Aalto University Summer School
Everything you need to know about Summer School! Make this summer unforgettable and experience the best of Aalto University and Finland under the Nordic summer sun.
Summer School social programme and events
Make the most of your summer school experience and get to know your coursemates and Finland through engaging extracurricular activities and social events organised by the Summer School team.
Social program briefly
The extracurricular programme at Aalto University Summer School is a fantastic opportunity for course participants to build relationships with fellow students while exploring Aalto University and the Helsinki region.
In summer 2025, most of the social program will be free of charge!
The summer school social program includes several events that are free for participants:
- Welcome Event: City Centre 鈥 A fun scavenger hunt followed by a picnic.
- Welcome Event: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress 鈥 A visit to a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a picnic and games.
- Surprise Events 鈥 In addition to our scheduled activities, we will be attending some of Helsinki鈥檚 best summer events, such as group museum visits and open-air concerts. Dates and details will be announced once the City's summer program is published.
- Farewell Coffee 鈥 A relaxed gathering to wrap up your summer school experience
Please note that some free events may require you to purchase your own HSL ticket for transportation.
The Nuuksio Nature Experience is a separate paid event from the Summer Spark. The sign up for the Nuuksio trip opens on April 28th. The trip is targeted for Summer School students.
Price: 39鈧 (incl. VAT 25,5%)
| Trip Date | Sign up starts | Sign up deadline | Minimum number of participants | Maximum number of participants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuuksio trip I | Wednesday, July 23rd | Monday, April 28th | Wednesday, June 25th | 27 | 45 |
| Nuuksio trip II | Tuesday, August 5th | Monday, April 28th | Wednesday, July 9th | 24 | 45 |
| Nuuksio trip III | Wednesday, August 13th | Monday, April 28th | Wednesday, July 9th | 24 | 45 |
How to sign up?
- The signup link is available on the webpage targeted at incoming students. Students receive a link to the webpage in the payment confirmation email.
- For those who submitted the payment form by 27 April, we sent a separate email about the Nuuksio sign-up starting.
- For students submitting the payment form after that, you can access the signup form from the link in the confirmation email.
- The sign up link for the free events will be released at a later date.
What is the deadline for signing up?
- The deadline to sign up for the free events are 2 weeks before the event date.
- The deadline to sign up for the Nuuksio trips are listed above.
Welcome event: City Centre
On the first evening of the summer school courses, the summer school team organizes a fun and interactive event that allows you to get to know your fellow students and explore the city of Helsinki. This event involves a series of challenges that are designed to help you discover some of the must-see sights and hidden gems of the city. You will be divided into teams and engage in a playful competition with each other.
After the scavenger hunt, we all come together for a relaxing picnic where we can enjoy each other鈥檚 company and share our experiences.
Price: Free of charge
Dates: July 14th, July 28st, August 11th
What is included:
- a thrilling scavenger hunt
- picnic company and games
Please note that the ticket for public transportation is not included. You need to purchase your own HSL ticket valid for zone A.
Welcome event: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Explore the rich history of Finland and have a delightful picnic at the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress! Spend your evening at one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Finland by visiting Suomenlinna with us. This cultural treasure from the 18th century can be accessed by a short ferry trip from Central Helsinki. You will be mesmerised by the beautiful historical buildings and cobblestone streets while you peek inside the fortifications.
To add to the fun, students can enjoy a picnic and play games together with other summer school students.
Price: Free of charge
Dates: July 21st, August 4th, August 18th
What is included:
- a thrilling scavenger hunt
- picnic company and games
Please note that meals and the ferry ticket are not included. You can bring your favourite snacks for the picnic. You need to purchase your own HSL ticket valid for zone A. The HSL ticket is also valid for the ferry to Suomenlinna.
Nuuksio National park
Unwind in the Finnish nature after a day of studies! A bus will take us straight from campus to Nuuksio National Park, where you can enjoy the fresh forest air and gorgeous lake views. The Nuuksio area is truly the essence of Finnish nature and is known to inhabit dozens of species of animals, plants and fungi. Experience the Finnish 鈥淓veryman鈥檚 Rights鈥 and pick some berries straight from the shrubs.
