Plenty to choose from at Aalto
Finland took first place in a comparison made by StudyPortals. In the comparison, international students evaluated their experiences in European institutions of higher education. Respondents were especially pleased with the content of the studies, the lively student life and the services offered by the university.
Banafsheh Khakipoor, who studies in the Master's Program in Bioinformatics at Aalto University's School of Science, is pleased with her choice.
‘I especially love the freedom of choice - the fact that in addition to my own main subject, it is possible to study in nearly any discipline available at Aalto. I have long been interested in games, and I am studying game production here alongside bioinformatics,’ she says with a smile.
In addition to freedom, Aalto University emphasizes the significance of independent work and responsibility. Banafsheh, who completed her bachelor's degree in Dubai, admits that for someone who is used to a school-like way of study, the independence initially seemed difficult.
‘Now I am used to it, and I have noticed how useful it is - both from the point of view of learning, and later at work,’ she says, adding to the list of positive aspects the uncomplicated interaction between students and teachers, the international atmosphere, and the ease with which practical matters are dealt with.
‘People are so systematic here.’
Not enough snow
In the comparison, Finnish universities got negative feedback on traveling possibilities, the weather, the culture, and the price level. Banafsheh says that she was warned in advance about the expensive food in Finland, only to be pleasantly surprised.
‘There really is a wide selection at the university cafeterias in Aalto and a good price-quality ratio,’ she says.
But something negative has emerged in her year of studies so far.
’At first the lectures seemed slow-paced,’ she admits and adds that she has grown used to that as well.
‘I was also disappointed that the winter was so warm! I wonder if there will be more snow this year.’
StudyPortals Awards 2014 – Finland - check the results
Read more news
Aalto University and Bocconi University to launch a double degree programme in strategic and creative marketing
The first cohort, 10 students admitted through Aalto and 10 through Bocconi, will start their studies in autumn 2027
Student exchange in Europe? Unite! can take you there
Aalto is a member of Unite!, a European university alliance that gives students the opportunity to internationalise their degrees both online and in-person. Join the webinar to find out more.
Opinion: Finnish language learning should be integrated into degree programs
In this opinion piece, Rebekka Nylund, an expert at the University of Helsinki, and Elisa Räsänen, a university lecturer at Aalto University, reflect on what they have learned from the EU-co-funded Language-supported Knowledge Pathways project and offer suggestions on how and why learning Finnish could be integrated into the structures of higher education degree programs.