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My name is Nikolai Andriakov. I’m a second-year student from Russia and I’m 23 years old.

Before moving to Finland, I lived my whole life in Russia. I was born in Arkhangelsk, a small northern city on the White Sea. After my 8th year at school, I moved to Saint Petersburg and graduated from high school there. After this, I graduated from a Baltic State Technical University in Saint Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in Power Mechanical Engineering. I had two internships in Nissan as an intern engineer. Overall, I was a technical head throughout my whole life.

How and why did you end up choosing our BScBA Program?

My choice narrowed to International Business degrees quite quickly. Among the universities offering such programs, Aalto had the best combination of rating standings, feedback, and overall expected experience. Also, my mother lived in Helsinki for several years before I applied here, so it was easier to adapt to a new country with her help.

What skills have you learned during your studies in Mikkeli that you find valuable?

As a technical-oriented person, I really wanted to gain the quantitative skills needed in business life nowadays. And there are a lot of courses to do that. Courses in finance, accounting, marketing analytics, data management, and many more help students to build a solid knowledge in quantitative disciplines.

What has been your favourite course and/or professor?

My favourite professor so far is Roman Stepanov. During his Statistics and Excel courses, he managed to teach the disciplines considered to be boring in a very student-friendly way. I can’t wait for the next course with him.

How have your studies at Aalto University and living in Mikkeli shaped you as a person?

After coming here, I became more outgoing and social. I learned how to deal with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I also improved my leadership skills during both study and extracurricular activities. What I like the most is that I fought the fear of public speaking and now I feel more comfortable when talking from the stage.

Would you recommend the BScBA Program to other students, if yes why?

I would definitely recommend the program to other students as it is a unique and unforgettable experience. The program is excellent from both academic and social points of view. Top professors and students from all over the world create a very international community in a small town in the middle of Finland. Active student organizations with tons of events available won’t let anyone bored. And, of course, life-long friends from every continent on the Earth is something that everyone wants to experience in their lives.