My Erasmus Experience in Helsinki, Finland - by Mónica

Why did you choose to go to Helsinki, Finland?

Finland is a world-class country in terms of education, and my studies are linked to this.

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

I did an Erasmus+ traineeship, which is different to the traditional Erasmus exchange. My traineeship lasted for eight months and I received 350 euros a month as part of my Erasmus grant.

What's the student life like in Helsinki?

Great. Since the city's not very big, it's easy to bump into other students all over the place and it's not hard to meet new people because of this.

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

Definitely. The city isn't very big, but it's very welcoming. There are lots of natural areas, such as forests, parks and lakes around the city which allow you to escape from the daily grind. There are also shopping centres, clubs, bars and restaurants. Everything is well-connected by the excellent public transport.

What's Finnish food like?

The food's good, but it's nothing special. It's easy food, a bit repetitive, but nice.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Helsinki?

I found mine through the website hoas. fi - it was quite easy, but you have to send your request at least three months before your arrival (the sooner, the better) else they might not have any apartments left.

How expensive is living in Helsinki?

The Hoas apartments are quite cheap (I paid 170 euros a month). My public transport card cost 40 euros a month and my food shopping bill fluctuated. I usually spent around 300 euros a month, but this didn't include going out to clubs or bars. Clubbing is expensive there.

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

The language is quite complicated. It's taken me two years to be able to understand everything and make myself understood. In any case, the speed with which you'll learn depends on you as an individual, on the amount of time you dedicate to it, and above all, on the opportunities you get or give yourself to speak the language. Don't worry though, almost everyone can speak English in Finland. :)

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

I live in northern Spain, so I chose to fly from Bilbao with Lufthansa. I always had to change in Germany and the journey could take some time, but the return journey was around 240 euros and included a 23kg suitcase. This is why I chose to go with them instead of with a low-cost airline, since it actually ended up being cheaper as their baggage costs are more expensive.

What are the best places for partying in Helsinki?

In Kamppi, there's a club called Tiger which usually does special offers on Sundays and attracts lots of students. There's also another club called Onnela which has special offers for students.

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

Finland is full of hamburger places, kebab stands and pizzerias. I actually found them all to be quite similar. If I had to recommend somewhere, I'd go for Kotipizza. They have an unlimited pizza buffet.

What does Finland have to offer in terms of culture?

The cathedral, the Temppeliaukio Kirkko (a church excavated into rock where concerts are sometimes performed), the port markets, Uspenski cathedral, Seurasaari island and Suomenlinna fortress.

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

Just to enjoy their time here, to try and discover as much as they can about Finnish culture and to get to know local people. Don't worry about the climate, it's fine there.