Mobility specification

Country:Finland

Institution:University of Turku

City:Turku

Program:Erasmus+ traineeship

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Science / Department of Chemistry

Study level abroad:Doctoral

✅Check the boxes

How would you categorize your internship?Natural Sciences
Pharmacy

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?MU website

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?Laboratory technician, chemist.

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?Preparation of nanoparticle conjugates for FRET bioassay.

Did your tasks align with the pre-defined conditions?yes

Did the internship meet your expectations?yes

Did you apply any theory you learned at university during the internship?yes

If yes, can you provide a specific example?I practically tried the competitive biological (immuno)assay, which was discussed in the lectures of the elective courses.

How well did you manage to communicate in a foreign language?neutral

Did the institution have any special requirements?Other

Other - please specify:Accident and general health insurance, self-financing.

Do you have tips on how to make a great impression on the institution?fFnd an interesting topic that you can use in their research.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?I don't know, the internship was arranged in person with an offer of nanoparticles produced by us and unavailable to them.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?Practical experience of theoretical information from lectures, but also getting to know a new country, culture and people - building a network of contacts.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?18000 CZK/month

Did the institution provide accommodation?no

If not, how did you find it?Airbnb, recommended by the host institution.

Did you have any unexpected expenses during the internship?no

Do you have any tips on how to save money during the internship?Definitely get a "shalinkart", because single tickets on MHD are expensive and you will be able to ride more on the weekend after trips
follow the events of shops and cultural institutions - e.g. on certain days the entrance is free.
If possible, get student status - this saves the most, but for trainees from other countries this is not possible in Finland.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?it was okay, but could have been better

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?On the company's website - you can find out from Google maps which company it is a subscription ticket is the most cost-effective, otherwise a single ticket in the app is the most cost-effective. For trains, I recommend buying a month or more in advance for a really good price.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?The cathedral, the promenade around the river, the nearby Ruissalo Island or any city park.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Kurjenrahka National Park, sea in Naantali.

Share your best experience:Kurjenrahka National Park in good weather, especially the route around the lake and through the peat bogs.

💅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
Car

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Google maps are not reliable and do not show the correct location when you enter an address - I recommend reading street names or using transport company websites/apps to plan your journey.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Blinders when travelling in April and later, if the light bothers you when you fall asleep, it can be warm around 25 degrees or more for a few days in May - August, so one summer clothing option is good:), but don't forget a waterproof jacket and at least in April/May gloves, hats.

🥳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?An amazing experience where I learned a lot and got to know a piece of beautiful country;).