Living in Oulu
Overview
You will find here useful information for living in Oulu or Finland, especially targeted at exchange students. We have devised the page according to topics in the chronological order of an exchange to Oamk. We are updating this page continuously and also provide links to other pages created by Oamk and our services or third parties.
Please see below “Moving to & Settling in Oulu”. If you have any requests or ideas, please reach out to us at incoming.students@oamk.fi.
Living Expenses
Living expenses in Oulu and Finland are comparable to major European cities. You should cover travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs. Exchange students are exempt from tuition fees (exceptions may apply for free movers). Grants are usually paid by home universities; consult your university’s international office.
- Travel (use green travel opportunities such as bus/train if possible): 600 – 1000 EUR
- Accommodation: 350 – 500 EUR/month
- Lunch in student restaurants: 2 – 4 EUR/day
- Self-catering: 85 – 200 EUR/month
- Other expenses: 85 – 200 EUR /month
- Insurance: approx. 25 EUR/month
- Residence permit or visa (for Third Country students only and depending on the duration of stay): 350 EUR
- EU registration (for EU, Liechtenstein and Swiss citizens only and if stay lasts more than 3 months): 54 EUR
It has been estimated that an average exchange student spends 800 – 1000 EUR a month.
Students who are members of the student union and have paid the membership fee are entitled to various discounts for transportation costs and student meals.
Third Country citizens must provide proof of adequate funds (800 EUR/month) to cover your costs during your stay in Finland. See more in the section “Visa, Residence Permit or Mobility Notification”. If you need to change money, please note that currency exchange is available in the capitol area only, for example when arriving to the Helsinki airport.
Moving to & Settling in Oulu
Accommodation
PSOAS exchange student housing at the Routa dormitory
If you are coming for a full semester or long-term mobility, we recommend to stay in PSOAS student accommodation at the Routa residence, see details below.
For short-term mobilities, especially Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP), please look for other housing options, see the link below for short stays. If you are coming to our Oulainen campus, let us know so we’ll help to arrange housing over there.
The PSOAS dormitory is located close to our Linnanmaa campus (5 minutes walk). From the dormitory it is possible to commute to our Kontinkangas campus by bike or bus (30 minutes).
The Routa dormitory has been co-designed by students and offers furnished apartments, either shared apartments with two separate and lockable rooms/tenant, or a single studio apartment. For more details on the Routa dormitory, please visit PSOAS website or contact PSOAS directly.
Apply to PSOAS separately following the link below with the status of a foreign “Exchange Student in Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk)”. This is important and should not be confused with the University of Oulu!
You can apply for an apartment in the Routa dormitory and you can also mention your interests and other needs in your application.
Once you have applied to PSOAS, remember to take part in the “homerun”. In the homerun, you will choose an apartment of your choice.
The homerun for tenancies of Oamk’s exchange students will be arranged as follows:
- autumn term (1st semester) / academic year: in June
- spring term (2nd semester): in November
PSOAS and Oamk confirms the homerun dates approx. one month beforehand. For the homerun, you need the application number from PSOAS. You should find this number in the email that you received after having applied to PSOAS.
PSOAS offers you a rental agreement after the homerun (!) for the apartment of your choice. Check the offer from PSOAS and your spam folder, especially when using gmail or hotmail.
You should then confirm the offer as soon as possible and pay the fees. PSOAS charges a service fee (135 EUR, not refundable) and requires a deposit fee (costs depend on the type of apartment, refundable).
Rental agreements are binding for the entire stay and duration of mobilities. If you need to extend the rent payment schedule, please contact PSOAS directly.
If you are coming to Oamk for the autumn term or the academic year, the rental agreement can only be made for one of the following time periods:
- 1.8. – 31.12.
- 1.8. – 31.5.
If you are coming to Oamk for the spring term, the rental agreement can only be made for the following time period, apart from exceptions mentioned below:
- 1.1. (moving in 3.1.) – 31.5.
Exceptions for rental agreements:
- Trainees pursuing their traineeship full-time during/outside of Oamk’s official term dates, usually Erasmus+ trainees who will be enrolled to Oamk, but are staying at and are supervised by third parties yet also mentored by Oamk’s staff.
- Health and social care students only (!) from partner universities with short-term (3-month) Erasmus+ inter-institutional or bilateral agreements (excepts students in optometry, physiotherapy and social services).
Mobility period 3 = 3.1. – 4.4.2025, Tenancy period 1.1. (arrival and moving in 2.1.) – 30.4.2025
Mobility period 4 = 21.2. – 23.5.2025, Tenancy period (arrival and moving in 20.2.) 20.2. – 31.5.2025 - In some cases and only (!) if the room quota at PSOAS’ dormitory has been reached, e.g. for August, PSOAS may offer alternative rental agreements and tenancy periods, e.g. 1.9. – 31.12., or 1.9. – 31.5.
If you are planning to prolong your rental agreement with PSOAS, please notify PSOAS and also consult us at least a couple of months before, as usually your exchange would need to be extended as well.
If you come to Oamk for regular terms and during arrival days and times, you will get your key and your info folder from Oamk from our tutor welcome committee. See our information “Arriving during arrival days”.
If you arrive at exceptional days and times, you must visit PSOAS’s Lounge Office to get your key during opening hours, or find a trusted person to collect your keys. Kindly refer directly to PSOAS and consult our information “Arriving at other times and/or places”. Contact also us about Oamk’s info folder.
