Weather in Oulu

Some of you have asked about the weather in Oulu in August.

While August is normally thought of as the warmest summer month in Finland, the last few years have shown that it might, in fact, also be rather cold and rainy. The Foreca.fi 10-day forecast (http://www.foreca.com/Finland/Oulu?tenday) promises both rain and sunny, hot days ahead, so pack a bit of everything!

Also, no matter where in Finland you'll be spending your exchange period, it is not a bad idea to pack warm clothing for the winter. If you don't have a winter coat, or if you can't get it to fit in your luggage, you can buy one from here. :)

OPENING CEREMONY

The EILC course begins on Monday August 5 at 09:15 in the classroom SÄ102. During the Welcome Ceremony, you will:

- be offered a light breakfast, courtesy of the the EILC course
- be introduced to the staff and your fellow students
- attend an Orientation session, which will give you a lot of important information on the course curriculum and living in Oulu

Afterwards, you will tour the campus and downtown Oulu with your tutor student, and have a chance to sign tenancy leases at the PSOAS office and purchase a monthly bus pass, which is not mandatory, but which we recommend.

How to find SÄ102?

If you live on Yliopistokatu or Tellervontie, the campus is only a short walk away. If you live in Tirolintie, take a bus toward north (away from the city center) using one of the following bus lines: 4, 16, 19. Get off the bus at Yliopisto P and head towards the door 2T.

Once inside, follow the little map above. You should turn right after a glass display of arctic wildlife, walk over the Aula restaurant, past some constuction work, and finally, when you arrive at the foot of a gray stairway, you should turn right. The classroom SÄ102 is the first classroom on the right side of this corridor.

We are getting very close to the start of the EILC course! I hope all your travel arrangements are in order and that you are looking forward to the course as much as we are!

Yesterday, we sent detailed instructions on how to get to your dormitories to everyone who has informed us of their Oulu address and date and time of arrival. If you haven't yet given us this information, we urge you to do so immediately, or we won't be able to pick up your keys at the PSOAS office or make sure there will be someone to greet you when you arrive in Oulu.

Dear all,

we still need a few of you to fill in the EILC Personal Information Form! Please fill in the form as soon as possible. Please contact us at eilc@oulu.fi if you should encounter any problems.

On behalf of the EILC staff,

Tanja

UPDATE JULY 24!
Don't forget to also fill in the Arrival Notification form! If you don't let us know your address and time of arrival, we won't be able to pick up your keys at the PSOAS office or make sure there is someone to welcome you when you arrive in Oulu!

A note on the housing application process

Some of you have been asking us about the housing and whether or not it is normal that you haven't yet received an offer from the housing foundation PSOAS. Here's what I've told them:

- It is important that you apply for a room on the PSOAS website by June 30, using the instructions we have given you. This is to make sure that they reserve a room for you, as there is a limited amount of furnished rooms set aside for exchange students each semester.

- Once you've applied, you can relax! You will receive an email from PSOAS, in which they will offer you a room. You don't have to worry if you haven't received such an email yet - I've been told that the person in charge of the EILC students is on leave until the end of the month. Therefore, you can expect an email offer some time during early July!

- When you receive an offer, accept it by replying to the email and pay the deposit (250 €) and office fee (100 €) online - the necessary banking information will be included in the offer email.

- Your monthly rent can be paid online at the beginning of each month. You don't need to pay for the first month until after your arrival in Oulu.

I hope this helped clear things up! I'm sorry for the confusion - we'll try harder to make everything crystal clear next time!

THINGS TO DO IN OULU - EVENTS IN AUGUST

1.-25.8. Oulu August Festival

Oulu August Festival (Oulun juhlaviikot) is the single most important cultural event in Oulu in August. The nearly month-long Oulu August Festival celebrates art and culture in their many forms; it combines urban and rural, traditional and cutting-edge, in new and surprising ways. The range of events includes such things as:

9.-10.8. Jalometalli Metal Music Festival  

This two-day indoor metal festival is held at Club Teatria, the largest rock club in Finland. This year's big names include Slayer (US) and Blasphemy (CAN), as well as a number of other international and Finnish bands. http://www.jalometalli.net/

10.8. Likkojen Lenkki

A laid-back women's running event, plus live music and entertainment. You can choose from two routes and either run, walk or even nordic walk. http://www.likkojenlenkki.fi/english/ 

17.8. Koiteli Elää Acoustic Music Festival  

The acoustic music festival is held in Kiiminki, around 20 kilometers from Oulu, on an island in the middle of the beautiful Koiteli park area. http://www.koitelielaa.fi/

21.-23.8. Air Guitar World Championships   

A must-see! Keep playing your air guitars for world peace! http://www.airguitarworldchampionships.com/

