Student Discounts

There are discounts for students at many places in Finland. You can usually get student discounts e.g. at museums, theatres, the opera, art galleries, swimming halls, sports centres, some shops and on travel including ferry travel to Estonia and Sweden. Many places don't advertise the discounts and you need to ask.

To get these discounts, you can get the official Finnish student card. When you come to HAAGA-HELIA you will get a paper study certificate, which proves your student identity official context, for example when going to HOAS. For the discounts mentioned above, school’s certificate doesn’t apply.

More information about the student card below.

Finnish Student Card

At HAAGA-HELIA the official Student Card is issued by your Student Union HELGA. The card can be used as your student identity card everywhere in Finland. It is not compulsory to take the student card, but it ensures you the discounts. You also become a member of Student Union HELGA. The card costs altogether approximately 22 € (10 € for the Student Card and ca 12 € per semester for the validity sticker).

The card gives you access to a wide range of discounts including the 50% reduction on long distance bus and train travel without having to get the separate VR and Matkahuolto cards. You can also get student prices at swimming pools, leisure centres and most gyms, student priced tickets at Finnkino and Sandrew Metronome cinemas, 10% discount at Suomalainen Kirjakauppa (Bookstore) in Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki, discounted insurance from If Insurance and much more. In some cases, you can also get discounts on tickets to your Student Union's parties and events. For more information on the benefits, check out: www.helga.fi/Card .

These discounts are NOT available e.g. with an ISIC card. ESN-HELGA does not issue the official student cards. You can apply for the card from Student Union HELGA. In Porvoo, you can also contact your Local Student Association HePo ry.

ESN card

To get discounts on events and parties organized by ESN-Helsinki or ESN-Finland you can get a special ESN card. You can buy this card with 2 € at the HELGA office in Pasila. If you buy the official Student Card, you get the ESN-card as a gift from your Student Union.

Discounts on trains and long distance busses

It is also possible to get the combined VR Finnish Railways and Matkahuolto Long Distance Bus student card. With that card you get 50% discount travels on both long distance trains and busses. To get the card you need a student certificate that you get from the HAAGA-HELIA International Office. You can buy the card at VR booking offices and Matkahuolto service points, and it will cost you 6 € for one year. (The official student card gives you the same benefit. If you are getting the official student card, it is perhaps not worth buying VR/Matkahuolto card.)