Mobility specification

Country:Finland

Institution:University of Helsinki

City:Helsinki

Program:Erasmus+ traineeship

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2025/2026

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

Study level abroad:Doctoral

✅Check the boxes

How would you categorize your internship?Natural Sciences

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?Other

Other - please specify:Based on an interesting scientific paper, I contacted the lead author asking if I could do an internship in his lab.

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?I worked as an intern.

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?I learned how another lab works, I learned new techniques and expanded my horizons with new knowledge.

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?During the internship I used the knowledge I gained from subjects such as microbiology, molecular biology and immunology, as well as the knowledge from my thesis.

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

Did the institution have any special requirements?Specific language skills
Level of study

Do you have tips on how to make a great impression on the institution?Based on the scientific work, I contacted the lead author. In the email I presented my experience, CV and cover letter.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?I did not go through a formal selection process, communication was directly with the head of the lab.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?I would recommend the internship mainly for the new experience, professional knowledge and the opportunity to work in a different scientific environment. It is also an opportunity to meet new people and improve your communication in a foreign language.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?30000 CZK/month

Did the institution provide accommodation?no

If not, how did you find it?I contacted the student accommodation provider HOAS and asked to book a room.

Did you have any unexpected expenses during the internship?no

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?no big deal

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?runs like clockwork

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?There are many parks in Helsinki where you can go for a walk. There is the cathedral, which is the main destination for most tourists and is also famous for the song Darude - Sandstorm.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?I recommend a trip to the island of Suomenlinna, which is a 15-minute ferry ride from Helsinki. It's also worth going to Tallinn, Estonia, which takes about 2.5 hours by ferry. In the neighbouring town of Espoo, there is Nuuksio Park, where you can go to feed the reindeer for a fee.

Share your best experience:I had the opportunity to pet and feed the reindeer at Nuuksio Park in Espoo.

💅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

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?During the colder season, I recommend packing a scarf or shawl, as the wind is quite strong in places.

🥳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?The internship brought me new knowledge, techniques and experience of working in an international scientific environment.