Finland: Aalto University | UNC Kenan-Flagler

Established in 1911, the Aalto University School of Business is the leading business school in Finland and ranks among the best in Europe. The School provides students with a multidisciplinary, international learning experience. The focus is on teaching through real life challenges, real cases, consultancy projects and internships, in close cooperation with the business community and the rest of society. The School of Business is a community of 2,700 students and 103 faculty members with approximately 600 international students a year.

Multidisciplinary learning is not only a facet of student life at Aalto, but is also appreciated throughout Helsinki and greater Finland. With nearly 100 new university startups launched annually, innovation and entrepreneurship are key components of life at Aalto. The university also develops and promotes art-based activities across disciplines, knowledge frameworks and communities.

Helsinki, the capital of Finland with a population of over 600,000, is located on the shore of southern Finland. Ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world, Helsinki offers a rich cultural heritage and a wide array of recreational activities. Aalto University School of Business is located in Otaniemi, the main campus of Aalto University, and is located 9 kilometers away from downtown Helsinki in Espoo, the second largest city in Finland. The University is a short 10-minute metro ride from the city center of Helsinki. Islands, forests, and other outdoor pursuits are all within easy reach of the city center.

Quick Facts & Links

GPA Requirement: 3.00
Program Options: Exchange
- On an Exchange program, students “trade” places with a student from another institution and pay UNC tuition and fees. Please thoroughly review the “program cost” section below for specific information. For additional information about program types, click here.
Language of Instruction: English
Program Dates:
- Fall: August 26th – December 8, 2024 (periods I and II) (includes orientation & assessment week)
- Spring: January 1st – April 13th, 2025 (periods III and IV) (includes orientation & assessment week)
  - Periods III and IV most closely align with UNC’s Spring 2025 calendar, however, students may also elect to stay for Period V also, which runs until June 6th: (April 14th – June 6th, 2025)
Visit the Aalto University Incoming Exchange Student website for more information
Take a virtual tour of Aalto University’s campus
Meet program alumni
Accessibility Resources

Application Information

	This Program’s Level of Competitiveness = 2 Level of Competitiveness (1 = least, 3 = most)
1	Chance of acceptance is probable if students meet the minimum requirements.
2	Most students are typically accepted.
3	This is one of the most competitive programs. We recommend having a back-up option in mind.

Apply for a Kenan-Flagler Global Program and Global Programs scholarship through the same application system using your Kenan-Flagler credentials. Click the Apply Now button below to learn more about application deadlines, requirements, and to start your application!

Apply Now

Program Logistics

Academics

Please visit Global Academic Procedures for detailed credit and other academic information.

Aalto University School of Business offers over 160 business courses taught in English. Aalto students can specialize their Economics and Business Administration major in Management, Accounting, Business Technology, Marketing, Finance, and Economics. The academic year at Alto University is divided into five 7-week periods. One period consists of 6 weeks of teaching followed by an examination week. Periods I and II are organized in the Autumn term, and periods III, IV, and V are in the Spring term.

All courses can be taken in English, and no prior study of Finnish language is expected. The Aalto University Language Centre does offer a Finnish Language and Culture course for interested students.

Courses taken at Aalto will transfer back to UNC Pass (Aalto grade of 3 and above)/Fail (Alto grade below 3). Pass grades do not affect your UNC GPA. Fail grades transfer back to UNC as Fs, which will affect your UNC GPA. Though transfer credit for this program is Pass/Fail, future employers, and graduate schools will also look at the Aalto School of Business transcript, so grades are important.

Students usually take 2-3 courses per teaching period and 5-6 courses in total during each semester. If you earn a grade of 3 or above in all courses, you will receive a total of 12-15 UNC credits for your semester abroad. View the ‘Credit Hour Conversions’ accordion on the ‘Academics Procedures‘ page for more information on credit hour conversion from Aalto to UNC.

This program also fulfills the Experiential Education requirement or the High Impact Experience requirement (if you are under the new IDEAs curriculum). Full-time enrollment in this program is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Housing

Aalto University does not itself own any student dormitories nor has housing services to offer. However, Aalto University has an agreement with HOAS (Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki region) that provides a number of furnished rooms for incoming exchange students. Please note that Aalto University cannot guarantee housing for all the exchange students since the Hoas quota is limited. Exchange students also can apply for unfurnished apartments owned by Aalto´s Student Union, AYY. Student apartments typically consist of 3-5 bedrooms with a shared living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Student apartments are situated around the Helsinki area. You can apply for housing directly through the above organizations after you have been accepted into the exchange program. You can also pursue housing through the private rental market, however, should you choose to pursue housing through the private rental market, Aalto University cannot offer any assistance in finding accommodation from the private market.

View Aalto’s webpage on housing for exchange students for more information.

Program Cost

We suggest you create your global program budget using our budget worksheet (xlsx) to help you think about your costs on this program:

Populate the figures from the tables below into the left side costs of attendance
Input your financial resources on the right

Your customized budget sheet can help determine your current financial status, and help you understand what additional funding you may need to help make this an affordable program option.

Cashier Billed Expenses*
Expense	Estimated Amount
UNC Tuition and Fees	Use the amount on the Tuition and Fees line and divide by 2 to get your cost
Fee UG Business Major/Minor	Based on major/minor enrollment
Global Programs Administrative Fee	$700
GeoBlue International Medical Insurance	$210

*Cashier Billed Expenses are those charges billed directly to your UNC ConnectCarolina account.

Out of Pocket Estimates**

Expense

Estimated Amount

International Airfare

$1,500

Housing

$2,500

Meals

$1,000

Immigration Visa/Residence Permit

$300

Passport Application Fee

$165

Course Materials

$300

International Cell Phone Plan

$350

Personal Expenses

Travel Insurance

$400

Local Transportation

$300

Miscellaneous

$2,000

Other Personal Expenses***

Total Estimated Expenses (In-State):

$15,230

Total Estimated Expenses (Out-of-State):

$30,334

Withdrawal Policy: Once a student accepts their offer/enrolls on a study abroad program, the spot will be considered filled and will not be offered to another student. Students who withdraw from UBP Global are responsible for non-recoverable costs including the Global Programs Administrative Fee. Your student account will be assessed charges to cover any/all amounts that Kenan-Flagler UBP Global programs has committed or paid on your behalf and are non-recoverable at the time of withdrawal. Such costs include, housing, meals, transportation and any expenses that may be associated with faculty and support participation on your program (if applicable).

**Out of Pocket Estimates are based on the cost of the program, which is determined by combining the average costs our previous students have spent in each of these categories, along with the costs our partner provides to us as their averages. These estimates are subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations, bank fees, and individual variances in costs of living.

***Other Expenses: our budget worksheet (xlsx) also has a place for you to input other expenses outside of the out-of-pocket estimates that you may incur, such as attending concerts or sporting events.

Funding your global program

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Travel Documents

Do you have a valid passport? If yes, check your passport’s expiration date to ensure that your passport is valid at least 6 months after your program’s scheduled end date. If not, you’ll need to submit a passport renewal application.

Do you need to apply for a passport (first time or renew)? If yes, we recommend that you get started on your passport application right away as you’ll need time to collect documents like your birth certificate to include as part of your application. For complete instructions click here.

Will I need immigration documents? If you are accepted into this program you will need to travel to a Finnish consulate/embassy in the United States to obtain a visa permitting you to study in Finland. For this appointment, you will need your passport in hand along with other documentation from our office and the host university office.

Meet with an Advisor

UBP students can schedule a meeting to learn more about this and other programs by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment” link below.

Schedule Appointment

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