International Student Advisor

Moving abroad always comes with new experiences and challenges. The International Student Advisor is here to help students who are moving to Finland.

Welcome to Finland

Hi! I'm Laurits Møller, I'm the International Student Advisor at Arcada. I'm here to help you with all of those practical problems that inevitably turn up when you move to a new country.

Am I covered by social security in Finland? How do I get a Kela card? Do I need to exchange my driving licence for a Finnish one? I got a job at a restaurant, how can I get a hygiene passport? What documents do I need to renew my residence permit?

I don't always know the answer to questions like these, but I can help you find the answer! See my contact details at the bottom of the page. Watch the video below to see where my office is and what a typical student visit might look like.

Office hours

You'll find me in room C244 in the Library.

Please note that I will not be available in July.

Drop-in hours starting from September 2025:

Week Day	Time
Mondays	10:00–12:00
Wednesdays	10:00–12:00
Thursdays	12:00–14:00

Exceptions: Thursday 4.12 - no drop-in but available for phone calls

If the door is open you are more than welcome to come in and say hello even if it is outside my office hours.

If these times don't suit you or you are unable to come to campus, just send me an e-mail to book a different time or a Teams meeting. You'll find my contact information at the bottom of the page.

Where to find more information

If you're on your way to Finland, please see our New student pages with useful information for new international degree students.

InfoFinland.fi has a wealth of basic information for immigrants on the functioning of society and opportunities in Finland. It covers a wide range of topics from health care to starting a business, and finding jobs and accommodation. All the information is available in 12 languages.

International House Helsinki (IHH) is the official regional service that helps international newcomers live and work in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa. Whether you are abroad, just moved to the Helsinki region or have already been here for some time, they are there to help you settle in your new home! Check out their Newcomer's Guide , it's packed full of practical information about life in Helsinki.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment also have a very useful guide called Welcome to Finland (available in more languages here ).