Avainsana: Metropolia Business School
International opportunities at Metropolia from a student’s perspective
Hi! My name is Augusto Asis de Barros, and I’m a student of International Business and Logistics and worked as an International Relations intern at Metropolia. During my studies at Metropolia, I had the opportunity to participate in various international exchanges in Germany and the Netherlands, which I discovered while exploring Metropolia's internal announcements website. Applying for the exchanges was easy and required little effort, since the instructions for mobility are straightforward to understand and cover all the most important requirements. The first exchange I had the chance to go on was for a summer course in 2023, related to Industrial Heritage and Sustainability. It was a joint programme of the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH), the Berlin Centre of Industrial Culture (bzi), and the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW). This exchange helped me network with people from different backgrounds and cooperate to develop a concept or project related to both industrial heritage and sustainability. It was an experience full of learning, teamwork, and also a nice way to explore a big city like Berlin while learning together and visiting different sites related to industrial heritage, sustainability, and culture. The exchange program helped me gain valuable knowledge and sparked my interest in industrial heritage. As a result, I co-founded a network for young professionals, which is now part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. I feel like going on exchange opened the doors not only to new opportunities but also to career development and gave me a push to step out of my comfort zone, which, in my opinion, was very positive. Now, back in Finland, I continue to manage this non-profit network alongside my colleagues from Germany, which demonstrates how international mobility can help you become part of something bigger. Another exchange opportunity I had was a summer course in 2023 about innovative and sustainable transportation in Germany, from FH Münster University of Applied Sciences. In this course, we were a group of many local and international students and traveled around different German cities like Bremen, Hamburg, and Berlin, where we visited many transportation industries. We learned how to use many different tools to become more creative and to learn about sustainability from different perspectives. I feel like going on exchange opened the doors not only to new opportunities but also to career development and gave me a push to step out of my comfort zone, which, in my opinion, was very positive. I have built many close friendships through international experience, which made me even more positive about the importance of traveling to other countries for study opportunities. Studying abroad made me more open to learning new things, socializing and it also contributed a lot to my cross-cultural and teamwork skills. The last but not least international course I had was the hybrid course called the U!REKA Change Agents Programme, which took place in 2024 and had both online sessions and a short exchange in the city of Amsterdam at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. U!REKA is an Urban Research and Education Alliance of European Universities of Applied Sciences, and they aim to cooperate to educate to contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable, intercultural and open-minded Europe. This programme was especially interesting because of its ambition to help us students develop sustainable development ideas related to the use of water in Europe. We had the chance to visit different sustainability-related facilities around Amsterdam, and these visits gave us a broader idea of sustainability and how Amsterdam approaches the use of water. We not only met people from many universities but also had the chance to become closer in our group of students from Finland. We also explored the city by bike, which was a new and valuable experience because Amsterdam has an amazing cycling infrastructure. The internationality of the city, how it is full of water channels and the many restaurants were things we enjoyed as a group. Also, having the chance to learn from professionals from other universities was different and helped us understand more aspects of water and sustainability, and the different importance it has in other countries. Overall, I highly encourage other students to explore international exchange opportunities offered by the university. These experiences can truly change the way you learn and understand the world. They are also a great way to expand your professional network, make new friends and learn about different cultures. Check more about the exchange possibilities in Metropolia's study guide!
