Info in English

Information for freshers 

Savolainen osakunta is an interdisciplinary student organisation or nation, founded in 1905, whose members are united by their Savonian or Savonian-mindedness. We organise a wide range of events every week. Our premises, Vinni, are located on the top floor of the New Student House. What could be better than a living room in the heart of Helsinki? 

In practice, the organisation's activities include lots of academic parties, a wide range of leisure activities such as culture, sports and, of course, hanging out together. The department has several clubs, and you're sure to find one that interests you! There are also a range of benefits available to members, such as the opportunity to apply for housing or scholarships. We also work closely with other departments of the University of Helsinki and with our foreign friendship organisations. 

How to become a member 

 Any student of the University of Helsinki or any other institution of higher education, in any field, can become a member of Savolainen osakunta. You do not have to be from Savo or have any ties to the province. Everyone is welcome! 

 To become a member, you need to pay the membership fee and register with the association. The easiest way to join is to attend a Vuksi reception, which takes place on Mondays from 16.30-18.00 in Vinni in the autumn. You can find more detailed joining instructions on this page. 

Daily life at SavO 

 The everyday life of SavO consists of a wide range of events. Every Monday there is a nation evening with a programme organised by the various officers and clubs. Usually on the first Monday of the month there is a meeting of the nation, where every member has the opportunity to influence the affairs of the nation. During the week, the nation may organise activities such as orchestra and choir practice, excursions, socials, outdoor games, hang-out nights, parties or even a movie marathon. For more information, see the nation's weekly programme and events calendar.

Freshers' club leader and the freshers' committee 

When you join the nation, you will be assisted by a freshers' leader and a freshers' committee. They are older members of the nation whose job it is to show new members the ways of the nation. So, if you have a question about SavO or just need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to ask the Fresher's club leader or a member of the Fresher's club. They're there for you!  

You can contact the Freshers' Officer by email at savo-vuksimajuri@helsinki.fi.

How to get to Vinni 

 Vinni is located a short walk from Helsinki Central Station at the New Student House. Our address is Mannerheimintie 5A, 6th floor.  

After the entrance, head up the stairs to the fifth floor. There is also a lift at the New Student House, but you will need a key to use it. If you need to use the lift, please contact the Executive Director or the event organiser in advance. 

On the fifth floor, ring the Vinni doorbell and someone will come to open the door for you. If there is no event going on at Vinni or no one is present, the door will only open with a key.  

One more flight of stairs to the sixth floor and you have arrived at Vinni! 

Every member can get a key that works for the lower door of the New Student House, the lift and most of the doors of Vinn. To purchase a key, please contact the Executive Director.  

Main Fresher's events 

Special events for freshers include the Freshers' Night, Freshers' Sitz, and Independence Day celebrations in the autumn and Freshers' Dinners in the spring. Throughout the year there are a variety of social evenings and parties for the freshers. SavO also participates in a number of fraternity and University of Helsinki fraternity events, such as the Nations' park organised by the Nations' Co-operative and the HYY Freshers' adventure. 

For up-to-date information on Savolainen osakunta's events, please visit our social media channels and our information lists via email and Telegram. Also join the SavO freshers' Telegram group! You can get the link from the Freshers’ Major. 

Membership application 

How to join 

Members of the nation are those students who have paid the nation’ s membership fee and are registered in the nation’ s membership register. The membership fee is paid for one academic year at a time and in addition to payment, each member must register with the department each academic year to renew their membership.  

You can join SavO by following the list below:  

1. Pay the membership fee of €12, either by  

- Paying the membership fee when you enrol for the semester at University of Helsinki by transferring the fee through online bank service:  

OKO account FI89 5800 1320 0711 28, using reference number 11002. 

 OR 

 - by card/cash payment at the reception desk in Vinni 

2. Register at the nation 

You can register at the reception of the Executive Director on Mondays from 16:30 to 18:00 or at the freshers' reception in the autumn. 

If necessary, you can log in remotely, see below for instructions. However, we strongly recommend that you come and register on site, especially if you are registering for the first time. 

You will need to bring a valid student card/certificate of valid student status (electronic is sufficient) and proof of paid membership fees (e.g. a photo of the fees paid from your online bank or Sisu) to the reception. You can also pay the membership fee on the spot. 

At the reception, full members can write their name on the matriculation sticker and all members will receive a year of study sticker from the nation if they wish. The sticker can be used, for example, to prove that you are a member of SavO at events organised by other nations. 

3. Remote registration and sign up works as follows: 

1. Write an email with the subject “Registration to the nation”. 

2. If you are a new member, print, fill and return the registration form as a scanned pdf. For old members, it is enough to write your email address, address, and phone number into the message field. 

