Where to get guidance and support?

Student Guide

Where to get guidance and support?

Welcome to the home page for student guidance and support! On this page, we have collected information about services, materials and individuals that can help students with their study planning, study well-being and career reflections.

We want to make your study path at Aalto go as smoothly and rewarding as possible. For your overall well-being with studies, you can receive guidance automatically as a part of your studies and also if you request it yourself.

Automatically built into the guidance at Aalto are e.g. various informational events, an orientation course, and regular meetings between students and their academic advisors. You should participate in these, as they are planned to take place at key times in your studies. During studies, you may also feel a need for individual guidance – concerning doing the online tasks for reflecting about your career, for instance, or taking part in a Starting Point of Wellbeing workshop, or may having a talk with a study coordinator.

How to get guidance?

Aalto guidance services which are described in the tables below. — Aalto’s guidance services are thus divided in three categories: (1) ‘Support for study planning and making study choices’, (2) ‘Support for study wellbeing’ and (3) ‘Support for career planning’. Graphic design: Evgeniia Markevich.

⁯⁯⁯⁯⁯⁯⁯⁯⁯⁯⁯⁮⁮⁮⁮⁮⁮⁮⁮⁮⁪⁪⁪⁪

In the accordion menu below, we have listed all the services shown in the picture and included a short description of each. We have included when possible a link for each item so you can receive more information or make an appointment.

MyStudies Success Team	MyStudies serves as a digital student portal with links to key student services and websites. Through the MyStudies Success Team, you can see your programme's study support personnel, and book appointments with them.
	Study advisors are students who are advanced in their studies. You can turn to them with any questions relating to studies and studying or learning methods.
	Programme coordinators and planning officers are the best informed about the contents and requirements, timetabling of the degree programme, as well as rules and application processes related to studies (e.g., credit transfers, graduation).
	Academic advisors are persons representing the study programme with whom you can discuss your goals and wishes related to studies as well as other topics related to the field and its research. Academic advisors are usually professors or lecturers. You can see the name of your academic advisor in the MyStudies Success Team. If the academic advisor uses the appointment booking function, you can also schedule an appointment there. Otherwise, you can contact your academic advisor via email.
	The thesis supervisor is usually a professor from your degree programme. They are an academic expert helping you in finding the suitable theoretical sources for the topic and supporting you in writing the thesis. Additionally, the thesis supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the thesis meets the goals and requirements set by the school for the thesis. The thesis advisor supports usually in the execution of the practical or empirical part of the thesis. They can be an expert outside Aalto University e.g. in the organisation collaborating in the thesis project or in the field of art. You can see the name of your thesis supervisor (and advisor, if they are Aalto's staff) in the MyStudies Success Team. If the supervisor (and advisor) uses the appointment booking function, you can also schedule an appointment there. Otherwise, you can contact their supervisor (and advisor) via email.
Course teachers	Course teachers give study guidance in connection with their teaching. Lecturers and assistants may also be approached in matters involving studies.
	Guidance counsellors are there for you when you want to discuss your studies and future plans and get an overview of your situation. They can help you plan your studies and set goals. Guidance counsellors can also help you if you want to discuss your studies with someone but are unsure whom to contact.
Starting Point	Starting Point helps you in issues common to all Aalto students: you can enrol, request student status certificates or get your official transcripts of records.
	The exchange coordinator helps you with issues concerning exchange studies.
	With the Urhea contact person of your own School, you can discuss about combining sports and studies and hear about the services available for you as a member of Urhea.
Support for internship in Finland and abroad	As Aalto University supports student internationalisation and their gaining of work experience, internship (work placement) grants are available for students who meet the criteria. You can apply for a grant for an internship abroad or in Finland.
	All Aalto students with health conditions or impairments affecting their ability to study have the right to receive reasonable, individual study arrangements.
Manager of academic affairs	If you encounter harassment or mistreatment during the time of your education or in a study-related situation, you can contact the manager of academic affairs for your school.
Student tutors	Tutors are senior students who help new students during orientation week and at the beginning of studies. Each new student is assigned a student tutor who has completed tutor training.

