Support during your studies
At Humak, you receive continuous guidance and coaching from your PSP coach and course lecturers. You may still need support during your studies related to studying, wellbeing, or everyday matters. Here you’ll find information on who to turn to depending on your situation and support needs.
When you need low-threshold support for everyday student life
Community coaches are Humak students who provide peer support and help other students navigate their studies. The role of HUMAKO’s tutors is to support students and promote their wellbeing.
Community coaches are Humak students who act as peer support and help students succeed in their studies. Community coaches can support, for example, with planning studies, everyday challenges, maintaining motivation and connecting with the community.
Community coaches can be met at weekly drop-in sessions or by arranging a personal meeting. They offer confidential support and a coaching approach.
A peer tutor is a Humak student trained by the HUMAKO Student Union. The tutor’s role is to support students and promote their wellbeing. Tutoring is voluntary, so tutors work based on their own student knowledge and skills. You can contact tutors online or in person on campus. Tutors come from different year groups and degree programmes, and they are all available to help you!
The tutor’s responsibilities include:
Peer support: Tutors also study at Humak, so they understand what you’re experiencing during your studies. They can provide real-life examples related to studying and student life. You can contact tutors with a very low threshold, as no matter is too small or too large to discuss. If they don’t immediately know the answer, they will help you figure it out or refer you to the right place.
Advice on studies and leisure time: Tutors can guide you in matters related to studying or leisure time. They can advise, for example, on how the online learning environment or Peppi works, how local public transport runs, what to consider in online studies, or what recreational opportunities are available in the area.
Building community spirit: Tutors ensure students bond as a group and enable getting to know other people. Tutors regularly organize activities on campuses and online that all students can participate in.
Promoting everyday activity and wellbeing: Tutors encourage you to be physically active. Tutors organize, for example, exercise breaks or opportunities to try different activities. If you have a particular form of exercise you’d like to try, suggest it to a tutor. Be bold and try different forms of movement!
You can find more information about tutoring on the HUMAKO website, including tutor contact details.
When you need support with your studies
If you encounter challenges during your studies related to study skills, ability to study, or the progress of your studies, you can contact the study counsellor.
Study counsellors are there to support you if you encounter challenges during your studies related to, for example, study skills, ability to study, or the progress of your studies. The Study Counsellor’s responsibilities include:
- Guidance on study skills and strengthening study ability
- Support related to learning difficulties and obstacles
- Individual arrangements and consideration of accessibility
- Intensive study guidance and career planning
- Promoting student wellbeing
- Referring students onwards
- Supporting PSP Coaches and lecturers
You can arrange an individual meeting face-to-face or online, or participate in workshops, study days, or drop-in sessions organized by Study Counsellors. Additional support is also available by participating in the freely selectable course Better Study Skills 2 ECTS (VAPHU9).
Study Counsellor contact details
Cultural Management degree programmes and Interpreting degree programmes, as well as Development of Interpreting Services (Master’s) and European Master in Sign Language Interpreting (EUMASLI)
- Hanna Putkonen, email: hanna.putkonen@humak.fi
Community Educator NGO and Youth Work degree programmes
- Tarja Jukkala, email: janu-opo@humak.fi
- Katja Munter, email: janu-opo@humak.fi
Master’s degree programmes (Community Educator and Cultural Management), Community Educator Workplace Development programme, and Community Educator English-taught programmes
- Anna-Maija Riutta, email: anna-maija.riutta@humak.fi
More information about Study Counsellor’s role
Guidance on study skills and strengthening study ability
The Study Counsellor supports you in study skills required in higher education, such as information retrieval, producing expert texts, time management, and self-direction. You receive help and tips for completing learning assignments and systematically advancing your studies. The Study Counsellor helps you identify your strengths, development needs, and competencies, and strengthen your study ability and motivation.
Support related to learning difficulties and obstacles
The Study Counsellor supports you with difficulties related to study progress. If your studies have been delayed or are not progressing as planned due to psychological, physical, or social reasons, contact your Study Counsellor. You can participate in workshop sessions, arrange an individual meeting, or participate in the Better Study Skills 2 ECTS course (VAPHU9), which addresses topics such as time management, motivation, and resources.
Individual arrangements and consideration of accessibility
As a student, you often know best what kind of arrangements you need. If you have learning difficulties, a health condition affecting your studies, or support needs related to cultural and language background, contact the Study Counsellor at the beginning of your studies.
Possible individual arrangements are agreed upon with the Study Counsellor (for example, extra time in exams, assignment submissions, or alternative completion methods). Present any certificates and statements related to the arrangements to the Study Counsellor. The agreed arrangements are recorded in Peppi’s agreement bank, and the Study Counsellor and your PSP Coach are added as parties to the agreement. This way, the arrangements can be taken into account implementation-specifically in coaching. You can discuss with the lecturer responsible for the implementation what the arrangements mean for that specific implementation.
Intensive study guidance and career planning
If your studies are not progressing on schedule or you have many unfinished assignments, you can arrange a meeting with the Study Counsellor. In the meeting, you will seek solutions to your situation together. Your PSP Coach may also refer you to the Study Counsellor. In spring, the Better Study Skills 2 ECTS course (VAPHU9) is organized, covering topics such as time management, motivation, and resources. Participate if needed.
Career paths and planning skills are addressed in the Career Planning courses and in coaching discussions. If you need additional support in finding your career path, you can turn to the Study Counsellor.
Promoting student wellbeing
The Study Counsellor organizes student wellbeing support measures in the region, such as theme days and early intervention model practices. The Study Counsellor supports you in problematic situations that make studying difficult.
