Student Report
Name of the University: Aalto University School of Business
Exchange semester: Fall, 2015
I. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before leaving Norway
All information was provided in time by leaving Norway. Not too much information,
not too little.
Info about courses came a bit late compared to the learning agreement needed. Try to
search something from last year online to see what courses you want to take.
Applying for a visa.
You don’t need to apply for VISA if you are from Europe.
Travel
There were no problems travelling. Order your tickets early. Tickets to Finland and
back start at about 60 euros/ 700 kr.
Housing
There should be the possibility for all students to rent some student apartments. I rented
one by myself in Jätkäsaari. If you are a bachelor student all courses should be in the
Otaniemi area, while most courses are in Töölö if you are in masters. This is also more
towards centrum. Might be relevant. Otherwise I would rent close to where everyone
live. It’s nice to be together with people when being on exchange.
Costs
- Expenses
I paid about 420 euros sharing a 30 m2 apartment. Usually a little cheaper than in Oslo.
I guess student apartments are cheaper.
0 kr Most books can be rented for free or they don’t have books. Check library there.
Books
2000 kr a month. Cheap food in school 1,5 – 4,5 euros. A little cheaper in stores.
Food
Transport Student month to Otaniemi is about 50 euros, only in centrum about 25 euros.
If you do want to travel, expect a lot of costs. Spent all my money
Other
Rent
Culture and language
The culture is quite similar to the Norwegian culture. No huge difference in interests,
food, in shops, infrastructure or similar. Finnish people are very good with languages.
Very few do not speak English and if they don’t they probably still understand. Most
people also know a little Swedish. Many signs, info, etc. are given in Swedish if
preferred.
Cultural and social effects from the exchange experience
Despite a major language barrier between the Germanic and Uralic stem, Finnish
people are very similar to people in other northern countries. They are very pragmatic
and efficient; they are smart and hard working. However, Finnish people do like to have
fun. I spent most of my time with Finnish people, I can’t say much about the other
exchange students. However, exchange studies in general will broaden your perspective
and understanding of different cultures in general, and it is not limited to the country
you visit.
II. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Description of the school.
Aalto University is the largest and most famous school in Finland. It is ranged as a great
school by Financial Times and provides an enormous variety of courses. A few years
back the technical part was merged with the business part which makes it possible to
obtain courses across multiple branches. This is the school I would go to in Finland if
I had to choose again.
Course registration
The autumn semester is split into 2 periods and the spring into 3. You have to register
for each course at the beginning of each period. You have to keep track of the courses.
You can not register to all courses at once.
It is possible to register to a few courses and later skip the course if you didn’t like it.
Some have registered for 5 courses and then continue with a couple. Make sure to also
register for the exam.
Check out http://kyweb.fi/voo/english/ for some student-info of the courses. Prepare to
spend a little time online. IT and online services are quite comprehensive and a little
messy.
Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
5. Sep
14. Dec
Depends
Mid Oct and early Dec
Any special events/holidays:
Other:
Many
Arrival
The school was well prepared for students’ arrival. Students were also taken care of by
the student organization. Everyone gets tutors who help you out with most things. They
are very good at arranging events, parties, etc.
The International Office
The international office was in Töölö (I don’t know if they have one in Otaniemi too.)
They are very helpful and provide you with many services.
Social activities
There are many social activities all the time. They will add you to a Facebook group
and post things there. In addition I have received an e-mail from the student
organization KY every week over things that are happening. If you don’t get enough
info, just ask your tutor. There are many trips and parties.
III. ACADEMICS
In the classroom
I only had one class where there were classes. Some classes are mandatory and some
are not. We had some oral interaction, but no one was forced to speak except for a
presentation. Behavior in class is about the same as in Norway.
Course materials
Course materials are PowerPoints, pdf, articles and books that can be rented for free.
Be aware that all books can be rented out already and that you can only rent them for
14 days if someone is waiting.
Exams and course evaluation
My course evaluation was like this:
35E00700 Packaging and Warehousing Technologies – 50% cases and exercises to
be done before the exam. 50% exam.
37C00400 Programming I – 50% exercises to be done before the exam, 50% the exam
37E00300 ICT Enabled Business Process Development – Cases, presentation slides
and presentation 50%, exam 50%.
37E01400 Essential Literature in Information Systems Science – Exam 100%
Library and technology
As mentioned in course materials. Everything can be borrowed from libraries for free,
if you plan. You borrow books for 14 days at the time.
Description of courses
Course code & name
Master/
Bachelor
35E00700 Packaging Master
and
Warehousing
Technologies
37C00400
Programming I
Master
Exam form
Prerequisites
1*50% exam 3 2*15%
hours
cases(10p)
3*10%
exercises(10p)
50% exam
106 exercises.
Approved
as
Elective
Elective
37E00300
ICT Master
Enabled
Business
Process Development
3 hours written 3 cases + 3 Elective
exam
exercises
+
presentation.
All in groups.
37E01400 Essential Master
Literature
in
4 exam
None
Elective
Comments
No courses.
Read
individually
. 2 books
total about
1000 p.
Java
course. Fun
and useful.
Can always
be
done
online as
Mooc.
The course
was ok. A
little hard to
get
top
grade.
Articles
were
interesting
Individual
reading
Information Systems
Science
course. No
classes. 3
books ca.
1000 pages