Fresher survival pack

This page is in progress, translating from Finnish to English, Finnish text as a template

This is a collection of information to help you along with the start of your studies

Before the academic year starts

Accept your offer of admission

• Accept your student place by the deadline according to the instructions in your admission letter.

Register yourself as an attending or non-attending student

• Follow the steps outlined in the acceptance letter. You must register as attending by the end of August.
• You must pay the student union membership fee (46€ in 2022) and the healtcare fee for students in higher education (35,80 € / semester). The healthcare fee due date is September 30th, after which you must pay a late-payment fee of 5€.
• Note that in the fall you are only able to pay the fall's fee, as the next year's prices have not been set yet.

Find an appartment

• Good resources are HOAS (Foundation for student housing in the Helsinki region) as well as the student union's hosuing guide. The union also has their own student houses and many of the [student nations offer apartments for their members (Finnish).
• Remember to submit a notification of address change once you've moved. The notification can also be submitted in-person at Digital and Population Data Services Agency service locations.
  • Note that the notification might take a while to be processed. If this prevents you from gaining e.g. a student discount in the HSL app, contact the Digital and Population Data Services Agency's address service.
  • If you're receiving the previous tenant's post after moving in, cross out the address, write "wrong address" or "does not live at address". You can return the post to any post box, to a Posti service location or hand it to the postperson.
  • Especially if you're receiving old post, check your data in the Personal Data service to see that the property tenant count is correct. The previous tenant might have forgotten to do a notification of address change, which may affect your benefits.
• Find out if you need to make a separate notice to the (deputy) landlord. If in doubt, ask a neighbor!

Figure out your finances

• Check what benefits you're eglible for at Kela's website.
• The best way to apply for benefits is to use the OmaKela e-service. Applications are processed in order of arrival. You can track your application's progress through the same e-service.
• Student benefit is not granted retroactively. The earliest date you can receive benefit for is the application submission date. Remember to submit the application in time!

Activate your university account

Activate your user account before your studies begin

• Without these you can not even register for courses

Join TKO-äly's activities

• Make room for events at the beginning of the academic year. This is the best way to get to know other students, TKO-äly and university culture.
• Download Telegram and join TKO-äly's channels (in Finnish, but discussion in English is welcome). You can find most fellow CS students here. It's also a great way to keep up to date & ask for help!
• Join the fresher group in Telegram. You can find the invitation link in the e-mail TKO-äly sent you or you can ask any of the Tutors to add you. If you don't join any other channels, join this one!
• Become a member of TKO-äly if you haven't yet.
• Investigate Gurula (article still in Finnish, in-person Gurula multilingual) and get to know the great people residing there!
  • Make an account for the virtual register found in Gurula.
  • Buy overalls! They are the de facto attire for any student event, unless otherwise specified.
  • Check out the overall patches & buy ones you want on your overalls.
  • Questions? Ask anyone in Gurula or on Telegram!

Make a study schedule

This part of the guide has yet to be translated. Your tutors will help with making a schedule.

TODO: Translate Kurssitarjonta & tutkintorakenteet and kurssikuvauksia

Get a student card

Frank on opiskelijakortti, jolla saa kaikki mahdolliset opiskelija-alennukset (esim. VR). Muita opiskelijakortteja et tarvitse.

• Opiskelijakorttia tarvitsee esimerkiksi UniCafen opiskelija-alennukseen.
• Vaihtoehtoisesti voit myös käyttää Frank Appia opiskelijakorttina.
• Jos hankit fyysisen opiskelijakortin, lukuvuositarroja jaetaan vuoden alussa esim. Physicumin aulasta, ja vuoden aikana HYY:n palvelutoimistosta.

Get a student discount for public transport

Aktivoi opiskelijastatus HSL-sovellukseen, niin saat kausilipun opiskelijahinnoin.

• Uusien opiskelijoiden alennuskausi alkaa lukuvuoden alusta, eli 1. elokuuta.
• Huomioi, että opiskelija-alennusta myönnetään ainoastaan kausilipusta.
• Vuoden 2022 alusta alkaen opiskelija-alennuksen on saanut muutamia poikkeuksia lukuun ottamatta ainoastaan HSL-sovellusta käyttämällä. Lisätietoa HSL:n sivuilta
• Reittiopas auttaa eksyneitä

Night access keys

Some of the IT facilities are available outside normal campus opening hours. Students registered for attendance can get a magnetic key that allows you to use Gurula and other rooms meant for 24 h use.

• Instructions for applying for the key are at Helpdesk's webpage.
• You must write down that you're a Computer Science student on the application form to get access to Gurula.
• If your key doesn't work as it should, contact Helpdesk

Library

• You can get access to the University library
• The library has a huge bunch of scientific books and journals, both in printed and electronic form
• Check out more info and instructions at the library web page
• Kumpula campus library is on the first floor of Physicum.

During orientation

Go to TKO-äly's events

Käymällä TKO-älyn tapahtumissa tutustut kanssaopiskelijoihisi ja ainejärjestöösi.

Get to know your tutoring group

Tuutorit ovat opiskelijoita, jotka neuvovat sinua opintojesi alussa. Saat omalta tuutoriltasi viestin opintojesi alussa. Tuutorit järjestävät tapaamisia, joissa pääset tutustumaan niin muihin tuutoriryhmäsi fukseihin kuin kampukseenkin. Tuutoriryhmässä mukana oleminen on helppo tapa saada ensimmäiset ystävät ja kaikki oleellisimat tiedot. Jos ei muuta niin ainakin tuutori osaa ohjata hakemaan tietoa mieltä askarruttavissa kysymyksissä oikeasta kanavasta.

Sign up for courses

Kts. Kursseille ilmoittautuminen

• Opintoneuvontaa ja muita neuvoja saa myös kanavalta tkt-apu.

During the Fall

• Yritä, kiireistä huolimatta, osallistua fuksitapahtumiin ja ainejärjestösi tapahtumiin. Se on kiistämättä paras tapa luoda kontakteja alussa.
• Kokeet ja arvostelu – lue läpi ennen kuin kävelet ensimmäiseen koetilaisuuteen.
• Kurssisivu toimii meillä aina kurssin keskeisenä tiedonlähteenä sisältäen kurssin tärkeät päivämäärät (kurssikokeet jne.)
  • Matematiikan osastolla sen sijaan pitää olla hereillä luennoillakin, kaikki informaatio kun ei välttämättä löydä kurssisivuille.