Erasmus Experience in Turku, Finland by Natacha

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Why did you choose to go to Turku, Finland?

I went to Finland for the following reasons :

-I heard the people were really nice and welcoming

-I wanted to go in a country that it's not a very popular destination.

-I love snow.

What is the student lifestyle like in Turku?

A typical student has around 20 hours of lecture per week.

Students can get involved in some associations. One of those association is ESN (Erasmus Student Network). ESN is in charge of organizing some activities for the exchange students. You should definitely go to those events. A lot of parties are organized, but also some trip (to Lapland or to Russia). They also set up some punctual events that most of the exchange students enjoy. Don't worry you won't be bored in Turku!

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

Yes, definitely.

The university is great (don't forget that Finland has one of the world's best education system). Professors are very nice and very accessible. You are always welcome to send an email or ask questions at the end of the class. Also the people who work in the international office are very nice and welcoming. If you have questions you are more than welcome to stop by.

About the city, Turku is a very nice city. There is not that much places to visit but you will enjoy some few areas. Turku is quite a small city (even thought it is the biggest city after Helsinki). It's also a very safe city ( you can walk back home safely).

What is the food like?

You don't choose Finland for the food.

You will find most of the products that you want but if you are French you will definitely miss some products (saucisson, lardons, fromage... ).

You will find quite a lot of supermarket, some cheaper than others.

You won't find a lot of Mc Donalds in Finland because Finland has its own fastfood which is called Hesburger. Not bad, you should give it a shot.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Turku?

The university took care of everything.

In my online application, I had to choose between residence or shared apartment.

They try to give you the option that you choose but I know some people who choose residence and were in a shared apartment. I was in a shared apartment (Haliskyla) and it cost me only 230 euros per month. I shared my apartment with 2 girls (one from spain and the other one from Serbia). Everyone has his own room and you share the kitchen. We had 1 bathroom and 2 WC.

I know that the residence is more expensive but I can't say how much it is.

Also, when you arrive your mentor will give you a welcome package which include some basic things that you will need when you moove in (sheets, towels, blankets... ). You don't have to buy it so you save money.

How much does it cost to live in Turku?

I'm studying in Grenoble and I can say it costs me less to live in Turku than in Grenoble.

Even thought the food is more expensive in Turku than in France, the apartment is way cheaper. You will also have to pay for the bus, if I remember well you pay around 30 euros per month and you can take the bus in Turku as much as you want.

Of course, the cost to live in Turku increase if you do a lot of trips.

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

You can choose a Finnish class if you want to learn the language. But don't expect too much from it. Finnish is a very difficult language. After one semester of studying Finnish, I was barely able to present myself. But I still recommend this class, it's always good to learn as much as you can from your host country.

Also, do NOT worry about the language in Finland. Everybody (or almost) speak english as a second language. Maybe the ''old'' people won't speak very well but all the students are very good in english.

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

The most economical way :

I flew from Lyon to Helsinki. It cost me 300 euros for both ways.

Then you still have to pay for the bus between Helsinki and Turku. I think it's 30 euros.

The most easiest way :

Turku has an airport so you can fly from your home town directly to Turku.

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

Most of the parties are in Monkey or Prima which are two nightclubs downtown.

If you choose to go to Turku you will go there soon enough.

The entrances are free with the ESN card (you can buy it for 5 euros in the ESN office)