Frequently asked questions about member services
Here you will find answers to most of the questions students have about housing applications, student cards and membership fees.
Annual enrolment ends on 1st September - remember the health care fee
You can enrol for the academic year 2023–2024 and pay the membership fee of the Student Union until 1st September. A healthcare fee is paid separately to Kela, which entitles you to the FSHS services.
Membership fee
Each academic year, university students must enrol as either attending or non-attending for the autumn and spring term. Only those enrolled as attending students may complete studies, receive counselling and graduate. In connection with the enrolment, students pay the membership fee of Aalto University Student Union, which entitles you to various member benefits and services.
Read more about paying the membership fee.
Annual enrolment
The enrolment period for new students starts when student admission results are published, so you can enrol as soon as you receive information on your place of study. Please enrol as soon as possible, no later than 31 July 2023.
The enrolment period for continuing students for the academic year 2023–2024 is from 2 May to 1 Sept 2023. It is advisable to enrol for attendance or non-attendance for the entire academic year. However, there is also a separate enrolment period for the spring term 2024 from 27 Nov 2023 to 5 Jan 2024.
Please note that the enrolment status can only be changed during the enrolment period. Outside of enrolment periods, non-attending status may be changed to attending status.
More information on annual enrolment is available on the Aalto website.
Membership fee
Benefits available for new students from the beginning of August
The academic year starts officially on 1 Aug when new students are entitled to all student benefits. Even if new students enrol already in May, their student status and related benefits will only be valid at the beginning of August. You can order the digital student card from Frank or Pivo, or a plastic card from Frank. Please note that it takes 1–5 working days to transfer information from the university to Frank, for example.
- More specific instructions for new students for the beginning of the academic year on AYY’s site.
- Answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.
Exchange students should enrol only after receiving confirmation of admission
All bachelor and master level students pay the student union membership fee, including international bachelor and master level students. Exchange students may also become members of the Student Union if they wish to do so. It is possible to live in an AYY's apartment only as a member of AYY. It should be noted that students for whom joining the Student Union is voluntary will not be refunded a paid membership fee if the membership is cancelled. Thus, you should pay AYY’s membership fee only when it is certain that your studies will begin according to plan.
Read more about paying the membership fee as an exchange student.
Healthcare fee for higher education students for the autumn of 2023
The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) fee has to be paid to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) at your own initiative through the electronic services.
You do not have to pay the healthcare fee if you have social security coverage from another EU/EEA country, from Switzerland, or from Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
In 2023, the student healthcare fee in higher education is EUR 36.80 per term. You can only pay the healthcare fee for the autumn of 2022 as the amount of the fee due for spring term 2023 is not known yet. AYY is unable to check whether you have already paid the fee - please contact Kela in unclear situations.
- Read more about the healthcare fee as an international student
- Read more about the healthcare fee on Kela website
- How to pay the student healthcare fee in higher education
Read answers to frequently asked questions
Membership and student card
As a member of the student union, you get to enjoy AYY’s services and numerous student benefits nationally and even internationally.
Services for members
AYY offers its members several services, such as affordable student housing, rental facilities, advocacy, and various benefits. Read more about the student union services!
For new students
On this page, you will find important information for new students and some tips for the early stages of your studies.
Read more news
Ecological sustainability policy has been updated – AYY transitions to a plant-based policy
Aalto University Student Union (AYY) has updated its ecological sustainability policy, which supports AYY’s daily operations. The new document directs AYY to serve plant-based food and drinks at its events. In the future, food waste will be minimised, and 30 percent of air and ship travel costs will be offset towards environmental activities.
AYY is taking steps to improve equity in its operations – new equity plan approved by RepCo
Aalto University Student Union has an equity plan, first in AYY’s history, that was approved in the Representative Council meeting on 21.11.2024. Equity plan will guide AYY towards more accessible and inclusive ways for our students to participate in AYY’s events and operations.
Good news for residents in shared apartments: Here’s how you can receive your own housing allowance while living in a friends’ apartment!
A joint liability rental agreement may affect the housing allowance, as Kela typically grants only one housing allowance for a shared household, which is influenced by the income of both residents. However, residents in friends’ apartments may receive separate housing allowances if Kela reviews them as separate households. This requires tenants with a joint liability rental agreement to draft a mutual possession agreement for the apartment and submit it as an appendix with their housing allowance application to Kela. Tenants draft the possession agreement by themselves.