Starting a new chapter in Finland
For Zafar, studying computer science in Europe was a long-term goal. When some colleagues mentioned Finland as a promising place for advanced studies, he began researching and found the University of Helsinki—a top university with a strong reputation.
After applying to the Master’s Programme in Computer Science, he was thrilled to be offered a scholarship covering the full tuition fee, despite high competition.
“The University of Helsinki was my top choice because of its reputation in Finland and Europe. The tuition fee waiver allowed me to focus entirely on my studies and future plans without financial stress.”
His aim became cemented on Finland as he looked deeper into work life.
“In the field of computer science, Finland is fairly accommodating for international students with less language barrier issues related to employment.”
Flexible studies for a career-focused path
Once at the University, he found a learning environment that encouraged flexibility. With dreams about a future in data science, he tailored his degree towards it by taking courses in analytics, programming, and data visualization.
“The teaching approach was new to me. It was incredibly practical, emphasizing real-world applications and group discussions. This was very different from my previous education, and it helped me grow as a problem-solver and team player. Students have a lot of freedom to choose any kind of courses they want.”
In addition to academic courses, Zafar found support through the university’s career services.
“The career days and networking events organised by the university were especially valuable. These events connected me with employers and provided insight into the Finnish job market, preparing me for life beyond graduation. It was at a University of Helsinki career event that I was able to connect with my future employer."
An internship that opened doors
During his studies, Zafar joined the Brand and Marketing team at the University of Helsinki as an intern. He applied through the traineeship programme for international Master's students that allows a paid part-time work experience during studies.
While the position wasn’t directly aligned with his background in computer science, it was an opportunity to gain practical work experience in Finland. His internship tasks initially involved website content management but quickly evolved when he identified an opportunity to improve data visualization for the team.
The internship allowed him to pursue his passion for data analytics. There was a need to visualize marketing and applicant data, thus he proposed developing a dashboard as his thesis project.
“The internship supervisor was very supportive, and the team was flexible to meet my internship needs. It was a hands-on experience that deepened my understanding of data visualization, and it felt rewarding to contribute something practical to the team.”
The resulting Power BI dashboard gave him practical experience and allowed him to demonstrate his abilities.
“It was a perfect blend of my academic focus and career interests, and I felt well-prepared for the professional world. It was also the perfect bridge to the thesis and finishing my studies”.
A smooth transition to working life in Finland
Through the university’s career events, Zafar connected with Nordea, one of the leading financial institutions in the Nordics, and secured a position as a data steward—a role directly linked to the skills he developed at the University of Helsinki.
“The transition was smooth. The Finnish work culture values work-life balance, and my traineeship had prepared me well for this kind of environment.”
Today, he’s settled into his role at Nordea, where he applies his skills from his studies and internship.
“SQL, Python, Power BI and one of the most important skills: problem-solving”.
He appreciates the collaborative culture and accessibility within the organisation.
“The hierarchy isn’t very rigid. You can easily approach people and that is something I like. There isn’t any micromanaging which makes it a motivating work environment.”
Seize every opportunity
Looking back on his journey, Zafar encourages others to keep pushing forward, keep applying for jobs and not hesitate to take opportunities even if they don’t seem perfectly aligned with their background.
“You never know where an experience might lead. My internship wasn’t directly in my field, but it opened doors I had not expected and was a stepping stone to where I am now.”
Looking back at his studies, he finds that the Master's Programme in Computer Science is flexible and suited for aspiring data or computer scientists as well as data engineers, software developers or cyber security experts.
In addition, the University of Helsinki offers a supportive environment for international students.
"From flexible course selection to career guidance, you have the resources that you need to pursue your dreams.”