Student Health Services

The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) aims to improve the physical and mental well-being of students. FSHS offers affordable health and medical services to students at health centres across Finland.

If you are a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree student at UEF, you have the right to access the general, mental and oral health care services provided by FSHS throughout your studies. The FSHS payments are collected by Kela. Read more below. Exchange students and postgraduate students can use municipal health care or private health care.

FSHS - A Significant Student Benefit

After you have paid the FSHS fee to Kela, you are entitled to use the health services at all FSHS branches across Finland. The contact details and opening hours of FSHS health centres can be found on the FSHS website.

NB! If you need maternal health care or urgent medical care (such as for accidents, injuries or night-time/weekend medical care), please contact your local municipal health service provider.

Remember to Create a Self Account

Self is an online student service that aims to speed up your communications with FSHS. You can use Self to book, cancel or reschedule appointments, take part in health surveys, view your laboratory test results and communicate with FSHS health professionals via chat.

This will give you access to FSHS services right from the start and you will also receive an invitation to attend a new student’s health check-up via Self. Remember to update your Self account if you move, or if there are other changes to your contact details.

FSHS 2021 reform

“On 1 March 2019, parliament approved the government’s proposal for an Act on healthcare for students in higher education, and on 17 May 2019, the Act was given assent by Finland’s president. The Act will take effect on 1 January 2021.

In practice, the new legislation means that in addition to university students, students at universities of applied sciences will also have access to the primary healthcare services provided by the FSHS. The specific aim of the Act is to ensure student healthcare equality between these student groups.” – FSHS

Degree students

The Student Union membership fee for the whole academic year includes the Finnish Student Health Service fee for the autumn semester.

However, because of the FSHS 2021 reform, the Student Union membership fee does not include the FSHS fee after the autumn semester. Instead, the FSHS fee for the spring semester 2021 is paid to Kela via their e-service or as a bank transfer. You can find detailed instruction on how to pay from Kela's webpage. Degree students can use the services provided by FSHS (the general, mental and oral health care services) as usual after paying Kela.

Exchange students

The Student Union membership fee does not include the FSHS fee. Make sure you have a good health insurance before you begin your exchange. Starting from January 2021 the health services are organised as follows:

Students from EU/EEA countries and from Switzerland will start using municipal healthcare. In Joensuu the services are provided by Siun Sote. In Kuopio, the city provides the services. Remember to get your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) while you are still in your home country! This gives you the health care services in Finland at the same price as for locals.
Students from other countries (outside the European Union/EEA) will use private healthcare. Make sure you have a good health insurance that covers all necessary treatments before you begin your exchange.

Yths.fi: FSHS 2021

Kela.fi: Healthcare fee for students in higher education starting 1 January 2021

Kela.fi: How to pay the student healthcare fee in higher education

Kamu: Insurance Cover for Students

Kuopio.fi: Read about local municipal health service provides in Kuopio

Siunsote.fi: Municipal healthcare in Joensuu