Mobility specification

Country:Finland

Institution:University of Eastern Finland

City:Kuopio

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Teaching in Finland is very different from the Czech one. Courses usually do not last from the beginning to the end of the semester, but they are of different lengths.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?The Finnish town of Joensuu, although small, is packed with a wide range of extracurricular activities. Not only for international students, but also for Finns, and events are often conducted in English.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:700 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I was very surprised by the price of shipping. From public transport to domestic transport.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Student card is a must, you can ride a bike instead of public transport, local lunches are between 2~4 € - so it's worth eating in the canteen rather than out.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?neutral

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?If you're looking for a train, VR matkala is the best. It offers all sorts of long-distance journeys. In other cities, the Waltti app will definitely help. Oh, and if you're going to ride between local villages, your right hand will be the Matkahuolto website.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?yes

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?mostly fine

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Saunas, Arts&Crafts, Utra Islands, Matolahti and many more!

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Koli National Park is about an hour away, and student organisations offer trips to Lapland, Lofoten or even Iceland.

Share your best experience:I had the opportunity to go to Lapland with a student organization. On the first day we had great conditions to observe the Northern Lights. Everywhere was quiet, no lights, we were waist-deep in snow and above us were breathtaking green bands.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane
Train

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Don't forget all the paperwork and get a Finnish ID beforehand, it saves a lot of work.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Packing warm clothes for Finland is a breeze. But it's definitely a good idea to bring basic home equipment. Like cutlery, a mug and a blanket.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Erasmus in Joensuu will give students what they need. I wanted to combine personal space with travel and I got that.