Student Union fee and healthcare fee

Student Union fee

According to the university law every university should have a student union in which all bachelor and master students are apart. Due to this all students pay a student union fee. The total cost is 70 euros. This money is spent to assure your interests are taken into consideration in society and in school. Through the fee you also gain access to a student card that enables you to get cheaper prices in public transport, in many stores, in the school cafeteria, at the student gym Unisport and much more. Additionally, you can apply for housing through HOAS as well as participate in the many activities and use the facilities of the student union.

Starting Spring term 2021 international students will no longer be covered in the Finnish Student Health Services through the student union fee.
  • The Student Union fee for the FALL semester 2024 is 35 euros
  • The Student Union fee for the SPRING semester 2025 is 35 euros


REQUEST FOR REFUND OF THE STUDENT UNION FEE
If you’ve registered as present before the semester starts but realize that you will not be able to study during the semester you can register as absent. You can then do a request for refund of the student union fee. Once the semester has started you are no longer able to switch a registration as present to absent.
More information and application: Request for refund of the studentunion fee

Student healthcare fee and international situations

You must pay the healthcare fee if you start a study abroad period and meet the following criteria:

  • You are studying for a degree in a Finnish higher education institution.
  • You are registered as attending.
  • You have social security coverage in Finland or in some other country (not including EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, Great Britain or Northern Ireland).

If you visit Finland during the study abroad, you can use FSHS services.

You do not have to pay the healthcare fee if you have social security coverage from another EU/EEA country, from Switzerland, or from Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Even if you do not have to pay the fee, you can still use the services of the FSHS. Howewer, be prepared to show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) when visiting the FSHS.

Read more: How should I proceed if I have social security coverage in another EU/EEA country, in Switzerland or in Great Britain or in Northern Ireland?

You must pay the healthcare fee if you come to Finland from a country outside the EU area to complete a degree here even if you have taken out private health insurance for the residence permit, for instance health insurance from Swisscare. Private health insurance taken out for the residence permit does not mean that you have social security coverage in the EU area.

The student healthcare fee in higher education is EUR 36.80 per term.

The fee is paid to Kela for both the spring and the autumn term. You are not billed for the fee, but are expected to pay it unprompted. The amount that must be paid is defined in a Government Decree and may vary from year to year.

You can pay the fee even if you have not yet registered as attending.

The healthcare fee is confirmed on a calendar year basis. This means that, in spring 2023, you can pay the fee for both the spring and the autumn term 2023.

Read more about the payment of the healthcare fee and the due dates for payment: How to pay the healthcare fee in higher education.

You have the right to use FSHS’s services if you’re studying for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a higher education institution in Finland and have registered as an attending student. In case you are an incoming international exchange student can not use FSHS services.

Students from other EU or EEA countries must provide a European Health Insurance Card starting 1.1.2023

Starting 1.1.2023, students from other EU or EEA countries will have to provide a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) when accessing FSHS services. The FSHS will be required by law to ask to see a European Health Insurance Card to identify students who are covered by state-provided health insurance from a country other than Finland. The card must be obtained before coming to Finland. Students from Britain and Northern Ireland may provide a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). More info.

Students do not have to pay the healthcare fee if they have social security coverage from another EU/EEA country, from Switzerland or from Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Despite not paying the fee, they may use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). Students who wish to use the services of the FSHS must be prepared to show a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as of 1 January 2023. Students covered by social security in Great Britain and Northern Ireland can show a Global Health Insurance (GHIC) card.