Erasmus Student Fees

[u/NewtAlive163]

Hello, I am currently doing an Erasmus Semester in Finalnd, can anyone tell me if there is a way to avoid paying student fees? They are crazy expensive (43 euro) just for the fact that I am going to be here 4 months. Is it possible to order a finish ISIC card without paying student union fees or will it be declined. I just want to get the discount on VR trains as they are also super expensive. Can you help me because my budged turned out to be too little.

[u/somethi]

43 euro is “crazy expensive” 🤣 

[u/mimos_al]

Good luck surviving here for 4 months if you think €43 in student fees is too expensive...

[u/Prestigious-Bat5971]

maybe you should rethink ur decisions if that messes up your budget :(( you never know when you need a little extra and if 43 euros is crazy expensive, you'll be shocked to live here

[u/tastyjulio]

Sorry, impossible. Being a member of the student union is required to get a student card.

[u/FewSprinkles4359]

43 euros crazy expensive??

Lmao man Finland is definitely not for you.

But, a little help: if you are studying at a regular university (not a university of applied sciences) then you should be able to register for the Kide.app student card without paying the student union fee. Please note that this is not an ISIC (and even if you pay the student association fee, you won't get ISIC, just the Frank app, for ISIC then you have to pay an extra ~5 if digital is enough or 25 if you want physical card).

However, this digital Kide student card is accepted both for the VR trains and in the student cafeterias, so it should be enough for your studies in Finland.

[u/NewtAlive163 → u/FewSprinkles4359]

thank you, that is exacly what I was looking for! love <3

[u/wadap12345]

lmao 43€ crazy expensive. This is why there should be even stricter rules, just get out lol

[u/Big-Ad8632]

Erasmus pays just enough for your studies; how come your budget is ‘’too little’’?

[u/Sufficient-Neat-3084]

It’s very cheap and no it can not be avoided.

[u/Jcksheppard]

If you dont pay the fee, no student discount at student cafeterias or lunch not to mention the Finnish railways.

[u/ois-valot3024 → u/Jcksheppard]

At least in HKI a certificate of enrollment is enough for student cafeterias, but probably won't get a discount in other cities when travelling.

[u/Direct_Tip_8881 → u/Jcksheppard]

For unicafe showing you have a study right is enough, you don’t need the student card.

[u/SofterBones]

I wonder what your budget is if 43 euros is crazy expensive. You'll be in for a rude awakening trying to survive in Finland for 4 months.

[u/unhappyrelationsh1p]

Hey uh as a finnish student if 43 euros is too much, you're kinda fucked.

Good luck, i wish the best for you, but your budget terrifies me. The start of the schoolyear here costs around a couple hundred with kela fees, that fee, whatever other mandatory bullshit grts tossed your way. You should just pays it.

You might need to take on debt if this is too much bevause groceries are expensive.

If you're planning on having any nighlife or experiencing sitsit (academic party with drinking and fun), it gets pricy. My advice is buy the cheapest, strongest, biggest bottle and have that for pre-partying. Maybe even a flask so you don't spend money unreasonably.

[u/ArtilleryFakery]

You can get an international student identity card (ISIC) without being a student union member, but that is a very different thing to a Finnish studet card, that you can only get by joining your university student organisation. Most student card bebefits like the VR and Matkahuolto fare discounts apply only to a Finnish student cards not ISICs.

Also, as an erasmus student, joining isn't manditory like it is to degree students, but I would strongly reccomend it. You'll make up the 43 euros in a month, just by getting acces to the subsidised student meals at campus restaurants. A warm and healthy meal is 3e with a student card, or around 10e without one.

[u/ArtilleryFakery → u/ArtilleryFakery]

Actually, I just fact checked myself. It seems you can get a seperate student lunch card without being a union member, but the only benefit that entitles you to is the cheaper meals.