My Erasmus Experience in Helsinki, Finland

Why did you choose to go to Helsinki, Finland?

Three reasons: because it's a different country, because it has a totally different culture, and because I was interested in living in a place which is completely the opposite of where I live now.

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

My placement lasted for 9 months. In Valencia we're actually very lucky in terms of the Erasmus scholarship - I won't say the exact amount I received, but I will say that it was between 300 to 400 euros per month.

What´s the student life like in Helsinki?

Incredible. There are students from all over the world. There are events on all year, events that the students take part in, and, like anywhere else, during the exam period, everyone flocks to the libraries. There's always something going on. Finnish people genuinely enjoy going to university, and the atmosphere in the universities because of this is contagious!

Would you recommend the city and University of Helsinki to other students?

Definitely. Helsinki is a magical city. That being said, you have to remember that the weather isn't anything like the weather in Spain, but nevertheless I loved the city. The universities there are on a whole other level. The classes are smaller, more interesting, more enjoyable: also, the millions of resources they put at your disposable are head and shoulders above anything you would find at a university here in Spain.

What´s the food like in Helsinki?

You'll either love it or you'll hate it. The traditional dishes are very varied, and suited to different tastes. The salmon is absolutely delicious. As the months pass, you'll start to miss good food from home and the Mediterranean diet. I've never seen so many different types of bread, milk and pastries in my life, though. It's amazing! The only 'but' is that food here is very expensive.

How did you find your accommodation?

Through the university. They have an agreement with the organisation Hoas. You fill out a form and they take care of flat-hunting for you. At the start though, a lot of people were left without anywhere since everywhere was 'overbooked' with Erasmus students.

What are the accommodation prices like, as well as the cost of living in general?

Too expensive for what they give you in return. In truth, Hoas leave much to be desired in terms of the way they deal with your paperwork. It's good to use them because then you avoid running about like a headless chicken looking for flats, but they also have their downsides.

Living in Finland is expensive. Everything is expensive, much more so than in Spain. You just have to be aware from the beginning that you'll be spending a ton of money on just doing your weekly food shop and on using the washing machines.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language course at the university?

The language is the hardest one I've ever heard in my life. I did some courses in Finnish at the university and this helped me to understand some things and learn how to speak basic phrases. It's easy to pronounce the words for Spaniards, as you say them just as they're written. In any case, it's not hard to get by since almost everyone speaks English.

What´s the cheapest way of getting to Helsinki from your home city?

Obviously by plane. 4, 000km is no walk in the park!

What are the best places for partying in Helsinki?

It depends on the music you like to listen to. If you like chart music, the city centre is full of big clubs, some of which have several rooms, where people dance until closing time (which is usually around 3. 30am). Take care what day you go on, since the prices change depending on the day. In general, you have to pay an entrance fee and to use the cloackroom (apart from some parties where you either pay a cheaper entrance fee in advance or just for the cloakroom).

If you like rock or alternative music, I recommend Roska in the city centre. It's cheap and very novel (which you'll understand when you walk past it), or Molly Malones where there is live music on every day. There's also the Kallio neighbourhood for this music genre, full of bars (some of which also have live music) and with quite cheap beer. You don't have to pay an entrance fee or to use the cloakrooms here.

What about eating out in Helsinki? What are your favourite places?

There are millions of places, all with different prices. One of my favourites was La Cadena Iguana, which served Mexican food for good prices. There are lots of Finnish restaurants, but they're all very expensive. There's an all-you-can-eat buffet at quite a hidden place called Konstan Möljä: the buffet is all day and costs only 8 euros, although in the evening the price increases to 12 or 16 euros since they start serving reindeer. You have to be careful when you go, since it's not open every day and it's often very full.

What does Helsinki have to offer in terms of culture?

Helsinki is brimming with culture. What's more, it was voted the World Capital of Design in 2012. Wherever you go, there'll be something to see. Sometimes interesting places to see can be quite well-hidden, so you'll need to be good with directions or take a guide with you.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Helsinki?

Enjoy this country and this city. They're both magical. At the beginning, everything will seem strange, and you might even not like it at first (though this wasn't the case for me). With time, though, you'll realise that you're really very lucky to have the opportunity to live in Finland.