Helsinki

Helsinki, the capital of the Republic of Finland, is a modern and vibrant city with over half a million residents and is situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea, surrounded by a picturesque archipelago composed of hundreds of tiny islands.

Helsinki is unique among Northern European cities. The lifestyle in the second most northern capital city in the world is full of contrasts and activities in the form of hundreds of events and friendly people from all over the world.

Benefits for Students

Students in Finland are offered different kinds of benefits and services, some of which are available to all students and some only to the members of the Student Union AYY. It is obligatory for degree students to be members of the AYY. Exchange students can choose whether they want to be members or not. Members of the Student Union AYY can apply for a student card with which you can prove your student status. The student card with the term sticker works as your official certificate and entitles you to discounts in all student restaurants, in public transportation, in some shops etc.

Student Union AYY

 

Helsinki Design Week

Founded in 2005, Helsinki Design Week is the largest design festival in the Nordic countries. Held annually in September, the multidisciplinary festival presents design from a number of fields as well as fashion, architecture and urban culture.

Helsinki Design Week

 

Design District Helsinki

ddh-logo

Helsinki offers an ideal place to get to know Finnish design and to buy world-known Finnish design products. Located in the center of Helsinki, the Design District Helsinki is an area full of design and antique shops, museums, such as the Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture, fashion stores, galleries and restaurants. The Design District Helsinki plays a large role in boosting Helsinki’s reputation as a city of design and the district comprises nearly 200 members. It’s a cluster of creative businesses and a neighbourhood that offers residents and visitors shopping, dining, accommodation and experiences. Here you can find the most interesting names, classics, trendsetters and much more.

Design District Helsinki

 

World Design Capital

Helsinki, the Capital of Finland, is right in the middle of the Baltic Sea region, with easy access to East and West, and fast access to other European Union countries. A great place to work and live, stable and safe, with a very high standard of living and welfare, Helsinki is at the same time, an excellent location for business. About a quarter of the Finnish population – more than one million people – live in the Helsinki region, which is central to every sphere of Finnish society from public administration to commerce, arts and sciences.

Helsinki is compact: institutions are networked, intertwined and interdependent. Finland is one of the most competitive global economies, with innovation, research and development as cornerstones of its competitiveness.

The appointment of World Design Capital 2012 was conferred to the City of Helsinki in November 2009  during the Icsid World Design Congress in Singapore.

Helsinki – World Design Capital 2012

 

Museums in Helsinki

 

Photo Credits: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra (top) and Jonas Tana (background)