ISOIS ▸ Final reports

Host country:
Host institution:
Mobility type:
Program:
Faculty:
Ac. year:
Semesters:
Study level:
Language filled in:
Click here to return to the list of reports...

University of Helsinki

Finland 2019/2020 Freemovers

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Law

Field of study:
Law

Level of study during period of placement:
Master

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
autumn 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2019-08-27 - 2019-12-20

Number of months:
4.00

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
https://guide.student.helsinki.fi/en/article/course-selection

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Fully completed and signed application form (downloaded from Mobility Online)
Motivation letter
Certificate of Language skills
Preliminary Learning Agreement approved and signed by the appropriate person at your home university.
An official transcript of records (same as transcript of credits) - certified list of all the courses and exams you have completed at your home university, must be attached to your application.

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
For the academic year or autumn semester, the application period was March 15 - May 15

Did you need a visa?:
no

Documents and materials needed for a visa:

Length of wait for visa:

Fee for the visa:

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
no

If not, why not?:
I had a Preliminary Learning Agreement signed.

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
Yes.

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
Yes.

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
I registered my courses when I arrived and also before the second period of the semester (end of October)

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes - to pass the subjects and get the credits you had to take an exam.

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
yes

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Usually, you got texts or chapters to study at home and then they were discussed at the lectures. The exams were written, often open book.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
I think it was higher.

How did you receive study materials?:
Via Moodle.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Definitely - Dispute resolution

How well is the school library equipped?:
Very well.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Wifi everywhere and also computers in the library.

Options from printing and copying:
In the library.

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
Parties, trips

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
3

or describe in your own words:

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
Flat

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
500 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
There are also dormitories - it is hard to get in with free mover (because you are accepted later than for example Erasmus students) - the price for the dormitories was 630 EUR

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
You can buy there everything but prepare yourself for the higher prices.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
As soon as possible

What are the catering options?:
There is Unicafe - where you can get lunch or dinner for 2,60 :)

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
The prices are at least two times higher - more 3 or 4 times.

Transport to location of placement:
By plane

Rough prices for transportation:
Both way plane tickets - 2800-5000 CZK

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Just buy student tickets A,B zone for whole semester.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
public transport - one month, student price - 34 EUR, cycling - you can borrow the cycle with an app, on foot

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
nothing

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
-

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
No

Did you work during your studies?:
Yes. I did home office work for my law office.

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
-

Tips for free-time activities:
-

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
64000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
16000 CZK

Number of supported months:
4

Total number of months:
4

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
Work, parents support

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
-

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
100 EUR

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
50 EUR

b/ amount of tuition fees:
50 EUR

c/ amount of other fees (which):
0 EUR

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
900 EUR

a/ of which for accommodation:
500 EUR

b/ of which for catering:
200 EUR

c/ travel and recreation:
200 EUR

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:
I was in national Parks, Porvoo, 3 times in Tallinn, in Lapland (400 EUR), in St. Petersburg (200 EUR).

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
29

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
29

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
Yes

What problems did you have with recognition?:
non

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
2

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
no

What would you recommend to take with you:
good mood and courage

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
the attitude of the professors - for example, you call them with their first name

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
there were 100 foreign students on the faculty of law - so it was big group to get to know

Further comments: