The Student Union of the University Of Turku (TYY)
The Student Union of the University Of Turku (TYY)
Services
Contact information
The Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY)
The Student Union of the University of Turku (Turun yliopiston ylioppilaskunta, TYY) is an organisation within the university which serves the interests of the students and takes a stand on issues important to them. All Bachelor's and Master's degree students of the University of Turku are automatically members of the Student Union. Academic postgraduate students studying for either a Licentiate or a Doctoral degree may also join. The job of the Student Union is to act as a link between its members and promote their social, academic, and intellectual aspirations. In addition to providing services, the Student Union functions as an interest group, with a focus on students' social benefits and issues dealing with the quality of education. The Student Union works together with the City of Turku, other student unions and the National Union of Finnish University Students (SYL) to improve the position of students.
Administration
The highest authority in the Student Union is the Student Union Council. The 41 members of the council are elected by the students of the University of Turku for a two year term. Along with the merge of Turku School of Economics and the University of Turku at the beginning of 2010, the Student Unions TYY and TuKY will also be merging. A new council was elected for the new integrated student union in April 2009 and their work will began in 2010. Members of the Student Union are eligible to both vote in Student Union Council elections and run as a candidate.
Student Union Council meetings take place once a month during the semesters and they are open to the public. All members of the Student Union have the possibility to present initiatives to the Student Union Council or Executive Board.
Each year, a seven-member Executive Board, which the Student Union Council elects, takes care of the TYY course of action. It sees to the lobbying of students at the university, in the city of Turku and at the national level. It also takes a stand on socially influential work such as environmental and development cooperation matters. Furthermore the TYY Executive Board takes organises many of central and time-honoured student events (e.g. TYYlikäs Vappu, Shrove Tuesday sledging and annual festivals).
Come join us!
TYY has 110 sub-organisations. Students of various disciplines have their own subject association, in addition to which sub-organisations also include student associations, various clubs and political groups. The Student Union offers a wide array of cultural possibilities, such as the film club Kinokopla, Turku Student Theatre and several choirs.
Furthermore, there are seven TYY Committees that work as a link between TYY members and TYY employees. Any member of TYY may take part in the activities of these committees. The TYY Committee on Sub-organisations, TYY Committee on Student Affairs, TYY Committee on Cooperation Development, TYY Committee on International Affairs, TYY Committee on Cultural Issues, TYY Student Cafeteria Committee and TYY Committee on Environmental Issues are in operation for 2009. The activities and events of the TYY Committees are available via the TYY website and Turku Student Newspaper.
All TYY activities can be found on its webpage www.tyy.fi/in-english, the Turku Student Newspaper webpages or through the tyy-degreestudents[at]utu.fi e-mail list.
Services
Office
At the Student Union office (Student House A, 1st floor), you can rent spaces for an event (the TYY sauna or Turku Hall), and buy for example, TYY publications and coverall badges, the Student Union lyre or even film club season tickets. You can also sign up for various events organised by TYY or its affiliates. For a small deposit, there are also a machines available for rent for making badges or lamination. The office hours are Mon–Wed and Fri 10.00–11.00 and 12.00–14.00, as well as Thu 12.00–15.00, tel. 276 9610.
Student card
The Lyyra student card works as a payment as well as discount card. There is no charge for using the Lyyra card nor are there any yearly or monthly fees. There is an ordering fee of €16.60 which is payable though the Lyyra website at www.lyyra.fi.
You get the most concrete benefit of being a member of the Student Union with the student card. You need the card for proof of identity when, e.g. visiting FSHS or when borrowing books from the university libraries. Master's and Bachelor's degree students with the student card are entitled to e.g. discounts on long distance trains and buses and government subsidised student lunches.
There are also several businesses and shops in Turku that give student discounts. You will usually find a sticker on the front door or at the cash register if they recognise the student card. It's always worth asking if a student discount is available.
TYY loan fund
The Student Union has a loan fund and for which all members can apply when in need of financial assistance. The term of payment for small loans (max. €200) is four months, and for larger loans (€201-700) six months. When applying for a larger loan, you must have a backer with a steady income to guarantee that you will pay it back. The annual interest rate for the loan is 4.5% and the processing fee is €3. Loans are granted each week during the semester. If you leave an application at the TYY office or to the Secretary for Social Policy by Tuesday afternoon, the loan will be in your bank account on Friday at the latest. You can get an application from the TYY Office or outside the Secretary for Social Policy's room during office hours. For more information, please contact the Secretary for Social Policy, tel. 276 9614 e-mail: tyy-soposihteeri[at]utu.fi.
TYY Secretariat
The TYY Secretariat has been hired to help you, and you can feel free to turn to them at any time.
