Mobility specification

Country:Finland

Institution:University of Oulu

City:Oulu

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of Educational Sciences

Study level abroad:Master

🎓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?they have tons

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Finnish education is diametrically opposed. Although there is a big push for change in the Czech Republic, Finland has already experienced it and it works naturally. Most of the courses were project and teamwork oriented, with everyone regulating their own pace and direction. It's so different from the often strictly set ''ruts'' that every student in the Czech Republic has to follow.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?It offers an incredible amount of them. You will even get a local student to guide you through everything you need to know and you can write to him with any question at any time. After that, there's always something going on - events, get-togethers... where you'll quickly make new friends and get to know the environment.

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
Interpretation services
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
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:25000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Don't slam your keys :D That's probably the most expensive unexpected expense - 50 euros to unlock the door, some have done it several times :)

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The absolute key is to learn how to manage food. First of all, getting used to the €0.75 school lunch, which is not much, but has all the important nutrients. Then you have to shop in the shops according to what's on sale at the moment. The biggest problem here is with meat (it's expensive). But you can buy a kilo of salmon on sale for 8 euros (Prisma).

🗺 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?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?OSL app - this will get you everywhere in Oulu. If you want outside - OnniBus, Flixbus are the cheapest options and then the train (more expensive).

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

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?neutral

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?There is no particular must see in Oulu. Oulu is more of a lifestyle. Walk around, there are huge parks, lakes, trees and more lakes :) I highly recommend the floating sauna.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?The national parks (Oulanka, for example) are the most worthwhile. Finns enjoy long hikes through nature, so if you want an authentic experience, hike in one of the national parks :) As for just small hikes, the island of Hailuoto, which is just outside Oulu, is worth it.

Share your best experience:There are too many best experiences from here. Among the best ones I would include the floating sauna at sunset (you jump right into the river from the sauna) and then playing guitar a few times in downtown Oulu - I've never met so many great people in a few hours :)

💅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
Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The airport is far from the city, but the bus will take you there (just download the OSL app).

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?LOTS of layers. Thick socks and lots of socks, and then LOTS of layers again :)

🥳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?I was incredibly worried that the Erasmus in Finland wouldn't be worth anything. I've never been more wrong in my life.