Much more than a degree: Studying Business Administration at the University Tartu

When he finished high school in Finland, Konsta Rauhala’s future was wide open.

“I was weighing up all the options of where to study next,” he says. “It was a big decision.”

With several directions he could have gone in, Tartu wasn’t initially his first choice.

“It was a backup option – a shot in the dark,” Konsta admits.

Timing proved to be key.

The University of Tartu’s application period was slightly longer than that of Finnish universities, giving Konsta more time to consider the courses on offer. He soon found the BBA (Bachelor’s in Business Administration).

The curriculum was broad and flexible, with room to explore different avenues. In short, it ticked all the boxes.

“That,” Konsta explains, “was attractive to me. So that’s why I ended up applying.”

A perfect balance

For Konsta, the BBA programme in Tartu struck a perfect balance – giving him the academic foundations he needed to pursue his own interests in even more depth.

“We had a lot of mandatory courses, especially in the beginning,” he explains, adding that later, “you could pick and choose what you studied from among different options.”

Over time, Konsta was increasingly drawn to economics. That culminated in his bachelor’s thesis, where he examined the impact of Nokia’s downfall on the Finnish economy.

With the support of his supervisor in Tartu, Konsta applied econometric methods to a real-world case study, which, coming from Finland, felt “very close to home.”

“And the econometric analysis was spot on,” he says.

A step in the right direction

Konsta’s time in Tartu also paved the way for his next move.

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After graduating, he returned to Finland to do a master’s in economics – a subject he describes as involving some “very hardcore mathematics and econometrics.”

“I had some catching up to do,” Konsta admits.

But the combination of applied business studies and theoretical economics in Tartu definitely helped him bridge the gap.

The BBA in Tartu “was really good practice for my master’s thesis for sure,” Konsta says.

“That’s what allowed me to make the transition.”

Simple moments that last

For Konsta, life in Tartu was about far more than just studying.

“It was amazing – the best three years of my life,” he says.

On his course, he met a “widespread group of characters from all around Europe,” many of whom were, like him, living abroad for the first time.

Being away from home was tough at first, but knowing they were all in the same boat, “quickly became a unifying factor,” and, in no time at all, they became a close-knit group of friends.

“We went partying of course,” Konsta smiles. “That part of student life was well covered.”

But looking back, it’s the simple moments that end up making the best memories.

“Times when we decided to go somewhere and have a barbecue outside, go to the beach or just hang out in the park,” he recalls.

“It’s those things I hold most dear.”

Developing cultural understanding

Looking back, Konsta can already see the professional benefits of his time in Tartu.

He’s keen to point out how valuable it was to study a subject as complex as economics entirely in English.

“A lot of people in Europe study in English and can converse in the language,” he says. “But using it day-to-day in a very specific context is entirely different.”

“In my work environment now, English is the language we use most,” he explains, adding that immersion while studying was a huge boost to his language ability and self-belief.

“I feel strong and confident using English now – and that very much started for me in Tartu.”

A reason to be bold

Studying abroad can feel intimidating. But, as Konsta points out, “there’s so much more to your choice of university than just selecting a degree.”

The real value lies in the experiences you have and people you meet along the way.

“I have an everlasting love for Estonia because of my three years there,” he says, adding that he made “life-long friends for sure.”

Deciding where to study is often a choice between following a familiar path or taking a chance on something new.

“But my advice would be simple: always branch out. It’s done wonders for me.”