Health care
Check the instructions below that match your situation and contact your healthcare provider.
Health Services for Higher Education Students
The health services available for higher education students depend on your student status—whether you are a registered (present) degree student, on a leave of absence, an exchange student, an open UAS student, or a student in commissioned education.
Students entitled to use the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS/YTHS) are those who are registered as present and pursuing:
- A Bachelors's or Master's degree in a Finnish university of applied sciences
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a Finnish university
If you are not a degree student or have registered as absent for the current semester but are still looking for healthcare services, please refer to the section: Health Services for Other Students.
In case of emergencies, always contact the emergency number 112 or the urgent care helpline 116117.
For situations requiring urgent care, you can also contact your local health center or the nearest emergency department.
As a degree student in Metropolia, you have the right to use the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS/YTHS) throughout your studies. FSHS/YTHS offers a full range of student health services, from general and mental health care to dental care. Remember to pay the higher education student health care fee for each semester. Kela does not send a separate invoice for this fee—you must remember to pay it yourself. You can pay the health care fee through OmaKela.
The Helsinki metropolitan area FSHS/YTHS service points are located in Töölö, Malmi, and Otaniemi, but you may also use FSHS/YTHS service points elsewhere in Finland if needed.
Metropolia students eligible for FSHS/YTHS services are those registered as present and whose student status is:
- a Bachelor's or Master's level degree program student in Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
The following students are not eligible for FSHS/YTHS services:
- students registered as absent
- exchange students
- open university students
- students in commissioned education
FSHS/YTHS invites all first-year students to a health examination, which consists of an electronic health questionnaire and, if necessary, a personal appointment. If you do not receive an email invitation to complete the health questionnaire during your first study year, please contact the nurse at your local FSHS/YTHS service point.
Have you already started using FSHS electronic Self service? Self is a fast and easy way to manage matters related to your health. The Self service is available only in Finland and Sweden.
Please remember to cancel your appointment in good time if you cannot attend. A no-show fee will be charged for missed appointments without cancellation.
Public Healthcare
Finnish citizens have the right to use Finnish public healthcare services. If you have moved to Finland and are not a Finnish citizen, your right to use public healthcare services depends on which country you are moving from to study in Finland.
If you come to Finland to study from another Nordic country, you have the right to receive medical care in Finland. You will receive care on the same terms and pay the same fees as Finnish citizens. Remember to bring an official ID when using healthcare services. Read more about Public Healthcare in Finland below.
If you come to Finland to study from an EU country, EEA country, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your home country before coming to Finland. With the EHIC, you have the right to medically necessary healthcare in Finland. Read more about Public Healthcare in Finland below.
If you come to Finland from another country, you usually need comprehensive health insurance from your home country before you can obtain a residence permit for Finland. If the estimated duration of your studies is at least two years, you will usually get a municipality of residence in Finland and access to public healthcare services. In this case, your insurance only needs to primarily cover medication costs. If you are unsure whether you have the right to a municipality of residence in Finland, check with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto). If you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland, read more about Private Healthcare Services in Finland below.
More information about municipalities of residence is available on the InfoFinland page [Municipality of Residence in Finland].
Here are some examples of public healthcare services at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences campuses:
- Helsinki Social and Health Services: Health Centers
- Vantaa and Kerava Welfare Area: Health Centers
- Western Uusimaa (Espoo) Welfare Area: Health Centers
Occupational Healthcare
If you are employed during your studies, you can, where possible, also use your occupational healthcare services. Employers in Finland are obliged to provide preventive healthcare for their employees. Ask your employer directly about these services.
Private Healthcare
If your insurance covers private healthcare services or you can otherwise afford to pay for visits, you can also receive healthcare from private providers. This might apply, for example, to you if you come to study in Finland from another country and do not have a municipality of residence here, as you usually need comprehensive health insurance from your home country before obtaining a residence permit in Finland.
You can find contact information for private healthcare clinics from the Internet. You will likely get an appointment faster at a private healthcare clinic than with public healthcare. Private healthcare services cost the client significantly more than public services. Different clinics offer different services. Private healthcare services can be used by everyone, including those without a municipality of residence in Finland.
Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) reimburses a small portion of private medical and dental care costs if you belong to the Finnish health insurance system. Sometimes, even people outside the Finnish health insurance system may have some right to Kela reimbursements. The reimbursement can sometimes be deducted directly from the amount you pay at the clinic. Remember to bring your Kela card. You can also apply for Kela reimbursement afterwards.
If you have health insurance, you may be able to get private healthcare costs reimbursed through your insurance company. In non-urgent cases, first contact your insurance company to find out which private healthcare providers you can contact.
Here are some examples of Finnish private healthcare providers:
If you have a health concern that requires urgent care or assessment, please contact your local health center directly during daytime hours (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) or the emergency services outside of office hours.
Before going to the emergency department, you can call the Medical Helpline at 116 117.
More information about urgent care in Helsinki, Vantaa, and Espoo.
In case of emergencies, you will receive care in public healthcare even if you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland or the right to healthcare based on employment. Treatment costs may be charged to you afterwards. If you do not have access to public healthcare services, you can book an appointment at a private healthcare clinic.
Can’t Find What You’re Looking For?
Feel free to email any staff member of Metropolia’s Student Wellbeing Services for more information at firstname.lastname(a)metropolia.fi.
You can find contact details on the Support for Student Wellbeing page under the section: Contact Information for Student Wellbeing Services Staff.