Exchange semester at University of Hertfordshire
Hello, my name is Anna. I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a strong emphasis on Human Resources. Having grown up immersed in both Finnish and English cultures, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the richness of multicultural environments. From an early age, I’ve been passionate about broadening my horizons and embracing new places as home. Living abroad has not only expanded my worldview but also offered valuable opportunities for self-reflection and growth, shaping both who I am and the dreams I pursue. I was excited to see the range of relevant courses offered at the University of Hertfordshire and decided to apply for an Erasmus exchange for the spring semester of 2025. Having previously studied abroad in both the United States and Germany, I was eager to continue gaining international experience—this time in the United Kingdom, a country where I already had personal connections and whose language I consider my second native tongue. It’s truly hard to put five months of living your dream life into words. My exchange semester was everything I had hoped for—and so much more. I was surprised by how significantly the academic experience shaped my future career goals. While I already had a fairly strong vision of what I wanted to pursue after graduation, studying my passion abroad took that clarity and motivation to a whole new level. "This was easily the best semester of my university journey, and it left me feeling deeply grateful and privileged to have had such a transformative experience. " What I particularly appreciated about the academic culture in the UK was how genuinely supportive and invested the teachers were in their students' success. At my home university, I had rarely felt as included or inspired, even by lecturers I saw on a weekly basis. Every module I took encouraged me to grow, believe in myself, and chase my goals with even more determination. Thanks to this incredible experience, I’m proud to share that I achieved First Class Honours and even received personal recommendation letters from lecturers who truly believed in me. Even though the university culture was already a highlight of the semester, the people I met were an even greater blessing. I lived in university accommodation with ten other students in the same flat. Having lived on my own for the past four years, I was initially a bit skeptical about sharing a space with people I didn’t know. Yet to my surprise, this ended up being the best part of my entire exchange. I formed genuine friendships with my flatmates, and we quickly became incredibly close. We spent time together almost every day—cooking dinners, sharing our cultures, going on weekend trips and, of course, enjoying the UK’s iconic pub culture. I felt truly seen and understood by people who shared similar perspectives and values. The memories we created will forever hold a special place in my heart, and we’re already planning visits to keep this special friendship alive. Living in another country also gave me the space to reflect and grow as a person. I picked up new hobbies and made the most of the incredible services and opportunities offered by the university. I also had the chance to travel extensively within the UK—exploring Scotland, Wales, and several cities across England. After my classes ended, I even spent two weeks traveling to Shanghai and Vietnam, which felt especially surreal after forming deep friendships with people from all over the world. Although living abroad was certainly more expensive than continuing my studies in Helsinki – I felt the most alive since my teenage years and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. If you’re even considering going abroad for a semester, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the leap. Yes, there will be challenging days, and stepping outside of your comfort zone can feel overwhelming at first. But the growth, memories, and perspective you gain are far greater than anything you might expect. This was easily the best semester of my university journey, and it left me feeling deeply grateful and privileged to have had such a transformative experience.
Erasmus+ Inclusion Support enabled me to join the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) in Portugal!
The story about student exchange was almost unrealistic for me. I am single mom of three kids. However, my oldest child is already 18 and my two small boys are living with me. Me and Robin started studying in the same year. I started with bachelor program in International Business and Logistics (IBL) at Metropolia, and he went to first grade at school. My youngest one was five years old in those days. The idea about being an exchange student was a personal long-lasting dream, but somehow I felt it is not applicable for me. For me it was way too complicated to change a country, especially when having a lot of responsibilities at home already. Time went fast... Kids become more confident and I tried to apply for 6 months study exchange in Spain. The reason for choosing this country – I speak Spanish a little and would like to improve knowledge and get another European perspective to my study field. However, I was already doing my final study year and long-term exchange did not anymore fit into my degree study plan. So, the exchange was not a possibility at that time and would have postponed my graduation. Then the idea sort of faded away, until on one day I got an email about FinBank challenge in Portugal, Blended Intensive Programme about Banking and Finance study with Setúbal Polytechnic Institute! The program promised to be intensive and during one week in Portugal should be presented innovation for banking sector related to design thinking and creativity. Additionally, we were able to meet with students from all over Europe