My Erasmus Experience in Jyväskylä, Finland. By Anna.

Why did you choose to go to Jyväskylä, Finland?

I went to JAMK because I think it was awarded the best Erasmus university in 2014. Also because I wanted to live a really new and different experience being from Barcelona, to go to France, Italy, Portugal... It seemed to me like maybe it wouldn't be totally worth it, apart that I could 100% practise my English in Finland.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I didn't receive any type of grant. I study at the EUTDH, the graduate programme for hotel management, and due to being a graduate we don't have the option of receiving an Erasmus grant. I know that the only grant that I could get would be from one of the "Generalitat" accounts of Catalonia, in which are more people who can pay and it goes first for everything if you have any kind of official certificate for the language you will study at JAMK: English. I don't have anything like that, so oh well. After that, they base it equally between your average grade in your degree and the country you live in. I had a 7. 5 on average and the countries in the north of Europe give you the most points. After that, I think it is the UK, Ireland, in Holland they give you less, and in the south there's less points but it goes according to the cost of living. I didn't get that second grant because the certificate of language is the most important thing to them, and although I want to do it, I haven't had time yet. Therefore, it's better if you don't rely on it, due to the fact that if you don't have the certificate then they will discount you. If you do have it, then you can almost definitely rely on it (I say this due to other friends' experiences).

What is the student lifestyle like in Jyväskylä?

The student lifestyle is amazing, we aren't talking like Barcelona or Madrid... It is a small city but there really is a lot of student atmosphere; lots of parties organised by the ESN. The organisation of uni students from JAMK is called JAMKO and they organise trips to Petersberg, Moscow, Lapland, Stockholm. And parties every week.

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

I would 100% recommend JAMK and the city to other students.

What is the food like?

The food in general is not very varied, but in Spain we have a gastronomic culture that the Finnish fall short of... There are also other habits and a different cultural environment towards food. We stop to eat at midday and could be there for two hours, easily, but they maybe eat a salad and a main meal. They eat it alone and quickly which is good for them, but in the end the meeting point between classes is the café-dining room. The menu is €2. 50 per day and it is super good, unlimited water (yes, in Finland you don't pay for water), and maybe there were other drinks because they also have milk, homemade beer that they brew at the uni, juices, after that there are 3 different salads, 9 different meals you can take as much as you fit on 2 plates, it's really good! You would never find this kind of thing here, and that's no joke... And everywhere in the uni there are restaurants and supermarkets that have food especially for celiacs, lacto-free and vegetarians! They are light years ahead of us with this stuff...

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Was it difficult to find your accommodation in Jyväskylä?

Well... it's not very complicated... They explained to us that there was a kind of "boom" in Erasmus placements during my semester (maybe due to the reward they were giving, I don't know... ) and it was from the 20th August to the 4th September that KOAS finally offered me a flat in a student flat in Palokka, which is really far away, with 3 other students that always regretted living so far away, but they didn't know it before getting this flat (not with KOAS, but for free to a private individual). The student flat was in Kekkolantie: it was far away but at least you could walk if there was no other way, which is impossible to Palokka or other places. So, please fill out the application form from KOAS as soon as possible, you can always cancel it if you don't go and they won't charge you. My flat was in the entrance with a wardrobe and hangers, 1 sink, 1 kitchen, 1 balcony, 2 bedrooms (mine was 30m2 and I paid €300, the other girl on Erasmus was from Holland and she was really nice, she paid €250 for a 25m2 room). In the 25m2 room, there was a double bed, I mean, you have plenty of room, mine was too much but I couldn't choose, it was the only offer. In Kekkolantie, the houses weren't furnished, they only had wardrobes, an oven and basic electronic devices. But it's not a problem because there are so many second hand shops and affordable groups on Facebook, a glass can be 20 cents, a bed €10...

How much does it cost to live in Jyväskylä?

Well, it depends a lot... But I think that the majority of students spend around €700-€1000 including accommodation, food and going out. But of course, it really depends on the person because there are so many people who save money by not going out, on transport (they ride a bike or walk or get the bus or taxi, etc. ).

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Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the university?

Everyone speaks English perfectly, and even more so when comparing to Spain. There's no problem, furthermore you also have the option of doing courses at the weekend. They're only for Erasmus students at JAMK and they have various timetables so that they don't clash with other classes. You don't learn anything about the Finnish language, but it is also very complicated, but you will learn 4 basic things and you are with other Eramsus students and you will have a good time. It's also not necessary to go to every class.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Jyväskylä from your city?

From Barcelona it is most affordable to get a direct flight with two suitcases to Helsinki with Norwegian Airlines. After you get to Helsinki, you can get to Jyväskylä on the train (buy a ticket beforehand online because it's a lot cheaper). We bought ours there on the day and it was €50, but buying it beforehand can cost only €20 or less, I don't know. If you only go with hand luggage and one large suitcase, you can go with Onnibus that can cost you €4. Or, ask if you can go with two suitcases because it is more affordable. Both the train and the Onnibus have good free wifi for the 3 hour journey, a toilet and a plug socket.

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Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Jyväskylä?

Well, my friends have told me that this week they are modifying everything here and making a bowling alley and opening a new club. Up to this point the good places to go were: Bra, Escape, Katse, Giggling Marlin. And the M-Building in Roninmaki, of course.

And to eat in Jyväskylä? What are some of your favourite places to go?

Truthfully, in general students don't go to many restaurants, but when my parents visited me we went, and afterwards I went to another, but I didn't eat so I can't give a general opinion... The American diner is good for hamburgers and sandwiches, Kotipizza is good for pizzas, I really like Pancho Villa as well, it's not real Mexican, but it's really good!

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There isn't a lot to see because it really is quite small, with 5 days you can see everything it had to offer and you can always visit the lakes and it is really pretty.

Do you have any advice for students coming to Jyväskylä in the future?

Apart from requesting accommodation as soon as possible in KOAS, living in Roninmaki is maybe the best, although I didn't live there so I can't give too much of an opinion. Buy the bus ticket that has unlimited trips for one month on it, for me living in Kekkolantie or Roninmaki it's not worth buying a bike because after October it begins to snow and it was too cold for me and the distance too long and there were a lot of people who fell and broke their arms, legs and faces... And I think that's it. If it were up to me, I would have done the whole course but I didn't have a scholarship and I had to do internships so it was better to return to Barcelona, but if you can, don't think twice about it because it is a unique experience!

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