Visa, Residence Permit or Mobility Notification
Depending on your citizenship and duration of exchange at Oamk, you need to handle immigration matters and apply for specific permits, immediately after admission. See the table below for further information on visa and residence permits.
| Citizenship | Duration | Permit | Timing | Application |
| Third Country | Less than 3 months | Visa (only if applicable!) | Before arrival | Visa application (via local embassy) |
| Third Country | More than 3 months | Residence permit | Before arrival | Residence permit application (via Finnish Immigration Service, e-service) See also Migri’s info for exchange students, guide and videos. |
| Third Country (if you have a valid residence permit in another EU country for the time of your exchange in Finland, and have been admitted to Oamk in the frame of an EU or bilateral exchange programme) | More than 3 months | Mobility notification | Before arrival | Mobility notification (via Finnish Immigration Service) See also Migri’s info for exchange students, guide and videos. |
| EU Country, incl. Switzerland & Liechtenstein | More than 3 months | Right to reside | After arrival | Right to reside application (via Finnish Immigration Service) |
| Nordic Country | More than 6 months | No permit required, but DVV registration | After arrival | DVV registration |
If you (third country citizen) have been admitted for an exchange lasting less than three months (90 days) , then find out whether you need a visa or not and check the information from the Finnish diplomatic mission in your home country or closeby.
A visa is a short-term permit to enter and stay in the territory of Finland and Schengen area for a maximum of three months (90 days). Students from most European and North American countries do not need a visa.
If you need a visa, you should apply for it via the local Finnish diplomatic mission in your home country or at another authorised mission before entering Finland. For more information, please check the visa website of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UM) and country lists.
If you (third country citizen) have been admitted for an exchange lasting more than three months (90 days), then you are required to obtain a residence permit for studies before entering Finland. Check the information from the Finnish diplomatic mission in your home country or closeby, and then proceed as mentioned hereafter.
You should submit your residence permit application electronically via the EnterFinland service of the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) immediately after you have received Oamk’s admission email and acceptance letter, see also Migri’s info for exchange students, guide and videos. You must attach also Oamk’s acceptance letter and admission email to your residence permit application!
N.B.! When applying for a residence permit for the first time, please also indicate that you wish to obtain a Finnish personal identity code at the same time.
In case you have been admitted to extend your exchange at Oamk, please turn to Migri to also extend your residence permit, if necessary. You may need to provide Oamk’s extension acceptance letter and admission email when extending your residence permit.
If you (third country citizen) are currently residing in an EU/EEA country and are maintaining there a valid residence permit for studies covering also the time of your stay at Oamk, and the exchange is arranged in the frame of a mobility agreement and programme between partner universities, it is sufficient to inform the Finnish Immigration Service by means of a mobility notification.
More detailed instructions, processing fee and requirements on Migri’s website. You must provide also Oamk’s acceptance letter and admission email and other relevant documentation to your mobility notification! See also Migri’s info for exchange students, guide and videos.
Personal Identity Code
If your mobility at Oamk lasts at least or longer than 3 months or 90 days, then you must obtain a Finnish personal identity code (PIC) and register with the Finnish Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).
The PIC is required e.g. for registering your mobility and study data. It includes your date of birth in the form DDMMYY, a punctuation mark defining the century of birth (-, or A), personal identification numbers and possibly also an alphabetic letter. For example, the PIC of a person born on 24 December 1999 might look like 241299-9733.
EU Citizens (including Liechtenstein and Swiss Citizens): Obtain the PIC following all the steps (1-3) below.
Third Country Citizens (including UK Citizens): Check whether you already have your PIC. It may be on the backside of your residence permit card. If you have your PIC already, email it to us from your Oamk IT account (step 3)! If you do not have it or have been granted a mobility notification, follow all the steps (1-3) below.
- Access DVV’s (Digital and Population Data Services Agency) website for international students.
- Register your personal details by requesting and filling in the form C, see link below (!).
- Provide all required information and attachments, such as your personal data, contact details, and attachments.
- The required attachments are only scans of
a) your valid passport (third country and EU citizens) or your official ID card (EU citizens only), and
b) your enrolment certificate from Oamk (all citizens), i.e. a scan from the printed version from your info folder which you received upon arrival – we will also email a PDF version of your enrolment certificate to you on the first day of your exchange (usually the orientation day), and
c) your residence permit or proof of your mobility notification (third country citizens only!) - Submit the form at your earliest convenience to DVV
- After you have submitted the form, you must meet DVV in person to prove your identity. Read the detailed instructions from the confirmation email that you will receive from DVV after having submitted the form.
- Continue as follows, step 2:
- Visit DVV’s pop-up point at the Linnanmaa campus during walk-in hours:
Wednesday, 4 September, 9-16, room TH105 or
Friday, 6 September, 9-16, room TH102 - Bring along
a) your valid passport (third country and EU citizens) or your official ID card (EU citizens only), and
b) your enrolment certificate from Oamk (all citizens), i.e. the printed version from your info folder which you received upon arrival, and
c) your residence permit or proof of your mobility notification (third country citizens only!) - Make sure that you have filled and submitted DVV’s registration form C in advance. See step 1.
- DVV will inform you how long it takes to receive your PIC. Most likely, DVV will email it to you in a confidential email. Check your email every once in a while – also your spam folder!
1. Make an appointment to DVV in Oulu
- Access DVV’s appointment system at https://dvv.fi/ajanvaraus > EN
- Reserve or book your appointment following the instructions. Choose as service “Registration of a foreigner’s personal data”. Find the available times – they may be months ahead due to congestions in the DVV services. If possible, one (1) student should make a reservation for altogether three (3) students at a time. Enter all the students names in the “Message” field in DVV’s booking system.
- N.B.! If you wish to change or cancel your reservation, please contact +358 295 536 320 during service hours (Mon 9-15, Tue-Fri 9-12) or international@dvv.fi.
2. Visit DVV in Oulu in person at the time of your appointment
- Go to the service point, Isokatu 4, 90100 Oulu, 2nd floor
Service hours: Mon – Fri 9.00 – 16.15 (by appointment only!) - Bring along
a) your valid passport (third country and EU citizens) or your official ID card (EU citizens only), and
b) your enrolment certificate from Oamk (all citizens), i.e. the printed version from your info folder which you received upon arrival, and
c) your residence permit or proof of your mobility notification (third country citizens only!) - Make sure that you have filled and submitted DVV’s registration form C in advance. See step 1.
- DVV will inform you how long it takes to receive your PIC. Most likely, DVV will email it to you in a confidential email. Check your email every once in a while – also your spam folder!
- Email your PIC to us incoming.students@oamk.fi from your Oamk IT account (!) for reasons of data protection and privacy!
- The PIC is considered confidential data so also do not share it unless required for official matters such as your student data, banking, health care etc.
EU Registration
If you are staying in Finland continuously for more than 3 months or 90 days and you are a citizen of an EU country, including Liechtenstein or Switzerland, excluding Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, you must also register with Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service) before your stay exceeds 3 months or 90 days:
1. Register your EU right of residence to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) as soon as possible after your arrival. The EU registration is required only if you are staying in Finland continuously i.e. without a break for over 3 months or rather 90 days, and if you are a citizen of an EU country as well as Liechtenstein or Switzerland. N.B.! If you are a citizen of a Nordic country (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden), you do not need to register with Migri – if you stay longer than 6 months in Finland, you should only register with DVV, see the respective link.
- See Migri’s video tutorial “How to register an EU citizen’s right of residence”
- Access the form through the EnterFinland online service.
- You can pay the handling fee (54 EUR) in the online service with a credit card. The registration is termed “Registration of the right of residence of a citizen of the European Union”.
- Add all required information and attach all required documents
- Select the Migri service point in Oulu and make an appointment in the form, or make an appointment online to the Migri service point in Oulu. N.B.! Migri’s customer service may be congested, and you may get an appointment only in 2-3 months after the online application.
- Submit the form and follow the processing via Migri’s e-service. If need be, Migri will ask you to supplement your application.
2. Visit the Migri service point in Oulu in person to prove your identity and to present original versions of any attachments required for the application.
- Go to the Migri service point in Oulu, Albertinkatu 4, 90100 Oulu.
Open by appointment: Mon-Wed and Fri 8-16.15. - Migri’s customer service may be congested, and you may get an appointment only in 2-3 months after the online application.
Bring along
a) your valid passport or EU citizens alternatively, your official ID card
b) enrolment certificate from Oamk, i.e. the printed version from your info folder,
c) document stating your means of support or funds for yourself (normally a document stating the Erasmus+ or mobility grant should suffice. Migri states on their website that you are not required to have a specific amount of money but you must have enough funds to support yourself during the exchange. If need be, Migri will ask you to supplement your application)
d) health insurance document (e.g. European Health Insurance Card and/or private health insurance policy/certificate
Postal Services & Customs
To make sure that incoming mail or any item is properly delivered to you, we recommend to register your temporary address in Finland to the postal services (Posti):
- Go to Posti’s closest full-service point as soon as possible after your arrival – check the address and opening hours from the Posti website: K-Supermarket Kaijonharju (closest to Routa) or K-Citymarket Raksila (city centre). Take along a valid ID (passport or ID card).
- Ask for the “Notification of change of address” paper form. You will get the paper form, instructions to fill it in, and a return envelope. Fill in the paper form as instructed and in block letters. Sign the paper form, put it in the envelope and seal it properly.
- Return the paper form directly to the closest full-service point or drop it in the nearest (orange-coloured) Posti mailbox.
Incoming letters and small items will be usually delivered directly to your post locker at your place of accommodation. In the Routa dormitory, your post locker is located in the “Facility Building”. Your room or a separate key opens this locker. If you receive an item that does not fit into the post locker, the delivery service staff will drop in a notice of arrival against which you can collect the shipment from a specific postal service point.
If you receive a letter that is addressed to another person (possible previous tenant), cross out the addressee and write on the envelope, “undeliverable, addressee not known at this address / lähetys ei voitu toimittaa, vaastaanottaja ei tavoitettavissa tässä osoitteessa“, and return it to the closest postal service point or (orange-coloured) mailbox.
For outgoing mail the nearest (orange-coloured) mailbox at PSOAS’ Routa dormitory is on Teknologiantie 1. There’s a mailbox available also in front of the Prisma in Linnanmaa and the Citymarket in Raksila. Stamps are readily available in most kiosks and supermarkets.
If you receive a gift sent as a parcel from your relative or friend from outside of the EU, you need to undergo customs clearance. The same applies if you are ordering and receiving commercial items from outside of the EU.
Please consult the Finnish Customs for information and instructions. For customs clearance, you may use their electronic services if you have electronic means of identification (such as Finnish online banking credentials, the Finnish Authenticator application or Common European identification method). Exchange students normally do not have these so please check the websites and contact the customer service for advice in your case.
