208 reviews
4.12 / 5 based on 208 reviews
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kilde
Housing
Type of housing: A room exchange
Arranged by: Independently - I had no other choice
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
An appartment or house would give me the space and independance I need.
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kilde
Student life
Describe host city:
Students interact with the local community without much university involvement
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Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Activities, Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
In my point of view the best place for foreigners is Molly Malone - an Irish pub close to the central railway station, a place where lots of foreigners are gathering especially on Thursday and Saturday nights. Good international live music. The personal quote of the pub is "In Molly Malone there are no strangers. Just friends you haven't met yet".
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kilde
Academic
Course recommendations
There is one very important thing that most international students miss. They hardly attend the Finnish language courses. And in time one finds out that knowledge of Finnish, even in a basic level, is essential in order to understand ones enviroment.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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kilde
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Was learning English a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
How much did you improve your English?
My level before: At ease in most situations
My level after: No problems in any areas (including slang)
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
I believe that the time spend in Finland has chenged me more than I have expected. My life and education in Helsinki helped me to achieve exceptional communication skills as finns are very shy and no comunicativ people. One should really work hard in order to be accepted. There is a finnish saying "If you make a friend in Finland it is a friend for life". The Finnish language course helped me a lot in my every-day life. However it is hard to speak Finnish with the local students and teachers as they switch to English as soon as they find out one is not of a Finnish origin. May be this is the reason why my skills in English have developed so well.
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kilde
Overall
I wish I had known...
Now when I look back I would say I should have taken some Finnish language courses prior to my departure.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Socialize. Finland is a hard country to live in. Especially because it is hard to communicate with the locals. The best way to urvive and return home with really good and helpful experience is to socialize. And not to be afraid of chalenges and communicating with the others.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Bring warm clothes, never forget that you would hardly see the sun during the winter, which might be pretty depressing... And don't forget that in a month or two you would for sure start hating snow.
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kilde
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience
Personal spending habits
Igeneral life in Bulgaria is cheaper than in most European countries.
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Food, Telephone, Housing, Nightlife, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
I would say that public transport is far more expensive than expected. One good way of saving money from travel expenses is to receive a confirmation from your university that you are accepted as a student for a sertain period. Than one has the right to buy a monthly public transport card.
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