Guide for new students
Welcome to Careeria!
Before studies
Carefully read the selection decision you received by email. It tells you when and where your studies will start. Mark it in your calendar, we are waiting for you!
Arrive on time on the first day. Please remember that some of your education can also be online. In this case, be on time online.
If you are sick, do not come to Careeria. Please inform your teacher via Wilma or SMS.
Accepting a study place
Confirm or cancel your study place according to the instructions and schedule you received in the selection decision. You may confirm or cancel your study place in the My study path service (for joint search) or by email (continuous search).
You will receive your personal User ID via email about five days before the start of your studies.
Complete your personal information and your guardian’s contact information in Wilma at the latest when you start your studies.
Certificates of previous studies, work and competences
Your place of study is conditional until your identity and the certificates you used in applying for the course have been checked at the start of your studies. Collect your key school and work certificates after primary school, then scan or photograph them into electronic format, save them to a memory stick or send them to yourself by e-mail.
You need them as soon as you start your studies to prepare your personal competence development plan (HOKS).
Save the work and previous study certificates to Wilma as soon as you have a Wilma username. You can get instructions from your responsible teacher.
Information about studying
You can get more information about starting your studies from your teacher in charge. Also read more about your own diploma in eRequirements service (ePerusteet in Finnish).
Study time
Your study time is determined by your previous skills, education and work experience. Please remember that rapid progress in studies can shorten your study time.
The study period is on average three years for those coming directly from basic school, and 1–2 years for those who have already acquired previous skills. The completion time of the diploma is specified in the HOKS (personal competence development plan) discussion with the teacher in charge at the beginning of your studies. Your right to study ends when you have completed the education, diploma or parts of a diploma in accordance with your HOKS.
Some students work for a salary during their studies. Studies must proceed according to the plan, but of course there is flexibility to combine work and studies. If the work is related to one’s own field, that is also taken into account in the skills mapping. One option is to enter into an apprenticeship contract either for part of the studies or to complete the entire diploma.
Financing your studies
If you come to Finland from outside the EU read more about financing your studies on Migri’s website.
However, you may qualify for financial aid if you meet the following requirements:
- You have arrived in Finland for some other reason than to study. Such a reason can for example be employment or family ties.
- You have been granted a continuous (A) or permanent (P) residence permit or an EU residence permit for third-country nationals (P-EU or P-EY) or a residence card as referred to in the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom.
- If you are a citizen of another EU or EEA country or of Switzerland, the family member of such a person, or a citizen of a Nordic country, you only have to register your right of residence or present your residence card.
- If you are living in Finland permanently.
More information on financial aid for foreign students.
If you are Finnish resident or otherwise eligible for financial aid, you can apply for student social benefits already with your selection decision. You will only receive your student certificate when you have started your studies.
You can apply for Kela’s study grants for undergraduate studies or other full-time studies. By filling out the application form online, you will significantly speed up the processing of the grant decision.
As a customer of TE Services, you can receive unemployment security for full-time studies if the competence development promotes your employment and you fulfill other requirements. Agree on the matter with your TE office no later than two weeks before the start of your studies. You can get the TEM form to be delivered to the TE office from opintotoimisto@careeria.fi
Self-motivated study subsidised with an unemployment benefit
Applying for school transport subsidy
You may apply for school transport subsidy in OmaKela. Applying in OmaKela requires strong identification, i.e. bank credentials or a mobile certificate. A guardian can apply for support on behalf of a minor student.
Study costs and purchases
There is no tuition fee for basic diplomas. During your studies, however, you may incur costs for purchasing work clothes and work equipment. You can get instructions for purchases from the teacher or from your sector-specific instructions.
Vocational and specialized vocational degrees and diplomas usually have a study fee, which in some cases can also be paid in instalments.
In addition, costs may arise from card and passport fees, book purchases, study trips or living during workplace learning in a different location or abroad. We recommend getting your own laptop.
Dining and living
You can dine at an affordable student price in Careeria’s canteens.
If you are studying for a vocational undergraduate diploma or are in TUVA training, Careeria offers you one free meal a day. The benefit does not apply to those studying in apprenticeship and workforce training. You will hear in more detail about who is entitled to the meal allowance at the beginning of your studies.
A medical certificate for food allergies must be submitted to the head of the kitchen at your school at the beginning of your studies.
In Porvoo, student apartments are rented out by A-asunnot, and in the capital region, the student housing foundation of the Helsinki region, HOAS.