Small Struggles of an International Student Moving to Finland for the First Time
Hello! I am Vitória, a 3rd year Design and Media student at Aalto University. I am originally from Portugal, and I moved to Finland for the first time 2 and half years ago to start my studies. My experience has overall been super positive and I couldn’t see myself elsewhere at the moment. However, not everything is a walk in the park.
Moving abroad for an international degree has been incredibly enriching, shaping both my learning and how I work and interact with others. However, adapting wasn’t always easy, especially as it was my first time living abroad and on my own. I’ll share some honest experiences I wish I had expected. Now that Finland feels like home and I’ve found my communities, things are much easier although challenges are still a part of life:)
Bureaucratic and Practical Hassles
Moving to Finland involves handling some bureaucratic tasks, especially for non-EU students. Even as an EU citizen, I had to find housing, register my residence, update my address, and open a Finnish bank account. While the university provides guidance and resources when you get offered your study place, navigating a new system while starting studies can be stressful at times. You need to apply for housing, fill in documents, book appointments, make sure everything is done in the right order… It can be a lot!
Luckily, I wasn’t completely on my own and support is available. Admitted students receive housing and immigration-related information before coming to Finland. Tutors, which are older students from your degree will also help with sharing some resources, advice, and overall helping you get settled. My classmates also shared useful tips. Now, after working part-time for a while, I’ve also become more familiar with the tax system which was also initially confusing. You still need to take the initiative and schedule things on your own, but you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when in doubt!
Communication and cultural adaptation
As an international student, I met many other international and local students through classes, events, and student organizations. I found this to be an easy and great way to make friends. However, I didn’t expect some small challenges due to cultural or background differences. Small things like the way one communicates, organizes tasks, or works in teams could be different from what I was used to.
At first, I often questioned how I communicated or struggled to understand certain comments or behaviors. I found that openly discussing perspectives and asking for clarification helps a lot. Sometimes, differences aren’t even cultural but come from different life or academic backgrounds. Being honest has been especially valuable in building lasting friendships. I’ve also learned a lot about for example Finnish academic and work culture, which has made navigating it much easier over time.
Things to do and activities
Adjusting to free time in Finland was a bit challenging at first due to the long winter and higher costs of some activities compared to my home country. Back home, I would often do outdoor activities like walking, but winter made these less enjoyable. I learned to adapt by shortening outdoor activities or switching to indoor options. Summer will eventually come and allow more opportunities to enjoy Finland’s nature. I love to dance and I found dance classes through UniSport, which is a gym with a cheaper student membership, as well as contemporary and pole dancing classes at student associations.
I used to also meet my friends in cafes or restaurants. In Finland, it’s however more expensive, and while we still go once in a while, we started hosting for example dinners, brunches, and game nights at our apartments more often. In the case of shared student apartments, there is usually a common area perfect for these! During the day, we also enjoy chatting over a 2,95€ lunch at the numerous student canteens available on campus and in Helsinki.
To summarise, adapting to your new life in Finland as an international student can come with some challenges. My life and routines changed from how they were back in Portugal. This said, trying new things, meeting new people, and finding new solutions have made all the little bumps along the way totally worth it! And it’s important to not forget that you won’t be facing them alone.
Thank you for reading!
All the best,
Vitória <3
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