online. I applied and got selected! I have been so lucky when Erasmus+ programme and International Relations Adviser in Metropolia nominated me as exchange student for this programme. That really meant a lot for me! Without funding from Erasmus+ Blended Mobility I couldn’t have been able to cover the expenses of travelling and living on top of my family's other expenses. Our intensive finance course in Setúbal was held in May 2024. A great value is that Erasmus+ programme supports students with families with additional inclusion support. This made me feel that Metropolia cares about young parents a lot. My total financial support was almost 1200 euros as I was entitled for the inclusion support, travel grant and the program day support! This is really good form of support, if you know how to take care of the arrangements correctly! This BIP about Finance was well organized by Portuguese colleagues. Professor Ana Rolo from Setúbal Polytechnic Institute provided each student team very good guidance. So, even though my major, Logistics sector is not that much finance and banking-oriented, but it was not difficult to get in to idea and join the team work and start learning! Getting ready for an adventure! From Metropolia we traveled to Portugal together in a group of five Metropolia Business School students. In the actual group work project, there were students from Norway, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Belgium. Luckily, we quickly divided the tasks and got really motivated about the topic. Actually, our project was successfully completed one day before deadline. All in all, I was able to gather many lovely experiences from Portugal as the Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal created an amazing program for the students. For example, we visited Palácio da Bacalhôa located in São Simão, Azeitão, Setúbal, wine and cultural tour, went to some nice beaches by the ocean and even a natural park. Our lunch was in a most beautiful restaurant of the city - Casa da Baía. The communication with professors was smooth as we were able to ask questions, but also the work in the group of students was highly enriching and brought some new perspectives! All in all, a brilliant experience from Erasmus+ programme. I’m so thankful for International Relations Adviser and exchange possibilities at Metropolia. Because of them - I could see the ocean. Last but not least; Many greetings to my teammates who make amazing effort on presentation day! Tips based on my experience: Learn all the possible languages Touch an ocean wave and make a wish Choose the most interesting exchange programme for you. Make it happen! Julia S.
Incoming Student Story: Nina Schulz from Germany
“I did my exchange semester at Metropolia Business School in 2023. I was sure that I wanted to go to a Nordic country and I had the choice between universities in Finland and in Sweden. I had been in Finland once for one week for an exchange from school. In the end it was easy to choose Helsinki as it is a bigger city and there are a lot of things going on. It was clear that I wanted to choose Metropolia and luckily it worked out. I really liked my studies at Metropolia. I felt that everything was so structured from the beginning on and I had no questions. The Finnish course was my favorite. I tried to learn some Finnish word before arriving but that didn’t go so well so it was nice to learn the language. The course was also introducing us to the Finnish culture. Investment Portfolio Management was my second favorite course. We did a stock exchange game and I learned a lot in that course. I really liked that we had a lot of group works. There were no exam periods and it was not so stressful in the end of the semester. We had to work during the whole semester and had a lot of chances to get the points during the semester which took off a lot of pressure. I really liked the campus; everything was so modern and nice. There was a lot of spaces to work and sit with your friends. The student restaurant on campus is like a meeting point, you always met someone there. I also really liked the orientation days; they were very structured and we didn’t get lost in the first days. During my free-time I did a lot of small things in Helsinki. I went to a lot of cafés with my friend and also visited different places, such as Lammassaari which was one of my favorites. We also went for a lot of walks and did some hikes in the national park Nuuksio and even barbecued there. I went a lot to sauna, Sompasauna was an amazing place. There was also a lot of student parties and they were so nice with the overalls. I also did some special trips; they were the highlight of my time there. We went to Lapland where we stayed in a cottage, went to Norway, swam in the Arctic Ocean, saw Northern lights and went skiing. That was an amazing adventure! In the Easter weekend we rented a cottage in Varkaus for a few days. This was also so nice, we did a lot of chilling, hanging out and walks there. One highlight was the Vappu (May 1st) weekend. The city was full of people and there were a lot of traditions we got to participate into. Tutors were great. We had always someone to talk to and it felt like everyone wanted us to meet other people and connect. It was nice to have a lot of events going on and it was possible to get to know people easily. The Finnish culture was very similar to what I’m used to so I did not have major problems adjusting. At the beginning of the exchange, it was a big challenge to come to Finland alone. I was afraid that I wouldn’t find any people but we had such an intense time here together. It’s crazy that people that I met just five months ago are now so close to me. It was not a big problem to live in a different country with a different language. It just worked out somehow and all the fears turned to very good adventures. It has been good to have changes around you and doing the exchange gave me a lot of self-confidence. I got a lot of memories and friends, it’s hard to say goodbye to everyone. In the future I definitely want to do a Master’s degree and it would be nice to do the whole degree or a semester abroad. I would like to experience this kind of adventure again.” Tips from Nina: Be very open to everyone Do as many things as possible: experience the country! Don’t be afraid to make new contacts and talk to people, most of the time everyone is in the same boat
Incoming Student Story: Marie Lac from France
“I spent one whole academic year at Metropolia doing a double degree exchange. Metropolia and my home university Rennes School of Business have an agreement for this kind of exchange. One of the reasons I chose my home university was because I saw that there is a possibility to go to Finland. In France everybody says that the studies are very good and that life is better in the Nordic countries. I though I will just go to Finland myself and see if it’s true or not. I did a bit of basic research on Finland before my arrival and I found out things like there’s a lot of forest in Finland, it’s the happiest country and that people drink a lot of coffee. One reason to choose Metropolia was also the international dimension of the studies. Studying at Metropolia has been really nice and I’m really happy with my studies. The courses are very interactive and teachers are friendly so it has been easy to learn. Project group works and simulations are different than what I’m used to but at the same time perfect ways to learn. The best thing about my studies have been the people, teachers and students. I could always ask the teachers if I had any questions and they were very supportive. I met a lot of students from different countries and enjoyed how international it was. All of my studies took place on the Myyrmäki campus. I was really happy with the student restaurant: warm meals were really good, healthy and cheap. Also, the campus library is really nice, there are lots of books and also silent rooms which I used for writing my bachelor thesis. In my free-time I did some traveling in Finland and abroad. I went couple of times to Estonia and in Finland I visited some bigger cities. I was going often outside to walk and see the architecture of the city but also the nature and the forest. I went a lot to the forest and I feel like in Finland I reached a better connection with the environment and I felt always safe. I lived in an Airbnb apartment and was able to walk to school. We were also able to barbecue in the forest barbecue place, that was very fun even though the fire was hard to start. The weather in the winter was a bit hard but if you have good clothes, it’s fine. It was not hard to adapt to the culture but it’s a bit different and you have to understand that some things are done differently. I was surprised in a good way about the Finnish people. On the Internet it says that Finnish people are cold and reserved. In fact, when I came here, I found them really open and people were willing to help in English. Everyone is living their own life: you won’t be disturbed but if you need, you’re supported. During my exchange something changed in my mind and I would like to live in the future somewhere else than in France. During the exchange you learn to see the world from a different angle.” Tips from Marie: Buy winter clothes second-hand in Finland. There are a lot of second-hand stores in Finland and you can buy warm enough winter clothes from them without having to spend a lot of money. Get to know what kind of things are around you and ask people what they like to do and where they like to go. Don’t be afraid of talking to people. Helsinki is a really international city and you will find help everywhere.
Incoming Student Story: Tudor Suciu-Gheorghita from Romania
“I studied at Metropolia Business School for the full academic year. At first I came to Finland to do an exchange for one semester but after three days of being in Finland I decided to extend my exchange for the whole academic year as I felt at home from the beginning on. I studied one year in my home university Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi in Romania and could basically choose my exchange destination from all the countries. My dream had been to live in a Nordic country and Finland was my first choice. I wanted to see if I could live here and move permanently. I was interested in the Nordic way of living. Before arriving, I did research on the country and the systems. I chose Metropolia because it is a University of Applied Sciences and I wanted to experience a more practical training as my home university is quite theoretical. Studying at Metropolia has been different but very effective. It feels like I have learned in Metropolia more in one year than in 12 years in Greece and Romania. The difference that Metropolia has made for me professionally and personally is huge. When I look at my CV now and then, it’s a massive step. Teachers are very friendly and they really understand your point of view. They don’t tell you to do more and more but you have certain assignments and you can do them at your own pace before the deadline. You can ask the teacher and they will happily respond. A communication course I took probably made the biggest difference to me. The teacher of the course, Louise Stansfield, is an exceptional teacher with a lot of experience. She has upgraded my CV and my professionalism to a new level. The courses related to HR were also very relevant for me, especially a hotel simulation game was super awesome. The only exams I had were for the language courses I took. I also want to mention that it’s great how Finnish education system cares about its students and their mental health, this is