Student card and student discounts

Published 25.5.2022 | Updated 14.8.2024

Student card

By showing your student card, you are entitled to receive student discounts at the Finnish State Railways VR and Matkahuolto Bus Company and in student restaurants, for instance. The student card is needed also at the FSHS student health care. You can use Tuudo’s digital ID and/or Frank student card as your student card. You can access Tuudo’s ID right away after your study right has started. It might take a bit longer to get the Frank card. 

Tuudo’s student ID

You can use the digital ID in the Tuudo mobile app if you are a BA/MA student or an exchange student. You can activate it in Tuudo after you have got your Uniarts username and password. You can use it to prove your student status, for example, in the student restaurants and for HSL public transport and VR. You can upload Tuudo for free from an application store (AppStore/ Google Play). Activate the ID by clicking the “Wallet” icon next to your name in the Tuudo main menu. The student ID becomes invalid as soon as your right to study ends, which is your date of graduation.

Frank student card

If you are a member of the Uniarts Student Union, you can get a Frank student card. You can order it at Frank website. The order can be done earliest after your study right has started. Students must be registered as attending students to get the discounts.

Public transport and student prices

Student discount in long-distance trains (VR)

You can get student discount in trains in Finland with the Tuudo student ID or the Frank student card. No other certificates are needed. 

Student discount in long-distance buses (Matkahuolto)

You can get student discount in buses in Finland with the Tuudo student ID or the Frank student card. No other certificates are needed. 

HSL (Helsinki Region Transport) student discounts for students who live permanently in Helsinki region

If you are a full-time student living in the HSL area (incl. Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa), you can buy reduced rate travel card tickets under certain conditions.  

If you are an international degree student, you must have a Finnish ID number and a certificate from Digital and Population Data Services Agency confirming that you are permanently living in the Helsinki region. You will also need to prove your student status with Tuudo student ID or Frank student card. You can find more information on the student discount on the HSL website. It’s good to know that if you want to use the HSL app, you must have a Finnish personal ID code saved into the Uniarts Peppi student register and the Finnish online banking credentials for the strong identification. If you don’t have the Finnish ID code or the online banking credentials, you can use the HSL travel card instead of the app. In that case, you will need to visit the HSL office to receive the travel card and update your student status.

Exchange students can get the HSL travel card from a HSL service point with a student discount application form and their ID. Please get a signature and a stamp on the form at your own academy. The instructions and the application form are available on the HSL website (choose Discount tickets for exchange students). 

Other student discounts and benefits

Student meals

By showing your Finnish student card or student ID, you will get a discount at student cafeterias. If you don’t have a student card, you can show your certificate of attendance. A student lunch usually costs around 2.70€.

You can also eat in the student cafeterias of other universities. Student cafeteria UniCafe has many restaurants all over Helsinki, the nearest one in the city centre. Also, several Fazer Amica restaurants provide student lunches.  

Other student discounts 

Many museums, theaters, gyms, shops and coffee places will give student discounts with a student card or Tuudo student ID. Students can purchase student-priced meals in student restaurants in Finland. You might also get free access to art museums – just remember to ask. As a student of Uniarts, you will get free access to almost all of the university’s concerts, performances, exhibitions and other events.