential aspects to consider when looking for a part-time job along with your studies? Find some tips about CV, job portals, networking and much more in this video.
Contact Admission Services
Xamk’s Admissions Services primarily assists with matters related to applying for degree studies. You can contact us by phone or through our online form.
Mon-Fri 09.00-12.00
Degree education in Finnish:
- +358 44 702 8891
- +358 40 585 6610
Degree education in English:
- +358 40 585 6610
Contact request via online form: