Being a student in Finland is the best decision you can make. Not only because of the high-quality education and the benefits of living in the best country in the world but also for the fact that students just have the best time of their lives in Finnish universities. Wait, students have the best time while studying? Is that even possible? Yes, it absolutely is. Universities provide students much more than just academic opportunities and student life in Finland is something that needs to be experienced.
For example, in Lappeenranta every tenth resident is a student. So the LUT University (LUT) offers events, clubs and other student activities which makes the study experience even more special. The atmosphere on LUT’s Green Campus is welcoming and once students arrive, they don’t want to leave.
MORE THAN STUDYING
Student life at LUT goes well beyond the classroom. The wide range of clubs and student associations, as well as the surrounding nature, provide fun experiences ranging from culture to extreme sports! There are cool vibes, great parties, events, sports, theatre, excursions all year round. Get involved and you will surely have memorable experiences!
Vappu, the main event for any student in Finland is celebrated in LUT. In fact, LUT prides itself on having the longest Vappu in Finland which lasts for 3 weeks.
THE SKINNARILA SPIRIT
The campus at LUT is called the Green Campus but the whole area is called Skinnarila. Many of the student services are located there: student housing, gyms, grocery stores, university library, bookstore, health-care services. Not to even mention the fantastic nature and the surrounding Lake Saimaa, which is only 200 meters away from the university.
But Skinnarila is much more than a location, it is much more. The Skinnarila spirit is something that is not easy to describe. The area is filled with a unique type of community feeling where everyone is either studying or working at the university. It creates a unique atmosphere on the campus. Skinnarila spirit is an essential part of the identity of the campus.
STUDENT UNION
In Finland belonging to unions whether as a student or in working life is normal. Unions in Finland protect the rights of its members and are not affiliated with politics. Each university has their own union, and in LUT the Student Union is LTKY. Their mission is to unite all LUT students and promote their academic and personal well-being. In addition, the union makes sure that the students’ voice is heard in the decision-making of the university.
LTKY organizes a large variety of events around the year and more than 30 clubs offer a range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, cultural events, etc. The International Section is one of the main sections of the Student Union and deals with all international issues of relevance to LUT students. Their main objective is to promote the importance of international matters concerning education in particular and globalization in general. The International Secretary plays an important role in helping new international students to adapt to Finnish society and provides information on and helps to arrange different activities.
STUDENT CARD
When you start studying at any university in Finland you are required to pay for a membership of the student union. The price varies each year but is approximately 100€ for the entire academic year. Paying the fee enables you to get much cheaper general health care*, mental health care and dental health care via The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). With the student card that you will receive after paying the fee, you are able to get discounts in meals at the university, transportation, stores, restaurants, cultural events across Finland.
*Please note that you still need a comprehensive health insurance while studying in Finland.
CLUBS AND GUILDS
Guilds do not work under the Student Union but are independent, registered associations. Please note that you will be a member of the student union automatically (see more above in Student Card), but it is optional for you to join a guild. The members of guilds are always from a certain degree program (business students belong to the business guild and technology students to their own). The guilds work for the best interest of their degree program’s students and organize different events. Guilds in LUT organize excursions and parties and most importantly members of the guilds will get student overalls – the trademark of a Finnish student!
LUT has around 30 different clubs that are always welcoming to international students. Clubs offer free-time activities from theatre to barbeque and photography. And if you can’t find something that fits you, you can always establish your own club.
STUDENT TUTORING
All students at LUT University are allocated a tutor who is a student at LUT. For example, international students will have their own tutor to help them in all things concerning Finnish society, culture and university life. Tutors help you find your way to your apartment when you arrive in Lappeenranta and help you with practical matters at the university.
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
Studying at LUT offers you many different benefits, with one of them being guaranteed housing. Rents are much lower compared to the national level and apartments come in all sizes, and furnished apartments are available near the campus and near or in the city center. Student apartments are offered by Lappeenranta Student Housing Foundation.
All apartments have fast internet, and there are saunas inside the apartment buildings or the apartments. The rent also includes water and electricity. The average rent for a room in a shared apartment is around 270€/month and a studio apartment usually costs around 400€/month.
STUDENT SERVICES
One of the things that makes LUT campus so special is that everything that a student needs is located on campus, at every students’ reach. Gyms, grocery stores, the university library, bookstore, health-care services and of course two saunas make student life convenient.
The campus is located around 7km from the Lappeenranta city center but fear not, there is a fantastic public transportation network that brings you to the city center and back in no time.
Joining the gym is affordable. For the entire academic year, the fee is 15€. If you are looking for exercise classes with an instructor, there are over 20 classes per week and the annual fee is 50€. In addition, Finnish nature provides you with the ideal gym outdoors. During summer feel free to run, jog or go for a Nordic walk along the beautiful tracks around Lake Saimaa. During the winter try cross-country skiing or ice skating.
Studying in Finland is the best decision you can make!
Find out more on what you should know before studying in Finland and what assignments and evaluations are like in Finnish universities.
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