Erasmus Experience in Oulu, Finland by Rossella

Why did you choose to go to Oulu, Finland?

I chose Oulu as my exchange destination because I’m studying Science of education and Finland is known as the bearer of the best educational system in the world.

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

The scholarship lasted 4 months and I received 400€/month from my home university.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Oulu?

The university is huge and really well-structured. In the beginning, I felt lost, but little by little I started to familiarize. Inside you can also find restaurants, canteens, cafes and several places where you can study comfortably. You’ll also have the possibility to travel a lot and to have parties (but don’t expect so much as for nightlife).

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

I’d recommend Oulu for sure! You’ll meet a lot of people, you’ll discover new traditions, new places, new cultures.. and as said previously, you’ll have the possibility to travel to close regions and countries, such as Russia, Lapland, Sweden, Estonia and so on.

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What is the food like?

I haven’t tried so many restaurants as Finnish life is so expensive! However, the food at University canteen is okay and it’s very cheap (just 2, 60€), then if you want to try Reindeer meat once, I think it’s a nice experience, but it costs about 25€. Restaurants are generally expensive, for that reason I usually ate at home!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Oulu?

It was really difficult for me finding accommodation in Oulu because the students' organization had only limited places for exchange students and I was too late with my application form. But fortunately, I found a very nice apartment near the university through the Finnish site Tori. fi.

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How much does it cost to live in Oulu?

Living in Oulu is expensive, for that reason you have to foresee a consistent budget per month. But beyond this, it’s definitely worth it.

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

The Finnish language is really difficult to learn, but if you want you can attend a course provided by the University in order to learn some basic sentences.

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

From Italy, the easiest way to reach Oulu is by plane and it takes about 3 hours.

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

Tivoli is the best disco in Oulu and you definitely have to try it, even if you’ll always pay to get in. Kaarle is a typical pub and restaurant, it’s really nice and you can also dance on the second floor; in addition, it’s most of the times for free.

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And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Oulu?

If you want to eat a very nice pizza you can try either “La cantina” Restaurant or “Da Mario”. I’d avoid other places to be honest! “Flying Reindeer” is the best Restaurant where you can eat reindeer meat, but also really expensive.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Oulu in the future?

Don’t worry about the weather and the temperatures (which are really terrible), you just have to wear very warm clothes. Live all the experiences in the best way! It will be the best adventure of your life.