Category: Student stories

Posted on

First two weeks in Helsinki

Written by Andreas Hansen, Germany

Helsinki! You made it! You have succeeded in the application process and reached a new level in your personal development. All your worries are left behind, and the dream rapidly materialises. It is time to embrace your studies, the city, new people and surely new friends. As the joy might slowly fade away and the grey reality of life’s triviality hits you hard, it is about time to get out and embrace your new home. Afterall the daughter of the Baltic waits for you, so do not let her wait for too long!

My first weeks at the university were packed with loads of welcoming events that ensured a smooth start to my studies and the life outside of the lecture halls. In this article, I would like to introduce you to some things I enjoyed in the last two weeks!

CISSI A question you will stumble upon quite frequently if you study at a programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences is, have you heard of CISSI? Short CISSI is the student organisation for International Social Scientists and offers a perfect meeting place for all Internationals and those locals who are interested in exchange within an international atmosphere. So, to all exchange students out there who seek to escape the infamous ERASMUS bubble, this is your chance! Those of you who raise their eyebrows and regret not being a social scientist, don’t worry I am not either and yet I mingle among them enjoying the company.

Chamber Choir EOL Do you feel the urge to sing in a choir and want to meet some Finns? The Chamber Choir EOL might be the right place for you. Even though my humble singing skills were not enough to pass the auditions, this should not stop you from trying! I have no musical experience after all, except for some sessions in Karaoke Bars and the daily singing under the shower… may someone have mercy with my flatmates, as I have a certain lack of it.

Centre of HelsinkiStrolls around the city. I have heard many things about the beauty of Nordic Skies, and I am not talking about Northern Lights, a phenomenon of beauty without a doubt but also not a daily sight. I am talking about the daily sunsets in the city! Just imagine walking calmly around the city, enjoying the sounds of bypassing trams and other pedestrians. Well don’t imagine it, do it instead!

One of Helsinki's many bookstoresBookstores and Libraries Do you love books? If you do, you will certainly understand my passion for bookstores and libraries. If you don’t, well university life will certainly force you to enter these temples of knowledge anyway. In any case, the libraries and bookstores of this city are a delightful place to be and are certainly inviting you to stay for a bit longer. In general, Helsinki is far from being a hectic and fast city, but time simply stops in the bookstores and libraries placing you in a state of meditation and calmness. Just stay for a moment and appreciate a moment of intimacy. No matter if its Kaisa-talo, Oodi or the Academic Book Store.

Lectures Of course, does the life of a student also consist out of lectures and despite all these things around us we shouldn’t forget our studies. This might seem a bit strict and patronizing, but if you know how the lectures and seminars are conducted you will know that it is not. Teachers are really enjoying the things they are doing and are very happy to explain things you might have understood wrong and are up to debate issues which are critically approached by you or your fellow students. If you are unsure whether your question seems worth asking, please do not hesitate and state your question(s). In the end, we are all in it together and learn from each other. A sentence often used but indeed lived at our university. That’s why I am openly admitting that lectures are something I probably enjoyed the most in my first two weeks!

 

Posted on

The Perfect Time For a Master’s Degree

Written by Leah Martin, USA

The day I graduated with a bachelor’s degree, it was hot and humid in my home state of Minnesota. The sun beat down on my black robe as I walked to the ceremony where I would accept my diploma. Other graduates may have been anxious, but I was confident.

Why?

Because I had a 5-year plan:

Work for 3 years.
Gain some experience.
Apply to graduate school.
Graduate with a Master’s before age 26.

Sounds perfect, right?
WRONG. 

Before I knew it, 6 years had flown by.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY 5-YEAR PLAN?? 

In those 6 years, I had learned a million different things- like how to manage projects, secure funding for non-profits, host community events, and recruit volunteers. Yet, I had also found places where my knowledge was lacking. When I came across the Intercultural Encounters Master’s Programme at the University of Helsinki, it felt like the perfect fit. The description matched the themes of my work history and the courses were in the exact areas where I craved education.

I would love to say that I applied right then and there and that the rest was history, but it wasn’t that speedy. First, I did my research and made sure that the University of Helsinki was a great school (it is). Then, I talked to professors, friends who had visited Helsinki, and consulted with my partner, to see how we would make a big move work. After a whole year of thinking and a whole lot of encouragement, I finally got up the nerve to apply. I applied to the University of Helsinki in January, and in April I got an email saying I was accepted!

