Helsinki, Finland
University Website
Exchange Student Information
University and Location
As one of the oldest business schools in the Nordic countries, Hanken is an internationally accredited university with more than a 110 years of experience in economics and business education and research. Today, Hanken is both the only free-standing business university in Finland, and the first Finnish university to introduce a mandatory period abroad as an integrated part of the curriculum. Hanken offers its students a comprehensive business education with a focus on research. Hanken maintains close ties to the corporate world and an active alumni network of 14,000 working in 70+ countries.
Hanken has two campuses, the original Helsinki campus, and a satellite campus in Vaasa, established in 1980. As the capital of Finland, Helsinki is the largest city in Finland and the home of 1.4 million people. Helsinki is a modern, vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and green urban areas. Located 5 hours from Helsinki on the western coast of Finland, Vaasa is the gateway to the Kvarken Archipelago, the only World Heritage Site in Finland. In addition to spectacular nature and history, Vaasa is a true university town where one of every five people in this city of 70,000 is a student. Vaasa enjoys a vibrant social scene with a wide range of cultural, sporting and culinary opportunities.
Available Fields of Study
Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, Accounting, Business Communication
Program Dates
Fall: end of August – end of December
Spring: mid-January – mid-May
Study abroad at the Vaasa Campus is available for the Fall semester only
Course Selection
Students will make course selections and register prior to arrival. Detailed information is available on the
Hanken website, and additional guidance will be included in the Hanken acceptance letter. Students may view course descriptions
here.
Course load
Hanken uses the European Credit Transfer System or ECTS. One ECTS credit is normally interpreted as approximately .5 of a U.S. semester credit. A full-time workload for a semester is approximately
30 ECTS credits.
Grading and Academic Evaluation
The grading system at Hanken is based a numerical scale from 5-1, with 5 being the highest. A grade of 2 or higher is necessary in order to receive Rensselaer credit. Assessment is typically based on classwork, group work, and mid-term/final exams.
Accommodation and Meals
Hanken has no campus accommodation. Students are encouraged to apply for an apartment through the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki/Vaasa Region, but may also seek private housing. Students who wish to apply for housing through the HOAS/VOAS must follow all instructions and meet all established deadlines. Detailed information can be found
here. Students will prepare or purchase their own meals.
Estimated Expenses and Cost of Living
Students pay regular Rensselaer tuition while on exchange at Hanken and are eligible for regular Rensselaer financial aid. In addition, students are responsible for airfare, accommodation and other living expenses. Individual student expenses will vary according to lifestyle and travel. The cost of living in Finland is high, and students should expect to spend between $1200 and $1500 per month for housing, meals, local travel, living expenses and limited recreation. These estimates do not include recreational travel. Students must also pay a mandatory Student Union Fee of approximately $75 for the fall semester and $40 for the spring semester.
Questions? Please contact
Karen Dvorak, Program Manager.