21.-25.8. Oulu Music Video Festival 

"[A] five day celebration of music and moving pictures. The Music Video Festival is not only a rendezvous for music video professionals, but also a meeting place for film and media students - as well as for all music-loving souls alike!"  

http://www.omvf.net/

22.8. Oulu Arts Night  

Features numerous different art performances (such as visual art installations, music, literature readings, performing arts, etc) happening simultaneously in locations all around downtown! 

http://www.ouluntaiteidenyo.net/

25.8. Time Tunnel Electronic Music Festival  

Turning a proud 20 years in 2013, this oldest continuously organised festival for electronic, soul, and funk music in Finland is held at the main city theatre. http://www.handprod.com/

More information on all of these events can also be found on their own websites, as well as the August Festival site: http://www.oulunjuhlaviikot.fi/in-english

15.8. Korttelihaipakka
Korttelihaipakka is a social and cultural event which fills downtown Oulu with song and dance until late at night; the shops, cafés, restaurants on Rotuaari and the surrounding streets stay open until 11 pm, and the centre stage is taken by entertainers, fashions shows, musical performers.

18.8. Restaurant Day 

“Restaurant Day” (Ravintolapäivä) has been described as ‘a food carnival’ during which anyone can set up their own restaurant for one day. The idea originated in Helsinki in May 2011, and has since grown fantastically. Nowadays, it is celebrated in over 15 countries worldwide, with restaurants popping up in parks, street corners and even people’s own living rooms! http://www.restaurantday.org/

Make sure to check out your Oulu Guide for even more things to do! Whichever way you look at it, August is a great time to come to Oulu!

MAPS

The Oulu region online map service.

University of Oulu in Google Maps.

The Linnanmaa campus and surrounding areas in the Oulu Region Map Service.

A map of the Linnanmaa campus, interior.

COURSE FACEBOOK GROUP

In case you have difficulties finding it, here's a direct link to the course Facebook group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/192471837577570/

The group is closed, meaning you will have to apply for membership, which we will then confirm. If you're on Facebook using a fake name and you think we might not be able to decipher that it's you, please take a moment to send Tanja a message, letting her know who you are. :) This is to make sure only EILC students are admitted in the group.

CURRICULUM AND SCHEDULE

Erasmus Intensive Language Course (EILC) is a European Union project that supports smaller languages in Europe. During your four-week intensive course period you will learn the fundamentals of the Finnish language, which will enable you to take more courses and build your competence in Finnish during later studies. Moreover, the course will introduce you to Finland, Finnish culture and the Finns. All this information will help you to accommodate to your studies in your Finnish host institution later.

The EILC consists of language and culture lessons and different kinds of cultural activities. The total number of language and culture classes is 80 hours. This includes 60 hours of language lessons as well as culture lectures, visits and small group workshops led by our tutors. There are also free time activities.

Attendance is required in all the language lessons and small group seminars in order to pass the EILC course and receive the 5 ECTS credits. You are also expected to take part in all other compulsory activities. If you are unable to attend, please discuss it with Tanja, Jaana or Jukka beforehand.

At the end of August, you will receive a diploma for the attending the course as well as a grade for your performance. Your grade is based on a final exam and your performance during the course. At the end of the course we will also compile a course magazine where you get to show your creativity and share your EILC experiences.

COURSE SCHEDULE

The course in Oulu starts on Monday August 5 at 9:15. The program begins with an orientation in the morning and continues with a campus tour and city tour in the afternoon. During the city tour you will sign your housing lease and explore Oulu city centre. Your Finnish language lessons will start on Tuesday at 9:15 and during the first week we will have several get-togethers, where you have a chance to get to know your fellow EILC students and the staff.

The official program will mainly take place during the day between 9 am and 3 pm but occasionally we will organize activities also during the evening. All weekend are off! We encourage you to explore events in Oulu and see different places in Northern Finland. If you plan to travel during the course, we recommend traveling on August 17-18, August 22-23 or after the course has ended.

During the course you have a chance to participate on an excursion to Kuusamo on August 14-15. Kuusamo is a small town with beautiful nature and sceneries. The excursion will include sightseeing, a relaxed nature hike and a visit to a reindeer farm. We will spend the night in a hostel where you can enjoy sauna, a camp fire and swimming in a lake. The excursion costs at maximum 40 euros per participant. The price will cover bus trips, accommodation as well as dinner and breakfast at the hostel. The excursion is voluntary but we hope that everyone would be able to join!

On Tuesday, August 27, we will have a Culture Night, during which we look back on the course and celebrate our newfound friendships. During the Culture Night you also get a chance to showcase something from your own culture.

The course ends at noon on Wednesday August 28, which is when you will receive your course diploma.

We will update a more detailed course schedule on this page as soon as possible.

