Details

• Finland
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

Before my exchange, I prepared by gathering information about Helsinki, as I had never visited the city before. I read about the city online, looked through other students' exchange reports, and checked the typical weather conditions for the semester. Based on this, I bought warm clothing and also prepared for potential trips during my stay. I compared different accommodation options to find a place that was not too far from the university. In addition, I explored the university's website to get a better idea of the campus and academic environment. Overall, I tried to prepare myself as well as possible for living and studying in a new city. I also looked into different travel options, including routes that would allow me to use the Green Travel option. There were interesting possibilities involving buses and ferries, but in the end I decided to fly because I was travelling with two large suitcases and the flights were relatively cheap.

2. Accommodation

Before my exchange, I compared as many accommodation options as possible. I found several reasonably priced apartments online, and Hanken's exchange coordinator also sent a few accommodation suggestions by email. However, I was specifically looking for a shared apartment, as I thought it would be helpful to already have people around me when arriving in a new city. Since I could not find many shared flats on my own, I decided to accept an offer from HOAS. HOAS manages several student residences across Helsinki and assigns accommodation based on your preferences. I lived in a six-person apartment with other exchange students. The apartment itself was quite basic and not very spacious, but it was affordable and made it easy to meet new people. Living with several flatmates was a lot of fun, although it could sometimes be a bit overwhelming. I would recommend asking for a three-person apartment instead, as they offer more living space and privacy for the same price. If you prefer living alone, I would recommend looking for private accommodation, as you can likely find a nicer apartment for a similar or even lower price. I stayed in HOAS Pasila. The location was very convenient, with excellent public transport connections, and it took only about 25 minutes to get to Hanken. The only downside was that the residence is located next to a shopping mall that is known as a gathering place for people with drug addiction. At first, this took some getting used to, as you occasionally saw unpleasant situations, but I never felt unsafe or had any negative experiences.

3. Academic life at host university

Compared to WU Vienna, Hanken is much smaller, which creates a more personal and familiar atmosphere. The campus reminded me of my former school, and after only a week it felt like I had already seen most of the other students. This made it much easier to get to know people and build connections. The professors were very friendly and approachable. At Hanken, everyone addresses each other by their first name, which further strengthens the informal atmosphere. The teaching style places a strong emphasis on group work, presentations, and active discussions between students and professors. Almost every course also included guest lectures from professionals, including Hanken alumni working in the respective fields. They shared valuable insights and real-life experiences, which made the course content more engaging and helped connect the theoretical concepts to practical applications. One course that I particularly enjoyed was Branding Project. As part of the course, we worked in teams on a competition organized by L'Oréal, where we developed our own product concept and presented our final pitch to employees of the company. This was a great opportunity to apply what we had learned in a practical setting

5. Every day life in the host country

Helsinki is a very clean and safe city. Throughout my exchange, I rarely encountered situations where I felt uncomfortable or unsafe. The public transport system is excellent and makes it easy to reach almost any part of the city within about 30 minutes. However, if you are staying during the cycling season, I highly recommend renting the public city bikes, which cost around €10 per month. They are often the fastest way to get around and are very convenient for daily travel. There are plenty of opportunities for social activities. Hanken organizes events almost every week, and if there is nothing that interests you, it is easy to find other events and activities around the city. Helsinki also offers beautiful walking routes, interesting museums, and many great cafés and bars where it is easy to meet new people. One of the most enjoyable ways to experience the local nightlife and meet both locals and other students is by joining a pub crawl in the Kallio district. Since I was in Helsinki during the colder months, playing outdoor football—my usual sport at home—was not really an option. Instead, I joined a gym and regularly played padel with classmates. Once the weather gets warmer, there are many free outdoor sports facilities and activities available, so it is easy to stay active throughout your exchange.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester in Helsinki exceeded all of my expectations and was one of the best experiences of my studies. I met incredible people from all over the world, made friendships that will last far beyond the semester, and got to experience a completely different student culture. From unforgettable Hanken traditions like the legendary sitsit parties to amazing trips to Lapland, Stockholm, and Tallinn, there was always something exciting happening. The absolute highlight was celebrating Vappu in Helsinki – the city's biggest student festival and an experience I would recommend to everyone. If you are considering an exchange at Hanken, I can highly recommend it – it is an experience full of great memories, new perspectives, and opportunities that you will not forget.