Søren Berg Rasmussen - Denmark

Studying Political Science at the University of Helsinki

I came to Finland because I had a Finnish girlfriend while I was still living in Denmark. I didn’t really have any expectations at all about Finland and Helsinki before I came here to study. I wasn’t studying when I moved here in the winter of 2003. I took the university entrance exams after I moved here and was accepted at the University of Helsinki.

I think that if you’re a very independent person, Helsinki is great. I like the fact that I can choose to major in political science and minor in international law. That would have been very difficult, if not impossible in Denmark. They would not have been happy about a social scientist who wants to study law. I’ve never heard of anyone doing that, so I think that’s a very positive thing. I think when you’re going into university, you should be enough of an adult to make your own choices. But I think it’s important for people thinking about coming to study here that it will require a lot of independence.

But it’s easy to be a foreigner here - everyone speaks English and there’s a really vibrant student social and cultural life. Just make sure to sign up for various mailing lists, and you’ll soon find yourself with almost too much to do!