Health care

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 cannot conduct remote consultations with students who are on student exchange or have an internship abroad due to the act on patient insurance.

FSHS 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 YTHSdigi application? YTHSdigi is a fast and easy way to manage matters related to your health. 

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:

• Terveystalo
• Mehiläinen
• Pihlajalinna
• Aava

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.

If you become ill during your studies and are unable to study, you can take a sick leave. The decision on sick leave is made by a doctor (FSHS/ public health care/ private health care). If your sick leave lasts for more than 10 weekdays, you can apply for sickness allowance from Kela with a medical certificate. Sickness allowance is available to Finnish citizens and students who are permanently residing in Finland and covered by the Finnish social security system. You can check your eligibility for sickness allowance by contacting Kela’s customer service.

First, in urgent cases, you should make an appointment at your local health center or with a private healthcare provider. In non-urgent cases, contact the FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service).

Impact of Illness on Your Studies and Student Financial Aid

• Illness can slow down your study progress. Consider whether it is sensible to use your months of student financial aid while you are sick, as the number of support months is limited.
• Sick leave and sickness allowance may be a better option than student financial aid if your ability to study is significantly reduced. If your studies are not progressing or have slowed down considerably due to illness, you must seek health care and obtain a medical certificate for sick leave.
• A doctor-prescribed sick leave may allow an extension to the student loan compensation deadline in certain situations, but only if you have received sickness allowance.

Student Financial Aid and Sickness Allowance

• You cannot receive student financial aid and sickness allowance at the same time.
• When you apply for sickness allowance, student financial aid is automatically discontinued; you do not need to do this yourself.
• You will receive student financial aid up until the sickness allowance is granted.
• Instead of the housing supplement, you can apply for general housing allowance during your sick leave.

Continuing Studies During Sick Leave

• Contact your study advisor or your degree programme’s PSP (personal study plan) advisor if you are studying at a reduced pace or suspending your studies due to sick leave.
• If your absence from studies covers the entire semester, it is advisable to discuss the enrolment procedures for the semester with your study advisor.
• While on sick leave, you can study up to approximately 3 ECTS credits per month.
• When you return to full-time studies, notify the Kela and reapply for student financial aid.

You can find more information about sick leave for higher education students on Kela’s website.

A student health meeting is a form of supportive discussion for situations where a student’s ability to study has declined due to health-related reasons. In the meeting, participants look for ways to continue and progress with studies while taking into account the student’s health and overall wellbeing.
The meeting is attended by the student and representatives of Metropolia and student health services. The discussion is confidential.

Who is the student health meeting for?

The student health meeting is intended especially for degree students whose ability to study has clearly declined for health-related reasons. This may be reflected, for example, as:

• studies progressing slowly or a risk of interruption
• a large number of incomplete or overdue study attainments
• difficulties in attending classes or completing coursework and exams
• problems with coping, concentration or functional capacity that affect studies.

What happens in the student health meeting?

During the meeting, the following are discussed together:

• the student’s current ability to study
• health and wellbeing factors that affect studies
• which arrangements, support measures and forms of cooperation could best support studying and recovery.

The aim is to reach a shared understanding of the student’s situation and to agree on concrete next steps.
Typically:

• the meeting lasts about one hour
• the student describes in their own words their situation, experiences in their studies and their own ideas for possible solutions
• a representative of the health services chairs the meeting and records the discussion and agreed measures
• a representative of Metropolia explains what practical support measures and flexibility can be offered in the studies (e.g. schedules, modes of completion, study support services)
• at the end, it is agreed who will do what and by when, how the situation will be followed up and whether a new meeting is needed.

How is the meeting initiated?

A student health meeting can only be arranged with the student’s consent and participation. Staff may suggest a meeting, but the student must be willing to move the process forward.

You can bring up the topic, for example:

• in student health services
• with your tutor teacher, your personal guidance counsellor, student counsellor or a member of staff in student wellbeing services.

If you already have an ongoing treatment relationship within student health services, tell your contact person about your situation and mention that you would like to have a student health meeting with Metropolia. If you do not yet have such a relationship, book an appointment for an assessment of need for treatment and state in your contact that you wish to have a student health meeting.

Consider which member of staff in your degree programme knows you and the structure of your programme well. This could be, for example, your PSP (personal study plan) advisor, study counsellor or degree coordinator. Provide their contact details to FSHS.

Preparing for the student health meeting

You will get more out of the meeting if you prepare for it in advance. It is helpful for both the student and staff to reflect on and write down key points before the meeting.

As a student, you can consider for example:

• Which aspects of your studies or everyday study life have been the most challenging?
• In what ways do changes in your health or coping show concretely in your studies (e.g. absences, returning assignments, ability to concentrate, time management)?
• What have you already tried to change or do differently to improve the situation?
• What kinds of solutions and support would you hope for (for example changes in schedules, lighter study load, support services, guidance, individual arrangements)?

It is also recommended to discuss the upcoming meeting in advance with the Metropolia staff member who is supporting you (e.g. your own advisor, a student wellbeing specialist or another support person):

• who it would be useful to invite to the meeting
• what support you have already received
• in which areas you would still like change or additional support.

If you wish, you can bring a support person with you to the meeting (for example a friend, family member or another trusted person).

More information

You can find more information on the websites and instructions of student health services.