Insurance
All exchange students must obtain at least the following insurance coverage before leaving for Finland. Please obtain a suitable insurance in time and make sure that the insurance is valid for your entire stay and travel to and from Finland:
- Health care costs incurred for an illness or accident of the insured
- Third Country citizens: required, minimum coverage
- 120 000 EUR if you are coming in the frame of a residence permit for studies or by means of a mobility notification (stays longer than 90 days/ 3 months) or
- 30 000 EUR if you are coming by means of a visa (usually stays less than 90 days/ 3 months depending on visa requirements). N.B.! Always check the health insurance requirements from the official authorities in charge of issuing residence permits or approving mobility notifications (Finnish Immigration Service, Migri) or visa (Finnish missions abroad/in your home country). See more at our page for Visa and residence permits.
- EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, UK citizens:
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) required. As a holder of the insurance card, you are entitled to receive medically necessary treatment in public health care for the same client fee as a Finnish resident during your temporary stay in Finland. Oamk requires you to also obtain an additional private insurance which provides supplementary coverage for costs arising from illness, medical treatment, accidents, and other situations. A private insurance covers also costs of repatriation, medical evacuation and mortal remains of the insured etc. – these are not covered by EHIC or GHIC! - All students: check the conditions of your insurance also for possible coverage of vaccination, tests and certificates, and treatment, e.g. for Covid-19, as well as for flexible or refundable travel tickets in case of illness at the time of your journey.
- Third Country citizens: required, minimum coverage
- Repatriation, medical evacuation and mortal remains of the insured: required.
- Personal property/luggage/household effects of the insured: required.
- Civil or personal liability insurance covering costs for e.g. personal injury or material damage caused by the insured to a third party.
- Students admitted to exchange studies: required.
- Students admitted to supervised practical training or a traineeship: required, see also the section below.
Students admitted to supervised practical training or equivalent educational activities at Oamk (e.g. in an educational school or department, laboratory in Oamk’s premises) or at a third party (e.g. in a company, organisation, association, school, hospital etc.):
According to Finnish law (Tort Liability Act, ‘vahingonkorvauslaki’), a person who deliberately or negligently causes injury or damage to another person, is liable for the resulting damages. For this reason, you must have your own personal liability insurance, as any other exchange student. In case of a damage caused to a third party, Oamk’s or the traineeship provider’s own liability insurance (‘vastuuvakuutus’) may also apply. This will be evaluated by the insurance companies on a case-by-case basis. Students admitted to supervised practical training in health care (e.g. hospitals) are covered according to the statutory injury treatment insurance (‘potilasvahinkovakuutus’) of the practical training provider (e.g. hospitals).
Finnish insurance companies do not grant insurance to exchange students whose stay in Finland cannot be considered as permanent. Oamk lists the following international, reliable, and solvent insurance companies providing insurances for exchange students.
Please purchase any insurance that meets Oamk’s criteria and suits your needs and situation. Please check the coverage based on the company’s insurance policy and documents. Check the terms thoroughly.
Also consult your home university and family/own insurance company whether they provide any insurance coverage for your exchange in Finland.
Health Care
You can use public and private health care services in Finland depending on the urgency of the case and other relevant matters such as citizenship/insurance and exchange student status. In any case, obtain sufficient insurance coverage before your exchange. See “Insurance”.
In Oulu and Oulainen, the wellbeing services county “Pohde” organises public health care services as well as rescue and social services. Pohde is responsible for the emergency clinics in Oulu and Oulainen, which are open out of hours – see “Rescue and emergency services”. In addition, Pohde operates public health care centres (“terveyskeskus” or “hyvinvointikeskus”) with acute receptions for urgent medical care during workdays. Private health care services are available during workdays and partly also out of hours. See “Primary Health”, “Mental Health” and “Dental Health”.
Check especially the availability of services considering your citzenship/insurance and your exchange student status:
- EU, EEA, Swiss & Nordic Citizens: You are entitled to use urgent services by the public health care based on your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you have obtained an additional private insurance, as recommended, you can also use the services of private health care providers.
- UK Citizens: You are entitled to use the urgent services by the public health care based on your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). If you have obtained an additional private insurance, as recommended, you can also use the services of private health care providers.
- Third Country Citzens: You should generally turn to private health care providers and use your private insurance, as required for entering Finland for the purpose of your exchange. The fees of private health care providers are also considerably lower than in public health care, and you can easily reimburse the costs from your private insurance company.
- Double Degree Students: If you are pursuing a double degree at Oamk, then you (only!) are entitled and should primarily use the services of FSHS (Finnish Student Health Care) As a conditon, you should maintain a European/Global Health Insurance Card (EHIC or UK GHIC) and have informed Kela about it accordingly. If you have no EHIC/GHIC, you must have paid the fee/term to Kela to be able to use FSHS services. In addition, you must also be enrolled as present at Oamk to be eligible for FSHS services. In case FSHS services are not available, you can also use the public health care in certain cases. You can also use private health care services depending on your insurance coverage.
Rescue & Emergency services may be required in case of a severe accident or major injury requiring immediate attention.
Call 112, in case of an emergency and immediate urgent request for
- medical care
- police
- fire rescue
For more information, please consult the FAQ on the website of the Emergency Response Centre Agency in Finland. If possible, please install also the 112 Suomi application on your mobile phone. The app is designed so that you can easily reach the emergency response centre agency and enable location services.
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You can also notify our staff working with incoming students about an emergency situation that has already occurred. Call +358 20 61 10299 (24 h). The number given is for notifications only.