overlooked in Balkan. Myyrmäki campus is also really amazing, it’s technologically advanced and my favorite thing was to be able to reserve rooms to be able to study in a stimulating environment. Best thing about coming here was definitely the people that I have met. Finland is the perfect place for traditional party people and also for more introverted people. I really liked traveling around Finland and also went to Tallinn and Stockholm. There is a lot of traditional student things and a lot of events. You will meet a lot of new people that are mostly like you and like to do the same things. I applied for HOAS apartment very early and was lucky to get an apartment that was 10 minutes from campus. Public transportation is also phenomenal. Having communities and clubs, such as METES (Metropolia Entrepreneur Society) and the student union METKA was completely new for me. It was a great experience and there were a lot of networking events. Tutoring programme was great and the tutors were friendly and nice people. I was surprised how open they were. Metropolia has given me a huge push to my professional portfolio and has boosted my chance to get a job. The exchange year has helped me to understand how the world really is by being in contact with people form all over the world. It has helped me to open my horizons and develop personally. Tips from Tudor Apply as early as possible for HOAS apartment. Talk to new people, get to know others. Don’t overpack. Be ready to learn a lot of new things. Be active in the academic stuff but also outside world. Focus on the studies and give it 110%, you won’t find the experiences you get at Metropolia anywhere else. Don’t be afraid of the cold and dark, it really is not so bad.
Incoming Student Story: Benedikt Rothe from Germany
“I’m studying international industrial management as a dual study back at my home university HWR Berlin. I did my exchange semester at Metropolia Business School during autumn 2022. The Finnish education system has a good reputation and I wanted to check it out myself. Also, the courses that Metropolia offered for business students matched quite well with my home university’s requirements and the semester dates were fitting for the schedule of the dual study program. Studying at Metropolia has been quite different from home. I would say that studying in Finland works better for me than in Germany. I didn’t have any exams in the end of each course, but graded assignments during the semester. Being a University of Applied Sciences, Metropolia brings in the practical connection: We were not just working with the theoretical frameworks, but instead worked on case studies with connections to real companies. For me, the best thing about studying at Metropolia was the atmosphere: It’s quite informal but still respectful. This feels very friendly and open and takes away a bit of the pressure. It was also nice to work together with my classmates in different projects. I had some online classes and the organization was a bit challenging in the beginning. But throughout the semester I learned that everybody at Metropolia is always happy to help you out. In the beginning, the course enrolments were a bit of a challenge. It was not clear if I would be able to get in all the courses I wanted to. But luckily, it all worked out in the end. The campus is very well designed for the sense of community. I always used the student restaurant and sometimes came to campus just for lunch with friends. Everything is very digital and it’s easy to book rooms in the library, for example. Usually, my classes started around eleven, so I had quite relaxing mornings. Unfortunately, I was not able to take the Finnish course for exchange students, but I did try to learn some Finnish through Duolingo. It was very easy to manage with English in Finland, especially at school it worked very well. In my free-time I did a lot of different things. In the beginning of the semester the student union METKA organized a lot of events, parties, and trips. This made it easy for me to connect to many other students naturally. I became friends with my neighbors – a lot of other exchange students lived at the same place with me. We also travelled together, for example to Iceland and Lapland. I also went to the sauna in my building very often, which was new to me but I really enjoyed it! Helsinki has a lot to offer – such as the Oodi library, restaurants, and several tourist attractions. I also went to the nearby Nuuksio national park quite often. And I can say, Finland changed me a little: Before coming to Helsinki, I didn’t drink coffee at all. But studying in Finland can really make you a coffee person – The Finns love coffee! During the exchange I also learned a lot about myself and about what I want to do in life. I was able to take a step back and see which parts of my everyday life in Finland I want to include in my life back in Germany. Talking to other students who were a bit older than me, also showed me new perspectives. Seeing all the different paths that everybody had taken, encouraged me to try something new after finishing my degree and start studying landscape architecture, which has been a big interest of mine. I probably wouldn’t have made this decision without the exchange experience at Metropolia. I also learned a lot about different countries and cultures and made very good friends from all over the world. I am sure, I will take this new network with me into the future.” Tips from Benedikt: Trust your tutors – they are experts in making the most out of studying in Finland! Try to get a HOAS apartment. It’s affordable and a nice experience to live with the other exchange students. Try to connect with your neighbors – it makes organizing activities and trips so easy! Enjoy your time in Finland and don’t worry about uni too much – it will all work out in the end.
