Safety and housing

Are Helsinki and Vaasa good places to study and live?

Finland (Suomi in Finnish, Finland in Swedish) is the seventh largest country in Europe in terms of area. The population of Finland is 5.5 million, of which 1.5 million live in the metropolitan area of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Finland is a parliamentary democracy and since 1995, a member of the European Union.

Finland prides itself for being a safe and clean country - Helsinki is ranked as the second safest city in the world in a report by Mercer Quality of Living 2019. The criteria emphasised stability, crime, law enforcement and the justice system, and freedom of speech.

Why Finland?

#1 happiest country in the world

Finland ranked first in the World Happiness Report in 2022. This was the fifth year in a row that Finland topped the ranking. 

#1 most digitally advanced country in the EU

The European Commission ranked Finland as the most digitally advanced nation in the EU in its 2022 Digital Economy and Society Index.

#2 in the world in gender equality

The World Economic Forum placed Finland second in its Global Gender Gap Index 2022. The ranking looked at the four main indicators of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

#2 least corrupt country in the world

Transparency International ranked Finland as the second least corrupt country in the world in the Corruption Perceptions Index for 2022.

Crime rates are low and Helsinki has been ranked as one of the safest cities in the world (with rural Finland being considered even safer).

 

Housing

The standard of housing in Finland is high, which also applies to student housing. All apartments have double windows, and proper central heating as the winters can get quite cold. Indoor temperatures in Finland seldom go under 20 degrees Celsius.

Housing in Helsinki

In Helsinki there is Hanken's own student apartments Opens in new window  are just a short tram-ride away from the university. In addition studens can apply for housing through the independent Helsinki region Foundation for Student Housing: HOAS. The apartments are usually shared apartments.

Housing in Vaasa

In Vaasa the independent student Housing Foundation VOAS offer apartments to students.

Many of our students also find their apartment on the private market, through websites such as Vuokraovi, and private actors such as SATO, Lumo and Newsec that administrate the renting of the apartments.

Hanken provides students with numerous housing tips.