LIVING IN OULU

HEALTH SERVICES

FSHS (YTHS) Finnish Student Health Service

For students enrolled in the University of Oulu

Address: Yliopistokatu 1 A, Telephone: (+358) 46 710 1063

All appointments Mon-Thu 8-15, Fri 8-14

Kaijonharju Health Centre

For students not enrolled in the University of Oulu

Address: Kalevalantie 5, Telephone: (+358) 8 5584 4228

All appointments Mon-Thu 8-16, Fri 8-15

Take your European Health Insurance Card with you.

Oulu University Hospital: Emergency Centre

Address: Kajaanintie 50 A 1, Telephone: (+358) 8 3152655 

To be used outside of regular office hours (i.e. evenings and weekends) or in case of emergency

Take your European Health Insurance Card with you.

Medicine is sold in pharmacies (apteekki in Finnish). The nearest pharmacy is located only a few minutes from your Linnanmaa apartments (Address: Sammonkatu 14).

General Emergency Number: 112

COMPUTERS AND INTERNET

Your room will have an internet connection of 10 Mbps, which is included in the rent. Please note that the connection is not wireless, so you will have to bring your own standard Ethernet cord (or purchase one in Oulu).

There are computer labs at the University as well as University Libraries. You will receive usernames and passwords you need to access these once you arrive in Oulu.

If you want to use your own laptop, the university has a free wireless network which works everywhere within the university building. This same network (PanOulu) also works in many other public buildings such as libraries throughout Oulu.

INSURANCE

All EILC students are required to have adequate health insurance in order to attend the course. Please make sure you are insured before leaving. The insurance package must cover hospitalisation, evacuation and repatriation. This insurance must be purchased beforehand in the home country and each student is required to bring a document (in Finnish, Swedish or English) indicating the coverage of his or her insurance.

We also recommend that you bring the European Health Insurance Card with you. The card guarantees immediate health care, entitling you to medical treatments at the same price as Finnish citizens. It does not cover the costs of health care! Please consult the health authorities in your home country for more information. More information about the EHIC card here.

BANKING

You should be able to use your foreign bank account normally in Finland, especially if you can use online banking. We cannot guarantee that your debit card will work in Finnish ATMs but usually all European debit cards function normally. Credit cards should work fine. There may be an extra charge when you use your card abroad. Check details with your bank. You may open a Finnish bank account if you think you will need it; opening an account is not necessary but it is worth some consideration if you are going to stay in Finland for more than 6 months. You will have a chance to open a Finnish bank account during the city tour on Monday, August 5, or after that whenever you feel like it by visiting a bank downtown.

PHONES

Your personal phone number should work normally in Finland. However, it may be a good idea to get a Finnish phone number to cut down on phone call costs. You can purchase a prepaid SIM card and use it with your own phone (if your phone is not locked). Prepaid cards are sold, for example, in common street kiosks (R-Kioski).

PUBLIC TRANSIT

There are normally two stops by the same name on either side of the road, distinguished by the direction in which they are headed. For example, the stop called Torikatu P is located on Torikatu and heading toward the north (P = Pohjoinen = North). The bus stop on the other side of the street is called Torikatu E and headed toward the south (E = Etelä = South).

A single bus fare within the borders of the city of Oulu costs 3.30 €. It may be a good idea to purchace a monthly pass, which costs around 37 euros and allows you to ride all local buses as much as you want, day and night. After the initial activation (which you can do during the city tour on August 5) you can recharge the bus pass on board a bus every month.

Please check the bus time tables from the following links:

http://www.linjakas.fi/en/

http://www.koskilinjat.fi/aikataulut/paikallisliikenne/selected-timetables-in-english

PACKING

Summer weather in Finland is varied. Occasionally it can be very warm (+ 25 °C) but sometimes rather cool (+10 °C). The beginning of August should be warm but the temperatures will start dropping towards the end of the month. Pack enough warm clothes with you.

During the course there will be some outdoor activities. In case of rain, we recommend having a rain coat or other waterproof gear with you. Bring shoes which are comfortable for walking in nature. We also suggest taking a swimming suit so you can plunge into the beautiful Finnish lakes or the Baltic Sea.

During the EILC course or your Erasmus exchange period you may get a chance to present your culture at an event. Think of a few items that you could bring to showcase your culture (clothes, jewelry, food/recipes, music, etc.).

PRICES

It’s good for you to know that Finnish prices are rather high. A cup of coffee costs 1.30-4 euros and a beer at a bar costs generally 3.5-5 euros. An ice cream cone can set you back up to 3.5 euros.

GETTING TO CAMPUS

Getting to the university from the airport/train station

In case you arrive by plane: 

For flight times and prices, see airlines such as Finnair, Blue1 and Norwegian.

