Listen to international students when making decisions
We, international degree students, are a diverse group of people of various backgrounds and life situations. We have been left out of the recent immigration discussion, even though we are affected by several government proposals, one of them being the 3/6 month rule. If an immigrant does not find a job within three or six months, they will be deported from the country. It is not a realistic timeframe to find a job in Finland, because on average it takes over 14 months to secure a job as an unemployed jobseeker. A residence permit for a recent graduate to look for a job is no consolation when the longer term threat of eviction looms.
Abroad, Finland is known and admired for its advancements and equality. While many aspects of life here, like education and student life, are excellent, the challenges in finding employment make it harder for us to recommend Finland as a place to study both due to legal reforms and structural racism.
Decision-makers, you have the power to make a change by extending the timeframe for the 3/6 month rule. See us as people, not just as numbers and a way to save Finland from a low birth rate. Everyday, we make a conscious choice to stay here in Finland. However, the choice to stay might be only temporary if we are not welcomed here.
Mantė Žygelytė, Vice Chair of the Board at AYY
Omotola Adeshina, Board Member at TaiYo
Shashika Harshani, Board Member at TYY
Read more news
HSL, a big-ticket item?
This May, we have been celebrating the ‘Otaniemi on a sustainable road’ theme month. To achieve sustainable mobility, it needs to be affordable for students. AYY calls for cheaper student prices and improved funding models for public transport.
Acknowledgements were awarded at AYY’s 16th annual ball
Acknowledgements were awarded to outstanding community members and deeds at Aalto University Student Union’s (AYY) 16th annual ball on 16 May 2026.
How can you receive student financial aid for the summer?
If you did not get a summer job, or if you are concerned about your financial situation for other reasons, don’t worry! You can receive financial aid and a housing supplement for the summer months if you are pursuing studies during the summer.