Shared apartments, spare rooms and roommates in Helsinki

Finland's educational system is world-renowned for its quality, and that includes the University of Helsinki. If you want to enjoy this during your exchange, living in a shared flat is going to be the best alternative you are going to have with an average student budget. Remember that, as in the rest of the Nordic countries, the cost of living in Helsinki is very high, so you should save as much as you can.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you don't have to worry about the language, as most Finns and international students speak English. For this reason, do not be afraid to choose roommates of different nationalities and take the opportunity to learn about their cultures and habits.

Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Helsinki 

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a shared flat in the capital of Finland:

Advantages of sharing a flat in Helsinki

• It is the cheapest accommodation option for students. If you have a budget that is not very high, sharing an apartment has more opportunities to find one that includes your preferred characteristics in areas such as the centre of Helsinki or Kallio, two of the most chosen by young people.

• You will have the option to choose between single or shared rooms, in which the cost is usually even cheaper.

• Living with roommates is key to getting through winter in Finland, especially if you come from a warmer country. The winters in Helsinki are very cold and the days are very short and living in a fun environment will keep your spirits up.

Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Helsinki 

• The Finns, although they are friendly, tend to be distant and cold with people they have just met. Keep this in mind if you are going to share a flat with locals, since it may be convenient for the other roommates to come from different nationalities.

• In winter you will have to reach an agreement with your colleagues about the use of heating. Many like to live in heat and keep it on all the time! The positive thing is that the expenses are usually included in the cost of the rental.

Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Helsinki 

In the apps for Erasmus+, you will find all kinds of useful information for your exchange, both about the paperwork you have to do and about life in the city. For example, some of the tips from students that you can read are about aspects of their culture that may seem strange to you, such as that they offer coffee everywhere, that there are no blinds in the houses or about meal times.

How to meet people in Helsinki 

You can befriend your roommates, with whom you are going to spend a lot of time at home. You can also use some of the following options to meet people in the Finnish capital:

Student associations in Helsinki 

ESN Uni Helsinki is one of the most prominent student associations in the city. They organize, for example, cheap student trips to the Baltic and Lofoten countries, events in bars, visits to city sites, among others. It is a very good way to meet other students and enjoy the Finnish culture together.

Facebook groups for Erasmus in Helsinki 

Most of the Facebook groups for international students are divided according to the academic year, so choose the one that corresponds to the period in which you will be there. You will also find ESN Uni Helsinki groups and other organisations, such as Erasmus Plus Helsinki.

Whatsapp groups for Erasmus in Helsinki 

The students themselves or associations create groups on Whatsapp to be in direct contact. This allows youth to introduce themselves, meet each other and find other students who have similar interests to share activities.

Tips for living in a shared apartment in Helsinki

Keep in mind the following about living in the Finnish capital:

• There are many windows in the flats that cannot be opened. Strange, right? They are only placed so that outside light enters, but they should not be opened unless it is to clean them because the wind can damage them.

• If you're going to be in Helsinki on June 23, you're in luck! That night San Juan is celebrated, in which the Finns celebrate by performing typical dances, games and a Kokko, a giant bonfire. Normally, in Helsinki, the main celebrations are held on the island of Seurasaari.

• Students of the different universities of Helsinki usually use jumpsuits with colours that represent them, be it green, blue or burgundy. Surely you will have fun doing different outdoor activities with students from your same university.

Frequently asked queries about sharing a flat in Helsinki

Flat sharing in other Erasmus cities

Flatshare in Espoo