Exchange student’s health services, well-being and safety

Health Care for Incoming Exchange Students at Tampere University of Applied Sciences TAMK 2025

The Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa is responsible for health care services for incoming exchange students at the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Applied Sciences from the following countries: 

• exchange students from EU or EEA countries and Switzerland
• exchange students living in Australia, who have health insurance there
• exchange students from the province of Quebec in Canada

These exchange students are entitled to health care services through public health care. They must prove their entitlement to public health care services.

Students from EU or EEA countries or Switzerland who are temporarily staying in Finland are entitled to necessary medical treatment if they possess a European Health Insurance Card. This card must be ordered before arriving in Finland.

• Students from Nordic countries can access health care by presenting their official ID card or passport.
• Students coming from EU or EEA countries or Switzerland and staying temporarily in Finland are entitled to necessary medical treatment through public health care if they have a European Health Insurance Card. The card has to be ordered before coming to Finland.
• Students from Australia temporarily residing in Finland are entitled to necessary medical treatment through public health care. Their entitlement is confirmed by an Australian or other passport demonstrating their unrestricted right to live in Australia.
• Students from Quebec in Canada must apply for Kela’s Certificate of Entitlement to Medical Care in Finland to demonstrate their entitlement to public health care in Finland and receive it at the same fee as Finnish residents.

How to contact?

• For non-urgent matters, please contact appropriate services during regular hours. Check your own health care service pirha.fi
• Only Use for Critical Cases: medical helpline: call 116117

• Self-care instructions: Self-care instructions in sudden health problems (terveyskyla.fi)

  Please note that in acute cases, you may be referred to a public health care center or ACUTA (emergency).

  Customer Fees: www.pirha.fi/web/english/customer-fees

  Private Health Insurance?

  If you have private health/medical insurance, you can use it to see a doctor. Private health insurance is not the same as European health insurance. There are many private clinics in Tampere, such as Pirte, Koskiklinikka and Terveystalo.

  Important Telephone Numbers:

  - In case of emergency: call 112

  - Accident and emergency department Acuta (Tampere University Hospital, Ensitie 8, Tampere)

  - Urgent care and the Emergency Department - Pirha (in English) - pirha.fi

Further information can also be found on Kela’s website: Medical Care in Finland.

If you need advice on health care, contact TAMK’s Social Counsellor: socialcounsellor.tamk [at] tuni.fi (socialcounsellor[dot]tamk[at]tuni[dot]fi)