How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Joensuu for 6 Months ?

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Auroth
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Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 6:44 pm
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Joensuu for 6 Months ?

Post by Auroth » Fri Feb 05, 2016 6:42 pm

Hello.

I'm planning to stay in Joensuu as an Erasmus student for 6 months. School will give me €500 per month. I really don't have any idea about living expenses, so will this be enough or do I need couple of euros more ?



How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Joensuu for 6 Months ?

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tanilas
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Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:29 pm

Re: How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Joensuu for 6 Months

Post by tanilas » Fri Feb 05, 2016 7:11 pm

You could survive with that money with a bit of struggle but you can't really live comfortably.

Asumming you would live in dormitories or shared student flat, the rent could go down to 200-250 euros. Then considering student prices for lunch and buses (50 + 2.6*20) 100 more. And then the rest are for personal expenses.

I almost did it for six months but it was troublesome.

All the prices I mention are based on Helsinki prices actually so it might be somehow cheaper in Joensuu.

Other people might be more precise/helpful but I just wanted to share my opinion/experience

leisl
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Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 3:26 pm

Re: How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Joensuu for 6 Months

Post by leisl » Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:07 pm

The Finnish government does not consider that enough for a student to survive on. If you look at what they expect officially from non-EU people, it's somewhere in the vicinity of €700 per month assuming you get student discounts on housing/transport. (I know this doesn't apply for you as you're EU, but they have reasons for using this figure based on research into the cost of living.)

And I am sure most people in here would agree that is barely above starving.

Your basic housing, transport, utilities will eat most of the money easily. The student lunch discounts can be pointless because in some places they'll still cost more than a student can afford.

Do not count on finding work. Most students do not and you will not be a special snowflake. I don't want to say "don't come" but if you have no savings or other income, "don't come". Check with your home government whether you can get any kind of stipend or financial support or student benefit or loans - some countries actually offer this for foreign studies.

Rip
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Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:08 pm

Re: How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Joensuu for 6 Months

Post by Rip » Sun Feb 07, 2016 3:27 pm

Do you know what your housing costs are going to be? That is the probably the biggest individual item.

Migri's limit for non-EU students is 560€/month or 280€ after housing costs. I think that is enough to survive.
http://www.migri.fi/studying_in_finland ... of_support
if you want to do spare time traveling etc, then you should budget for that.

Auroth
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Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 6:44 pm
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Re: How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Joensuu for 6 Months

Post by Auroth » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:35 am

Thanks for the answers! Im going to search what my school can do about finance, scholarships etc. I can add €500 to the Erasmus scholarship myself but it's a bit much for my family.

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wolf80
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Location: Helsinki

Re: How Much Money Do I Need to Live in Joensuu for 6 Months

Post by wolf80 » Wed Feb 24, 2016 12:32 pm

Auroth wrote:Thanks for the answers! Im going to search what my school can do about finance, scholarships etc. I can add €500 to the Erasmus scholarship myself but it's a bit much for my family.
Don't forget that you have to apply for a study residence permit at your local Finnish embassy, for which you need to be able to show that you have the means to support yourself during your stay. These should be 560 Euro/month, so in total 3,360.00 Euro. If you have paperwork from the Erasmus program that shows that you get 500 Euro/month, then you only have to prove that you have the difference in your bank account. You also have to show that you have a health insurance, I'm not sure if the Erasmus program provides one or not. (There are people in the forum much better with the exact regulations though.)
http://www.studyinfinland.fi/living_in_ ... ival/visas
http://www.studyinfinland.fi/living_in_ ... ce_permits
http://www.studyinfinland.fi/living_in_ ... _of_living

I would say realistically you should have at least 700-800 Euro a month to live like a human being, and be able to have a bit of a social life. Joensuu is far away from... well, anything, so if you want to see other places in Finland you should reserve some money for traveling.

You could apply for student housing, or look for a flat share yourself. Maybe you get lucky and find something cheap that keeps your costs down.
http://www.joensuunelli.fi/en/


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