Starting Point of Wellbeing	The Starting Point of Wellbeing offers students advice and guidance on services related to well-being.
Study psychologist	You can contact a study psychologist when e.g. you are looking for help with time management, procrastination, motivation, or when looking for a suitable study method or experiencing study-related stress, anxiety or burnout.
Career counselling psychologist	A career counseling psychologist helps the client to increase their self-knowledge, map out their wishes and solve problems and choice situations related to career and education. A career counseling psychologist helps you to find ways for meaningful career choices and supports you in career planning and successful integration into working life.
	Guidance counsellors are there for you when you want to discuss your studies and future plans and get an overview of your situation. They can help you plan your studies and set goals. Guidance counsellors can also help you if you want to discuss your studies with someone but are unsure whom to contact.
	A special education teacher can help you when learning is particularly difficult. Whether you have a diagnosed learning difficulty, illness, or disability, or if you're unsure if something like dyslexia or attention-related issues is affecting your learning, a special education teacher can work with you to find ways to study at the university despite the challenges and determine suitable next steps. You can meet special education teacher at Starting Point of Wellbeing drop-in counselling or book an appointment in MyStudies under Services -> Guidance Counsellors (guidance counsellor Janne Mertala also works as a special education teacher).
Career coach	With career coach, you can discuss your career aspirations and job search. You can ask questions about your CV, job application or how to prepare for a job interview. Career coaching might also help if you have worries about life after studies. You can meet career coach at Starting Point of Wellbeing drop-in counselling or book an appointment in .
Aalto chaplains	The Aalto chaplains’ services are available to all members of the Aalto community. You can contact them whenever you want to speak to someone in confidence about anything related to work, personal relationships or your life situation in general.
Student tutors	Tutors are senior students who help new students during orientation week and at the beginning of studies. Each new student is assigned a student tutor who has completed tutor training.
Individual study arrangements	All Aalto students with health conditions or impairments affecting their ability to study have the right to receive reasonable, individual study arrangements.
Courses, workshops and self-study materials	Here you will find groups, workshops and online materials to support learning, coping and well-being.
The Best Thing Today podcast	‘The Best Thing Today’ is a podcast series hosted by the psychologists of Aalto University Learning Services. In the podcast, the psychologists casually talk about well-being topics – ranging from student well-being to the well-being of employees.
Personal Impact courses	Personal Impact brings together credit courses taught at Aalto on self-management, values, meaningfulness and well-being. The courses provide an opportunity to reflect on one’s own values, beliefs, and goals, either in internal dialogues or in conversations with others.
Manager of academic affairs	If you encounter harassment or mistreatment during the time of your education or in a study-related situation, you can contact the manager of academic affairs for your school.
	AYY has two contact persons to support you in resolving harassment incidents. You can contact them if you have experienced or witnessed harassment, need help with the follow-up of resolving harassment situations or just want to talk about inappropriate behaviour you have witnessed.
	UniSport is a joint venture between Aalto University, the University of Helsinki and Hanken offering sports and exercise services. The goal is to promote well-being in the academic community and in society by increasing awareness of personal well-being, providing sports and exercise opportunities as well as fostering an environment conducive to exercise.
	Finnish Student Health Service offers healthcare services to students.
	Nyyti ry promotes the mental health and learning ability of students.
	MIELI Mental Health Finland offers help and mental health support to people in difficult life situations and crises.
and	HelsinkiMissio offers support for loneliness. Crisis Services for Youth provides free and short-term counselling in English for young people.
Vamos & (in Swedish)	Vamos and Sveps support young people when their studies are at risk of dropping out or have already been dropped out of university. They provide help with common issues such as managing daily life, being stuck at home, and difficulties in social situations.
Municipal public health care: , ,	The healthcare in your own municipality is responsible for emergency care.

Career Design Lab	Career Design Lab is a learning and collaboration space for shaping sustainable careers. We support Aalto students, alumni and all lifewide learners in meaningful career design. For employers, we offer opportunities for collaborating and connecting with Aalto talent. Career Design Lab shares research-based insights and inspiring dialogue on the sustainable and inclusive future of careers.
	JobTeaser is Aalto University’s job portal where you can make an appointment for career coaching, or find career-related events, job search advice, employer profiles and job posts.
Online career design tools	In the future of work, crafting a sustainable career calls for lifewide learning, making frequent transitions and having an adaptable professional identity. Career design is an approach that helps you to not only adjust but direct your path amidst all the change.
	Here you can find tools and tips for searching for a job. Opening the link requires you to log in to .
Career design workshops & classes	In Career Design Lab workshops and classes you will learn more about career design thinking, identify your values and strengths, create your career narrative and ideate practical career approaches with your peers.
	Career events include Summer Job Day and Aalto Talent Expo. Opening the link requires you to log in to .
	As an Aalto University degree student, you have the opportunity to book a time for personal career guidance or job-hunting advising sessions with one of our career specialists.
Mentoring Programme	The Aalto University Mentoring Programme connects students and working-life experts to facilitate career design and professional self-development. It is about mutual benefit and learning.
Aalto International Talent Programme	The programme is aimed at international master's and doctoral students who want to build a career in Finland.
	The authors of this blog are experts in career-design thinking. They provide insights on how the world of work is changing now and in the future, and how to best prepare oneself for these changes.
	The learning platform Alex offers career skills courses for university credit. Learn about the future of work, and get ready to design and kick-start a meaningful career. All courses are self-paced.
Support for internship in Finland and abroad	As Aalto University supports student internationalisation and their gaining of work experience, internship (work placement) grants are available for students who meet the criteria. You can apply for a grant for an internship abroad or in Finland.
(in your MyStudies Success Team)	Academic advisors are persons representing the study programme with whom you can discuss your goals and wishes related to studies as well as other topics related to the field and its research. Academic advisors are usually professors or lecturers.
Career counselling psychologist	A career counseling psychologist helps the client to increase their self-knowledge, map out their wishes and solve problems and choice situations related to career and education. A career counseling psychologist helps you to find ways for meaningful career choices and supports you in career planning and successful integration into working life.