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Finland

Åbo Akademi University, Åbo, Finland (English language and literature)

Thinking about going abroad on a student exchange for a term or a year? Thinking that now is the time to experience -25 Celsius degrees, almost complete darkness and snow up to your knees? A sun that doesn't set in summer and vappu celebration? Really dark and sour rye bread and piimä? Then it's time to start filling in applications, booking flights and coming to Åbo Akademi University in Åbo, Finland!

Åbo Akademi University is a small university located in the city of Åbo (the Finnish name of the city is Turku) and it is a Swedish language university. Åbo Akademi has about 8000 students and it also has facilities in Vasa, a smaller city a bit further north. Åbo has about 175 000 inhabitants which makes it about the same size as York.

First a few things about Finland. Yes, the winters are cold and snowy even in Turku despite its location in the south west. The temperatures can drop below -20 though this normally doesn't last very long. Normally it is between +5 and -10 in the winter. Bring warm shoes, a good jacket, your long johns and leave the mini skirt at home and you'll be just fine. Spring and summer can be warm and nice, 15 to 25 degrees is normal. The sun sets early in winter, only a few hours of daylight, but in the summer it almost doesn't set at all. The light is really wonderful after a long winter.

What are vappu and piimä then? Vappu is a major student celebration at the end of April and beginning of May. It is a lot of fun, many nice traditions and many parties. Piimä is sour milk, like plain yoghurt but runnier and perhaps a bit more sour. The cartons of piimä are sold side by side with milk in grocery stores, so if you're buying milk, choose your carton carefully or you might be surprised when you open it at home.

A few words about practical issues when coming to Finland as an exchange student:

We don't have campuses with college accommodation, but you can get cheap apartments from foundations that have specialized in student apartments. A student apartment rented from a student housing foundation costs between 200-400 euros a month, depending on what kind of an apartment you would prefer. Studios are almost impossible to get, and most likely you will get a room with toilet and shower, and the kitchen will be in the corridor. Internet and electricity are normally included in the rent in student apartments.

Food and alcohol can be quite expensive. But we have a very good student healthcare system and also well-planned libraries that can provide you with most of the books you need. You will hopefully not have to buy any course books during your stay. Travelling around with trains and buses is also quite cheap because of a 50% student discount if you have a Finnish student card.

Åbo Akademi University is a really nice place to study at because of its small size. You quickly get to know other students and your teachers. Visiting students also get a lot of help and support during their stay, especially during the first weeks when everything might seem a bit difficult and confusing.

See you in Åbo!