Mobility specification

Country:Finland

Institution:Tampere University

City:Tampere

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages - Ugro-Finnic languages

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?manageable

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Teaching in Finland is focused entirely on work during the semester, and a lot of it is group work or independent work. So at the end of the semester, I didn't have any difficult exams waiting for me because I was actively studying during the semester, which I personally think is great.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?We had an orientation week at the beginning of our stay and there you could meet other Erasmus students, and I could also become a member of the ESN community and other student associations, of which there are countless.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:10000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?I was surprised by the very expensive public transportation, but I needed to use it, so I was "forced" to buy a monthly NYSSE card. Unfortunately, it is always subscription only for a month and there are no better prices for e.g. a quarter year.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?I always found the cheapest food in Lidl, but the great thing here is that you can have a good lunch every day in perfect school canteens at a low price. Otherwise everything is expensive. It's great to go to the thrift stores where you can find everything from clothes to housewares to various pieces of furniture.

🗺 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?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I used the NYSSE Mobiili app, where I always found bus connections or bought a ticket. When I needed to take the train, I used the VR Matkalla app, however there are probably other regional apps as well. Oh, and the cheapest way to travel outside the city is probably with Flixbus (depending on the distance).

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

How do you rate the availability of healthcare?I've seen better

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?The town is relatively small, so walking through it, walking into every antique shop, church or library and chopping shop is highly recommended. Definitely visit the Rauhaniemi public sauna and take a walk along the lakeshore.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I was on the famous Karhunkierros trail, an 80km trail through the forest along the river with great cabins to stay in. I recommend it! But of course one should visit Helsinki or other surrounding cities when in Finland.

Share your best experience:The best experience was staying at Pudasjärvi in a small cabin where we experienced -26 degrees below zero, a daily sauna and a whole night of dancing auroras.

💅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

Can you pay by card?everywhere

🥳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?Finland is a sauna, a forest, darkness and warm-hearted people who will always help you with everything.