Which brings us to here and now… with me writing from my Helsinki apartment, eating Karelian pie, listening to Nordic folk music, and brushing up on my basic Finnish.

Eating a Karelian pie and brushing up on basic Finnish.

Did my plan go exactly as I imagined?

Well, no.
But despite what I thought upon graduation, there is no perfect time to go to graduate school.

As we get older, our opportunities grow but so do our responsibilities. There are real hurdles that stand in the way:
Lack of money
Lack of information
Lack of resources
There are also excuses:
“I’m too old”
“I’m too busy”
“Its too hard”

If I wanted to study, I had to make the decision and move forward, leaving the 5-year plan behind me. I learned that a whole lot of people were willing to help make the experience a success.

So, wish me luck on my first round of classes. And if you’re thinking of taking a leap of faith into the Baltic Sea of studies…do it! I’d be happy to help make your dream a reality.

 

 

Posted on

Our City Centre Campus

Before I came to study in Helsinki, I had absolutely no idea what to expect of the city centre campus. I had been to Helsinki before and had no idea I was walking right on campus when I was touristing the city! I was surprised to find that not only is it in the very heart of the city, it is also quite beautiful –  a mix of old and new in a perfect constellation. Every time I have class at our main building, I can peek out the window and see our divine cathedral – Helsinki’s stunning landmark. I’ve been here for more than 6 months, and I still have to pinch myself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could write several paragraphs about the Senate Square, where the cathedral is located, but it’s not actually part of campus. The yellow building in the picture, however, is! That’s our main building (päärakennus), and the cathedral is literally right next to it. The square is huge, and it is a very popular tourist hotspot. You’ll be listening to lectures with the sound of tourist buses dropping off and picking up! In Nov/Dec, there’s a nice Christmas market, so you can leave class and go straight to the baked Christmas goodies and the warm glögi.

On the other side of the main building, you have Think Corner (Tiedekulma). This building looks like a sauna on the inside (not a coincidence!) and it’s also cozy and warm. Very sauna-like.

 

There’s a super cool gift shop where your uni apparel needs are sure to be met. There’s a lot of events and discussions on every week, and you’ll be sure to walk in on a few during your time in Helsinki. Think Corner also has a nice café, where, as a student, you can get discounted lunches. There’s plenty of spots for studying and chilling out. There’s even bean bags!

On the 2nd floor, you’ll see Helsinki Think Company, the beloved entrepreneurship society of the university. If you have a secret dream of becoming an entrepreneur, this is where you can go and get help, inspiration and meet likeminded people. In the basement of Think Corner, you’ll find multiple floors of our exercise service, UniSport. They also have a location opposite Think Corner, in Porthania.

If you feel the need to leave Think Corner – after your exercise, nutritional and entrepreneurial needs have been met – you can go to our wonderful main library, Kaisa. An architectural masterpiece with all the knowledge you could ever need! Take some time to roam around the floors and explore the hidden gems. On the last floor, you get a nice view of the cathedral. Hard to study with a view that good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you find yourself hungry, fear not! We have a wide array of our wonderful UniCafés around the city centre campus. You could go to the one in the main building, Metsätalo, Soc&Kom, Porthania or Ylioppilasaukio. For just €2.60 (with a student card or the Frank-app), you get a delicious and filling meal with a main dish, free selection from the salad bar, a side (rice, potatoes and the like) and a drink (juice, plantbased or cow milk).  Be sure to download the Unicafé-app, so you can check which café has the tastiest meal on the day you’re looking to eat! There’s always a nice selection of vegan and vegetarian meals, and you’ll be sure to leave UniCafé refreshed and with newfound energy.

There are so many more things that make our city centre campus an awesome place to be, but I’m gonna stop here and hopefully leaving you wanting for more. I hope to see you around exploring and taking advantage of all the nice places our campus has to offer! If you arrive here as an international student, make sure you ask your tutor for a tour around campus so you get to know it during your first days here. It’s the perfect way to start your new life here!

If you have any questions about our city centre campus or about student life in Helsinki, feel free to email me on sofie.gregersen@helsinki.fi!