- The Secretary for Social Policy is there to help you find where to turn to in matters regarding social security or other social or educational matters.
- The Secretary for Academic Affairs helps when information or assistance is needed in matters concerning university education and administration.
- The Secretary General gives advice on general matters concerning the Student Union and student associations.
- The Secretary for International Affairs advises students about studying abroad, internationalisation in Finland, and development cooperation. You can also turn to this secretary if you want to get acquainted with international students. The Secretary for International Affairs is also responsible for the support services provided for international students.
- The Secretary for Internal Affairs and Public Relations assists students in any and all matters regarding the divisions, from donations to renting the TYY van.
Legal advice
Student Union lawyers are available at the TYY Secretariat Office for counselling twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 18.00 to 19.00 during the semesters) in the office of the Secretary for Social Policy at TYY (Rehtorinpellonkatu 4 A), tel. (02) 276 9614. Speaking with a lawyer is free of charge, however written documents or applications will not be drawn up during consultation.
You can turn to a TYY lawyer if, for example
- you are concerned with matters regarding marriage or divorce
- you wish to have information on the laws of inheritance or matters regarding a will
- you are taken to court and need advice on how to proceed
- you have to collect a debt or you have problems with summary penal judgement
- you need information on how to apply for a permanent office or position
- you need information on employment matters
- you require information on issues concerning the legal status of a child
- you wish to discuss taxation
- you require information about compulsory military service
- you require information on or wish to discuss other legal matters
Turku Student Newspaper - Tylkkäri
Turku Student Newspaper, Turun ylioppilaslehti, or Tylkkäri as it is called, publishes news, reports, articles, reviews and columns about interesting topics generally on students. The paper works to influence its reader on the road to the university, Student Union and the city.
Turku Student Newspaper comes out 16 times a year and are available at any of the stands around the university area, and all members of the Student Union can have it delivered to their home by paying €7.95 in postage. All those living in the Student Village, Student Houses, Halinen, Nummenranta, Räntämäki and Tavasti get it delivered to their home free of charge. The Turku Student Newspaper telephone number is (02) 276 9630. You can also read Tylkkäri online at http://tyl.utu.fi.
TYY Library
The TYY Library is the only library run by a student union in Finland, and its holdings should be kept in mind when searching for course books. The TYY Library is located in Student House B, second floor and it is open Mon 12.30–18.00 and Tue–Fri 10.00–14.30. Books located at the TYY Library can be seen in the Volter catalogue.
Loans can be renewed by phone by calling the library at (02) 276 9617. In addition to course books, the library's selection includes other educational literature, national and local newspapers and magazines as well as student newspapers from other student unions. Interlibrary loans are also an option.
Unica Ltd.
TYY is the majority shareholder in Unica Ltd. which has several cafeterias (Assarin Ullakko, Brygge, Dental, ICT Turku Office, Macchiavelli, Mikro, Parkkis, Tottisalmi, Cafe Pharma) and cafés (Arcanum, Brygge, Myssy & Silinteri) on the University of Turku campus. These cafeterias offer student-priced lunches. Unica also provides catering services for small and large events. For more information, please contact the cafeteria managers (contact information and menus can be found at www.unica.fi).
FSHS
TYY members are entitled to the basic medical care of FSHS, all of which are more thoroughly explained in the section Health and Well-being. FSHS provides university students with affordable health services from general practitioners, specialists, dentists, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists. FSHS in Turku is located at Kirkkotie 13, about one kilometre from the Student Village and the university.
TYYMA dining set
Affiliates can rent a plastic TYYMA dining set for 50 people from the Student Union Office, tel. 02 276 9610, e-mail tyy-kanslia[at]utu.fi.
Contact Information
The Student Union of the University of Turku
Rehtorinpellonkatu 4 A
FI-20500 TURKU
Fax: (02) 276 9611
Secretary General, tel. (02) 276 9612, tyy-paasihteeri[at]utu.fi
Secretary for Academic Affairs, tel. (02) 276 9613, tyy-koposihteeri[at]utu.fi
Secretary for Social Policy, tel. (02) 276 9614, tyy-soposihteeri[at]utu.fi
Secretary for International Affairs, tel. (02) 276 9615, tyy-kvsihteeri[at]utu.fi
Secretary of Internal Affairs and Public Relations, tel. (02) 276 9618, tyy-jarjestosihteeri[at]utu.fi
Secretary of Finance, tel. (02) 276 9616, tyy-taloussihteeri[at]utu.fi
TYY Office, tel. (02) 276 9610, tyy-kanslia[at]utu.fi
Executive Board Chairperson, tel. (02) 276 9620, tyy-pj[at]utu.fi