Helsinki for students

Read about what Helsinki has to offer its students.

The Capital of Finland is one of the most popular European cities for international students with 10 different higher education institutions offering English programmes and around 70 000 students.

3 reasons to study in Helsinki

Third best city to live in: Helsinki is the world's third best city to live in according to a survey conducted by Boston Consulting Group and BCC Henderson Institute in 2021.
Second safest city in the world: Helsinki is ranked as the second safest city in the world in a report by Mercer Quality of Living 2019. The criteria emphasized stability, crime, law enforcement and the justice system, and freedom of speech.
Best city for work-life balance: the Work-Life Balance Index 2019 lists Helsinki as the best city for work-life balance.

Public transport

Helsinki offers an excellent transportation system (HSL). As a student you get a subsidized price for a monthly ticket that allows you to get a reduced price of up to 40% of the ticket cost. With a monthly ticket you can also travel even longer distances, for example to the Noux National Park to hike. For shorter distances you can rent a city bike for 35 euros per season and enjoy Helsinki by bike.

Student living

In Helsinki, Hanken has student apartments which are just a short tram-ride away from the university. In addition, students can apply for housing through the Helsinki region Foundation for Student Housing HOAS. The HOAS apartments are usually shared, although there are a few studio and one-bedroom apartments available.

Sea and forest at your doorstep

In Helsinki you are always surrounded by the sea and Hanken is only a 10-minute walk from the nearest beach. The Helsinki archipelago consists of 300 islands, many of which you can access by public ferries. For example, with a monthly HSL-ticket you can go to the island of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Helsinki is a green city where one third of the city consists of parks and other green areas. The Hanken building is in the heart of Helsinki yet very close to the forest and seaside.

Helsinki according to our students

"One of my favorite spots is Allas Sea Pool. You can choose to swim in the heated pool or if you dare you can try the ocean pool where the temperature is the same as in the ocean. "

Alexia, Bachelor’s degree student

"What I love about Helsinki are all cute cafés, the calming presence of the Baltic sea and the functional public transport."

Tereza, Master’s degree student

"As an international student in Helsinki, I really like the way the city combines modern life with nature. The public transport is well connected, making it easy to reach parks and islands. The most unforgettable for me was seeing the aurora borealis in the winter night sky and beautiful snowy landscapes."

Shang, Master's degree student