Posted on

Finding work in Finland!

My name is Alexandra, I graduated from the University of Helsinki Faculty of Law (International Business Law master degree) in May 2017. In this blog post, I want to take you through one of the most exciting journeys I encountered during my master studies, that is, making the first steps in the career!

During almost two years of my master studies (I started in August 2015), I managed to find my first summer job in Finland, working as a legal trainee across two countries and doing pro bono work as a student-lawyer and then as a tutor of Helsinki Law Clinic. As any (international) student, I was drowning in a flow information about job, internship and trainee possibilities from very first days of my studies at the Faculty of Law, during orientation week. Of course, writing about exciting intellectual property protection cases or tax analysis would be too specific, so I decided to come up with some universal advice that sheds some light on employment possibilities for international students that the University of Helsinki helps to achieve. Continue reading “Finding work in Finland!”

Posted on

February Fun and Frolicks!

Text and photos: International Student Ambassador Coordinator Sara Haapanen

You may have noticed that the shops are bursting with cakes right now, and unless you’re on a diet it’s a time to indulge a little. And of course, there is a reason behind it all.

You have probably seen some little golden brown almond towers topped with a blob of raspberry jam and a circle of icing, these are called Runeberg cakes. Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804–1877) is the national poet of Finland, the author of a poem which is now proudly the lyrics of the Finnish national anthem. Legend had it that his wife made him these cakes and they are produced every year as a little celebration. He has his own flag day too, 5th February, so eat cake and give a little toast to Finnish history. Continue reading “February Fun and Frolicks!”

Posted on

Autumn

Text: International Student Ambassador Min Wang

Hi everybody! This is the best time to experience the autumn of Helsinki. Trees are getting colorful and appealing now. A little bit raining day may let you down but anyway you deserve to hang out for a while and explore some interesting things to do. Here are some suggestions and hope you like them.

Continue reading “Autumn”

Posted on

Exams are here!

Text: International Student Ambassador Iftekhar Chowdhury

The Finnish education system is considered to be the best in the world for many reasons. This praise stems from the main aim of the system: bridge the gap between different pupils by making them more responsible for their own education and provide them with the necessary skills to become an upstanding individual of the society. It is a holistic approach towards education and life. It made Finland became a beacon for better education in the world arena. Finnish University education is a reflection of these principles. One important part in any educational experience are exams or tests or Tentti (“test” in Finnish). Unfortunately, one has to take exams at University level to better align ourselves with the world education system.

Exams are stressful at times (Yes, Even in Finland). Examination process is not uniform around the world and can be extra stressful for people who are not familiar with them. Let me be your guide and I will try to explain it as briefly as I can.

Continue reading “Exams are here!”

Posted on

Beyond Helsinki (vol. 1)

There is a joke or even misconception among Helsinki-dwellers that there is not much to see or do beyond Kehä III, the ring road furthest from the city centre. But there is indeed a lot more to Finland than just Helsinki! Here we have listed three urban centres worth paying a visit to. Finnish nature deserves a whole other blog entry, so let’s just focus on some cities this time! In this instance, they are all around one to two hours away from Helsinki, which is ideal for a day trip if you want to also save some money and not have to pay for accommodation.

  • Tampere

Tampere is sometimes given the nickname “Manchester of Finland” due to its industrial heritage. Have a walk around the so-called Finlayson area, where most of the old, red brick factory buildings are located. If you have a bit of time, go into the Finnish Labour Museum Werstas – admission is free! A museum I have found particularly interesting is the Spy Museum, which is as cool as it sounds: there are lots of gadgets and interesting stories to learn about. And while we’re still on the topic of museums, on May 9th 2017, a Moomin Museum will open in Tampere Hall. It will be the only museum of Moomin art in the world, so it will definitely be worth a visit!

Continue reading “Beyond Helsinki (vol. 1)”

Posted on

A roof over your head in Finland!

Come spring all the lucky and talented students who had applied at the University of Helsinki will receive their acceptance letters. Congratulations! We will be so glad to have you here with us. Go on, accept your study place and book your tickets for the incredible journey you are about to begin. But remember to apply for housing well ahead in time so that you may have a roof over your head (place to stay?) when you begin your studies in fall.

Continue reading “A roof over your head in Finland!”

Proudly powered by WordPress