• The biggest costs during your stay will most likely be accommodation and food. 
• Flight or other travelling costs to Finland vary depending on the point of departure, so we recommend checking them on your own beforehand. 
• You can also reserve some money for shopping according to your preferences.
• Note that as of 1 January 2024, Finland increased the financial requirement for Schengen visas to 50€ per day of stay. 

Unfortunately, Aalto University does not have university-owned dorms that summer school students could use during their stay.

In 2023, we offered the students an opportunity to share their contact information to find people to share a hotel room or an apartment with them once the application period had ended.

The campus can be reached easily by metro, bus and tram number 15. Usually, the students stay near campus or in the centre of Helsinki.

Examples from walking distance from the university

Private room in apartment hostel 55-60 EUR / night 
Hotel room for two 100-150 EUR / night (check the deal for summer school students below)

Examples from Helsinki centre

Hostel 40-70 EUR / night 
One-person Airbnb 40-90 EUR / night
Hotel room for two 140-230 EUR / night

These costs have been updated in November 2023.

The cost of the food depends on whether you choose to cook at your accommodation or eat at restaurants and cafeterias your whole stay. Check beforehand if your accommodation has kitchen facilities. The example costs do not cover beverages.

• Breakfast at a café 10-15 EUR
• Lunch at a campus restaurant 11-13 EUR
• Takeaway salads or sandwiches from grocery stores 4-8 EUR
• Dinner 15-30 EUR

If you cook at your accommodation, you can save some money. Helsinki Area student housing recommends reserving 150-200 euros monthly for grocery shopping. For two weeks, the sum is smaller.

These costs have been updated in November 2023.

HSL is the public transportation provider in the Helsinki area. Using public transportation is the most convenient way to move around.

AB season ticket (14 days) 50 EUR

AB-day tickets (up to 13 days)

These costs have been updated in January 2024.

Good to know:

• The campus is in zone B. Multiple buses, metro and tram number 15 have stops on campus.
• Most of the sights are in A and B zones. 
• Helsinki Airport and Nuuksio National Park are in zone C. 
• If you buy the ticket on the HSL app, you can easily buy extra zones as single tickets for trips to and from zone C.
• Student discounts are only available for degree students in Helsinki area higher education institutions.

You can seek flatmates or roommates on the Summer School accommodation forum to share the costs with someone.

• After completing the course payment, you will receive an email containing a link and a forum password.
• The forum is available on the same platform as our courses, eliminating the need for multiple accounts.
• You can also find accommodation on your own. Joining the forum is optional.

Popular areas among the students

• Otaniemi (walking distance)
• Tapiola (walking distance, metro, west of campus & bus 510)
• Leppävaara (tram 15)
• Kamppi (metro, east of campus)
• Kallio (metro, east of campus)

Other areas easily reached from the campus

• Lauttasaari & Ruoholahti (metro, east of campus)
• Urheilupuisto, Niittykumpu & Matinkylä (metro, west of campus)
• Munkkiniemi, Meilahti & Pasila (bus 510)

How long does it take to get to the campus?

• The teaching can take place in various buildings on campus. Most of them are within a 5-10-minute walk from the transportation stops. 
• To get an idea of the trip to campus, you can use Otaniementie 14 (Väre building) as the address.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland issues the visas

• Always follow the Ministry's and local embassies' instructions in visa-related matters. 
• Each visa application is handled individually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. 
• Be aware that in some countries, an external service provider (e.g., VFS Global) takes care of the in-person appointments and receives the documents. 
• Aalto University does not have an impact on the final visa decision.

Student responsibility for the visa application

• You are responsible for your own visa application and for following the guidelines. 
• Apart from providing an invitation letter, Aalto University Summer School cannot assist students in the visa process or contact the embassies to speed up the process. 

• Among the most popular participant nationalities, China and India require a visa, while students from Australia, Japan, South Korea, the USA, the UK, and EU countries do not.
• Upon payment of the course fees, you can request an invitation letter from Aalto University Summer School for your visa application.

Visa type

• A student residence permit is not available for short-term studies in Finland, so most students apply for a regular tourist visa.
• The Schengen category C visa allows its holder to travel in the Schengen Area (incl. Finland) on a short-term and temporary basis for no more than 90 days over a period of 180 days.
• Note that as of 1 January 2024, Finland increased the financial requirement for Schengen visas to 50€ per day of stay. 

Aalto University Summer School recommends that you apply for a visa as soon as you have confirmed your participation by paying the course fee and received your invitation letter.

• Generally, it is advised to submit your visa application well in advance of your intended visit. 
  • The standard processing time for visa applications is approximately 15 days, but it can be longer, especially during summer. 
  • Note that finding a suitable appointment may take some time.
• To ensure that your application is processed in a timely manner, it is best to submit it as soon as possible to allow for any unforeseen delays. 
  • Please note that failure to adhere to the guidelines may result in a delayed visa approval, which could potentially impact your travel plans.

Always check the country-specific guidelines for applying for a visa and follow them.

1. Check the required documents for your visa application.
2. Fill in the visa application form at finlandvisa.fi.
3. Book an appointment to submit your application. Note that you need to book the appointment at VFS Global service point instead of the local Finnish Embassy.
4. Submit the application in person and pay the application fee.