I started my studies in February as I landed in rainy and windy Denmark. Study group of ours, consisting of 10 different nationalities all over the world were warmly welcomed by the VIA University’s friendly staff on our first day. I could immediately feel hygge vibes within the school, people and city.
The New Screen Experience exchange studies have been covering all kinds of new media from VR to AR to XR together with stories. Our school is located at the industrial Filmbyen separated from main campuses together with 80 media companies around the area.
Living in vibrant young student city with more than 60,000 students creates inspiring environment. Aarhus was nominated for the culture capital of Europe 2017, I could see cultural projects taken further what it comes to art, architecture and technology. It is also easy city to access everywhere with bike, bus or tram within 20 min from different neighbourhoods.
Aarhus is full of student events, museums, underground scene, flea markets, concerts, and festivals. Nightlife and pubs is the place where you easily socialise and meet new people besides school. Weekly sport activities and routines also helped to adapt with the local life even more. As a Fin, of course I had to find local sauna, and happily there was free public sauna around the Bay Area. Setting for the sauna was amazing with industrial harbour views, but disappointedly sauna experience wasn’t as hot as I expected. However, cold Tuborg pilsner tasted great afterwards!
When the corona outbreak happened all social events have turned into a lockdown, with studying from home and socialising online. Luckily spring have provided with great sunny weather to cycle around city and the restrictions have allowed enough freedom go out and gather in small groups. There have been a lot to explore in local nature parks, lakes and sandy beaches. Just spending time in outdoors have made so much improvement daily life that I couldn’t image having quarantined in any other place.
However corona pandemic made this spring pretty special for studies, I could still make some comparison what it comes for the studies itself. I could see right away that the atmosphere in Filmbyen is pretty similar, like our studies at the Mediapolis. Studies are more hands on production, problem solving and group working. Some differences I could still see in course structures, since here the studies are in three different modules for the minor. As in our study minor we have more freedom over courses during the minor. Both have its benefits, but I felt more motivated about the module based program which were more structured to one topic and technology at the time, instead of having multiple topics whole minor. Overall study experience have been really interesting with visiting lecturers, groups tasks and online working.
I can fully recommend Aarhus as an easy going vibrant place for studies and living. Especially encouraging our media and film students to discover possibilities of new media in an inspiring environment.
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