Price: 39鈧 (incl. VAT 25,5%)
Dates: July 23rd, August 5th, August 13th. The bus leaves from campus at 4:30 PM and arrives back approximately at 9 PM.
What is included:
- charter bus transportation from the Otaniemi campus to Nuuksio and back
- walking tour in the forest (2 km)
- cosy campfire
- a lunch bag
The signup link is available on the webpage targeted at students who have submitted the payment form.
| Trip Date | Sign up starts | Sign up deadline | Minimum number of participants | Maximum number of participants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuuksio trip I | Wednesday, July 23rd | Monday, April 28th | Wednesday, June 25th | 27 | 45 |
| Nuuksio trip II | Tuesday, August 5th | Monday, April 28th | Wednesday, July 9th | 24 | 45 |
| Nuuksio trip III | Wednesday, August 13th | Monday, April 28th | Wednesday, July 9th | 24 | 45 |
Note: if the maximum number of participants is reached before the deadline, the sign up will close earlier.
Farewell coffee
As your summer school course is coming to an end, it's time to bid farewell to the new friends you made during the program. The farewell coffee is scheduled for the final Friday of the course, and it offers you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the company of your peers one last time before you part ways. The event will be a great way to celebrate the memories you've made together and cherish the valuable experiences you've had during the course.
Price: Free of charge
Dates: July 25th, August 1st, August 15th, August 22nd
What is included:
- beverages
- immortalising your summer school experience
Social program schedule
Please note that this is a preliminary schedule (added: 21 May 2025).
The free events are added once they have been confirmed, but we aim to offer them on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. We will inform all the students who have paid the course fees once the program is finalised.
Social program in July
| Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 (14 鈥 20 July) | Welcome Event: City Centre | ||||
| 30 (21 鈥 27 July) | Welcome Event: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress | Nuuksio I trip | Farewell coffee | ||
| 31 (28 July 鈥 1 August) | Welcome Event: City Centre | Farewell coffee |
Social program in August
| Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 (4 鈥 10 August) | Welcome Event: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress | Nuuksio II trip | |||
| 33 (11 鈥 17 August) | Welcome Event: City Centre | Nuuksio III trip | Farewell coffee | ||
| 34 (18 鈥 24 August) | Welcome Event: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress | Farewell coffee |
Frequently asked questions
- You will receive the payment link by email once you have confirmed your participation by paying the tuition fee.
- The sign up for the Nuuksio trips will open on April 28th. The deadline to sign up for the trip taking place on July is June 25th. The deadline to sign up for the trips taking place in August is July 9th.
- Sign ups for the free events will open closer to the event date. You will be notified via email about these.
All summer school students are welcome to attend both welcome events, regardless of their course start date. If your program begins during a week with the City Centre Welcome Event, you are also encouraged to join the Suomenlinna Welcome Event, and vice versa. These events offer a great opportunity to meet fellow students, explore Helsinki, and start your summer school experience with fun and adventure!
Aalto University Summer School does not organize any extracurricular activities on weekends. Most of our students prefer to explore Finland or our neighboring countries independently during the break between lecture weeks. However, in the beginning of the summer we provide our students with tips on what to see and do during their free time.
No, accommodation and daily meals are not included in our fees. Each event description will state if any food is included.
No, transportation tickets are not included in the free events. We ask participants to purchase their own tickets. Many students already buy their weekly tickets at the beginning of the course, so we want to avoid adding any extra charges for pre-buying single tickets for the participants.
All events are taking place within the AB Zones. .
- The same terms and conditions apply to both the summer school courses and the social program. The full terms will be provided before making any payments.
- You can find a summary of the cancellation terms on our website.
Do you have a question?
Summer School Team
We will get back to you as soon as possible! At the office from Monday to Friday.
Get to know Finland through Summer School
Gain new friends and experience the best Finnish summer has to offer.