Details

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

1. Preparation

Register with Housing in Helsinki (Hoas) in advance because it is the best opportunity for a cheap stay.

2. Accommodation

Many exchange students get a room through Hoas. Register on time before the deadline, as this is the easiest and by far the cheapest option for housing (around €400). Unfortunately, I was unlucky enough not to get a place through Hoas and ended up finding a room through an Aalto Telegram group, which was also very cheap (subletting in a Hoas apartment). Otherwise, there was also the option of Noli Studios, which are very good but unfortunately also very expensive (€700-1100 per month). Like most people, I lived in Espoo, which was very convenient for Aalto. I felt very comfortable there, but the location wasn't particularly nice. Espoo is basically just apartments and malls, but there's nothing going on. It's important to live near a metro station so you can get to Helsinki and the university quickly and easily.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is quite big and there is a building for the business school. It's very nice because you see everyone every day. Overall, exchange life is really great. It's easy to get to know other exchange students and the university organizes lots of events. The courses are usually interesting, but attendance is often compulsory.

5. Every day life in the host country

You spend a lot of time at university. I usually ate lunch and dinner in the cafeteria because it was always cheap, quite good, and also very sociable. Alcohol is very expensive, but since there are lots of university parties it is fine. The university also organizes a few trips (Tallinn, Lapland, cottage trip).

6. Testimonial

It was a really great exchange. The trips that were organized for us were really great, and the other exchange students made the time unforgettable. I also really liked the sauna culture, which is really part of everyday life there.