Details

• Finland
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

For the preparation I would say that it is important to look at what geographic location you would generally want to go to, as everything changes from that. For me, I knew I wanted to try a northern country that has pretty cold winters, as I really enjoy winter sports and knew that Scandinavian and Nordic countries have a high standard of education. Also, getting some information about the interviewing professor could help you in the interview, as you know a little bit about the direction the interview can go.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation is generally pretty easy to get in Helsinki as long as you apply early through HOAS. I got a student flat with 5 other exchange students from the same university in Pasila, which is a pretty convenient location as you have a huge shopping mall with 24/7 grocery stores within walking distance, are 7 minutes from the center of Helsinki, and about 30 minutes from the university. As the accommodation in Pasila was just for exchange students, it was really nice and easy to get to know people, which made it a really great experience. One negative was that in our building there were some issues with homeless people trying to get inside, but we informed the police and the accommodation host and they resolved it. Private accommodation is also available but is way more expensive (Usually more than double, I paid 470€)

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is bigger compared to WU as it consists of 3 universities merged into one campus. The business building is really new and I spent most of my time there, either studying or attending lectures, as almost all master courses are held there along with some bachelor courses. Make sure to visit the Aalto Design Factory as it is a nice hangout area free for students, and you can also get 24/7 access with a keycard that can be acquired through an online "test." The academic culture is more relaxed compared to WU but still maintains a high level of quality. The exams are easier than at WU but there are more essays and case-based courses. The cool thing is that you can choose master level courses as a bachelor student, and I would highly recommend it as these were the best courses I had.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Helsinki is pretty chill as everything just works. Public transport is very easy and reliable in the Helsinki area, although a bit more expensive than in Vienna. The city is in general very safe, also at night, with the only exception being the areas around some train stations, though even there you will usually find police or security. A lot of parties and events are held on campus, organised by the student clubs, so one tends to spend most of their time there. There are some clubs in the city but a bit less than in Vienna. Where Helsinki really shines is the opportunity to do almost every sport for pretty cheap. I did ice skating and ice hockey in the winter for free and played padel/tennis in the spring for about 5€ per person. There are also a lot of swimming pools and gyms everywhere, all reasonably priced. You can also run or walk in parks, which are everywhere.

6. Testimonial

The exchange semester in Helsinki was one of the best decisions I made, offering a refreshingly different pace of life. Getting to experience a true winter for 2+ months was incredible, and playing ice hockey in Helsinki with Finns and other exchange students is something I will never forget. Make sure to go on the KY Lapland trip and in general enjoy the Finnish student culture with their parties and traditions. That is when you will truly get the best out of the exchange! :)