3. As an attachment add some kind of a proof of your student status. (For example, screenshot of study rights from Sisu/student card/student certificate) 

4. If you have not paid your membership fee at the same time with the HYY membership fee, pay 12 euros to OKO FI89 5800 1320 0711 28 with ref. nr. 11002 and attach proof of your payment (i.e. receipt from the bank) 

5. Send the email to savo-toiminnanjohtaja@helsinki.fi. If you want, you can send the email as encrypted via Securemail. 

Full members   

According to the rules of the nation, full members are those students of the University of Helsinki who have paid the annual membership fee, are enrolled in the nation's matriculation and are not members of any other nation. Some of the positions in the nation are only open to full members.  

External members 

The nation may admit an external member who is a university student, who has paid the nation’s annual membership fee, is enrolled in the nation’s register of members and is not a member of any other nation. Other students may also be accepted as members upon application. The location of your school is irrelevant, although for natural reasons by far the majority of our external members study in the metropolitan area. The majority of our external members study at Aalto University or the University of Arts, but we also include students from universities of applied sciences.  In practice, there is no difference between full members and external members, except for certain technical aspects of the rules. All members can participate in all activities equally and are fully equal members!  

You can apply to become an external member by sending a written application to the nation’s meeting (email to the secretary, savo-sihteeri@helsinki.fi). 

Senior members  

A member of the Association who was a member of the Association at the time of graduation or discontinuation of studies will become a former member and can continue to be eligible to attend meetings and hold specific offices. Senior members of the Nation also have their own association, Savolaisen osakunnan seniorit.  

Member benefits 

Access to our wide range of cultural, leisure, sporting and recreational activities, which are organised regularly throughout the academic year. 

 The members' magazine Susj delivered to your home twice a year. 

 The right to use the nation’s living room Vinni, located in the New Student House in the very heart of the city centre (Mannerheimintie 5A, 6th floor). You can also redeem a key for Vinni. Contact the Executive Director or come to the reception on Monday from 16:30-18:00. 

Member discounts for all events organised by the nation, usually with an additional discount for visitors. SavO also often provides financial support for participation in the annual festivals of other organisations. 

Study trips abroad to parties organised by our friendship organisations at a reduced price. 

Additional discounts on tickets for excursions organised by the nation. 

Tasty food served at departmental dinners and meetings free of charge! 

Scholarships 

The nation also awards merit badges, scholarships and bursaries to deserving members. In recent years, SavO has awarded three different scholarships. Scholarship applications are due at the end of the year, with the recipients announced at the annual meeting in February. The criteria and amounts of the scholarships are subject to change from year to year, and the final distribution is decided by a separately elected annual Medal of Honor and Awards Committee. 

The Freshman Scholarship is a scholarship specifically for freshmen, which is awarded to a freshman interested in the activities of the nation. The scholarship is not applied for separately, but is decided independently by the Medal and Prize Committee. 

The general study grant is intended to support the studies of members of the nation in general and can be applied for every year. The application criteria are usually based on the criteria of active involvement in the nation and academic achievement. It is perfectly possible to apply for the scholarship as early as the first year. 

The postgraduate scholarship is intended for the completion of a postgraduate degree and can only be awarded once for each degree. To apply, you need to have a rough idea of your thesis plan and a plan to complete your studies. 

Instructions on how to apply will be announced as the application deadline approaches! 

Apartments 

In addition to all this, Savolaisten ylioppilaiden säätiö Foundation offers its members affordable student apartments in Helsinki; in Vallila (Rautalammintie and Huippu) and Patola (Maapadontie 7). There is a wide range of apartments, from semi-detached to family apartments, so it's worth checking whether the Foundation has the apartment of your dreams. 

Sampo Hyttinen, our current housing secretary, is responsible for renting apartments and all related matters. He can best be reached during office hours on Tuesdays from 16.30 to 18.30 (remote reception) or by telephone on 050 530 6049.  

For more information on how to apply and where to find us, click here. 

Space rental 

It is possible to rent Vinni on the sixth floor of the New Student House. Vinni is available for current and former members of SavO, as well as for HYY organisations. 

Vinni is suitable as a venue for events such as parties and meetings. The maximum capacity for a table party is about 80 people, and the maximum total number of people for an event is 120 due to the fire safety limit. The rental price starts from 80€. Click here for a more detailed description of Vinni's space.  

In addition to the event space, it is also possible to rent a kitchen (including, among other things, two ovens and induction hobs and a high-speed washing machine) and a sound system. 

In principle, the Vinn is rented out on Saturdays within the framework of the nation’s events calendar, but occasionally a single weekday evening or Sunday can also be arranged. Friday rentals are handled by the VSO nation. 

For more information and booking requests, contact the Executive Director at savo-toiminnanjohtaja@helsinki.fi.