Semester abroad at the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK) - Arts Management and Cultural Work (B.A.)

The decision

A semester abroad is firmly planned in the curriculum of the Cultural Work degree programme, even if it is not compulsory. After an information event organised by the International Office at the beginning of 2022, I nevertheless considered the possibility of studying abroad for a semester rather hastily. I quickly realised that I would like to take advantage of this opportunity. I grew up in Berlin, have never lived anywhere else and, apart from a few trips abroad, had no experience of living abroad. So living abroad for several months and getting to know the culture, the people, the university system, the language and everyday life would be a new experience. Especially with my degree programme, I also saw many opportunities for my future career in getting to know a country in this way. The choice of country was more or less self-evident. Italy was ruled out because I would have had to take a language course a few semesters ago, as the language of instruction there is Italian. Amsterdam and Brno in the Czech Republic were too close to Germany for me and that left Finland. I've never been further north than Sylt, so I thought "Well, without this opportunity I probably wouldn't travel to Finland, so why not go to such an atypical country for a semester abroad?". I liked the offer from Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences the best and so I applied for the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

The preparations

The application process was quite straightforward. The application for the Erasmus+ programme consisted of a letter of motivation, my CV, proof of my completed semesters and a language certificate for the B2 English level (my school-leaving certificate was still sufficient here, so I didn't have to take an extra language test). As I applied for the winter semester 2022 like only a few others (and not for the summer semester 2023 as originally planned in the study plan), I had a good chance of being accepted, which I was. I was then nominated at the university in Finland (SeAMK). After I was also accepted there, I was kept very well and regularly informed by SeAMK. I was also informed about matters such as any necessary visas or accommodation via the university, which helped me a lot, because it's easy to get overwhelmed when you have to find out all this on the websites of a foreign country. Due to time constraints, I wasn't able to attend a language course beforehand, neither for English nor for Finnish. It wouldn't have been necessary, but I would have liked to have done it anyway to get a little insight into the Finnish language and culture. I didn't have to apply for a visa. As an EU citizen, you are allowed to stay in Finland for 90 days at a time. As I was in Tallinn (Estonia) for a short time during my stay, I was counted again from 0.

The accommodation

Fortunately, finding accommodation was very straightforward, which was a relief if you are used to the housing market in Berlin and Potsdam. The university recommended a student hall of residence which was directly opposite the campus. I lived with two other international students from Kenya, with whom I got on very well after a short, somewhat complicated familiarisation phase. We each had our own room (we rented a bed, desk, shelves and wardrobe for €15/month), and the three of us shared the kitchen, toilet and bathroom with shower. However, there were also many other types of accommodation in the hall of residence. Most people lived in pairs and only shared the kitchen, so they each had a bathroom to themselves. However, these rooms were also significantly more expensive (my room cost around €260). There were also single rooms and extra flats for families. Sharing a bathroom and kitchen with strangers naturally involves a certain amount of risk, but in my case the three of us had similar ideas about living together and cleanliness, so I quickly felt very comfortable. One last point about the student residence that should be mentioned, however, is the facilities. When we arrived, there wasn't a single plate in the kitchen and we had to buy everything we needed for less than four months. But that also varied depending on the flat.

Studying at the university

The first two days were so-called "orientation days". We were shown around the campus, set up a campus account including an e-mail address and were introduced to the intranet. Some Finnish students from the student association "SAMO" introduced themselves and answered our questions and we got to know our lecturers. The organisation was really very good and I felt very welcome and in good hands. The degree programme at SeAMK was called "Gateway to cultural management", so I had expected that the focus here would be on management and that the programme would not be as broadly based as the cultural work programme at the FHP. However, I was quickly surprised by the content of the courses I took. I knew little about Finland before my stay, but what I had heard again and again was that it has one of the best school systems in the world. So I prepared myself for structure, lots of input and rigorous exams. After just a few days, I realised that the exact opposite was the case. If I'm honest, I was under- rather than over-stretched as expected, even though I completed a full 30 ETCS. There is a lot of emphasis on collaboration, which I think is good in principle, but I found the guidance and structure extremely lacking. There was hardly any theoretical input, we were often asked to implement things without any prior knowledge. That was surprising and unusual.

Everyday life and leisure time

The cost of living in Finland is higher than in Germany, which was particularly noticeable in the supermarket. As Finland's colder climate means that it can't grow much itself, a lot of fruit and vegetables have to be imported, which is reflected in the prices. Eating out is also very expensive, but leisure activities (cinema, concerts, clubs, etc.) were comparable to those in Germany. Longer distances within Finland can be easily travelled by train, there was a 50% discount for students and I found the prices very fair and the rail network well developed. However, to get to the beautiful remote lake districts and national parks, you usually have to hire a car. I and most of the other Erasmus students joined the SAMO student association for the semester for €35. This gives you a kind of student card that gives you discounts such as on the train, in some restaurants, clubs or shops throughout Finland. It also meant that you could use all the university sports facilities at no extra cost. I found the Unisport system very good. You didn't have to register for the courses, you could just turn up and try out different sports. From yoga to football to martial arts, everything is on offer. And when you're in Finland, going to the sauna regularly is of course a must. It's practically the national "sport".

Conclusion and tips

I am very grateful for my time in Finland and can only recommend going abroad to anyone. It was exciting to get to know a different university and to exchange ideas with Finnish students and other Erasmus students about teaching and learning in their home countries. The Finns are considered to be very reserved, I can definitely confirm that. It was really difficult to get to know Finns, even if you consciously and actively tried. However, as I was there with over 90 Erasmus students, I had enough other people around me to get to know. It was definitely an effort for me at first to just chat people up (especially in English!), but it was worth it! It was incredibly valuable to get to know so many people from so many different countries and cultures. I learnt a lot about Europe, Finland and, by comparison, Germany. I think it's important to go into an exchange with an open mind and not be immediately put off. The SeAMK international coordinator said to us on the first day: "If you find the behaviour or statements of someone you meet here strange, then stop for a moment and ask yourself whether it's really the person or perhaps a cultural difference." If you keep an open mind, wonderful conversations, friendships and experiences can arise that you might otherwise have missed.