EN: University of Vaasa: "...it has been quite an enjoyable experience that I definitely recommend to any student interest in studying in Finland"

Preparation

Because I was enrolled in the double degree program between Europa-Universität Viadrina and the University of Vaasa, I had to spend 2 semesters abroad. Before coming to Finland, as I’m an international student, I had to make sure that my German residence permit was valid throughout my exchange period. I renewed my passport before extending my residence permit so that it also remains valid. As for insurance, I took out insurance that was also valid in Finland. Then I booked my flight for late August about 3 months in advance as prices tend to soar as the summer period approaches.

The application process was quite straight forward and the mobility specialists at Viadrina support you every step of the way. About 2 weeks before my arrival there, I received an email from our tutor at the University of Vaasa, sharing her contact details and creating a group on a messaging app in order to answer any questions we might have. Our tutor was in charge of double degree students at Master level. So, all the members of our group were master students doing a double degree masters from different countries. We were picked up from the airport by our tutor, although I hear that is no longer an option for the coming semesters. However, most tutors will guide you when it comes to transportation after your arrival in Finland, and some could even offer to pick you up from the airport or the train station if they have time. There are two ways one can get to Vaasa from Frankfurt (Oder). The first one would be to take a flight from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Vaasa with a short stopover in Helsinki. The second one would be to take a flight from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Helsinki, then take the train to Vaasa which is about 4 hours long. 

Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, I would recommend applying to VOAS which is the organization in charge of student housing in Vaasa. One should, of course, apply well in advance. I would say about 3 months in advance at least. I was offered a room in a 3-bedroom apartment in Linna, which is the accommodation that most exchange students usually end up in. It can be quite noisy as there are a lot of gatherings and parties going on, especially on the weekends. The upside is that all the rooms in Linna are furnished (bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, storage shelf), so you won’t have to buy any furniture for your room other than a mattress or a mattress topper, which I would highly recommend as beds here tend to have a built-in mattress in them which is definitely not comfortable. The cost of the rent in Linna for shared apartments is between 250 and 330 euros, depending on the room size. All the utilities are included in the rent. For the Wi-Fi, you would need to get a router for the wall connection or bring the one you used in Germany with you as I did. 

Studying at the university abroad

Most courses at the university of Vaasa were quite flexible and offered a hybrid setting where you can either attend the course or follow through Zoom. There were, of course, a few courses that required attendance or ones that were strictly online. Once you are accepted into the program by the university abroad, you receive an email with a link to the courses you can take, either as a regular exchange student or as a double degree student. 

Some of the courses had papers, projects, or presentations as evaluations of the work of the student in the course, others had exams. For the latter, the university of Vaasa, throughout the last year, has begun implementing a new platform for exams which allows students to choose the time and the place they wish to take the exam within a specific timeframe. The places students can choose from can be in different universities and different cities within Finland. Each one of these places contains rooms that are especially made for the use of this platform. They are equipped with computers and cameras to monitor the students. I believe this platform is a step in the right direction for universities in Finland as it offers flexibility for students and takes into account the various responsibilities they might have outside of their studies.

Day to day life and free time

While it’s a fairly small city, Vaasa offers quite a lot of activities to engage in. Students can participate in various sports all year long (Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Climbing, Tennis, etc.) and can also go hiking around Vaasa or go to the beach during the summer months (maybe swim in a lake at freezing temperature which is a legitimate activity). Some of the activities might seem extreme, especially during the winter period, but they all constitute new experiences for the students willing to explore. As is the tradition in Finland, most houses are equipped with a sauna. In Linna, you can book one hour of private sauna per week free of charge. This is available to all students living in the residence. This can be quite enjoyable during winter.

For the living costs, one should allocate at least 700 euros per month. In terms of public transportation, one can either take the bus which offers monthly subscriptions for students or use the electric scooters which are available during the warm months. In my case, as I was staying for 2 semesters, I opted for a used bike which I bought at a low price. When it’s icy, I would recommend not using a bike and being careful when walking. The city of Vaasa is quite walkable and one can get anywhere within the hour.

Conclusion

I haven’t had any bad experiences as people in Finland tend to be really nice and helpful. Most of them can speak English and it’s easy to navigate shopping and ordering at restaurants. Of course, eating out is a luxury here as prices can be quite high, but one can always opt for buffet restaurants which tend to have a good value for money ratio. Also, I would recommend getting an insulated jacket for the winter months as it can get really cold and windy in Vaasa with temperatures reaching -20°C. 

All in all, it has been quite an enjoyable experience that I definitely recommend to any student interest in studying in Finland. The quality of education and the unique experiences that Finland has to offer will help you develop both professionally and personally.