Primary health care services are available to exchange students mainly for urgent matters in the event of acute physical illness. An acute physical illness is, for example, a minor injury, small wound, symptoms of the respiratory system such as influenza etc. If you fall suddenly ill and are in need of urgent health care services, proceed as follows:
Public services, during weekdays and service hours:
Turn towards the closest public health care centre (“terveyskeskus” or “hyvinvointikeskus”) in the area of your residence. If you are residing at PSOAS Routa student dormitory in the Linnanmaa area, please use the services of the Tuira health care centre:
- Address: Tuira Health Care Centre, Acute Reception, Kangastie 12, 90500 Oulu
- Service hours: Mon–Thu 8-15, Fri 8–14
Go to the health care centre without an appointment. Take along required documents and be prepared to share your needs and information, see the list provided in the section “Documents & Items in Health Care”.
When entering the centre, take a waiting number from the hall or info desk and take a seat. You will be referred to a nurse in due course of time. A doctor will join the reception if necessary.
Always check the fees and payment methods to cover your costs, see “Fees & Costs in Health Care”.
Public services, out of hours in the evenings, at night, during weekends and public holidays:
Turn to the Oulu Region Joint Emergency Clinic (“Oulun seudun yhteispäivystys”):
- Address: Oulu Region Joint Emergency Clinic, Oulu University Hospital, Kajaanintie 50, 90220 Oulu, Entrance A1
- Service hours: 24 h, for emergency and urgent care outside of service hours of health care centres
Please always call first the Medical Helpline, 116 117 (24 h). The Medical Helpline staff conducts an initial assessment of the need for care over the phone and provides instructions if necessary. Follow the instructions.
If you are admitted to the emergency clinic, we recommend to go to the emergency clinic with a fellow student for possible assistance. Take along required documents and be prepared to share your needs and information, see the list provided in the section “Documents & Items for Use in Health Care”.
When entering the emergency clinic (entrance A1) you will have to register first. You can call staff at the info desk for help. Enter the main waiting area, if advised.
Take a seat and wait to be called in for an assessment and/or treatment. You may be referred to other waiting areas of the emergency clinic. Follow the guidelines of the medical staff and markers on the floor.
Always check the fees and payment methods to cover your costs, see “Fees & Costs in Health Care”.
Private services, at different times and locations:
There is also a number of private health care providers in Oulu serving during weekdays and at different times in the evening and partly on weekends. You can find private health care services by googling “private doctor in Oulu”.
We recommend to call the company first for an assessment and to receive guidance on the necessary treatment and booking an appointment
Public services, during weekdays and service hours:
Turn towards Oulainen Health Centre, otherwise follow the same instructions as for Oulu.
- Address: Oulainen Health Care Centre, Acute Reception, Reservikomppaniankatu 7-9, 86300 Oulainen
- Service hours: Mon–Fri 8-15
Public services, out of hours, in the evenings, at night, during weekends and public holidays:
Turn towards Oulaskangas Joint Emergency Clinic (“Oulaskankaan yhteispäivystys”), otherwise follow the same instructions as for Oulu.
- Address: Oulaskangas Joint Emergency Clinic, Oulaskangas Hospital (Oulaistenkatu 5, Entrance B1 or B2 depending on your time of arrival, see hereafter:
- Service hours: 24 h, for emergency and urgent care. Entrance B1 between 8.00 and 22.00, entrance B2 between 22.00 and 8.00
Please always call first the Medical Helpline, 116 117 (24 h).
Private services, at different times and locations:
There is also a number of private health care providers in Oulainen serving during weekdays and at different times in the evening and partly on weekends. You can find private health care services by googling “private doctor in Oulainen”.
We recommend to call the company first for an assessment and to receive guidance on the necessary treatment and booking an appointment with a nurse or doctor. See also the “Documents & Items in Health Care” and “Fees & Costs in Health Care”
Exchange students are entitled to public mental health care basically only in urgent or acute cases. Treatment and psychological assessment in public health care centres, emergency or psychiatric clinics will be charged according to the common fees in public health care.
You can also seek counselling for study-related matters from the study psychologists of Oamk. You can also use counselling offered by mental health and student organisations and the church’s student chaplaincy. Find relevant links, further contacts and resources below.
Double degree students are entitled to use mental health services of FSHS (Finnish Student Health Care), if they have paid the fee or emailed Kela the EHIC/GHIC, and are enrolled at Oamk.
During weekdays and service hours:
Urgent public mental health care is available as follows:
- Tuira Health Care Centre, Acute Reception, Kangastie 12, 90500 Oulu
Please follow the procedure as described in the section “Primary health”. A referral to the Oulu University Hospital, Psychiatric Clinic, can be provided by a primary care doctor at the health care centre.
- Oulu University Hospital, Psychiatric Clinic, Peltolantie 13, Ward 1A/B, 90230 Oulu. Appointments and information at +358 8 315 6707. Serves during day-time, Mon-Fri 8-15. The clinic is associated with the Oulu University Hospital and basically a referral is required from the health care centre.
- The Oulu Crisis Centre can assist and support exchange students in acute crisis situations. You can contact the centre at tel. +358 44 3690 500 on Mon-Fri 9-14, Kirkkokatu 19 A 10 (3rd floor). The services of the Crisis Centre are free of charge.
In the evening, at night and during weekends and public holidays:
Turn to the Oulu Region Joint Emergency Clinic (“Oulun seudun yhteispäivystys”):
- Please follow the procedure as described in the section “Primary health”. A referral to the Oulu University Hospital, Psychiatric Clinic, can be provided by a primary care doctor at the joint emergency clinic.
- Oulu University Hospital, Psychiatric Clinic, Peltolantie 13, Ward 1A/B, 90230 Oulu. Appointments and information at +358 8 315 6707. Serves during day-time, Mon-Fri 8-15. The clinic is associated with the Oulu University Hospital and basically a referral is required from the joint emergency clinlic.
