Details

• Finland
• MAMgmt-14
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Hanken is a very small business Swedish business university in the heart of Helsinki. So definitely much more intimate than WU. I really encourage students to choose Hanken, even though it was not my first choice, I would definitely choose it again for an exchange semester.

2. Accommodation

I lived in HOAS where all the other exchange students who went to Hanken also lived. So I was the perfect place to live! Also, the location, Pasila, was extremely good (Mall of Tripla right next to it, gym and sauna very near, only 20min to Hanken). Pasila is not the most beautiful district but the location is still unbeatable. I lived in a 6-room shared apartment with one kitchen, two bathrooms and one shower. This sounds really limited at first but honestly is the most fun way to live in an exchange semester! There are also 3- room shared apartment which are also very good. I would advice against a single room.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is basically one relatively small building, which is very inconspicuous, it feels much like a school. Many courses do not require you to be there. There are a few fixed days per course when you have to be there, but otherwise you can choose for yourself. I only had one exam in total (Behavioral Economics - Wirtschaftspolitik at WU). The rest were always assignments (papers, group work, cases, videos). So it's relatively easy to get good grades because you always have lots of different tasks. There is a Mensa at Hanken (1,80€ for students), which is okay. The Student Cafe's located around the city are better for price/value (2,95€ and bigger portions)

5. Every day life in the host country

Very good public transport and Finland in general is very safe as people are very quiet and polite. There is generally very little going on in Helsinki, you don't notice that it is a big city. I loved to go to the Sauna, so I did that a lot! It is really a great way to get to know the Finnish culture, how Finns live, and also get in contact with Finns, as they like to talk to you in the Sauna. (I went to Mäkelänrinteen Uimahalli, it combines a gym, sauna, and swimming pools) Also, a lot of events are planned by the Exchange Committee.

6. Testimonial

At first, I didn't know what to expect in Finland, but it exceeded all my expectations! The university was organised in such a way that international students had plenty of time to travel, and still, the courses were interesting. Finns are very pleasant, friendly, and calm people. Still, the events are always fun, and Finns like to have a drink or two. The sauna culture will remain part of my daily routine because I don't want to miss it anymore! I can only recommend Finland and Hanken!