Stories from Abroad
It was the first time when I managed to apply in practice the acquired at the University knowledge...
What are your impressions of the internship as a whole? What results have you achieved? What are the advantages of this internship for you, what impact did it make on your academic and personal level?
It was the first time when I managed to apply in practice the acquired at the University knowledge. I was able to see the demand for specialists of certain areas in such international companies as Wärtsilä, WBS, Wapice, Danfoss, ABB, get acquainted with successful people in my field, gain professional experience and be inspired to further self-development. In general, comparing two educational programs, I realized what a narrow field of knowledge I learn, and the low intensity I learn it with here in INRTU. I saw the vector of my development as a highly qualified and sought-after specialist.
Difficulties during the preparation for the internship. Tips and tricks for future participants of the academic mobility program.
No difficulties were encountered. It is necessary to be prepared for a long and thorough process of preparing and submitting documents to INRTU and the consulate.
Can you describe the process of receiving visa and give any advice?
In order to stay in Finland for more than three months, a regular visa is not enough — you will need to apply for a residence permit based on your study. The whole process includes the following steps:
1. Wait for the letter of invitation from the host institution (it will serve as the basis for the issue of a residence permit for you).
2. Carefully fill in the application form on the Finnish Consulate website, attach all the necessary documents, including an insurance certificate (be prepared to spend several hours on this) and pay the consular fee (you can also pay it at the ATM, directly in the consulate building before reception, but since payment takes place at the rate of a third-party bank at the time of payment, it is more convenient to do this online and not depend on the rate).
3. As soon as the questionnaire is saved in the system, make an appointment with the consul in Moscow.
4. Bring all original documents with you, including specially seized photos and a printed invitation letter.
5. Wait for the decision (usually 1-5 weeks).
6. Pick up a residence permit in the consulate on the way to Finland.
Pay attention to the working hours of the consulate, taking into account Finnish holidays. The information about the opening hours on the website was not correct at the time of my visit on January 4, because of which I almost had to change tickets for the entire remaining journey. It is better to call and clarify it in advance.
Challenges upon arrival to the host university. Tips for solving them.
Mrs. Lotta Saarikoski and her husband meet the students and help them to adapt to life in the city and the university, so that there are no difficulties. In addition, each foreign student gets a personal curator - usually a VAMK senior student who helps with all the questions that arise and introduces the student life in Finland.
Indicate your expenses related to the participation in the foreign internship (visa, travel costs, registration fees / taxes/ deposits at the host university, insurance / medical expenses, public transportation, food and accommodation). Give some advice on reducing expenses.
Expenses:
— Visa fee — 300 euros (depends on a currency rate, approximately 22.500 rubles.
—Insurance — 20.000 rubles (coverage amount for the residency permit at least 200.000 euro) I chose Sberbank Strahovanie which I used for the dental treatment. The medical bill cost was much higher than the insurance fee), so don’t save your money on it.
—Tickets Irkutsk – Moscow – Moscow – Иркутск – 18000 rubles – to apply to the Consultancy.
—Tickets Irkutsk – Moscow – Saint Petersburg – Helsinki – Vaasa – 15000 rubles (flight) + 8000 rubles (train).
You can get to Vaasa by plane with several stops (through Moscow and Helsinki) or by plane and train (train from Moscow or St. Petersburg). Since my budget was limited, I had chosen the most budget-friendly option at that time.
Public transportation for students costs 30 euros per month + 5 euros for one-time bus fee for a card (Available at the VaasaBus office on the ground floor of the Rewell Center, replenished every month in any RKioski). Routes, transport schedules, booking — everything http://reittiopas.vaasa.fi/reittiopas/main%20 can be found here.
It is comfortable to use public transportation in winter, everybody ride bikes when it is warm enough for that. You can easily buy a bike (used one) and then sell it via http://www.tori.fi (similar to Avito) or a page on Facebook Vaasa Buy/Sell.
Food expenses can vary, the average amount is about 30-50 euros per week (as a comparison, a bottle of water (1.5 l) costs 1.5-2 euros, tomatoes — 5-7 euros per kg). By the way, you can save up some money reusing plastic bottles and tin cans by putting them into a special automatic machine next to the store entrance. You can get 0.2-0.8 euro per bottle depending on its volume.
Students usually choose cheaper shops like Lidl and Minimani. Prisma and K-market offer wider range of goods by higher prices.
Accommodation: students live in the dorm I don’t know much about, because I rented a house from one of professors. I paid about 1200 euros per 4 months (about 93500 rubles at current exchange rates).