There is also a number of private health care providers in Oulu offering mental health care services. Please google these e.g. search for “mental health Oulu”.
During weekdays and service hours:
Urgent public mental health care is available as follows:
- Oulainen Health Care Centre, Acute Reception, Reservikomppaniankatu 7-9, 86300 Oulainen. Please follow the procedure as described in the section “Primary Health”. A referral to relevant mental health care services can be provided by a primary care doctor at the health care centre.
- Tuuma Mental Health Care Unit, +358 44 479 3470, Mon-Fri, 8.15-9.30 and 13-14
- Oulainen Mental Health Care Unit, +358 44 479 3475, Mon-Fri 8-9 and 11.30-12.
In the evening, at night and during weekends and public holidays:
Turn to the Oulaskangas Joint Emergency Clinic (“Oulaskankaan yhteispäivystys”):
- Please follow the procedure as described in the section “Primary Health”. A referral to relevant mental health care services can be provided by a primary care doctor at the joint emergency clinic.
There may be also private health care providers in Oulainen offering mental health care services. Please google these e.g. search for “mental health Oulainen”.
Links, further contacts and resources
Feel free to consult staff and university chaplains of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church. You can meet the church’s staff on campus during certain times or upon appointment for a chat – contact them separately.
You can also contact the international coordinators at Oamk for further information and advice.
We also encourage you to use the following material and resources. It is good to address problems, prevent and solve these sooner than later.
Useful resources by Oamk:
Associations for Mental Health, Nyyti & Oulu Crisis Centre :
Contact and resources provided by the study psychologist:
Exchange students are entitled to public dental health care only in urgent or acute cases. Treatment in public dental clinics will be charged according to the health care centre fees.
Double degree students are entitled to use dental health services of FSHS (Finnish Student Health Care), if they have paid the fee or emailed Kela the EHIC/GHIC, and are enrolled at Oamk.
During weekdays and service hours:
Urgent public dental care is available by an appointment at the local dental clinics. Please contact +358 8 6692030. The line is open Mon-Thu 8-16, Fri 8-15. When contacting, mention that you are an exchange student at Oamk and not a degree student.
In the evening, at night and during weekends and public holidays:
Call the emergency dental clinic, before going there. Medical Helpline number 116 117 for instructions.
Take along required documents and be prepared to share your medical information, see the list provided in the section “General information”.
There are also many private dental clinics in Oulu. You can find information about them by using Google search words such as “private dental clinic Oulu”.
During weekdays and service hours:
Urgent public dental care is available by an appointment at the local dental clinic. In Oulainen, you can contact the public on-call-duty dentist Mon-Fri 8-16, Tel. +358 44 479 3454 for further advice. When contacting, mention that you are an exchange student at Oamk and not a degree student.
In the evening, at night and during weekends and public holidays:
Call the emergency dental clinic, before going there. Medical Helpline number 116 117 for instructions.
There are also a private dental clinics in Oulainen. You can find information about them by using Google search words such as “private dental clinic Oulainen”.
There are usually no vaccination requirements for Finland, but it is good to check possible recommendations for your own health. Oamk and/or The Pohde Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia generally recommends the following vaccinations for all exchange students:
- Polio vaccine
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine
- DT (diphtheria and tetanus) or DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine
- Influenza vaccine
- Covid-19 vaccine is recommended for all students, especially for students pursuing practical training or a traineeship in health and social care fields. N.B.! At the moment in Finland the Covid-19 booster shot is recommended only to those belonging in the medical risk groups. If you need a booster shot during your exchange, you need to contact Pohde and check if you are eligible and make an appointment from your local public health care centre by phone. If you are from a Third Country you will be charged a fee for an appointment with a nurse. The fee is also charged if you are from a EU or Nordic country if you do not have a certificate of entitlement to medical care with you (European Health Insurance Card EHIC issued by another country, an official identity card or a passport). Also ask how to get a certificate of the vaccination, as exchange students cannot access the My Kanta system. For the vaccination, take along your passport/ID card, enrollment certificate from Oamk, EHIC/GHIC and/or insurance card, and any medical documentation you may have regarding Covid-19. See also THL’s information on Covid-19 vaccinations.
If you intend to pursue practical training in health and social care (apart from optometry) at Oamk or a third party (hospital etc.) as an exchange student, you must have specific vaccinations or, if applicable, proof of having suffered a certain disease. Radiography and radiation therapy students pursuing practical training must also have certain certificates and data sheets in English, see in detail at the checklist. Also, certain tests may be required for practical training. If you are working with children under school age (0-6 years), check also the section on TBC requirements. If you are working with minors (below 18 years), then also a criminal records is needed, see our checklist below for more details.
The required vaccinations and tests are based on the Finnish Communicable Diseases Act (1227/2016, especially §48). They have been set in place to protect yourself as well as patients and clients in health and social care. The practical training provider is not required to accept a student who does not meet the requirements. Make sure to get the required vaccinations and possible tests in your home country before your arrival in Finland. Please use our checklist for this purpose – it is for your own use only! Do not email the checklist but be prepared to show relevant documentation to your practical training provider.
Normally, an oral statement is sufficient, but some tests may require you to bring a report or statement from a health care official in your home country. The practical training provider advises how to give sufficient proof, and is bound by the Finnish law on communicable diseases, occupational health and safety, as well as data protection and privacy. In case of questions, feel free to turn to incoming.students@oamk.fi. We will then get you in touch with the academic staff in charge of vaccinations on the part of Oamk.
You need to provide relevant TB examination documentation after admission to Oamk to your practical training provider or (if you are not coming for practical training) to the local public health care, in case you:
- Are working with children under school age (0-6), please obtain the Employer’s Tuberculosis Survey 1 and give it directly to your traineeship provider
- Were born in a high-risk country (see below)
- Have lived for 12 months or more in a high-risk country (see below)
- Have worked in health care for 3 months or more in a high-risk country (see below)
- Have taken care of a tuberculosis patient without a proper facemask
- Have been in close contact with a patient with tuberculosis
- Please consult beforehand if you suffer from persistent cough (more than 3 weeks)
- High-risk countries for TB: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Kongo, Djibouti, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hongkong, Indonesia, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kirgizia, Kiribati, Kongo, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan,Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Oamk has devised a Substance Abuse Policy. The policy also applies to exchange students.
Chronic Diseases
If you need treatment and medication of a chronic disease during your exchange at Oamk, please mention this in your application.
You must organise the treatment and manage medication yourself, and should contact contact the public or private health care well in advance before your exchange to Oamk.
Please check relevant information provided by the Finnish Contact Point for Cross-Border Health Care, and contact them for questions about:
- Treatment of a chronic disease
- Medication
- Referral
- Country specific information
If you are a EU citizen, check also the European Commission’s information on planned medical treatment.
Special Needs
If you have a special need of any kind, please mention this already in your exchange application to Oamk. In addition, please contact our services in advance, and possibly also your international academic coordinator.
You can arrange with us any kind of support and academic advice you need based on our resources. Feel free to follow up on your needs and arrangements at the beginning of your studies or traineeship at one of our mobility meetings and events. We will guarantee data protection and follow Oamk’s privacy policy.
Accessibility
All the premises of Oamk are accessible with a wheelchair and special toilets are available for disabled persons. Special arrangements for exams have to be agreed separately with academic staff, either with the international academic coordinator or directly with a teacher/supervisor of a traineeship/project work/art production.
There are also computer services for disabled persons. Feel free to obtain more detailed information on accessibility.
If you have questions about special needs arrangements on the part student housing, please contact the Student Housing Foundation in Northern Finland (PSOAS) before your exchange. PSOAS offers accommodation for you in the Routa dormitory, which is only 300 m from our Linnanmaa campus.
Medical documents and items:
For using health care in Finland, bring the necessary medical documents (preferably in English) and items with you from your home country. Be prepared to share these and any relevant information with the local healthcare provider:
- Medicines and prescriptions
- Vaccination certificates
- Test results etc.
If you need a medical certificate or document from the local healthcare provider, or in case you get a referral, make sure you can get it in English when visiting a nurse or doctor. Medical prescriptions in Finland are usually electronic, but this may not work for exchange students, so please ask for a hard copy from the local healthcare provider. Medicines are sold at pharmacies (“apteekki”). Google these with reference to the location, e.g. “pharmacy Linnanmaa Oulu” or “pharmacy city centre Oulu”.
Other documents and items:
When using health care in Finland, bring with you the following documents and items:
- Passport / ID card
- Enrolment Certificate from Oamk or your student card from OSAKO (this is not required for students taking part in a blended mobility)
- Insurance Documents such as an Insurance Certificate or Insurance Card (if you have private insurance) and/or your European Health and Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Make sure the staff of the health care provider makes a copy of your card! Mention that you are an exchange student and not a degree student of Oamk, if applicable.
- Finnish Personal Identity Code (PIC), if available (not relevant for students taking part in a blended mobility and for students staying less than 3 months respectively 90 days.)
- Some money (cash/credit or debit card, or app) to pay for fees, if applicable.
- Refreshments and water, if applicable. At emergency clinics and in some health care centres you will also find vendors for snacks. Water is available free of charge.
- Mobile phone and charger
- Safety equipment, e.g. face mask
Fees usually apply both in public and private health care during walk-in and on-call hours, out of hours emergency clinics, appointments for a doctor or nurse, as well as medical certificates, documents, laboratory tests etc. You are responsible for making payments to cover all costs.
Always check the current fees and payment methods directly from the health care provider. A penalty fee will be usually charged if you do not use, nor cancel a reserved appointment.
- If you use public health care, you will usually receive an invoice by postal mail afterwards to the address. Check the porcedure directly on-site with the public health care provider. Leave your current exchange and your home address with the nurse/doctor or at the info desk of the health care centre/emergency clinic. For more information on patient fees and payment methods in the public health care of the Pohde Wellbeing Services County, please contact invoicing@pohde.fi.
- If you use private health care, you will usually have to pay the fee right away at the facilities of the private health care provider. If you have a private insurance, as recommended, your insurance usually covers the expenses depending on the insurance plan and conditions. Please check the terms of your insurance and immediately apply for reimbursment of your costs after your medical treatment.
Double degree students should consult Kela’s information and can turn to FSHS for questions on fees and payments.
Working
Your exchange is primarily intended to facilitate studies or a traineeship. As such, you will be enrolled at Oamk as a full-time exchange student for the duration of your mobility and stay in Oulu.
EU/EEA citizens and citizens of Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are permitted to work in Finland without any restrictions, provided that you have completed the registration process for your right to stay in Finland.
Third country nationals, that is to say, non-EU/EEA citizens with a valid residence permit, are permitted to work an average of 30 hours per week without a separate work permit during the semester. During vacation periods, such as the summer and Christmas holidays, non-EU/EEA citizens are permitted to work full-time without any restrictions on the number of hours they can work. Non-EU/EEA citizens may also work full-time if the work is part of their studies, such as traineeships or thesis work.
