Vaihtojaksolla Variassa

Some basic things to check before you travel:

• Please keep your documents safe and make sure you have prepared well for your trip. Make sure you have some cash, mobile banking access, a working credit/debit/dual card, and travel insurance with you. These are necessary for a safe journey.
• Keep copies of your passport and other travel documents in a separate bag or cloud storage. It's a lifesaver if originals get lost.

When choosing accommodation, please consider the following

• Do you want to live in city center or have a shorter commute? In most cases, you cannot have both. Even if the public transport in the metropolitan works quite nicely, you still have to keep in mind that the metropolitan consists of three cities (Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo) each of which have their own central hubs. Travelling from one center to another is possible, but make sure to check how the public transport works for your journey. Sometimes going from west to east or vice versa is burdensome, as the only commute option available might be to travel through Helsinki, which in turn makes the commute time long. On the other hand, travelling from either east or west to Helsinki has been made quite convenient.

Welcome to Finland! Let’s get the most important things out of the way

• Buses, trams, metro and trains
  • From Helsinki-Vantaa airport, you may take the bus, taxi or train to your accommodation. Please note, that taxi might be the most expensive option. To check prices for public transport, visit hsl.fi/en for journey planner and ticket prices. For the exchange student transportation card, you will need a document provided by us and a visit at the customer service centre.
  • Check the type of ticket (ABC or BC) you need from the airport to your accommodation! ABC-zone tickets cover most of the metropolitan area, BC-zone tickets cover the area from airport to Haaga (to south-west, by train) and Oulunkylä (to south-east, by train). For Helsinki central and Helsinki inner suburbs, you will need a ticket covering the A-zone.
  • When buying tickets the HSL-app is the easiest way to go. If the app is not working for you, you may find ticket machines at the train platforms, near bigger bus stations, or at the entrance to metro. For single bus stops by the road, it is unlikely for you to find a ticket vending machine. Buses, metro, trains or trams do not sell tickets inside the vehicle, and the penalty for not having a ticket is 100€. Note, that paying in cash might not be an option at some of the ticketing machines. Now there is also an option to buy a ticket on the bus/metro/train with contactless payment: https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares/contactless-payment 

• Student benefits

  • HSL student fare benefit: You will receive the exchange student document usually on the first day marked in your exchange mobility documentation. With the document, you may go to the HSL info and purchase a season ticket with the student fare benefit discount. The discount is not applied for single or day tickets. The student discount is only available for exchanges that last minimum 14 days. Please keep in mind that the transport from airport to your accommodation and to the first day of your exchange will be paid by individual or day-tickets - thus not qualifying for the student fare discount.
  • We do not have a student card to offer in Varia. Our students are welcome to apply for a student discount membership card, which is operated by a 3rd party. For exchange students, and short study terms, these cards are not available.
  • If you want to receive student discounts, check which proof of student status the establishment accepts - international student card might be needed, if your student ID-card is not appliable. Sometimes your own university/college/school student ID might  have an option for international “badge” or ”stamp”. One of the most commonly accepted international student cards (joint-card or badge on your basic student ID) is the ISIC, which you can get some discounts even in Finland! Check the ISIC App or website for discount details.

Here we have compiled some basic things to note for your stay

• If you are a student arriving by yourself without a mentor/teacher/guardian and you feel like you would like to have someone drop you off at your work placement on the first day, that can be arranged. If your flight arrives during the week or at daytime, we can also look into airport pickup service. If these sound good, let us know well in advance that you'd be interested in these services!
• After the pandemic, Finland has moved further away from using cash. Cash is widely accepted in grocery stores, but even there, only at manned cashier points. Self-check outs will mostly only work with cards.
• The public transport in metropolitan area uses the HSL App mainly. If for some odd reason you cannot get the app to work, ticketing machines are available, but some of them also might not accept cash. Read into the different ticket and fare types HSL has available.
• It is smart travelling practice to have some cash on hand for emergencies, but cards, contactless payments (such as Apple pay and Google pay) are main forms of paying nowadays here in Finland.

• Your internship instructor or teacher will give you your timetable and schedule at the start of your internship. They will also explain the practices and customs for you to follow whilst working with them. As a rule of thumb, the general practices are:

  • be on time - if your work starts at 9, they will expect you to start at 9 and not to arrive 10 past 9. Finns are quite strict when it comes to schedules.
  • if you have fallen ill or got an injury - let your instructor know. They will let you know what to do next or what is expected from you. Sometimes a doctors note and certificate might be needed for sick leave absences, sometimes not - it varies. The customs might also differ from what is expected from you by your own school, so also keep that in mind.
  • if you are late or lost - inform your instructor. It is good practice to let them know if or/and why you are running late. If you are lost, they will also be able to find you or help you find your way to the correct place. Don’t be afraid to call or message them - they are here to help you!