Oulu University - need advice !!

[Router]

Hi everybody,

My initial plan was to study in Helsinki but the deadlines unfortunately made this impossible. I'd have to wait one year to be eligible to apply, just because of 9 days
Yet I decided to apply at oulu university because I am extremely eager to continue my studies in Finland and now I was admitted to a Msc programme in business studies at the Oulu university. Ever since I've been trying to find out how good the reputation of that university is ?! Can anyone provide me with input on this one ?

I'm pretty sure I'd be able to get into Hanken next year, would you say it's worth the wait or should I go for Oulu universiy this year ?!

Thx for your help !

[Pursuivant]

A bird in pocket is better than 10 in the bush. Oulu's pretty renowned in tech side... and if you get into Hanken you can transfer the credits pretty easy.

[Router]

I totally agree with you pursuivant but i'd consider it unfair to accept the study place just with the intention to change universities after one semester. Especially since only a handfull of students are admitted to those programs.

Doesn't anybody else know a bit more about the quality of teaching at oulu university ?

[inkku]

Opt for Hanken, if you can get in. It will give loads of excellent contacts. I would do the same as pursuivant advises: go to Oulu and transfer your credits.

Oulu is good eg in education, no idea about 'business studies'.

[Router]

Thanks a lot for your comments !

I am quite optimistic about admission to hanken, but I am not really familiar with the standards they request since they do not tell a lot about it on their website. How would you rate my chance ?

Undergraduate studies of Int. Business at a German Polytechnic institution (by the way, I'm German but posses the finnish citizenship as my mother is from finland, my suomi skills are pretty bad but I'm working on it)
GMAT 650 / Toefl IBT 112
Experience abroad: 1 year United States, 1 semester abroad in Mexico, 3 months internship in India at Lufthansa
Additional work experience: 3 months internship in an Audit company, approx. 8 months student trainee during my studies at the consulting branch of one of the big four audit companies

Would you say I'd qualify for admission ? The thing is that I really wanted to apply there for this summer but I'll be receiving my bachelor certificate on august 15th and they are really being strict about receiving it on august 4th

[Rosamunda]

I don't think anyone on here can say whether you qualify or not for admission but your CV looks good to me. Transfering between courses/universities seems to be quite common among foreign students, maybe local ones too, but I only get to see the foreign ones.

Just one quickie though. If you aim to perfect your Finnish while you are here, then Oulu would be a good choice (at least for starters). After English, Swedish is the main language at Hanken... so you won't learn much Finnish there. And generally, as soon as a foreigner utters a word in Helsinki, the locals switch to English, probably not the case in Oulu.

[raamv]

I don't think anyone on here can say whether you qualify or not for admission but your CV looks good to me. Transfering between courses/universities seems to be quite common among foreign students, maybe local ones too, but I only get to see the foreign ones.

Just one quickie though. If you aim to perfect your Finnish while you are here, then Oulu would be a good choice (at least for starters). After English, Swedish is the main language at Hanken... so you won't learn much Finnish there. And generally, as soon as a foreigner utters a word in Helsinki, the locals switch to English, probably not the case in Oulu.

Where is / was the CV?

[MikeD]

...the locals switch to English, probably not the case in Oulu.

I've been assured by quite a few people that they do.