Accommodation
You shoud take care of applying for an apartment well before your arrival to Finland. There are many options to choose from, according to your needs.
TKY
TKY, the Student Union, owns approx. 1,400 flats on the campus in Otaniemi and nearby in Leppävaara. Some foreign students (exchange students) are guaranteed housing, and they will receive information about the procedures in their acceptance letter from TKK. Foreign degree students should apply, as Finnish students, through the web-based apartment applying system. TKY offers housing only for its members, the students of TKK.
HOAS
HOAS, Helsinki Region Student Housing Foundation, has approximately 8,000 student apartments or dormitories, and approximately 16,000 students as tenants. Students of TKK are mostly placed in apartments in Otaniemi, Leppävaara, Kivenlahti or Kannelmäki (in Helsinki). HOAS offers accommodation also for foreign students who do not study in Finland but complete their training here.
Read moreThe Student Unions' Housing Service
The Student Unions' Housing Service delivers apartments from the private market to students at universities in Helsinki area. The service is free of charge for both housing applicants and landlords. The service is available for people who study or have just been accepted at TKK, but foreign students at other universities or schools may apply for temporary housing for the summer period (1st of May - 31st of August).
Private Market
There are also apartments for rent on the open market. They are generally more expensive than the student housing described above. You can rent an apartment on the open market either directly from the owner or through an agency. The agencies generally charge a fee, either in the form of higher rent or by asking for a commission, for which they charge a separate fee. In addition, the landlord often demands a deposit, which is usually 1-3 months’ rent. Read the contract carefully before signing it so you know what you are committing yourself to.
Some students sublease their own apartments for summer or some other period. Those apartments are often furnished and the rents are affordable. A good place to start is to check TKY's newsgroup about housing.