Mobility specification

Country:Finland

Institution:University of Lapland

City:Rovaniemi

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2023/2024

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Law

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

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I was probably most surprised that several courses were listed as being for 5 credits, but the course itself consisted of various "subtasks" for which we received credits. For example, 1 credit was given for attendance, 2 credits for the essay, and 3 credits for passing the test - so it was possible to get only 3 credits for the course (which was listed as 5 credits).

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, a lot. Various Erasmus events, trips, etc. There was also quite an active club that was dedicated to Erasmus students.

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
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:15000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?At the beginning you have to pay some student fees - for a student card etc.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?In Finland, there are a lot of chop shops - both with clothes and various household goods, etc., where you can get almost everything you need. There is also an open room at the beginning of the semester where students bring the things they have bought at the end of their stay and new students can take them apart.

🗺 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?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?You can buy a ticket directly from the driver or over the phone. As for transport outside the city - the city I was in is quite cut off from civilisation :))) so there was a lot of use of car rental, we had an app where you could book a car for the whole weekend, or even just for 30 minutes (the price as I remember was around 7-14 euro/hour); ideal for a trip with friends where you book a car, you can go where you want and split the price at the end.

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?Polar Tara <3 Santa's Village (albeit a mega commercial place); in winter skiing in Ounasvaara (and Ounasvaara in general).

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Lake Inari, Nordkapp (Norway in general), other national parks in Finland (it looks far away from the map, but the roads are mostly flat, so it goes by quickly).

Share your best experience:Definitely a trip to Nordkapp, if you have time and company from Rovaniemi + search for the Northern Lights, anytime, anywhere - it's an activity and a sight you won't stop enjoying :)

💅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

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?The airport is farther away from the city, ideally you should arrange with someone who is coming on the same plane as you (usually discussed in whatsapp groups) and take a taxi together.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Proper winter clothes :) or buy up there!

🥳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?Half a year that I would repeat a hundred times.