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What’s your story?

I was born in rural, central Ukraine. I’m studying finance, banking and insurance at Kyiv Mohyla Academy, one of the oldest Ukrainian universities, and was in the middle of my first year when the war began in February 2022. I stayed home for a while before I started to volunteer in Kyiv that summer, helping to clean up and rebuild. 

I decided after that it would be a good time to go on exchange. 

Tell us about your studies…

I studied first in Jyväskylä on an Erasmus+ scholarship, then in Kouvola and finally here at Aalto, where I’ve now been for more than a year. 

Aalto has a programme where Ukrainian students whose studies have been interrupted by the war can come here and do credits towards their degree back home.

I take classes from different majors, mostly related to finance. I’ve now applied for a master’s degree here in finance, with a connection to sustainable business.  

Since my parents in Ukraine cannot afford to support my studies – due to inflation, they can barely cover their own expenses – the Aalto scholarship offered a great opportunity to develop myself.

What was it like moving to Finland?

Finland made my heart warm. It meant a lot to me that when I moved here for the first year I got free public transport inside Helsinki and free travel around the country. 

There is a lot of empathy towards Ukrainians, plus support. Government loans don’t exist for students in Ukraine, and there is not so much emphasis on wellbeing. For example, sports facilities are not so developed or affordable for students. 

When I arrived in Finland, I was so shocked that the university would promote parties for students – in Ukraine, partying and university are two very different paths!

What do you miss most about home?

I miss it most when I go to social media and see what my friends are re-posting. War has united people in a way, and they’re super patriotic.

I feel a bit jealous that they are able to contribute so much to Ukrainian society and are proud to say they played a part, volunteering, donating, fundraising and buying medical equipment, for example. I miss being a part of this community.

What are your plans for the future?

I would like to stay in Finland for at least a few more years, because I expect swift career development. But after that, I would like to combine my life with Ukraine. 

I have a very strong feeling that I need to give something back. At some point I would like to go back – and bring with me some of the Finnish values, knowledge and experience that I have gained here.

• Since spring 2022, Aalto University has offered a free separate study right to approximately 120 university students who have fled Ukraine due to the war. This study right applies to individual courses, but several students have expressed their plans to stay at Aalto to complete their bachelor's and master's degrees.

• The Aalto community has also provided financial support to students from Ukraine. Funds raised through donations have supported 41 students with a monthly grant of €800. The scholarships have been awarded for one semester at a time.

• The majority of individual donations have been under €100, demonstrating that even small contributions can have a significant impact when many people donate.

This article has been published in the (issuu.com), May 2025.