Student Guide
Housing for students
The housing situation in the Helsinki region can be challenging but we’ll do our best to share tips that will help you to find a home! The Helsinki Metropolitan area, that consists of the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, luckily offers good public transportation services, so accommodation options can easily be sought from this whole area.
Aalto University itself does not own student dormitories. The main student housing providers for Aalto University students are the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region HOAS (hoas.fi), and Aalto University Student Union AYY (ayy.fi). MOAS, Mikkeli Student Housing Ltd. offers student housing to Aalto University students studying on the Mikkeli Campus.
Tips for looking for an apartment
Rental level in Helsinki region
In general, the rental level in the Helsinki region is relatively high and it’s good to be prepared to spend around 500 euros per month on rent. However, finding a room in a shared apartment is a great, communal and affordable option. The student apartments are also well below the private market prices. One way to cut living costs is to look for an apartment a bit further away from the city centre. The public transport services are comprehensive, so it’s worth checking the offering in the whole capital region. You can find out how to commute from home to your campus with Journey Planner. https://www.hsl.fi/en
Start looking for an apartment as soon as possible
The most important thing is to reserve enough time for apartment hunting! As finding affordable accommodation can sometimes be tricky, we suggest searching for an apartment from several housing providers at the same time. The beginning of the autumn term can be particularly busy in the housing market whereas the spring term is typically easier when it comes to finding accommodation. When you get offered an apartment, we recommend accepting the offer since you might not get a new one immediately.
Be aware of possible scams
Although the majority of the private landlords are completely reliable, it’s good to keep in mind that there might be swindlers in the private rental market. If an apartment sounds too good to be true (e.g. extremely cheap in relation to its size and location), it might be good to take a closer look at the provider. Never send money or personal information to anyone before you have seen the place and made a written rental agreement.
No apartment before arriving to Finland?
If you do not have an apartment before arriving to Finland, be prepared to find temporary accommodation early enough, a hostel or Airbnb, for instance. More about temporary housing options under “Short-term accommodation”.
Housing for bachelor’s and master’s degree students
Degree students at Aalto University are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. In order to apply for student housing in the Helsinki region, fill in the application forms directly on the webpage of HOAS and/or AYY Domo application -system. If you are studying in the city of Mikkeli, you should fill in the housing application on the MOAS website. Before filling in the forms, read the provided instructions carefully.
It’s good to keep in mind that HOAS and AYY cannot guarantee accommodation for all students. Therefore, it's recommended to search for apartments also from the private rental sector as well.
HOAS offers various kinds of student accommodation options: rooms in shared apartments, apartments for families as well as studio apartments (although only students already living in other HOAS apartments can apply for studio apartments). The apartments available for degree students are unfurnished.
Rental level varies approximately between €250–600/month. Kindly note that there is only a limited number of the least expensive rooms, so you should be prepared to pay more than the minimum. The rent generally includes broadband internet connection, electricity and water.
It is advisable to apply for an apartment as soon as you receive your study place, however no sooner than four months before you need the apartment.
Further information: HOAS (hoas.fi/en)
[email protected]
tel. +358 9 549 900
AYY has some 2 500 apartments available for Aalto University students who have signed up as members of AYY and paid the membership fee. AYY apartments are located in Espoo and Helsinki. Monthly rents include water, internet and usually also electricity. The apartments are not furnished.
Further information:
AYY Services office
[email protected]
Tel: +358 50 520 9410
Check the services and opening hours here.
MOAS provides student housing for students studying at the Aalto University School of Business Mikkeli Campus. MOAS has approximately 740 apartments, which can accommodate a total of 1 100 residents. More information as well as the application form may be obtained from the MOAS website (moas.fi).
Mikkeli Student Housing Ltd.
50100 Mikkeli, Finland
Tel: +358 15 321 350
Email: [email protected]
Private market housing is advertised online (various rental apartment forums), in newspapers or through agents. Rental apartments are usually unfurnished, and the the average level of rent typically starts from 600€/month. Read more about rental housing under "Private housing market".
Although the private rental market supply is extensive, it’s good to reserve time for apartment hunting!
- Apply for different room types and locations at the same time. Both AYY and HOAS offer detailed instructions in their pages. AYY apartments are mostly located on campus. In HOAS offer, you can consider all areas in Espoo. Closest to campus are: Otaniemi-Teekkarikylä, Otaniemi-Tapiola. Next closest are Leppävaara-Vermonniitty and Matinkylä. The furthest ones are Kilo, Espoon keskus and Kivenlahti. All are reachable by public transportation. In Helsinki, the closest ones to campus are Jätkäsaari-Ruoholahti and Pitäjänmäki.
