Make the Most of Your Time at HAMK – Join HAMKO and Your Campus Association!

Discover how student unions and associations enrich your university life with events, support, and community. Details for each HAMK campus are listed below.

At Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), the Student Union HAMKO and various student associations are dedicated to representing and supporting students across all campuses. Through active participation, students can contribute to the school community, enjoy numerous events, and access a range of benefits. Let’s explore how you can get involved and the many opportunities available to you.

Student Union HAMKO

Student Union HAMKO

HAMKO is the official student union of Häme University of Applied Sciences. Led by students, it represents your voice in university decision-making, supports student wellbeing, and promotes student culture across all HAMK campuses.

Why join HAMKO?

• Influence decisions through workgroups and administration
• Access tutoring programs and student events
• Get an official student card with discounts and benefits

HAMKO’s activities are guided by the Representative Council, elected annually by members. The Board, selected by the Council, runs operations with staff support.

They also host a variety of events—event dates can be found in their event calendar. You can become a member of both HAMKO and your own degree program’s student association, if you wish to.

You can become a member of HAMKO via this link. We hope you to follow them on their social media on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or Viva Engage. If you want to contact them, their service email is hamko@hamko.fi. You can find their contact information at this link.

Campus Associations

Each HAMK campus has its own student association working with HAMKO to support students locally. These associations organize events, represent student interests, and help build a vibrant campus community.

Lepaa Campus

Lepaan oppilaskunta ry (LOK)

Lepaan oppilaskunta ry (LOK) welcomes students from horticulture, built environment, bioeconomy (YAMK), and HAMI programs like gardening, winery, and golf course management.

LOK offers:

• Events: sitz parties, Shrove festivities, Harvest Party, Lepaa Triathlon, game nights
• Benefits: access to Olkkari, Kioski, Sauna Villa Primavera, sports, Sirkka magazine, crop fields, and more

You can join LOK here. Stay updated by following them on Facebook and Instagram or reach out via email at hallitus@lok.fi. More info is available on their website.

Hämeenlinna Campus

HIOP ry – Engineering Students

HIOP ry represents students in construction engineering, civil engineering, construction management, and biotechnology/food engineering.

• Rakennus- ja yhdyskuntatekniikan insinööri (Construction and Civil Engineering)
• Rakennusmestari ,(Construction Management)
• Bio- ja elintarvikeinsinööri (Biotechnology and Food Engineering)

You can join HIOP ry here.

• Events & Benefits:
• Rubber boat races, Kastajaiset(student baptisms), sitz parties, Hämeenlinna Approt which is organized in collaboration with HÄTÄ ry and HAMKO.

Perks: banking, insurance, travel discounts, legal services, magazines. You can read more about the benefits here and here.

You can become a HIOP ry member via this link. To stay in the loop about events and activities, follow HIOP on Facebook and Instagram, reach out via email at hallitus.hiop@gmail.com, or visit their website.

HÄTÄ ry – Business Students

HÄTÄ ry supports students in business, IT, equine business, and applied machine learning across Hämeenlinna, Valkeakoski, and Forssa.

Membership Tiers: Silver, Black, Gold
Benefits: Career advice, Tradenomi magazine, student discounts, events

You can find detailed information about the membership tiers here.

Some of the annual events that HÄTÄ ry organizers in collaboration with other associations include Kastajaiset (freshmen first student event), Kumivene (student cruise) and Hämeenlinna Appro.

One of HÄTÄ ry’s biggest events this year (2025) is Tradenologia, held at the start of the academic year—around October. It’s a lively welcome event where students can meet each other, explore the university, and get familiar with the city of Hämeenlinna. Activities include a student market, a task point tour around the city, and a lively afterparty. More information about Tradenologia is available on their website. Also note that it is not held every year in Hämeenlinna and so, next year it will be hosted in a different city.