The airport of Oulu is in Oulunsalo, ca. 20 kilometres from the centre of Oulu. There is a bus connection from the airport to Oulu. The bus number is 19 and the bus stop is located right outside the terminal. The same bus will take you straight to the university - you don't have to change buses in between!

The bus costs around six euros to the Linnanmaa campus and a bit less to the centre of Oulu. Please note that between 11 pm and 4 am you will have to pay night fare which is double the day price. There are also taxi stands outside the airport. The taxi fare to Linnanmaa campus is approximately 30-40 € and a bit less to the city centre.

In case you arrive by train or by coach (long-distance bus):

Traveling by train in Finland can be quite expensive. Unfortunately, the Finnish Railway officials do not accept foreign student IDs, so your home university ID will not entitle you to a student discount. Later, when you have enrolled in your host institution and received a Finnish student card, you will be eligible for the discount for in-country travel.

A number of trains leave from Helsinki to Oulu every day. You can see time tables, durations, fares etc. on the VR (Valtion Rautatiet, National Railway) website: http://www.vr.fi/en/index.html.

Both the train and coach station are located near the city centre, right next to each other. From there, you can either take a local bus or a taxi to the university. There are three bus lines from the city center to the university, each with their own stop: 4, 16 and 19. The bus number 4 stops right by the bus station, which is located on the opposite side of the tracks to the railway station. You can also board number 4 from the centre. In order to take number 16 you have to walk down the Rautatienkatu street toward Myllytulli and turn left to Heikinkatu. Number 19 leaves from the city centre (roughly 500 metres from the train/bus station, see map). The normal city area bus fare is 3.30 €. The buses run until late at night. There are taxis located by the railway station and in the centre. A standard trip from the station to the university by taxi costs about 20 €.

Travel times to Linnanmaa are roughly 45 minutes from the Airport and 15 minutes from the city centre.

ARRIVAL NOTIFICATION FORM

Please fill in the form below as soon as you know your travel plans (once you purchase your tickets, for example). Your personal information will stay confidential and will not be accessed by anyone else than the EILC staff.

PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM

Please fill in this personal information form as soon as possible - but on June 30 at the latest! Your personal information will stay confidential and will not be accessed by anyone else than the EILC staff.

ARRIVAL & ORIENTATION

The official starting date for the EILC in Oulu is Monday, August 5, 2013. You may arrive any time you want before this date, starting on Thursday, August 1. We recommend that you arrive on Sunday around 7 p.m. at the latest, in order to have time to settle in and have a good night's rest before the beginning of the course.

If you arrive on Thursday or Friday during office hours (9-17), you can pick up your keys on campus at the EILC office. We will also be available at the office for a few hours during Saturday and Sunday afternoon for your convenience. If you arrive outside of reasonable hours (= after 7 p.m.), you can either go a ho(s)tel for the night, or try to arrange for another student to pick up your keys for you.

We begin the course on Monday, August 5 with a Welcome Ceremony and Orientation Session, during which you will gain a lot of useful information on your Finnish studies and other scheduled programme, as well as day-to-day concerns such as shopping, housing, travelling, and much more!

After the orientation, your student tutors will give you a tour of the campus and help you familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. We will also take a bus downtown, where you can sign your housing lease at the PSOAS office and buy a monthly bus pass for local buses (heartily recommended if you want to get around faster than on foot! :))

HOUSING DURING EILC

You and the rest of the course will be housed in apartments provided by the Student Housing Foundation of Northern Finland (PSOAS). The apartments are located either on the Linnanmaa campus area, a short walk away from the university, or in Alppila, about halfway between the campus and downtown Oulu. If you are staying in Alppila, you will have to take a bus to get to campus, but don't worry too much about it – there are regular buses between downtown and the university! We're working as hard as we can to try to make sure that most, if not all of you, can be housed in Linnanmaa, right on the campus.

You will be staying in apartments with one to three other international students. You will each have your own furnished room with a lock on the door, as well as a shared kitchen, bathroom and toilet. The rent will be around 240-280 euros per month and you will be able to pay it AFTER you arrive in Oulu. We know that the rent can seem quite high, but it's still quite affordable by Finnish standards. Also, please remember that your rent includes all the utilities, such as water, electricity, and an internet connection (10 Mbps).

It is very important that you submit your housing application to PSOAS online and pay your deposit, using the instructions in the welcome letter we sent you, ON SUNDAY JUNE 30 AT THE LATEST! If you do not do so, you risk not receiving a housing offer from PSOAS. In this case, you have to find housing somewhere else, and this can be very difficult and expensive in Oulu!

If you stay at the University of Oulu as an exchange student after the EILC course, you can keep your room until the end of your exchange. Please note, however, that the University of Oulu and the Oulu University of Applied Sciences are two different institutions - if you are an exchange student at the Uni of Applied Sciences, you will have to apply for separate housing starting in September, using instructions provided in your letter of acceptance.