Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. LUT students going abroad are required to acquire the following coverage:

• Studies abroad: traveller's insurance (which covers accident and healthcare related costs) and liability insurance. The latter can be part of the home insurance or the luggage insurance, depending on the insurance company. The university does not acquire insurance coverage on the students' behalf – it is the responsibility of each student to acquire it themselves.
• Internships abroad: travel insurance, health insurance, liability insurance and accident insurance coverage - please make sure that your internship organisation insurance will cover you or in case it doesn’t, make sure you will take care of adequate insurance coverage yourself!

Please make sure that the insurance cover is valid for the entire duration of your stay abroad. Note also that, for example, extreme sports are not covered by the most common insurance policies, and for those activities need to acquire extra coverage.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is free and can be ordered from Kela. You are entitled to the card if if you are covered for health insurance in Finland, or if Finland is responsible for your medical care costs.

The European Health Insurance Card and travel insurance complement each other. While a travel insurance policy provides security that covers private health care services, the European Health Insurance Card offers access to public health care services as provided by the law. Therefore it is a good idea to have both. – Kela

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Medical care is provided by each member state according to its own system. The European Health Insurance Card therefore guarantees you the same health care services as nationals in that country. If there are patient fees or deductibles in the country, you will pay them too, but no more. In some cases, you will have to pay all the costs first, and then you will apply for reimbursement from the health insurance institution of your place of residence.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not cover exceptional transport to Finland due to illness or accident, nor the costs of treatment by a doctor or hospital that is not part of the public health care of that country. If you wish to have this coverage, make sure it is included in your traveller's insurance.

When doing an internship in another EU member state, please note that if you receive a salary for your internship, you will be considered to be employed by the placement organisation and you may be excluded from Finnish social security. More information from Kela

• Make a travel notification
• Make the Change of address notification to Posti (Finnish national postal services) and Population Data Services Agency (DVV)
• Add an ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact on your phone
• Find out the national emergency phone number in your destination

If you struggle with your mental health or have problems, it is not a good idea to try to escape the situation by going abroad. The problems tend to escalate in unfamiliar surroundings. Please first prioritise your wellbeing at home, and leave abroad only after your life is in order at home.

• Evaluate your mental health for example by filling this questionnaire.
• If you have physical illness or impairment, it does not prevent your period abroad but you must consider if you are capable to live abroad with your illness or impairment.
• If you need medication, find out if you are allowed to bring medication to the destination country for the whole period there, or if you are able to buy more in the country.

If you need any special arrangements (such as extra time in exams due to dyslexia), contact your exchange university and LUT International Mobility Services  (outgoing@lut.fi / internships@lut.fi) as early as possible to learn about what type of arrangements are possible - often the procedures and possibilities differ from those at LUT or in Finland!

Please note that the need for special arrangements or, for example, certified learning difficulties are not a basis for making exemptions concerning the exchange study credit goals or grant regulations.

Finland is a relatively safe country. Some of the things happening in the world may seem very strange to Finns. Outside Finland, you might also encounter unfamiliar natural phenomena such as typhoons and earthquakes. It is wise to take a moment to reflect on the various situations that you might encounter abroad.

• Read Ministry for Foreign Affairs' travel instructions. Note also the information about disease situation and vaccinations.
• Foreign ministries of the EU Member States provide travel advice to their citizens – these are linked on the EU Commission website.
• Your host university will send you the required health-related forms (along with their application instructions), if they require any.
• If needed, make an appointment with the student health nurse at least half a year before leaving for the exchange (note for example the hepatitis vaccine schedule). The nurse needs time to plan a vaccination schedule and possible doctor visits.
• See also Kela's website regarding student medical care abroad.