Incoming Student Story: Lejla Škobić from Slovenia
“I did my exchange semester during autumn 2022 at Metropolia Business School. I study management back at my home university, University of Ljubljana. I had heard a lot of positive things about Finland and was very happy to be selected to do my exchange at Metropolia. I had read about the school system and how good it is, so I wanted to try that. I also wanted to come here because of the weather and the environment, I don’t like heat so I wanted to go to the Nordic countries. I like being in the nature and even in Helsinki you can just sit in a bus and go to a forest, there’s not too much tourists. When I arrived to Finland my tutor picked me up from the airport and showed me around. She had been also in touch with me already before I arrived and gave me tips on the weather and what to bring with me. My exchange started with orientation days. They were organized well and I got all the information I needed for my time here. I loved studying at Metropolia! The study system was like made for me. I got most of my grades through assignments, research and group work. Back at home it’s more studying theory and the courses end to a final exam. The courses at Metropolia felt like they are preparing me for future work life. I needed to match half of my courses with my courses at home and the rest I could choose freely, so I decided to focus on marketing. In Digital Marketing course we focused on website creation and in Marketing Design we took photos and used Photoshop. Now in the end of the semester I feel more confident in myself as I have done things myself and feel better about the future. This semester made me feel more encouraged to do a Master’s degree in marketing! During my free-time I spent a lot of time in the nature. I went for example a lot to forests and used the campfire sites to make fire for sausages and marshmallows. I also did a road trip with four other exchange students during which we visited Koli National Park and saw Lapland in t he autumn colors. I also traveled to Lithuania, Latvia and Sweden. In Helsinki I visited a lot of museums and found some really nice second-hand stores. I also got to swim in the see when it was still just 15 degrees warm! I lived in a HOAS apartment in Helsinki and spent a lot of time with my roommates. I also tried to learn to crochet, because so many people knit and crochet things here. I was first a bit scared as I would be living first time completely alone. I’m very proud of how I did, I managed everything really well. I didn’t really experience a culture shock but I did miss Slovenian food. I learned how to be more independent and gained a lot of confidence in myself. I really love Finland and the people and the experience her, I’m so grateful I got to come here!” Tips from Lejla: Don’t be scared to go - you will gain a lot of new experiences Don’t be afraid of new people
Incoming Student Story: Yannick Levermann from Germany
Yannick Levermann did his exchange semester at Metropolia Business School during autumn semester 2022. Yannick does a dual study program in his home university Hamburg School of Business Administration, meaning that half of the semester he is studying and the other half working. Choosing Finland as an exchange destination was rather easy: “I wanted my exchange to see something very new and different and experience a full winter. I also really wanted it to be in the Nordics and I had heard good things about Metropolia as an exchange destination”. Different ways of learning and supportive teachers Yannick enjoyed his studies a lot: “At my home university the courses are fixed and have to be done in a certain semester, so it was nice to be able to choose the courses from a pool of courses. I also had to build my schedule and be accepted for the courses I chose, that was new”. Studies were well organized: “This semester I did not have any exams, only presentations and assignment. Like this it was easier to learn instead of binge learning.” Yannick was also happy that sustainability aspect was considered in the studies. However, biggest thing that made him feel comfortable in his studies w as the interaction with the teachers: “Teachers were very helpful and talking to them on first name basis made it feel more comfortable and approachable. You could always ask them for help if you had any problems”. Teachers were also treating everybody equally. On some courses Yannick was the only exchange student and on some everybody was an exchange student. “Overall compared to the busy study system at my home university, being here was like a holiday with studying”, Yannick concludes. Road trip through Finland and eye-opening experiences During his free-time Yannick traveled a lot: “I did a road trip with some other exchange students in Finland. We rented a car and drove to Kuusamo in the North and then came down and visited a lot of cities on the way”. He also traveled to Stockholm and Riga and in the end of his exchange to Lapland. Otherwise Yannick tried to do