In English

Varsinaissuomalainen osakunta (VSO) is a student nation for university students in the capital region who have some type of connection to the region of Southwest Finland. The association spends time together in the form of weekly association evenings and various parties – chatting, laughing, eating, drinking, singing, and of course: partying!

The purpose of VSO is to act as a link between students from Southwest Finland, to support them financially in the form of housing and scholarships, and to spread the joy of Southwest Finland in the capital region. We organise a wide range of events, including academic banquets, parties, and cultural and sporting activities. We have many active clubs, including a bowling club and a choir, and we also publish a magazine called Varsinaissuomalainen. Our premises are located in the New Student House in the heart of Helsinki.

VSO is one of the 15 student nations at the University of Helsinki. The nations are interdisciplinary and traditional student organisations whose history at the University of Helsinki dates back to the founding of the Royal Academy of Turku in the 17th century. Each nation has ties to a particular province or region of Finland. Read more about the student nations in general through their joint website.

Why you should join?

A counterbalance to studying

At our Wednesday nation meetups, you can experience, see, and hear things that you won't encounter on your couch at home. In addition to the weekly get-togethers, we organise various cultural and sporting activities and of course host parties, including dozens of sitsit (academic banquets) throughout the year. Our events are quite affordable, and as a freshman of the nation you can attend all the parties during your first autumn here completely free of charge.

Benefits and scholarships

At the weekly meetups, you can enjoy free food and interesting activities changing weekly. You also have access to the nation's premises in the center of Helsinki, where you can study, read newspapers, play games, and hang out. As a member of VSO, you also have priority status when applying for affordable student housing in the student nation’s own residential building, Ylioppilashuone Alina. Active members are also rewarded with scholarships.

Friends

Above all, you will find new friends! You can meet people from different fields of study and even different universities. This interdisciplinary approach is one of the best parts of a student nation - you will get to know people you might not have come across otherwise! Furthermore, you will get chances to get to know the other nations and even our international friendship organisations.

Join us!

Most of our members are students at the University of Helsinki, but VSO also has a large number of active members from Aalto University and other higher education institutions in the capital region. You can join at any point in your studies, no matter what you are studying or what your connection to Southwest Finland is - we welcome everyone interested!

Our activities are organised mostly in Finnish, but international members are always welcomed warmly and we are more than happy to accommodate those who prefer communicating in English.

You can become a member by paying the academic year membership fee (€12) and registering in the student nation's register. If you study at the University of Helsinki, you can conveniently pay the fee as you pay for your annual HYY membership. The nation’s membership fee can also be paid to the account FI65 1544 3000 0663 52 (use the reference 73105) or via cash at our premises. You’re welcome to join us whenever we have an event and become a member.

Our freshers’ tutors will be present at our premises every Wednesday at 18.00 in September to welcome new members, provide more information and help you sign up. Right after that (19.00) we will have our weekly association evening with changing themes and activities, delicious food and good company.

Arrival instructions

Our premises are located in the New Student House in central Helsinki, at Mannerheimintie 5 A, 6th floor.

The New Student House is located on Mannerheimintie, opposite the Forum shopping center and next to Kaivopiha. The entrance to the A-wing is located to the left of the Grand Hansa Hotel main entrance. There is a sign “5 A, Helsingin yliopiston ylioppilaskunta” (Helsinki University Student Union) above the door. The door is open on weekdays until 20.00 and opens with a motion sensor.

Enter through the door of the A-wing and continue straight ahead towards the staircase curving to the right, where the actual stairwell opens up.
Climb the stairs to the fifth and top floor. From the landing, go through the door on the right hand side into a lobby area and turn immediately right, where you will find the stairs to the attic floor.
- If the door on the fifth floor is closed, ring the doorbell marked ‘Vinni’/6th floor. Please note that there is also a mechanical doorbell on the door, which only rings on the fifth floor.
At the end of the stairs leading from the 5th floor lobby to the 6th floor there is a fire door, behind which VSO’s premises are located.

Please note that the lift only works with a HYY access key. If you need step-free access to our premises, please contact the fresher tutors or a board member.

Communication channels

The best ways to keep up with the happenings of the nation are our mailing list and Instagram account.

You can join the mailing list VSO-LIST by sending an email to majordomo@helsinki.fi. Leave the subject field blank and write the following in the message field: subscribe vso-list