How does student housing work in Finland in 2026?

In the Helsinki region, Hoas (Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region) is the main stack for Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen: Living in Helsinki. Tampere students usually look at TOAS (Tampere Student Housing Foundation) and POAS: Living in Tampere. Turku runs through TYS (Student Village Foundation of Turku): Living in Turku. Oulu applicants use PSOAS (Student Housing Foundation of Northern Finland): Living in Oulu.

SOA’s member list also covers Jyväskylä (KOAS), Lappeenranta (LOAS), Vaasa (VOAS), Rovaniemi (DAS), and other campus towns. Ask your institute which foundation serves your degree programme. InfoFinland says you can apply as soon as you have a study place, and that larger cities may take several weeks or months before an offer arrives.

SOA describes shared flats with communal kitchens, studios that fill first, and family apartments for couples with children. Many foundations include internet, electricity, and water in rent and offer shared sauna and laundry rooms, which simplifies the accessory-fee puzzle: Apartment association fees. Still read each offer for deposit, notice, and what sits outside rent: Rental contracts and deposits.

InfoFinland is clear that you can usually stay through your studies if you remain a full-time student and make progress. The lessor may terminate if course completion drops too far. If social-security coverage and benefit rules apply to you, Kela housing support questions sit outside the foundation lease itself; check Kela guidance rather than assuming every foreign student gets the same top-up.

While you wait, use a short private bridge or furnished stay that still supports registration: Temporary housing and Furnished rentals. Private Vuokraovi stock remains the backup when queues stall: How to rent a home and How much is rent.