things that he would otherwise also do: “I was walking around the city, studied at the Oodi library and met with friends for coffee”. He also participated in events organized by the tutors and student union METKA. Yannick had time to learn things about the Finnish culture: “I really liked the student overalls and I also got to watch the Independence Day handshaking from TV.” Some things were also very different: “I was unfortunately sick a few times during the semester and had to visit a doctor in Finland. Health care system is very different, but it was also a good opportunity to see how I react to being sick in a different place than home”. All in all, Yannick is very happy with his exchange experience. “I haven’t had time to process everything I experienced yet. I came here to see how it is to live abroad and saw that it is possible and I can do it even though there were challenges”. He found a new way of studying and new friends: “In the beginning I was nervous because I was the only one from my university. But I got along very well with people and was able to make good friends, we are planning to see each other soon again!”. In the future Yannick might do a Master’s degree abroad: “This experience helped me to understand how it is to live abroad and really opened my eyes”. Tips from Yannick: Apply for HOAS apartment as soon as possible Don’t be afraid for not having connections and friends, it’s easy to make them. Once you approach Finnish people they are helping and supporting you. Studies are doable and teachers are open for changes. If you have any problems you can ask the teachers and other staff members, they are very understanding and helpful. Enjoy the time and get to know Finland as a country Be quick with the course enrolments
Incoming Student Story: Sophie Vorgerd from Germany
Sophie Vorgerd did her exchange semester at Metropolia Business School during autumn semester 2022. Back in her home university HWR Berlin, Sophie is doing a dual study: half of the semester she is studying and half working in a company so finding a suitable exchange destination was a bit trickier than normally. “I had to find an exchange destination where the semester times were fitting. The locations I found were either Metropolia or a university in Netherlands. I had always wanted to study in the Nordic countries, that’s why I chose to apply to Metropolia.” New ways of learning and being creative Sophie took six courses in Metropolia and was excited about the selection. “I really enjoyed studying at Metropolia! Two courses, Marketing Design and Digital Marketing, were especially interesting. We got to practice using Photoshop and doing a marketing campaign”. Biggest differences to studying at her home university had to do with the course structures. At her home university students take an exam in the end of the course. In Metropolia students are doing several smaller assignments during the semester, and there are usually no exams in the end. “We got to do more creative work and presentations, I could express myself better and actually learn and create”. Another difference to German culture was the relationship between the students and the teachers. “In Finland everyone uses the first names and the students could speak with the teachers from a friendly starting point”, according to Sophie. In addition to this, most of her classes were starting early but they also ended early and left her time to experience things during her free-time. Free-time: traveling and students-clubs Living in Helsinki offered Sophie many opportunities for traveling: “I did a weekend trip to Riga and visited Stockholm. “I also traveled 4-5 times to Tallinn with a ferry because tickets were so cheap and the trip so short”. Sophie had also time to travel within Finland: “I visited Tampere, Turku and Porvoo. I also went to Nuuksio national park and in the end of my exchange I did a trip to Lapland”. There was also a lot of things to do in Helsinki: “I was meeting with locals and other exchange students in karaoke bars, restaurants and for boardgame nights”. Sophie also participated to some events from student union METKA and participated in METKA’s Dungeons & Dragons club. Sophie also signed up for a tutor from METKA and got a lot of information from her before and during the exchange. A great thing was also to get an apartment from HOAS (foundation for student housing) “Location was great, close to both the campus and the city center. Services were good and rent was about 430€”. Overall Sophie had a great study experience in Finland. In addition to living in a different country and culture she learned a lot: “It was great to see a different way of studying!”. After living in Finland Sophie would like to come back, maybe to do her Master’s degree. Tips from Sophie: 1. Apply on the courses as soon as possible - they get full quickly especially in the autumn semester 2. Apply for HOAS also as soon as possible, so you don’t need to find an alternative option
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