10 Things to Know Before Moving to Finland

You have been accepted or are thinking about coming to Tampere University? Here are ten things I wish I had known before moving to Finland as a student.

If you are an international student, there might be some things that are helpful to know before moving to Finland. You might have already read many tips and tricks on the internet and of course, what you want to know also depends a little bit on you, your preferences, what you will study, and more. I can’t provide you with the perfect preparation because many things you will have to experience yourself and that is also a good thing. Because what would the world be if you couldn’t learn new things by doing them. Still, this is my list of ten things that I would have liked to know before coming here. Maybe you find some of it helpful and it will provide a smooth start for you. 


The first section is about how to get to Tampere and how to get around as that might be the first task you will have to figure out:
 

1. Trains are cheap, busses even more so

Compared to my home country, trains in Finland are quite cheap even when you book a train on the same day. There are discounts for students, although you will only get that once you have a student card. The only exception to this are the night trains, which you have to book quite in advance to get a good price. You can always check the routes and prices on vr 

Be aware that Swedish is the second language in Finland and all place names on trains and train stations are written in Finnish and Swedish. For example, when you arrive at the airport in Helsinki and want to travel to Tampere by train, you have to change in Tikkurila/Dickursby. A friend of mine was quite confused by the different names, so I hope this warning helps you.  

Two signs at a trainstation show the two different names of Turku/Åbo
An example of the Finnish and Swedish name of Turku at the trainstation

There are also some long distance bus operators, such as Onnibus that can be even cheaper than the trains.  

2. How to use the public transport in Tampere

Once you have arrived in Tampere, you might want to get on a bus or tram. When getting on the tram, you can enter every door, but you have to scan or buy your ticket once you are inside. There are instructions on the city’s public transport operator’s website on how to get a ticket. 

To get on a bus, you have to first wave at it to stop. Then, you can only enter at the front where you will also have to buy or scan your ticket. The bus drivers only open the back door for wheelchairs and children’s buggies. If you have a lot of luggage, they might open the back door if you ask the driver really nicely, but they might also refuse.  

3. Doors are always a surprise

This might sound stupid, but Finnish doors can be very confusing. It might vary a lot between places, but at least here you often have to press a button or push a little lever at the same time as pushing the door handle or the door open. Or, you might have to open two doors to get into/out of your apartment. They might also lock in different directions, even within the same building. Also, some doors that look like they should open at university are actually just closed. In addition, most apartment buildings don’t have doorbells. Some might give you an access code or an app that you can use to open the door for your friends when they come to visit you. However, many of my friends and I have to go downstairs to open the door for people, which can be quite annoying if you like to host events for friends like I do. 

Three different doors with three different kinds of handles

Would you be able to tell how to open the doors here?

Now, you have found your apartment and you want to settle in and settle official matters. 

4. Authentication is everything

In Finland, you will need your online identity for everything. Usually, this means having a Finnish bank account or a Finnish phone number to prove your identity. For university services, you will need to get an App on your phone to prove your identity. Pretty much any website that is somewhat official, like the student healthcare services, will require you to prove your identity in some way. There are sometimes other options available, but they can be quite complicated or just not work as they are supposed to. So, I would recommend to get a Finnish bank account quickly if you can.  

5. The grade system is special

In Finnish universities, you have grades from 0-5, with 5 being the best grade you can get. 0 means that you have failed, but 1 already means that you have passed and everything between 1 and 5 is just a scale of how well you have passed. For me personally, I have rarely gotten anything worse than a 3, but that might also depend on what you are studying and obviously how good your work was. But trust me, the first 5 was a bad surprise initially because where I’m from that is the second to worst grade.  

6. Healthcare is good, but different

I would say the standard of healthcare is pretty good in Finland. However, as a student you are getting your healthcare through FSHS/YTHS, which comes with its unique challenges. As mentioned before, you need to have strong authentication to log into their website. The only other option to get an appointment is to call them. Once you have left your number with them, they will call you back to figure out what you need treatment for and then make the appointment with you. Usually, the first person you’ll meet is a nurse and you will only be referred to a doctor if the nurse sees a need for it. Of course, if you have something urgent, you can go to the hospital or the local health center. 