Want to become a member? Click here to join HÄTÄ ry. Please note that international students are required to have a Finnish Social Security Number when joining HÄTÄ Ry. For updates or questions, visit their website, follow them on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok, or send an email to hameenlinnanhatary@gmail.com.

Hämeen Pinkit HÄPI ry

HÄPI ry is for students in early childhood education, nursing, public health, social services, and wellbeing technologies.

This includes students in

• Early Childhood Education and Care
• Healthcare Nursing, sairaanhoitaja, terveydenhoitaja,
• Public Health Nurse,
• Sociology,
• conversion training programs,
• and several master’s degrees—such as:
  • Digital Services and Processes for Well-being,
  • Crisis Management in the Social and Health Sector,
  • Development and Management of the Social and Health Sector, and Multidisciplinary Promotion of Well-being and Health.

By becoming a member of HÄPI ry, you gain access to various student benefits, including discounts, support services, and fun, affordable student events throughout the year.

Interested in joining? Click here to become a member. For the latest updates or to get in touch, follow them on Instagram or send an email to hameenpinkit@gmail.com.

HAMKO for Design Students

If you’re studying in a design degree program, such as the bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Design, you can join HAMKO directly through their website—no partner association needed.

As a HAMKO member, you’ll enjoy a wide range of benefits, including student discounts, access to events, support services, and more. These benefits are also available to members of HAMKO’s partner associations.

To stay updated on upcoming events and activities, follow HAMKO on Facebook and Instagram, or visit their website. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out by email at hamko@hamko.fi.

Forssa Campus

Forssa Campus – FAMKO ry

FAMKO ry is the student association for HAMK’s Forssa campus. It represents students in: ICT, Circular Economy, Equine Business, Sustainable Development, and Nursing (Entrepreneurship Emphasis).

Students enrolled in Forssa-based degree programs can join FAMKO ry as they represent the students from Forssa. These programs include:

• Bachelor’s degree in information and communication technology,
• Circular Economy,
• Hevosalan liiketoiminta (Equine Business Management),
• Kestävä kehitys (Sustainable Development),
• Sairaanhoitaja (yrittäjyyspainotus) (Nurse, Entrepreneurship Emphasis),
• and Tieto- ja viestintätekniikka, kiertotalous (Information and Communication Technology, Circular Economy).

Benefits:

• Voting rights, board participation, event planning
• Events: Tursajaiset(initiation ceremony), Talvirieha (Winter celebration), Halloween parties

FAMKO also manages thesis casings for HAMK.

You can join FAMKO ry here. For the latest updates on events and activities, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or contact them at famkoscafe@gmail.com. More information is also available on their website.

Additionally, FAMKO ry is responsible for managing bachelor’s and master’s thesis casings at HAMK. To learn more about these services, visit their website here.

Mustiala Campus

Mustialan Toveriliitto Ry

Students studying at HAMK’s Mustiala campus—such as those in:

• YAMK-tutkinto Biotalouden ratkaisut (Master’s degree in Bioeconomy Solutions),
• bachelor’s degree in Climate Smart Agriculture,
• AMK-tutkinto Maaseutuelinkeinot (Agricultural industrues),
• or other Mustiala-based programs

can join HAMKO through Mustialan Toveriliitto ry.

Events organized include:

• Itsenäisyyspäivän juhla (Independence Day celebration)
• Other student-priced events throughout the year

Benefits:

• Access to a welcoming student community
• Student discounts
• Support services

To learn more about their activities, check out their Facebook page. If you have any questions about becoming a member or joining events, feel free to email them at toveriliitto@student.hamk.fi.

Evo Campus

Evon Metsäpojat ry

Evon Metsäpojat ry is the student association for HAMK’s Evo campus, welcoming all students from degree programs such as:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Forest Management,
• YAMK-tutkinto Biotalouden ratkaisut (master’s degree in Bioeconomy Solutions),
• and AMK-tutkinto Metsätalous (Bachelor degree programme of Forestry).

