Cathedral, The Symbol of Helsinki

Erasmus is a student Exchange Program among European universities. You can study at another university for one or two semester. The credits are usually transferable. It is now open to foreign students, too, in Semmelweis University, although it has just began for foreign students.

It is a great chance for a good student who is eligble for this program. Nobody explain how good it is and how you can apply for it, (as usual in Hungary), so I did it for future candidates.

Summary: It was a great experience. It is highly recommended to join Erasmus program at University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine. You can make a good comparison between two medical schools, host and your own schools. for example, I found Helsinki is much more well-organized than Semmelweis in general in education. You have to be careful about carriculum difference between the host university and your school. I have to leave in two weeks after all due to the difference, although I was supposed to be there for a semester. It ended in only 2 weeks, but it was still a great experience!

0. What is Erasmus Program?
   1. What is it?
   2. How long you can stay in host university?
   3. Which university you can choose?
1. Screening Process
   1. Get a recommendation from your home university.
   2. Eligibility and Point System
   3. Apply to your favorite university. you have to write a motivation letter.
   4. Acceptance. Acceptance will be notified via email.
2. Preparation: Before you go.
   1. Accomodation
   2. Information Letter via email.
   3. Tutors
3. Visit university and Study!
   1. Go and visit your university.
   2. Start Class
   3. Clinical Practice
      
      Ophthalmology Seminar room
      

4. Curriculum incompatibility

   My study in University of Helsinki was finished here, unfortunately. It was because of curriculum mismatch between the host university and my home university. We can take only ophthalmology and anesthesiology in Helsinki. We have to take neurology, internal medicine(gasterology, oncology), urology, psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynacology in home university on the contrary. It means we have to repeat a year if I stay in Helsinki.

   This is a pretty big issue for students joining Erasmus. I talked some students who joined Erasmus.

   1. I talked with a previous-year student who had been to Helsinki. She repeated a year for that. (Hungarian)
   2. A Hungarian girl told me that she took extra subject in a previous semester and finished it earlier to join Eramsus without repeating a year. (It sounds tough.)
   3. Another Hungarian girl told me that she needed to join English program course to finish every required course in time.
   4. I heard an international student went to Czech and stayed there for a semester.
   5. Actually this discrepancy happens not only in Hungary. There was another girl from France. She came to University of Helsinki, but it turned out that the curriculum of her school does not go along with that of University of Helsinki. She decided to leave, like I did.
   Any of above would be very difficult for international students, because we have to pay an expensive tuition if you repeat a year.

   I could stay only for a short time; less than 2 weeks, but it was great expericence. I love the university. It was really well orgranized.

5. Library

Their central library was good,too.


Central Library outside.

Central Library inside

6. Contrast to Hungary
Generally University of Helsinki is much better than Universities in Hungary, Semmelweis, Pecs. Hungary's problems are generally information delivary(not enough information) and inefficiency(eg. no lecture slide shared) in general. (I am quite a orgnized person and can not tolerate something unorganized.)
1. Official Orientation was held in Helsinki, even in two levels; all students, and then medical studetns. there is no official orientation in Hungary, only one held by student organization, which is not official and thus information there is not official.
2. Tutors were assigned and helped us. They are eager to help us, visiting students. (One of them said he would like to join Erasmus by himself.)
3. They are much better-organized. They give us a whole class schedule beforehand. This very basic thing does Not happen in Hungary, in many cases.
4. They are more kind and efficient to students.
5. They are happy to give us a hand-out of their presentation, even in color! This almost never happens in Hungary. Even just pdf is not shared before lecture.
7. Travel

   I went to Lapland. It was on Thursday that the sun flared on a record level and news said that it would continue for a while. That is why I decided quickly to go there to see Northern light. But I had to leave the place without seeing it.

   Instead I could meet Mr. Santa Claus. I trecked too, and found some wild blueberry. pick, eat, pick, eat, it doesn't stop :)

   
   Santa Claus is here, so am I.
   
   Pick, eat, pick, eat, can't stop!
   

8. Life in Helsinki

It was very expensive. For example,

1. In general, very spacious and expensive. Wether is a bit cold. (Even in september)
2. 500ml Coca-cola costs 2.07euro in supermarket, which sells cheapest. it costs 250Ft(<1euro) in Hungary, the same in Japan too. Do they have sugar tax or something similar?
   
   Coca-cola costs >2 euro...
   

3. Bus costs 3.2euro. 350Ft(<1.5 euro) in BP.
4. Cafeteria in the school: 2.6 euro student-discounted (Very good price!) from 6.9 euro.
5. There is a good gym. There is a Student discount here, too; 39euro or so. doubled if not students.