After having settled in a bit, you might want to explore what Finland and its student life has to offer. In short, you want to have some fun:  

7. Saunas

Sauna might be new to you, or you might have already experienced it before. Either way, the relationship to saunas is different here. Pretty much every household has access to a sauna and there are approximately three million saunas for roughly five million people. If you rent privately, you might have one in your apartment; if you rent from TOAS or POAS, there is likely one in your building that you can book through an online tool without paying for it. There are also many public saunas and Tampere is even the sauna capital of the world with roughly 70 public saunas and the oldest, still running sauna of Finland. I can’t teach you all about sauna etiquette or the sauna tontu, but only give you some basic hints. Usually, saunas will have their rules somewhere and sauna events – yes, those happen frequently in student culture specifically – will also let you know the details beforehand. Generally, if the sauna is mixed-gender, you likely will have to wear bathing suit, if it is separate, people are naked. Make sure, you drink enough water and pay attention to your body, especially if you are not used to sauna. And, if you are up for it, it is definitely an experience to ice bathe after sauna in the winter.  

8. Wappu

Wappu is the biggest student celebration in Finland and Tampere hosts the longest Wappu each year. It is celebrated in the lead-up to May 1st and offers many events for students that are integral to Finnish student culture. Especially as an international student, it can be great to learn more about what makes student life here unique. If you want to learn some more about Wappu, this or this could be a good start.  

The left image shows many people wearing white caps, a black tent, and a crane on a sunny day. The right image shows a statue that has been dressed in a hockey jersey.
Wappu 2024 at the river during the Teekkarikaste

9. Go on a weekend trip

Finland itself is not country with bustling cities, but there are still places that you can travel to for a weekend. Whether you decide to go hang out at a Finnish summer cottage, to Rovaniemi, Lapland to see reindeers, huskies, and Santa in the winter, or you travel to Helsinki to go to Suomenlinna or the harbor in the summer, you can reach many places easily and have a good time there. Helsinki is only a two hour trip and while it takes longer to get to Rovaniemi, you can travel overnight if you want to. I have to admit, I haven’t seen much else in my time here, which is one of my biggest regrets. However, in the few weeks that I have left here, I will travel to Turku for a conference and also take a ferry to Tallinn, capital of Estonia. Both are three day trips and I hope I will have a good time there. You could also easily travel to Stockholm with a ferry instead, but that I have seen before. And if you are a nature person, there is much to explore, too.  

The left image shows the dome of Helsinki on top of stairs. The right image a ferry that is passing by some fortress on an island.
The dome of Helsinki and a ferry passing by Suomenlinna
The left image shows a bridge over a frozen river. The right image a person in a sledge behind a reindeer.
Rovaniemi and its reindeers

10. There’s many ways to save money

If you want to have some money for events and experiences while you are here, there are many ways to save money elsewhere. 

Student discounts 

Many places, including bars, stores, and cultural sites, offer discounts for students with their student card. Be aware that many places don’t have this discount written anywhere, but only offer it when you explicitly ask about it.  

Membership cards 

Most grocery stores and also some other places have membership cards. So, if you’re a creature of habit and you always buy in the same store, you might want to get one to get those deals and discounts.  

Water and coffee are often free with a meal 

When you go out to eat to a restaurant, water and/or coffee are often included in the meal. If you are not sure, you can always ask. The coffee might not be the best, though. 

Second hand stores 

Tampere has many second hand stores, where you can buy clothes, household items, and even furniture for very little money. There are also facebook marketplaces and Tori where you can purchase things from private sellers or sometimes even find some items for free. So, before you spend money on new things, consider if you can get them elsewhere for cheaper.  

Ok, I have to admit: I cheated a bit with the ten things, but I hope you will still find this useful. As I said in the beginning, you will still experience some things here that no one told you about and that is ok. Being an international student, especially if it’s your first time living in another country, can be a little nerve wracking, but I think it is mostly exciting and a great opportunity for you to grow.  

A female person doing a peace sign who is standing on a big square
My name is Daphne and I am a second year Game Studies student. I like books, games, movies, and traveling. I love being able to help people. And as I am about to move back home, I am sharing my wisdom with you.