Referring students onwards
The Study Counsellor will refer you to the appropriate service when needed, for example, to healthcare professionals for health matters. You can also contact student health services or other support services directly. Familiarize yourself with services on the Student Wellbeing and Health page in the Student Guide.
If you have learning difficulties, a health-related impairment affecting your studies, or individual support needs related to your cultural or language background, contact your study counsellor at the very beginning of your studies. Based on the discussion with your study counsellor, any possible individual arrangements to support the progress of your studies will be agreed upon (for example, extra time in exams). Present any relevant certificates or statements relating to the arrangements to your study counsellor. The agreed arrangements are recorded in Peppi’s Agreement Bank, and in addition to the study counsellor, your PSP coach will be added as a party to the agreement. This ensures that the arrangements agreed in the agreement can be taken into account in coaching for each individual implementation. You can discuss with the lecturer responsible for the implementation what the arrangements mean specifically for that implementation.
When you need psychosocial support
You can turn to the student welfare officer or the chaplain if you need support with your psychological, social, or everyday wellbeing. Mental health treatment and psychological assessments are provided by the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS).
You can turn to the Student Welfare Officer if you need support with mental, social and everyday wellbeing. The Student Welfare Officer provides low-threshold conversational support and responds to crisis situations, supporting you through them. They support you with mental health and coping challenges, promote social relationships and sense of community, and help with everyday life management (e.g. housing, finances, accessing services). The Student Welfare Officer also identifies and supports you with neuropsychiatric challenges.
What matters can you contact the student welfare officer about?
- Stalled studies
- Returning to studies after a long break
- Study skills
- Time management and daily life management
- Issues related to academic self-esteem
- Coping and stress
- Studying with an illness or other challenging life situation
Number of Appointments
You can book 1–5 appointments with the school welfare officer during the academic year. In crisis situations and particularly challenging cases, I will use my discretion. We will plan together an appointment schedule that best supports your studies.
Limitations of the Student Welfare Service
If you are in intensive therapy (e.g., 2x per week) or in Oma väylä rehabilitation, I will generally allocate the student welfare service resources to other students, so that as many as possible receive the support they need. However, we can agree on lighter follow-up (e.g., check-up meetings at the beginning of each semester), or I will direct you to other support services if necessary.
Client Information System
The student welfare service uses the MinduuPro client information system, where key client information is stored. Information is stored to ensure the quality of service, to safeguard the legal protection and interests of both the client and the school welfare officer, and to collect anonymous statistical data. Conversations with the school welfare officer are confidential, as is the information collected in the system. Only the school welfare officer can see the information they have recorded in MinduuPro. You have the right to review information about yourself recorded in the system.
How do I book an appointment with the Student Welfare Officer?
Appointments with the Student Welfare Officer can be easily booked through the Bookings website. You can see available times directly and book a time that suits you whenever it’s convenient for you – booking is possible at any time of day.
The booking site can be found here: Bookings – Outlook
New appointments are added to the site regularly. If all times appear to be booked, check back again later.
You can also contact the Student Welfare Officer by email or Teams message. However, please make appointments primarily through the Bookings website.
Important: If you cannot make your booked appointment, remember to cancel it through Bookings (or by email at kuraattori@humak.fi)! This way, another student can book that time slot. A non-cancelled appointment will count as one visit.
Student Welfare Officer contact details
– Tiia Herala, kuraattori@humak.fi, tel. 050 453 5040
The university chaplain is part of the team of professionals who take care of student well-being and guidance at Humak. You can have confidential conversations with your university chaplain and get help and support for the problems in your life. The discussions are free of charge. You can contact the school chaplain about issues such as:
- Relationship problems
- Stress
- Anxiety/depression
- Fears, aggression, sadness
- Crises in life
- Loneliness
- Bullying and discrimination
- Attitudes, values and meaning in life
The university chaplain is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, who you can contact regardless of whether you are a member of another religious group or belong to any religious group. The professionalism of a school chaplain is to meet you exactly as you are.
Helsinki: Marjut Mulari (Maikki), marjut.mulari@evl.fi, 050 468 5086
Jyväskylä: Johanna Tikkanen, johanna.tikkanen@evl.fi, 050 521 5418
Kuopio: Satu Karjalainen, satu.karjalainen@evl.fi, 040 484 8276
Tampere: Kimmo Nieminen, kimmo.nieminen@evl.fi, 040 484 6645
Turku: Atte Airaksinen, atte.airaksinen@evl.fi, 040 341 7349
The Finnish Student Health Service FSHS (YTHS in Finnish) is responsible for student health care. The services of the FSHS are available to all students studying for a degree (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) at universities and universities of applied sciences who are registered as attending for the semester. FSHS student health services are not available to students in open upper secondary education or to incoming international exchange students.
Students pay the semesterly health care fee to Kela and should remember to pay the fee on their own initiative. You do not have to pay the healthcare fee if you have social security coverage in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland, Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the EU. In this case, you can use the services of the FSHS even if you do not pay the healthcare fee. Read more here: Healthcare fee for students in higher education | Our Services | Kela
The FSHS is responsible for:
- organizing health and medical care for students
- promoting students’ health and learning ability, and
- promoting the well-being of the learning environment and community.
You can find out more about FSHS services and how to apply for them on the FSHS website.
Service locations at Humak locations
FSHS’s service locations, including oral health services:
- Helsinki
- Turku
- Jyväskylä
- Kuopio
Services for students
Didn’t find what you were looking for? If none of these fit your situation, our other services may help.
Student Services
IT services
Library and information services
Communications
Guidance and coaching framework at Humak
Explore the full guidance and coaching framework at Humak via the link below.