- Consider the start date of your tenancy agreement (this is asked in the housing application forms) in relation to the start date of your studies and prepare to reserve other accommodation for the first days, if needed. Note that the tenancy agreements always start on the first day of the month.
- Apply early! Note however, that regardless of the submission time of your application, offers for tenancy agreements beginning on 1 August are made mainly during June and July. Apartments becoming available on 1 September are offered mainly during July and August
- Cancel all the other possible applications when you have found your accommodation, unless you wish the stay in a queue for a different apartment.
Housing for doctoral students
Doctoral students, as other degree students, are generally responsible for arranging their own accommodation. It is good to know that Aalto University does not own student dormitories that can accommodate doctoral students. The main accommodation options available are presented below.
In case you are officially employed by Aalto University, you may want to visit the rental information for incoming staff members here.
For doctoral students, the private rental market is usually the best solution for obtaining accommodation, since HOAS, The Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region, has limited services and options for doctoral students.
Although the private rental market supply is extensive, it’s good to reserve some time for apartment hunting! Private market housing is advertised online (various rental apartment forums), in newspapers or through agents. Read more under "Private housing market".
HOAS provides some housing that is also available for doctoral students. The service is however somewhat limited because HOAS prioritises full-time graduate students (studying towards a master's degree) with their housing services. Therefore, the queuing time for doctoral students can be long. HOAS apartments available for post-graduates are unfurnished. Doctoral students can apply for a room in a shared apartment or for family apartments.
Further information:
HOAS (hoas.fi)
[email protected]
tel. +358 9 549 900
For whom: to Aalto University arrival foreign graduate students
What: Unihome Töölö Towers hotel consists of 178 furnished rooms and apartments varying from compact single rooms with well-equipped shared kitchen and lounge to different size apartments with private kitchen facilities. You can even choose a penthouse with views over Helsinki or spacious two-storey terrace apartment. Buffet breakfast, weekly cleaning with a change of bed linen and WiFi are included in the price. Pets are allowed in some specific apartments. Self-service laundry and saunas for men and women are available for all guests.
Location: Great location in Helsinki city center area in green neighborhood. Easy access to Otaniemi campus via city center Kamppi metro station. Street address is Pohjoinen Hesperiankatu 23 A, 00100 Helsinki
Read more: https://unihome.fi/en/properties/toolo-towers
Booking instructions: To get the special rate, confirmation is required from the inviting department/host. Please contact your HR.
Reservations and inquiries: [email protected] or +358 (0)2941 24727
For whom: to Aalto University arrival foreign graduate students
What: Unihome Aalto Inn offers 52 furnished apartments from studios to larger apartments. You can choose a compact well-equipped studio or spacious loft apartment with balcony. All apartments have a kitchen. Price includes weekly cleaning and change of bed linen, high-speed WiFi and self-service laundry. Aalto Inn has stylish common lounge-areas. Parking spaces are available. No pets allowed.
Location: Unihome Aalto Inn is conveniently located at Aalto University Otaniemi campus in beautiful green area by the sea. Sports centre is located next door and local metro station is just 1 km away. Street address is Otaranta 4, 02150 Espoo
Read more: https://unihome.fi/en/properties/aalto-inn
Booking instructions: To get the special rate, confirmation is required from the inviting department/host. Please contact your HR.
Reservations and inquiries: [email protected] or +358 (0)2941 24727
Anttikorppi Halls of Residence provides furnished rooms in shared apartments mainly for international students. Anttikorppi Halls of Residence locates in the Koskela district of Helsinki. It has good public transportation connections to Otaniemi campus. Room rent is €420/month. No deposit is required.
More info and enquiries: anttikorppi.com
Housing for exchange students
The main student housing providers for our incoming exchange students are the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki region, HOAS (hoas.fi), and Aalto University Student Union, AYY (ayy.fi). These apartments are in Espoo and in Helsinki and have public transportation connections to the university campus.
Further instructions for applying for exchange student housing (only for official incoming exchange students)
Private housing market
Rental housing is mainly available on the private housing market. Available housing is advertised online, in newspapers and through agents.
Rental apartments are usually unfurnished, and in order to rent an apartment a deposit (equivalent to 1–3 months of rent) is usually required. The deposit is returned when you leave the apartment, providing that you have paid the rent and kept the apartment in good condition. The minimum rental period is often 12 months for a private market apartment. This means that you are not allowed to terminate the rental agreement during the first year.
We recommend that you always make a written rental contract with the landlord, and when renting an apartment from a private person you should not pay rents in advance before seeing the apartment first.
