An Erasmus Experience in Rovaniemi, Finland - by Lucas

What made you choose Rovaniemi, Findland?

Personally, what really made me come to Finland was a curiosity to discover a country about which I ultimately know very little and which I have rarely heard spoken about. I only knew the snow-capped landscapes and the famous aurora borealis. Why not dive into something adventurous?

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How long is your journey? What sum of financial aid that you receive?

I have been in Sápmi since January and I will be setting off again at the end of May or beginning of June, making it a roughly 5-month long stay. Over there, I receive approximately 2000 euros for my semester.

What is the student atmosphere like in Rovaniemi?

The majority of Rovaniemi's population is made up of students. Indeed, almost all of the foreign or Erasmus students are, broadly speaking, housed in the same student halls. Everyone is mixed together and as they live in the same place, this makes it easy to meet people from all over the world and above all to let your hair down on the regular. The atmosphere is great and the accommodation are mostly in a good state, we have access to a sauna just as we do a laundry room! And if you wish to throw a party, you will always find other partygoers keen to go out on Fridays and Saturdays (or even occasionally during the week if you're particularly brave). Clearly, Rovaniemi is not the first choice of city in Finland when it comes to party-animals but it has something to satisfy almost everyone.

Would you recommend the city and university of Rovaniemi to other students?

The city is really pleasant and it provides everything that a student might need. It isn't a magnificent city, nor is it very large, but it has lots of charm during the winter when it is entirely covered by snow, and its closeness with nature is particularly alluring. The university is also very nice, modern, and very well organised, with numerous services on site. It is slightly out of the way but with a 15/20 minute walk you can be right in the centre of town. The greatest appeal of the city of course rests on the long and rather cold Finnish winter.

What is the country's food like?

I don't know if perhaps I am too aware of my French heritage, but the food here does not seem to be the country's strong point. A Finn has even confessed to me that it was not culturally authentic to Finnish cuisine. However the produce is good and fresh. I found nonetheless that they had less flavour than that of elsewhere. The Finns mostly eat hearty meals in order to endure the long winter and the fairly tiring days.

Did you have any difficulty in finding accommodation in Rovaniemi?

Not at all. By enrolling at Rovaniemi University you also have to go through a administration called the DAS, that deals with student halls specifically for foreign students. It will help you to find accommodation and deal with everything. The rents are reasonable and you will be housed in the same apartment block as all the other students from abroad.

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What is the cost of living in Rovaniemi?

Life in Finland is very costly. Everything is pricier than in the rest of Europe (excluding other Nordic or Scandinavian countries), particularly the food.

How was it to learn the language? Did the university have language classes organised for you?

I arrived here with a very average grasp, and by the end you progress very fast. In fact you are always interacting with foreigners so you commincate daily in English and your ears grow accustomed to the language since all the classes you assist are carried out in English (unless you wish to learn Finnish). I did not take any language classes but it is possible to do so, whether in English, German or Spanish and even Finnish! .

What is the most economical way to travel to Rovaniemi from where you live?

The simplest and most economical way to get to Rovaniemi from France is of course by plane. I personally travelled with the company Finnair, with a flight from Paris CDG to Helsinki. It is also possible to get a flight to Helsinki and to then take a bus or train to Rovaniemi, but the journey will be very long (roughly 12 hours by train). Regarding the price of plane tickets, they vary enormously and so I advise you to go ahead and book them in advance.

What places would you recommend in Rovaniemi for letting your hair down?

There are a lot of good places to enjoy yourself in the city. Firstly, there are four nightclubs: the Half Moon, the Doris, the Roy Club and Oliver's Corner (an Irish pub with with a dance floor in the basement, I have never visited this place). The first three of these are the best, the Half Moon being the biggest nightclub in the city (three rooms including a karaoke - which the Finns love). There are also some great bars. For lovers of rock music, I really recommend the Paha Kurki Rockhouse.

Where is there to go eat in Rovaniemi? Which are your favourite places?

At home! The restaurants are quite expensive here and I did not try many of them, but as I understand it the Nili makes good local cuisine. There are also many fastfood and kebab places in the city, as well as many restaurants offering cuisines of different styles, for example the chain Pancho Villa offers Mexican food.

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And which cultural visits do you recommend?

I strongly recommend that you do as much hiking as possible in the vicinity of Rovaniemi and Sápmi in general. The wild landscapes are all simply magnificent and there are numerous secret spots waiting to be discovered. Otherwise there is the Arktikum Museum, the city's Arctic Museum, or even the unmissable Santa's Village where you can meet the childhood icon in the flesh.

Do you have a final piece of advice for future students in Rovaniemi?

Keep yourself wrapped up, and don't go outside without your gloves!