If you encounter problems in your studies, primarily contact the exchange study coordinator in the host institution. Sometimes the teacher of the course is the best contact if you need to solve a problem regarding the course. If the problem remains unsolved after contacting them, please contact LUT International Mobility Services (outgoing@lut.fi / internships@lut.fi)

Remember that, in normal circumstances, not completing enough credits leads to having to pay back part of the grant of the full grant - remember to keep all medical certificates and other documents that might help you later!

Moving to another country and adapting to a new culture may cause stress and a culture shock. Feelings of anxiety in adapting to a foreign culture are normal but usually passing feelings and even a necessary part of the process of adapting to a new culture.

Culture shock proceeds in stages. First everything new inspires and delights you. After that it is typical to feel that everything is better back home and the everyday life in the destination country frustrates you. You may feel anxious, depressed, and tired and have no appetite. Slowly you will accept the new culture, even though you would still miss familiar things from home. Probably you already understand the local language more and can follow some discussions around you. Last stage of the culture shock can strike when you get back home from the exchange.

How to ease the culture shock?

• Prepare yourself to the exchange by getting to know your destination as thoroughly as possible before hand. Try to learn the local language even a little before going
• Be active, open minded and brave to get to know the local culture. Get to know the other exchange students but especially local people. Don’t be alone.
• Travel to different destinations inside the country.
• Keep in touch with your family and friends back home. Use and listen to your native language, for example by reading news in your language, talking to people who speak the same language or listening to music in your language.
• Contact other exchange students from LUT in the same country and the exchange students from other countries in your host institution to share feelings and ideas.
• In some locations you can find Finland's Seamen's Mission to help you with culture shock.

How to ease the feelings of anxiety and depression or undefined bad feeling?

• Don’t be alone! Talk to your loved ones.
• If you are not quite sure what is your situation, you can start by filling this anxiety screening questionnaire.
• If you think your situation is quite good but you would like to support and improve your mental health and feeling, you can try this Self-Help Program for Anxiety.
• There are also many good mindfulness practices online you could try.
• The eLUT page Student support and wellbeing may be of help.

Help for mental health issues in English:

• YTHS (FSHS)
  General and mental health services, tel. +35846 710 1073
  Chat available via their online services
   
• Tukinet by MIELI – Mental Health Finland ry
   
• Moodspace provides information, tips and self-help tools to tackle emotional problems or to help you study confidently.
   
• HelsinkiMissio counselling in English
   
• Mental health helplines or chat services from your home country might also be available, to get help in your native language.
   
• The local congregation may be able to help you in English or there might be some personnel even from your country. The Finnish Lutheran priests abroad you find on this map (the page is in Finnish). The priests probably can talk to you in English, too.
   
• In some locations you can also find Finland's Seamen's Mission, The Seamen’s Mission is a living room where everyone is respected and is listened to individually.
   
• If you have a municipality of residence in Finland, you can contact your local health centre.

• In emergencies: call the local emergency number, After the acute phase, inform the relevant organisation and people about your situations - these might include both universities and your family.
• If you become a victim or a crime: contact the local police. Also the embassy of your country of citizenship may be able to help you.
• In crisis situations (natural disasters, pandemic, war):
  • Follow the local news and the announcements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
  • You can also contact the embassy of your country of citizenship for more information and instructions.
  • LUT will contact all the exchange students staying in the crisis area. However, it is your own responsibility to decide on whether (and when) you should return to Finland.

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• Contact your insurance company concerning the medical costs.
• The embassy of your country of citizenship in the destination country may also be able to assist you on medical issues.

Information about healthcare in EU can be found here.

If your illness affects your studies, please contact the host and home institutions. Ask for and keep all the related medical certificates.

Never make the decision about returning to Finland without discussing the matter with the exchange coordinator at LUT, and the contact person at the host institution. They both want to help you to during your exchange.

If you have been exposed to infectious diseases during your exchange, book an appointment with the school nurse or other healthcare services and make the necessary precautions (including getting tested) to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Consider the health of your fellow beings - and note that certain examinations or waiting periods might be required before you can return to studies or work.