Average rental levels on the private market:
- 20–30m² studio apartment near campuses: starting from €600/month
- room in a shared apartment: €400–600/month (private rentals)
- 40–50m² two-room apartment near campuses: €750–1300/month
Remember that in addition to the monthly rent, there are other monthly costs which you should keep in mind when budgeting for accommodation (e.g. electricity, water fee, home insurance, internet connection).
Rental apartment forums and providers
- Oikotie (oikotie.fi) Oikotie is a forum where you can leave announcements for items or apartments to be sold or rented etc. (in Finnish)
- Vuokraturva (vuokraturva.fi) Real estate agency.
- Vuokraovi (vuokraovi.fi) Portal for rental apartments.
- Lumo (lumo.fi) Rental apartments in Espoo and Helsinki.
- SATO (sato.fi) Corporate investor company.
- Helsinki City Housing (https://www.hel.fi/en/housing/rental-housing/heka-rental-apartments) Apartments owned and rented by the City of Helsinki
- Habita (habita.fi) Privately owned real estate agency, which also offers rental service.
- OPKK (opkk.fi) Estate agency. (in Finnish, contact information available in English)
- Tori (tori.fi) Online marketplace for all kinds of items, also housing advertisements. (in Finnish)
- Kiinteistömaailma (kiinteistomaailma.fi) Estate agency. (Limited English search)
- Huoneistokeskus (huoneistokeskus.fi) Estate agency. (search-tool in Finnish)
Other housing options
Aalto Sharetribe (aalto.sharetribe.com) users can offer each other items, favors, rides and housing, as well as request these from other users. Note that using Aalto Sharetribe requires an Aalto email address.
Forenom (forenom.fi) is a privately owned company, which offers furnished flats and rooms for short- and long-term needs. The rent includes furniture, electricity, water, TV, pillows, blankets (not bed linen) and tableware. As a student you can, for example, gather up a group of friends and apply for a larger apartment together or rent a furnished room.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +358 20 198 3420
Anttikorppi Student House (formerly known as CIMO halls of residence) provides furnished rooms in shared apartments mainly for international students. Anttikorppi Student House is located in the Helsinki district of Koskela which has good public transportation connections to Otaniemi campus. Room rent is €420/month. No deposit is required.
More information and contact details can be found on www.anttikorppi.com.
Short-term accommodation in Finland
There are plenty of other accommodation solutions available within the Helsinki Metropolitan area suitable for short-term needs. Apartment hotels, Bed & Breakfast providers, hotels, hostels etc.
If you do not have an apartment before arriving in Finland, be sure to make a reservation for a hostel early enough! The City of Helsinki and the City of Espoo also have lists of hotels and other accommodation types on their pages.
Search for a hostel hereBrowse MyHelsinki pagesBrowse Visit Espoo pages
Platforms to browse and compare short-term accommodation options in Finland
- Booking.com
- Hotels.com
- Trivago.com
- Momondo.com
- Airbnb.com
You can also try couch-surfing (couchsurfing.com), a volunteer-based network for accommodation.
Tips for furnishing your apartment
Helsinki capital region offers various options for secondhand shopping that is a more affordable and sustainable way to furnish your apartment than buying new. Along with brick-and-mortar stores, there are lots of shops that allow you to browse and order goods online. Aalto's communities where to buy e.g. secondhand goods:
Aalto marketplaceTeekkarikylän markkinat
Secondhand stores and platforms:
Renting furniture and household articles:
Home Insurance
It is highly recommended for you to purchase home insurance for yourself. It is also very common from the landlord to demand that the tenant gets home insurance. Home insurance is provided by insurance companies. When choosing your home insurance provider, make sure that you are aware of what is covered by the insurance. Basic level home insurance is approximately 90-120€ /year for 40m² apartment.
Often insurance companies are cooperating with banks: when you have chosen your finnish bank it might be wise to ask whether they provide insurances as well. Often you may get some discounts etc when you take the insurance from the insurance company affiliated with your bank.
Some insurance company examples (unfortunately English websites are not that extensive):
- Pohjola (pohjola.fi) (fairly good English sites)
- Turva (turva.fi)
- LähiTapiola (lahitapiola.fi)
- If Vahinkovakuutusyhtiö (if.fi)
- Fennia (fennia.fi)
See also
Rent your apartment to Aalto personnel or students
Do you want to find a tenant within Aalto? Publish your letting announcement at Aalto Sharetribe or ask accommodation services to do that for you.
Housing practicalities
Practicalities of living in Finland. Hints and tips related to accommodation, such as electricity, water, heating, internet connection, home insurance and tenancy issues.
Learning Services
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