For a new student

Bank account number, online banking credentials, and tax number

It's good for you to have your own bank account because then the school can directly pay various fees into your account. When you have a work-based learning period, the school will pay meal allowances into your account. The school can also pay you apprenticeship benefits, compensation for periods spent abroad, and scholarships into your account. Save your IBAN account number and the bank's BIC code in the personal information form in Wilma.

Savo Vocational College uses electronic signatures. You can make an electronic signature if you have online banking credentials or a mobile ID.

During work-based learning periods in construction and some industrial sectors, you will need a student card with a tax number. Save the tax number in the personal information form in Wilma.

Introduction to Wilma 

Wilma is an educational web interface, and Savo Vocational College has its own Wilma system. With Wilma, you can check, for example,

• your own information
• study schedules
• grades
• contact information of the school staff.
   

In Wilma, you receive personal messages and general announcements meant for all students. You can use Wilma on your computer or download the Wilma application on your phone as well.

If you are under 18, your guardian also gets access to Wilma. The guardian receives Wilma credentials when your studies begin. The guardian's access to Wilma ends when you turn 18. The guardian's access to Wilma can continue for a longer period if you wish and give permission for it.

Usernames and passwords

The student receives a username and password in the admission decision letter or through an automatic email. The username is in the format of first name.last name and it is used for Wilma, Office 365 service, and Moodle. On the first login, the password for all programs is the same. The student changes the password for each system on the first login. Usernames are personal and should be kept carefully.

Office 365, Moodle, and devices

Savo Vocational College uses the Office 365 software. It includes features such as email, Teams, OneDrive, Word, and PowerPoint. You can use the Office 365 at school and also download it for free on your personal computer at home.

Moodle is a web-based learning platform. Savo Vocational College has its own Moodle learning platform with study materials. You can also submit assignments on Moodle. You can use Moodle both at school and at home.

You will receive your Office 365 and Moodle credentials at the beginning of your studies.

Students have the opportunity to borrow a laptop for lessons. You can find the rules and agreements regarding borrowing in Wilma.

Self-health assessment

In some vocational qualifications, there are specific requirements regarding health or functional capacity. Check the box on the acceptance form if you have any health or functional capacity-related obstacles or deficiencies. The teacher in charge of clarifying health information will contact you and confidentially assess with you whether the obstacles or deficiencies can be removed through support measures or educational arrangements. For more information, contact your study councelor.

Meals

The student's school morning starts with organic porridge. We serve morning porridge at the Kuopio, Varkaus, and Toivala campuses, and you can check the serving times on your campus restaurant's page.

Full-time basic degree and preparatory training students receive one free meal in addition to the morning porridge on school days when studying at school or in an practical training workplace. The meal benefit does not apply to those studying for a vocational or specialist vocational qualification, apprenticeship or labor training students. They can purchase meals at a discounted price. Check out our restaurants.

For student dining, you need the school's own student card at the Kuopio Savilahti campus, and at other campuses, a barcode Kela card, driver's license, moped license, or identity card.

There is also a vegetarian option available. If you follow a special diet prescribed by a doctor, submit a medical certificate and a special diet notification (pdf) to the school's lunch restaurant at the beginning of your studies. Special diet notifications are also available from the lunch restaurant or the student service point and can be found on Wilma.

You can purchase healthy snacks from our school cafés.

Cost of education 

Education is free for all students. If you are subject to extended compulsory education, education is entirely free for you. Extended compulsory education applies to you if you were born in 2005 or later and completed basic education in Finland in the spring of 2021 or later.

Extended compulsory education ends when you turn 18. You can study for a degree that you began as a compulsory student for free until you turn 20. The school will pay for or lend you the necessary learning materials, study tools, work tools, and work clothes. Read more about compulsory education.

If extended compulsory education does not apply to you, you must purchase your own learning materials, study tools, work tools, and work clothes, which will remain for your own use after your studies. In some qualifications, students also have to pay various official fees. Costs vary depending on the field.

School commuting allowance

If you are entitled to free education and if your one-way school commute is over 7 kilometers, your school trips are free for you. You will receive school commuting support from Kela. You do not have any deductible. Read more about Kela's school commuting support ticket on the Vilkku page.

If you are not entitled to free education and if your one-way school commute is over 10 kilometers, you can receive school commuting support from Kela. In order to receive full-month support, the condition is that your travel costs exceed €54 per month. In this case, you pay €43 for the trips yourself per month. To receive half of the total monthly support, the condition is that your travel costs exceed €27 per month. In this case, you pay €21.50 for the trips yourself per month.

You can receive school commuting support according to travel days:

if there are at least 15 travel days, the student receives full-month support if there are 10–14 travel days, the student receives half of the support if there are fewer than 10 travel days, there is no right to school commuting support.

If the number and length of school trips vary each week or if you cannot use public transport, Kela can pay you support for organizing your own mode of transportation.

Fill out Kela's school commuting support application in OmaKela. After filling out the application, you will receive the right to purchase a ticket. When filling out the application, specify the ticket vendor: Waltti, Matkahuolto, or another provider. You can check in advance whether you travel on Waltti services using the Vilkku route planner or the Vilkku website. If you travel outside the Waltti area, choose Matkahuolto or another ticket vendor.

Buying a Waltti ticket: Go to Waltti's online store and purchase a Waltti travel card. You can load the supported school commuting ticket onto your travel card no earlier than 14 days before the start of your studies. You can also load the ticket at some Vilkku sales points. See the instructions for purchasing Kela's school commuting ticket (pdf).

Buying a Matkahuolto ticket: Download the Routes and Tickets app. You can purchase the ticket no earlier than two weeks before the start of the semester. The ticket will appear in the app once the purchasing right has been granted and strong authentication has been completed.