Many companies, organisations etc. advertise job openings. It’s crucial to be proactive and search for jobs yourself. You can find job ads online, in newspapers, magazines, and on company websites.
Online recruitment portals
Company databases
Before applying, decide what kind of job you want and learn the requirements for different roles. Each job needs specific skills.
There are always many applicants, so make your application and CV stand out. (Tip: Finns use a CV, not a resume.)
Read the job ad carefully to understand what the company or organisation wants. Match your skills to the job and get Finnish translations of your key certificates. Remember also to make sure you get your higher education degree recognised.
Send your application on time. Late applications are not considered. Follow deadlines strictly and aim to submit a few days early. Be prepared to take part in an inerview.
Finnish language skills are crucial. Fluency is often required, but even basic knowledge shows enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
When invited to a job interview, leave early to ensure you’re on time. Being late can cost you the job. When meeting someone, shake hands firmly, make eye contact, and smile.
Research the company or organisation beforehand, as they might test your knowledge. Be ready to discuss your skills, experience, and why you want the job. Interviewers often ask why they should hire you over others.
Bring your original certificates, application, and CV. Be prepared online interviews as well.
Entrepreneurship is highly valued in Finland. Anyone can start a business regardless of nationality. Running a business is hard work, but if you have a good business idea, go for it. If you’re interested in becoming an entrepreneur yourself, find help and get support for setting up a business.
Students can develop their business idea in a business incubator and gain academic credits at the same time. Professional teachers specialised in entrepreneurship and guide students accordingly.To be updated in early August – thanks for your patience.
You need to have a certain kind of a licence or a pass for certain tasks. These licences are easy to obtain by attending a short course and passing a test. Below you will find information on the hygiene pass, the licence to sell alcoholic beverages, and the occupational safety card.
Sightseeing
There’s plenty to do in and around Oulu and Finland, all year round. We have collected some information and links below. Feel free to browse and get inspired. You’re also welcome to share your stories and pictures with us and via Instagram using the hashtags of our exchange students.
There are many easy access destinations in the Oulu region that are good options to explore nature and culture sights.Feel free to use the “Atla” service.
Here are also our favourite spots in the immediate surroundings of Oulu that you do not want to miss while being here. Some of these you can reach by bicycle – at least in autumn and late spring:
To find out more we recommend check the Visit Oulu pages and consult the tourist information in Oulu.
A bit further away, one of the most popular destinations for a day trip is Syöte area. It offers great winter sport possibilities as well as summer activities such as hiking, canoeing and biking.
Another good day trip option from Oulu is Raahe. Raahe has a lovely old town with historic wooden houses. You can also enjoy nature there e.g. by renting a kayak and going on an island hopping in the Raahe archipelago.
In case you want to rent a car and explore the Oulu region, feel free to check out the Pohjola route.
If you’re interested more of a beach experience, you can head to Kalajoki. Kalajoki is known for it’s sandy beaches, golf course, water park, sailing and windsurfing.
If you want to explore the north, check the Southern Lapponia route for some great spots. For hiking, look at the Nature Parks in Lapland.
Rovaniemi, on the Arctic Circle, is the most visited place in Lapland. You can visit Santa Claus Village and cross into the Arctic. Santa Claus lives there too. It’s a great place to learn about the Arctic region, its nature, and history.
Kemi is another popular spot, perfect for a day trip. It’s especially popular in winter when the Snow Castle is open. Near Kemi is Tornio, where you can cross into Sweden. The nearest city is Haparanda.
Kilpisjärvi is great for hiking and visiting the Three Nations’ Border Point, where you can walk through Finland, Norway, and Sweden in seconds. You can get there by bus from Oulu during peak season (June – September).
Northern Finland has many ski resorts that are also good to visit outside winter. Ruka is one of the busiest and easy to reach from Oulu. It’s near the eastern border in Kuusamo. Other big resorts are Levi, Ylläs, and Saariselkä, all in Lapland, offering great outdoor activities year-round.
In case you want to explore the eastern and western parts of Finland, you’ll find some of the most beautiful destinations at the seaside or on the mainland with its continental climate. There’s so much to see and do!
If you’re looking to explore the Swedish language and culture in Finland, you’ll definitely want to check out the cities of Kokkola and Vaasa in the west, as well as the Åland islands a bit further south!
And let’s not forget the mainland and eastern parts of the Finnish lake district! There’s the amazing Oulujärvi lake and the lovely small city of Kajaani. And of course Kuopio and Joensuu are a must if you’re up for learning more about the eastern type of nature and culture!
For hiking, look at the Nature Parks on the coasts, or the those in the eastern parts of Finland.
Helsinki, the capital and most visited city in Finland, is perfect for a weekend getaway with its good food, unique architecture, museums, and natural sites. For longer stays, consider day trips to Porvoo, Kotka, Hamina, Loviisa, and Hanko, all easily accessible by public transport. Furthermore, go hiking in any of the nature parks in Southern Finland.
If you love the seaside, visit Turku, which has the largest archipelago in Finland. Nearby Naantali hosts Moomin World and the president’s summer house, Kultaranta.
Tampere is known for its industrial heritage, especially the Finlayson cotton factory area, now a hub of restaurants, cafés, shops, museums, and a cinema.
Lakeland, Europe’s largest lake district, covers central and eastern Finland. It offers year-round activities like fishing, sailing, skating, and ice swimming. It’s also the heart of Finnish cottage culture. Major cities include Tampere, Jyväskylä, and Kuopio, all accessible from Oulu by public transport.