Differences and Similarities between studying in Norway vs Finland

9.12.2024 0 Like 0 kommenttia

A whimsical journey through the educational landscapes of Finland, Norway, and a futuristic university floating on the Arctic Ocean.

The differences and similarities between studying in Norway versus Finland range from simple differences in the abundance of cutlery to subtler cultural shifts. During my recent time on planet Earth, I have had the honour of experiencing both of these majestic places. Having studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Finland for four years, I’ve come to call it my academic home, hereafter referred to as Finland University. This autumn, I ventured to Tromsø to be an Erasmus exchange student at the Academy of Arts within the Arctic University of Norway, which I will refer to as Tromsø University.  

In the North sea ice volume and extent have reduced by ~50%. This means that a vast ocean is becoming more accessible. To keep our imaginations sharp, I will include the University of the Arctic Ocean in my comparison. This fictional University will float on the Arctic ocean, and be a multicultural place of learning on Earth in 2200. I have time travelled forward and have experienced the University of the Arctic Ocean first-hand.  

Cutlery

It was a Wednesday morning at 8 am at Finland University. I arrive at the quiet halls, unpack my bag and heat up my breakfast in the mircowave. Dam, there are no spoons in the kitchen. I take the elevator to the third floor. Still no spoons. I take the elevator to the second floor. Still no spoons. I check the dishwasher. Also no spoons. I eat porridge with a fork. 

It was a Wednesday afternoon in Tromsø University. I go to make dinner and some fellow students are chatting quietly in Norwegian. I open the cutlery drawer. All I see is butter knives. I eat noodles with a butter knife. 

It is 26 pm at the University of the Arctic Ocean. I drink algae soup with a straw. 

Family

Finland University has approximately 300 students, whereas the Tromsø University has 30. This means that at Tromsø University, there are communal dinners, more hugs and I know everyone’s name. The smaller student population at Tromsø University fosters a close-knit community atmosphere, where frequent social interactions contribute to a sense of familial warmth. The culture of Tromsø and the small size of the University have led to an identity shift in me, and I have become less introverted. 

The University of the Arctic Ocean has a billion students. But they are a friendly family. 

Introducing Oneself

In Finland, I noticed a more reserved approach to greetings, where it’s common for people to acknowledge each other with a silent mouthing of ‘hello.’ This contrasted with my experiences in Tromsø, where at an art exhibition opening, I was pleasantly flabbergasted by the direct and friendly introductions, with unknown people coming to shake my hand and exchanging names. I thought, ‘is this what I could do?’ I do hope I remember to bring this with me and start introducing myself to unfamiliar people. 

At the University of the Arctic Ocean, it is also usual to introduce yourself to others. It is also surprisingly more usual to ask them strange and deep questions, such as, “Can you describe your current relationship with the sound of waves?”

Landscape

Tromsø University is surrounded by huge mountains and clear oceans. Finland University is surrounded by a sprawling city, brown Baltic Sea, forests and brown lakes. Surprisingly, the plant species composition is nearly identical. 

The Arctic Ocean University is surrounded by an endless waving blue ocean that is also 1km deep on average. 

Inner change

While being in Norway I have softened. I think it is really important that I have softened because my art is done purposefully in a soft way. By softening myself I am aligning to my artistic purpose. In Finland I rarely took weekends and nearly never slept in. Now I find myself gazing out of the bus window, going slowly, waking up without an alarm, valuing friends more than ever, reading fiction and knitting. My time outside is truly a part of my art, even though I haven’t figured out exactly how. Someone told me a story of a person who came back from an exchange and was completely changed. This has happened to me also. 

During my time at the University of the Arctic Ocean, I came to value learning more than ever. With so many courses on offer that are open to everyone, it is easy to first feel that learning is endless. But the philosophy at the University of the Arctic Ocean shows how knowledge is kept alive by being thought in our minds. 

The University

Finland University has way more courses, facilities, opportunities and events. At Tromsø University the professors are barely present. But the Tromsø University has four working wooden floor looms. In Norway, PhD students are paid. 

The University of the Arctic Ocean has even more courses and resources, and it is possible to learn x-ray photography, microbiology communication, singing with whales, sea ice history, ancient weaving and plant dying. 

One Advice

I would advise you to go on an exchange. It is really exciting and awesome. For a few years, I was too afraid to go. It is important to listen to our intuition and go at the right time. But also to not let fear stand in the way. It is simply too valuable of an opportunity to pass by. In the book of my life, this time in Norway has been a new chapter with different coloured pages. It has been a wealth of experience and knowledge.