For identification in OmaKela, Waltti's online store, and Matkahuolto's Routes and Tickets app, you will need online banking credentials or a mobile certificate.

Well-being and student welfare services

The task of student welfare services is to take care of the health and well-being of the students. A well and healthy student also copes better with everyday school life. Student welfare services primarily focus on preventive work: we aim to notice the need for assistance and support for the student as early as possible. We support the student so that they can access student welfare services.

Students have access to the services of a nurse, psychologist, and social worker. In Iisalmi, students are also supported by a psychiatric nurse, also known as a "psyykkari". The services are free of charge and voluntary.

Guidance counselling

You have your own guidance counsellor at Savo Vocational College. Their tasks include:

• Assisting in planning and progress of studies,
• Developing a personal competence development plan (HOKS),
• Identifying and recognizing previously acquired skills together with teachers,
• Making choices related to studies, and
• Applying for further studies and entering the workforce.
   

The services of the guidance counsellor are available for students in basic vocational, apprenticeship, preparatory, special support, and upper secondary education, as well as for those who are completing parts of a qualification lasting more than two months.

You also have a wide range of other professionals to support your studies, whom you can always turn to when needed.

Recognition of competence and competence assessment

In skills assessment, we determine how well you master the professional requirements and learning objectives according to the qualification or education guidelines.

Personal competence development plan

At the beginning of their studies, the student creates a plan for the progress of their studies together with the tutor teacher. The plan is called a personal competence development plan (HOKS). The following things are recorded in the plan:

Key aspects and schedule of the qualification,

Personal strengths and previously acquired skills such as studies and work experience,

Desires and possible support needs, and

Other important factors that affect the studies.

The plan and any changes to it are recorded in Wilma. Basic vocational studies typically last for an average of three years, but the duration of studies may change during the course of the program. The calendar year periods and school days for the year can be found on the front page of Wilma.

For guardians

This section concerns the guardians of students under the age of eighteen.Collaboration between home and school is essential. It strengthens the student's commitment to their studies and promotes the growth of their professional identity. As a guardian, you will receive personal access to the Wilma system, where you can monitor the progress of studies, schedules, and absences.

At the beginning of the studies, the tutor teacher will create a personal study plan (HOKS) for the student. As a guardian, you are welcome to participate in the HOKS discussion. More information about this will be provided in the decision letter. We hope that you can always contact the tutor teacher, study counselor, or social worker with any questions related to the studies.

At the beginning of the studies, the student may need your assistance in obtaining and registering their tax number (OmaVero service), opening online banking credentials, as well as in vaccination and health-related clarifications in the social and health care field.

Notification obligation in accordance with the Youth Act

According to the Youth Act (2010/693, §7), the school is required to provide the student's identification and contact information to the local youth work designated by the student's municipality. This information is provided if a young person under the age of 29 leaves school or is considered to have left without another known educational or employment opportunity.

Insurance coverage

Savon ammattiopisto has insured students against accidents that may occur at school, during the commute to school, or during unpaid periods of work-based learning.

The occupational accident and disease insurance are valid worldwide. Travel insurance is valid for all travel related to the study plan worldwide. In an accident, it must be reported immediately to the teacher or tutor teacher, who will then submit an accident report to the insurance company's online service.

By becoming a student member of a professional union, one can also receive free insurance benefits from the union.

In the case of accidents requiring urgent first aid, immediate medical attention should be sought, followed by the prompt submission of an accident report.

Sakky student ID card

Sakky student ID card is a card issued by the school for students who participate in regular on-site education at Savo Vocational College units or require it for workplace learning. During in-person classes, the student ID card should be visibly worn on a lanyard, except when safety regulations prohibit it. The card may also include your tax number if it is necessary for your studies.

Before the start of in-person classes, send your passport-style photo to our student services (opiskelijapalvelut@sakky.fi). In the email, include your name, the degree you are studying (e.g., basic degree in building services) and your campus (e.g., Kuopio, Hehkukatu 1).

At the Savilahti campus in Kuopio, the student ID card is used not only for door access but also for reserving computers and lockers. Students entitled to a free lunch will have an identifier attached to their ID card required by the stamp terminal.

If your studies only include occasional on-site class days, your teacher will provide you with a visitor card to be displayed and a temporary access pass for those specific days.

Slice student card

Introducing the versatile Slice student card! Students enrolled in basic, professional, and specialized vocational qualifications at Savo Vocational College, as well as students at Tuva and Telma, and students at Varkaus general upper secondary school, can apply for a free and digital Slice student card. This card provides thousands of benefits both locally and throughout Finland. Full-time students can also access the benefits of Matkahuolto and VR with the Slice card.

Housing for Students

Accommodations for Students Students pursuing a profession have the opportunity to apply for general rental housing. In Kuopio, rental housing intended for students can be applied for through the Kuopio Student Housing Foundation (Kuopas), and in addition, Tekman Tuki also rents housing for students in vocational education.

In Kuopio, general rental housing is provided by, among others, Niiralan kulma, Petterin kulma in Iisalmi, and Wartalo in Varkaus.

In addition to these, it is advisable to search for housing from private landlords and other available markets.

Smoke-free SAKKY and fragrance-free environment

Nicotine-free and Fragrance-free Savo Vocational College The campuses of Savo Vocational College are nicotine-free areas. Nicotine-free means that smoking, the use of snuff, or e-cigarettes is completely prohibited indoors, outdoors, and in student dormitories. Tools related to smoking or other nicotine products must not be displayed on the school premises or in the area. In addition, the nicotine-free policy applies to work-based learning, events organized for students, and trips.

We also recommend avoiding fragrances for all Savo Vocational College staff, students, and visitors. Strong scents can cause headaches and discomfort to others, for example.