The Helsinki Pharmacy Students’ Association (YFK) is the subject-specific student association of students of pharmacy studying at the University of Helsinki, which brings together some 800 individuals.
YFK organises diverse activities for students, including parties, sporting events, cultural events, excursions to businesses and thematic evening sessions. A number of clubs representing different themes operate under the association, which organise meetings at regular intervals. Students often spend time in Käärmeenpesä (‘Snake’s nest’) in the Sörnäinen district, an apartment owned by the association that is suited to a range of student activities. Alongside events, YFK safeguards students’ interests, contributes to the development of teaching in pharmacy and publishes a magazine called MDS.
Right from orientation week, first-year students of pharmacy can participate in fresher events organised by YFK, making it easier to get to know other new students and to progress more smoothly in the first year of studies in a city that is unfamiliar for many. First-year students also get their own dark-green student overalls and lab coats.
Members of YFK are automatically members of FiPSA, the Finnish Pharmaceutical Students’ Associations organisation, which brings together students of pharmacy in Helsinki, Kuopio and Turku. In addition to domestic activities, FiPSA provides opportunities to, for example, embark on traineeship exchange periods abroad or international conferences connecting pharmacy students from around the world.
In other words, there is plenty to do in addition to studying!