Student Guide
Degree and exchange students are allowed to work in Finland during their studies, with certain restrictions. The restrictions have to do with nationality (EU/EEA or non-EU/non-EEA) and the nature of the employment.
If you are a Nordic or EU/EEA national, you do not need any special permits for working in Finland during your studies. There are no restrictions on how many hours per week you are allowed to work, but you should make sure that the work does not get in the way of your study progress.
If you are a Non-EU/non-EEA national, there are restrictions to how much you can work as a student. Generally, you can work without restrictions when the work is related to your degree, such as practical training or thesis work. In other cases, paid employment is limited to a maximum of 30 hours per week on average. Please check the detailed regulations from the Finnish Immigration Service.
If you have a job upon graduation, you can directly apply for a new residence permit on the basis of work before your student residence permit expires.
If you don't have a job upon graduation, you can apply for a residence permit to look for work or to start a business. This permit is meant for job seeking and you can get the permit for two years at the most. When you find a job, you should apply for a new residence permit on the basis of work.
If you decide to start your own business or work as a freelancer or a 'light entrepreneur' after graduation, you should apply for the residence permit for entrepreneurs. You need to have a Business ID in order to get the residence permit for entrepreneurs.
Finland has been ranked many times as the happiest country in the world and many features of Finnish working life attest to the healthy work-life balance. Nevertheless, as an international student it can sometimes feel tricky to find your way in the Finnish job market. Aalto University has created an online course Finland Works, which is a starting point for understanding the working life in Finland. You can register for the course anytime and study at your own pace. In addition, Info Finland provides more practical information about working in Finland, such as employees' rights and obligations.
Finnish working life is still operates predominantly in the Finnish language, although English has gained more ground in some fields and professions. Swedish is also sometimes used in work, but much less often than Finnish. Most Finns, especially in workplaces that require a higher education degree, have good English skills and many are accustomed to using English in various work tasks. However, learning some Finnish opens up more opportunities for foreigners both in their work and their personal life. Therefore, it is recommended to start learning Finnish during your study time at Aalto.
The university offers free language studies for students through Aalto Language Centre. In addition, Kielibuusti is a good resource platform where you can search for other Finnish and Swedish courses from all around Finland. The page also has many self-study materials and language learning tips that you can access at your own convenience.
In Finland, you can find job openings and vacancies through online job portals, but there are also many roles that are filled through networks and contacts. This is called the hidden job market, and it is one characteristic of Finland's job market. A hidden job means that the employer is not advertising a job opening publicly, but instead tries to find suitable candidates through their networks, social media or with the help of a head-hunter. This type of recruitment emphasises the importance of personal and professional networks, as the candidate is more likely to find out about hidden job opportunities by having an extensive network.
As a student you should start creating personal and professional connections during the time of your studies: participate in career events and job fairs at the university, join student organization activities, start a new hobby or do some volunteer work, etc. In social media, LinkedIn is the main platform for making professional connections and for recruiters to find potential candidates, so keep your LinkedIn profile updated and learn how to use it for creating new connections.
The Language Centre is a joint teaching and service unit for languages and communications at Aalto University both for students and staff. The goal of the Language Centre is to provide students and staff with such language and communication skills that give a strong foundation for success in both studies and in the world of work.
Kielibuusti (Language Boost) develops the teaching of Finnish and Swedish. Learn more about how we do it!
In Finland, it is common to have a job alongside your university studies. Many Finnish students work part-time during their study terms and seek summer jobs or internships for the summer months. Finnish employers often expect university graduates to have some previous work experience when they are looking to hire them, and therefore international students are advised to look for part-time and summer jobs already during their first year of studies. You can find detailed information about these topics in the JobTeaser’s Job Search Guide.
If you have never worked before or if you are a bachelor's degree student in the beginning of your studies, all work experience is beneficial. In the Helsinki capital region, you can find different kinds of part-time jobs that don’t necessarily require you to speak Finnish. You can start gathering experience in restaurants or retail, for example, before you land your first professional role.
