3.5 Laurea’s Educational Services and Other Services

The aim of our educational services is to support the integration of Laurea Polytechnic’s three main areas of operation. The integrated services cover the following areas: pedagogy, regional development, research and development, administration, reception, advice, guidance and event management.

Integrated educational services include the financial aid committee, information service, e-services and continuous improvement of the services. Service Manager Teija Laamanen, tel. +358 205 787 532, teija.laamanen@laurea.fi is in charge of the development of educational services.

Each unit has an educational service point that offers its services to students, staff and Laurea’s partners. The Office will provide you with information on application times, result registers, study practices and social issues. Students will find information also at www.laurea.fi and on the Laurea Intranet Forum as well as on the notice boards and info-TV of each institute.
Educational services at each unit:

Library and Information Services are provided at each unit, for detailed information see the Student Guide 2005-2006 or www.laurea.fi. The numerous public libraries are open mainly Mon-Fri 10-20 and Sat 10-15, providing general literature, newspapers, periodicals, music and the possibility to use the Internet. Most services are free of charge.

Information about social benefits (student financial aid, insurance, meal subsides, health care) in the Student Guide 2005-2006 or www.laurea.fi. All Laurea students are insured under legally required accident insurance from Pohjola. The insurance covers accidents that take place in practical studies and unpaid internships/placements carried out in accordance with the curriculum in Finland. The insurance is valid during the activity according to the working plan and related direct travelling. The insurance does not cover sickness or accidents that take place in leisure time, which is why we strongly recommend an additional, optional travel insurance that will cover accidents that take place during leisure time as well as sickness during the stay in Finland. Citizens of the EU and EEA countries are covered by the National Health Insurance Plan administrated by the Social Insurance Institution. Students are advised to bring E128-forms or the European Health Insurance Card from their home country in order to ensure the additional benefits from National Health Care Services.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Helsinki Metropolitan Area

Laurea in cooperation with the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region (HOAS) arrange housing for all exchange students and on special arrangement for some foreign degree students. Exchange students should mention their need for accommodation when applying for exchange. They will later get further information on the matter. The housing available through the HOAS usually consists of a furnished single room in a student flat with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. There is also a possibility to use a self-service laundrette and go to sauna. The student flats are situated all around the metropolitan area. The monthly rent for a room in HOAS student housing varies between 250 € and 390 € per month. Tenants should also be prepared to pay a deposit of 300 € before arrival. The tenant will get the deposit back if he/she leaves the room in good condition for the next student.

Neither rooms nor flats are normally equipped with kitchenware or linen. The students are requested to bring their own linen (sheets, towels). For those, who do not prefer a fresh set of personal blanket and pillow, the school has some previous stock available. If you want to take your hair drier or other electrical device with you, note that the voltage is 230 AC (50 cycles). Plugs are two pin continental sizes. You can drink water from the tap / faucet.

SOME UNITS HAVE STUDENT DORMITORIES OF THEIR OWN.

Accommodation in Hyvinkää

There are student flats available that cost approximately 200 – 250 € / month, depending on the size of the flat. Flats are units of 2 - 3 single rooms, sharing a kitchen and bathroom. Students are not allowed to share a room with another student. In many cases the students are accommodated in the student flats of Hyvinkään Vuokra-asunnot Oy (The student housing company of Hyvinkää).

The student will get a room including basic furniture. There will be a possibility to go to sauna twice a week and a free possibility to use the laundry. Electricity fee is included in the rent. There will be basic kitchen facilities and dishes in the flats but tenants are requested to bring own bed linen.

The tenancy agreement is for fixed period. A fixed period tenancy agreement ends when the period is completed. The agreement cannot be changed or terminated, so think carefully your departure day. You need to pay a rent deposit of 200 €, which you will get back in the end of your exchange period, if your flat is clean, empty and in good condition for the next student. Please note that the deposit needs to be paid before the agreement is signed. Normally the tenant gets the keys after paying the deposit. For further information please contact:

Real Estate Secretary Minna Nikkanen
minna.nikkanen@hyvinkaankiinteistojenhoito.fi
Address: Hyvinkään Kiinteistöjenhoito Oy
Suutarinkatu 2, 05900 Hyvinkää
Tel. + 358 19 475 7518
Fax +358 19 475 7520

If you are coming to Hyvinkää and interested in applying for student accommodation, please fax or email the filled Application for the Accommodation form to tanja.korteharju@laurea.fi.

Within a week of receiving an application form the housing company will send you information on pre-payments that a students need to pay before arriving to Finland (due date 10 days before arrival). The total amount is 350€ including 200€ deposit and 150€ rent, the latter one will be deducted from rent of the first month in Finland. The due dates of rent payments are the 5th of each month.

When planning your trip to Finland, please think carefully about the time of arrival. The housing company is open 8.30 am - 15.30 pm, and therefore we recommend you to arrive between the given hours. But due to the required advance payments it is possible to us to get a key for your flat before your arrival and meet you e.g. at Hyvinkää railway station. NB! If you are arriving during the night, it would be good to stay the first night at some student hostel and arrive to Hyvinkää next morning.