Events include:

• Other community-focused events throughout the year
• Evon Pikkujoulut (Christmas party)
• HAMKifutis (student football tournament)
• Pilkkikisat (ice fishing competition)
• Kämppäapprot (student apartment crawl)
• Evon Vappu (May Day celebration)

You can become a member of Evon Metsäpojat ry here. To stay up to date on events and news, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or reach out via email at metsapojat.yllapito@gmail.com.

Riihimäki Campus

Riihimäen Insinööriopiskelijat RINO Ry

RINO ry is the student association that represents Riihimäki campus students. If you’re studying in any of the following degree programs RINO ry is your go-to student association:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Information and Communication Technology (Robotics),
• AMK-tutkinto Konetekniikka (mechnical and production engineering),
• AMK-tutkinto Liikenneala (traffic and transport management),
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology,
• Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Urban Design, AMK-tutkinto Tieto- ja viestintätekniikka (information and communication technology),
• or YAMK-tutkinto Tulevaisuuden liikennejärjestelmät (master’s degree in future traffic systems)—as well as other Riihimäki-based degrees.

Membership includes automatic access to Insinööriliitto (Union of Professional Engineers in Finland). You can find more details about Insinööriliitto’s student benefits here.

Benefits:

• Career planning services
• Student job info
• Insurance and banking perks
• Legal support
• Networking opportunities

Events include:

Many other student-led gatherings You can find more details about Insinööriliitto’s student benefits here.

• Vappu (May Day)
• RINO’s Riihimäki Day
• Bus Beer (student bus party)

Want to see what they’ve been up to or what’s coming next? Check here.

Ready to join RINO ry? You can become a member via this link. For updates and questions, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Linktree, and KideApp, visit their website, or reach out directly by email at rino@hyri.net.

Valkeakoski Campus

HAMKO for the International Business students 

If you’re a student in HAMK’s International Business degree program at the Valkeakoski campus, you can join HAMKO through their website.

Benefits:

• Student discounts
• Fun, affordable events
• Opportunities to connect and participate in student life

Joining HAMKO It’s a great way to get involved, meet new people, and enjoy campus life outside the classroom.

To stay updated on their activities and upcoming events, follow HAMKO on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Viva Engage. If you have any questions, feel free to email them at hamko@hamko.fi.

 VARO ry – Engineering Students

If you’re studying for a bachelor’s degree in electrical and automation engineering or AMK-tutkinto Sähkö- ja automaatiotekniikka (electrical and automation engineering) at HAMK’s Valkeakoski campus, VARO ry is your student association. Through VARO ry, you can join the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland (Insinööriliitto) as well.

VARO ry connects students to Insinööriliitto, offering:

• Career planning and employment advice
• Insurance and banking benefits
• Student-focused events and services

Joining Insinööriliitto is highly recommended and can be a big boost to your future career as a professional engineer in Finland. You can find more details about these benefits here.

Interested in becoming a member? You can join VARO ry through this link.

To keep up with their latest activities, follow VARO ry on Instagram. If you have any questions, feel free to email them at varory@student.hamk.fi.

Inclusive Events for All Students

While each association is tied to specific degree programs, most events are open to all HAMK students. These gatherings are increasingly inclusive and diverse, featuring:

• Student-led activity points
• Casual social games (board games, card games, etc.)
• Alcohol-free and food-free options

You don’t need to be in a specific program—or even drink or eat—to have a great time.

Conclusion: Your Student Life Starts Here

Whether you’re studying engineering, business, design, agriculture, or social services, there’s a student association ready to welcome you. These groups offer more than just events—they’re your gateway to community, support, and unforgettable experiences at HAMK.

By joining HAMKO and your campus or degree-specific association, you’ll:

• Connect with fellow students
• Influence your study environment
• Access valuable benefits and services
• Take part in fun, inclusive events across campuses

Ready to get started? Visit hamko.fi or your association’s website to join today!