When Laura Tarsa applied to the Intercultural Encounters (ICE) Master’s Programme at the University of Helsinki, she didn’t have a rigid plan. What she did have was a strong curiosity, a desire to return to Finland after time abroad, and an interest in communication and media.
“In the moment, I was just really looking for something at the University of Helsinki,” Laura recalls. “I always wanted to study and finish university after going abroad. The University of Helsinki was number one. I wanted to be here. Then I started looking at humanities, and I crossed with ICE. ICE was really something that stuck with me because it was so broad. The communication and media track really interested me and aligned with my background.”
That flexibility became the foundation of a transformative academic and professional journey. Laura, originally trained in international business communication in the Netherlands, was drawn to the ICE programme’s blend of theory, cultural understanding, and real-world application.
“The bare minimum I was looking for was the broad selection of things. I can pick anything out of any track, but still have my own track,” she explains. “The possibility for an internship and exchange, and joining associations was really nice.”
Learning by Doing: Internships with Impact
Laura completed two internships during her studies. Her first, at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, gave her hands-on experience in strategic communication and global development.
“I got one interview, and I actually got the place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” she says. “I worked there for three months between May and July 2023. I was at the communications unit, and within that there was global development and then country branding. Both of them gave me a really good perspective of how communication can be done. Working with different embassies around the world really broadened my mind.”
It was also Laura’s first nine-to-five job.
“That was really interesting, after studying for four years and having no real work experience,” she says. “I realized this is how, especially in the public sector, things work. It was very nine-to-five and restrictive in a way, so it also made me think of other types of work I could be doing.”
Her second internship, at the City of Helsinki's Human Resources Department, helped her refine her professional identity.
“It was a very Finnish internship,” she reflects. “I realized how much more I want to work with internationals and in an environment that is more international than the City of Helsinki was, at least that department. Even though the work was really nice, communications and media again, I realized I wanted something else.”
Despite balancing work and studies, Laura says the programme’s staff were supportive. After communicating her needs to better balance interning and studying, programme staff gave meaningful support and advice.
“They were really flexible, really nice about it, because I feel like everyone knows how important internships are,” Laura says.
A Semester Abroad
Laura’s semester at the University of Copenhagen further enriched her studies.
“My exchange was really a turning point in what I wanted to do in the future,” she says. “It was a confirmation that I really want to work abroad, that I want to get out of my Finnish bubble. Even though I wanted to come back to the University of Helsinki, I also understood that I really want to go abroad again.”
She also highlights the academic value: “The University of Copenhagen gave me a lot for my studies. They have really good courses in social media, which I was really interested in. Coming from different faculties and programmes always gives you more perspective.”
Building Networks and Skills through Student Associations
Beyond the classroom, Laura dove into campus life. She joined ESN (Erasmus Student Network), helping incoming international students feel at home in Helsinki.
“I found that ESN had the people most like me, who wanted to do something for international students in Finland,” she recalls. “I was in the event organizing committee, and it was a lot of work, but so rewarding, because you get to meet so many people. You learn so much about yourself and how to work with others.”
She also participated in Orbis, the international student association, by organizing student overall sales, attending events, and networking.
Advice to Future Students: Stay Curious, Stay Open
Now finishing her thesis and considering a career that blends public sector insight with international engagement, Laura is open to different paths.
“I’m comfortable with public sector topics, and I have connections there,” she says. “But I’m also interested in working abroad, in a completely different culture than the Finnish public sector. Maybe with a Finnish company that tries to break abroad, bring a brand outside of Finland. Totally working with people. That’s what I’ve noticed I really like.”
For prospective students, she stresses openness and initiative. “I would definitely say: keep an open mind. Don’t restrict yourself to a summer internship: you could also do one in the autumn, and it’s still worth it.”
She stresses the importance of going through your contacts, using classmates’ networks, and utilizing the university Career Services to find internships and traineeships.
Laura also emphasizes the importance of engagement: “Your first year is crucial. As many courses as you have, that’s the important year to become part of the university, get interested in organizations, make contacts. Even though it’s sometimes painful and annoying, that’s how you find your way.”