My Erasmus Experience in Tampere, Finland. By Marta.

Why did you choose to go to Tampere, Finland?

I had actually never thought about Finland as an Erasmus destination, but due to a series of complications Tampere and Kaunas were my only options to choose from. I started to look for information about Tampere and after reading about how some other people's experiences had gone, it started to seem like a very attractive destination.

I also needed a change of scenery and to live an unforgettable experience somewhere totally different to normal... and that's what happened!

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How long did the scholarship last?

How much money did you receive to help you with living costs?

Unfortunately, I only stayed for five months and I received €200 per month (it's not a lot, especially when taking into account how expensive Finland is). That being said, we didn't receive it monthly, but rather in two allocations. In the first one we received 70% of the grant, and the second the rest of the 30%.

What is the student lifestyle like in Tampere?

The student atmosphere is one of the best things about the city because there are three universities and a lot of exchange students from all over the world. Furthermore, there are Erasmus societies that organise events for the students every week where you can meet new people.

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

Definitely, yes! Although, it does depend on what kind of experience you are looking for. If you only want to go on Erasmus to get drunk and go out clubbing, it would be better for you to go somewhere else where it's cheaper...

Tampere has nature, sports, activities, and parties every week, of course! Nobody should believe that because Finland is a Nordic country there is no nightlife!

The universities are very well-equipped and the staff are very friendly, efficient and speak perfect English. Of course, it was much easier to pass than I imagined. I didn't have to put in much effort at all to pass my subjects, how overwhelming!

What is the food like?

I don't think Finland is renowned for its gastronomy. .. They have some things that I loved like "lihapiirakka", which is what they sell at the fast food places. They also have some sweets that are really nice, but all in all, the food isn't the best. I'm not very fussy and so the topic of food was more or less fine for me. Also, Erasmus students always survive on just pasta and rice... And McDonalds, of course...

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Was it difficult to find accommodation in Tampere?

Finding accommodation is quite easy as there is an agency called "TOAS" that has accommodation for foreign students. You only need to fill out a form on their website with a couple of details and voila! They will secure you an apartment in a month and give everything to you all ready. The bad thing is that you can't choose where you want to live (apartment or residence, city centre or not... ). They choose for you according to the details that you give them in their questionnarie.

How much does it cost to live in Tampere?

As I mentioned before, Finland is a very expensive country and the cost of living is very high. However, Tampere is a lot cheaper than the capital, Helsinki.

If you find an apartment with TOAS, the rent will usually be around €200, which is quite cheap. But the food, alcohol, tabacco... All of that is quite expensive in general, although not as inflated as other places like Denmark. It's true that there are supermarkets in the city like Lidl where you can buy things quite cheap, but it will still be more expensive than Spain, unfortunately.

Is the language easy to get to grips with?

Are there language courses available at the university?

If anyone wants to learn Finnish, they deserve to be given a gold medal. It is a very difficult language because it is totally different to all the other languages that we know. But don't worry, Finnish people have a VERY good level of English (as usual, there are exceptions) and we have all survived without having any idea about Finnish.

I had the great idea of taking a subject called "The Basics of Finnish" and I learnt basic words and expressions. It wasn't sufficient to be able to communicate, mission impossible!

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

I'm from Gijón (Asturias) and the only way to get there from here is to fly to London and then onto Finland from there. But I think it would be easier try fly from Madrid or Barcelona to Helsinki (which is what I did) and then take a train to Tampere, or find direct flights to Tampere, but this is probably more expensive.

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

There is always an Erasmus party on Tuesdays in a club called "Fat Lady", they have beers that cost €1. 50 on these nights, you have to take advantage!

The students always go to "Miami" on Fridays, which is a club with noisy music and affordable student prices.

Then there is ILVES, a cool club, but it is very expensive (you have to drink at home for this one, a shot can cost €8).

Obviously, there are more, but I can't remember the names right now...

Anyway, the most common thing to do is the "pre-party" in a residence or flat. They're usually very fun and when you're "happy", off you go to dance!

And to eat in Tampere?

What are some of your favourite places to go?

For eating the typical food, I would advise you to visit "Kauppahalli", a market just next to Sokos which is a shopping centre in the centre that you will undoubtedly get to know. Also the little market that they have on the first Monday of every month (if I remember correctly) in the main square.

Furthermore, you can eat well at places like Europe Café, O'Connells, Napoli Pizzaria (so good). And if you fancy a great buffet of Japanese food for €7, go to the Japanese restaurant called Hervanta.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

In my opinion, there's not much to see in terms of cultural sites, there are some museums and churches, but not much more. However, they usually have quite a lot of concerts, but I don't have much more to say...

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

Don't let yourself believe the mis-conceptions. You can have a great time in Finland, get to know people from ALL over the world, from Europeans to Americans, Asians, etc. You can go on trips to Lapland, Russia, Sweden, Estonia by boat, etc. Ryanair operates in Tampere and so you can get very cheap flights. You also have the option to go on a cruise, which is something practically all of us have done. Not to mention the winter sports, the incredible lakes, the snowy landscapes, the saunas, and all the experiences of a country that's so different from ours... Enjoy yourself and discover this incredible country!

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