As a university student, one of the best ways to get work experience is through summer jobs. Many companies recruit students to assist in various roles during the summer months when most permanent employees take their summer holidays. The busiest months for the summer job search are between December and February, and the work itself is commonly done between May and August. Many summer jobs are full-time (40 hours/week, Monday-Friday), but part-time opportunities also exist. In some industries (for example restaurant and retail), working hours are often irregular and might include evening and/or weekend shifts.
You can also find internships and trainee positions from companies and other organisations throughout the year. The purpose of an internship is to learn how to apply the skills gained during your studies and to help you to assimilate your theoretical knowledge. Interns are usually not expected to have extensive work experience in the field, but you might need to have a specific study background and be more advanced in your studies or close to graduation to be considered for an internship or trainee role.
The thesis is a mandatory part of your degree, and especially at the master’s degree level, thesis work is often a good opportunity to connect with an employer in your field. If you find a company to commission your thesis, you have good chances of finding a permanent position in that company after graduation. However, finding a this is not always easy and it requires an active effort by the student. You can start by asking about your professors about suitable companies, and by connecting with companies in your field at career fairs such as Aalto Talent Expo. Aalto also organizes a Master’s thesis event dedicated for international students and Finnish companies in the autumn - more information about the event will be communicated to students once the registration opens.
In the schools of technology, students may also have the possibility to do their master’s thesis work for the department of their studies. Consult your degree programme or academic advisor for more information about such opportunities.
At Aalto University, students may work as teaching assistants, exam monitors or research assistants. In general, study progress is expected before it’s possible to apply for these positions. Most commonly students apply to work as research assistants during the summer break after their first year of studies, or as part-time research assistants during the academic year. Course assistantship requires that you have completed the course in question yourself. On campus jobs are often announced in JobTeaser, Aalto’s Open Positions page, or student newsletters. Sometimes, professors might look for and recruit suitable students directly from their own study courses.
The future of work is more volatile than before, and many people cannot rely on stable career tracks any longer. To prepare for the constantly changing world of work, Aalto encourages you to start thinking about your future career already when you start your studies. Career design helps you to create a meaningful career path based on your strengths, values and aspirations. Aalto Career Design Lab supports your journey with career design courses, mentoring, coaching, online resources, job fairs and more. If you need individual guidance, you can book an appointment with one of the career advisors on JobTeaser.
Shaping sustainable and meaningful careers
Aalto University School of Business Career Services offer a wide range of services to our students.
Aalto JobTeaser portal for job ads, career events and guidance
When it’s time to start searching for a summer job, an internship or commissioned thesis work, you can start by registering at Aalto JobTeaser to access jobs that specifically target Aalto students. Once you have registered, you can access the virtual Job Search Guide to get extensive information about different steps and tools for finding a job.
Networking is crucial when looking for a job, since not all jobs are advertised publicly and many jobs are filled through personal connections. Even for public job openings, it is easier to get an interview if you have met and talked with the recruiter before. You can start networking and meeting recruiters at job fairs: Aalto Talent Expo is held annually in November, and Aalto Summer Job Day in January. Espoo Talent Hub also organizes TalentMatch recruitment event every year for international students and jobseekers, usually around March-April. In addition, employers organize smaller meetups and company visits throughout the year, and many such career events are published in the on JobTeaser Events.
If you are an international Master’s student, you can also connect with employers through the Aalto International Talent Programme which runs annually between January and March. Application to the programme usually starts around November. In addition, you can expand your network by connecting with Aalto alumni. The Career Design Lab organises the annual Mentoring Programme for Aalto’s master’s students and alumni, in which you can get a personal mentor to advise you on career-related matters.
If you work in Finland, you have to pay taxes on your income, even if you are a student. The taxation policy depends on how long you stay in Finland and on the type of your employment. If you stay in Finland for longer than 6 months, you will be taxed progressively, meaning that your tax rate depends on your annual income level.
Before you start working, you need to get a tax card and/or an individual tax number from the Tax Administration. For this, you will need to have a Finnish personal identity code (ID). Please check the detailed instructions from the Finnish Tax Administration website.