Details

• Finland
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

Once you are accepted, I would start gaining as much information as possible. It can be confusing in the beginning, but being proactive is definitely worth it. First I would start with the most important things like accommodation, course selection, and I would try to make a schedule for the whole year. If these things are clear, I would find out more about other things like activities to participate in, travel destinations, food spots and so on. Being proactive in the beginning is also very important because at starting events you will be provided with valuable local information. Furthermore reading through all exchange reports is very helpful and speaking to people who have been at your destination already. I think my travel choice was convenient, because a flight to Helsinki is probably the fastest way to travel. It would also be possible by bus and fairy but that would take pretty much time.

2. Accommodation

The search for my accommodation was quite easy. In Helsinki there is HOAS where I just applied and got a suitable place. Everyone I know and who applied there got an offer. I lived in a shared apartment with 6 rooms, one shower, two toilets, two big fridges (enough), a freezer, kitchen and all things you need. The apartment was overall quite enjoyable but not big. One disadvantage was that we did not have a window in our livingroom/kitchen. The location was perfect. It was 25 min from campus, 10 min from the city center and I lived next to the Mall of Tripla, where I had many shops, restaurants and supermarkets. I would say the region and Helsinki overall is pretty safe and I never felt scared. Some homeless people hang around next to the building where I lived in sometimes but that did not bother me at all. One important thing is to be sure if you want to live alone or with other people. I would always recommend living with other exchanges because that is how you can build meaningful connections. If you need a lot of private space I would consider living alone, however a downside could be feeling lonely sometimes.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is huge and has much to offer. 9 student restaurants where you get different meals during the whole day for 3,10€. There is also a learning hub and a design factory for hanging around, studying, getting coffee, playing table tennis, and so on. The campus is also next to the sea, where you can do sports, relax in nature, or go for walks. The academic culture in the business school is the same as at WU, I would say. However, on Aalto campus, there are also other study programs, so in total, there is more diversification and people with different backgrounds. The teaching style is more personal and usually involves smaller classes. You also call your professors by their first name. I can recommend management courses in general because they often don't have an exam, but it depends on your personal interest as well.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport is a pleasure in Helsinki. Everything works with one app, and you just need to buy zone tickets that allow you to use all modes of transport. You will also get a Card in the beginning, where you can buy your ticket for the first 4 months. It is around 45€ per month. I never felt unsafe during my whole exchange, so I can not say anything about feeling unsafe. My favourite social/leisure activities where hanging around with friends, going to the gym, playing tennis and padel tennis, playing volleyball/football, and doing other sports activities. There are so many offers that I was not able to do everything that I wanted. There are also many events. You should download the kide app. That is where you can find numerous events every day. Your university and student organizations will also provide you with events.

6. Testimonial

I really enjoyed the combination of a new academic life, building meaningful connections with people all over the world, and traveling to many new destinations. I was clear about what my academic goals were, and I tried to be efficient in my studies. That gave me time to do a lot of stuff, see new places, and build friendships that will probably last forever.