Exchange Year at Estonian Business School

Anastasia Nadezhdina, a student of the Marketing and Market Analytics bachelor’s program, spent a full academic year in Estonia on an exchange program at Estonian Business School (EBS).

I grew up in quite an international environment and have traveled a lot. From a young age, I knew clearly that if I didn’t study abroad full-time, I would at least go on an exchange semester.

To be honest, the choice of country wasn’t based on my personal preferences, but rather on external factors that emerged due to the pandemic. I didn’t have huge expectations — after all, I was going to Estonia, a country close to my hometown of Saint Petersburg, where I had already been many times, and where there’s a large Russian-speaking population. I was even a bit worried that I wouldn’t get the international experience I was dreaming of.

But the reality turned out to be the exact opposite. The year (yes, I managed to stay for two semesters!) I spent in Tallinn became one of the best periods of my life. I studied at Estonian Business School — a private business school founded in 1988. It was the first educational institution in the former Soviet Union to offer business education in English. The school is equipped with modern facilities and brand-new classrooms. What impressed me most were the numerous comfy beanbags throughout the corridors and lounge areas, along with a mini-golf course and a table football setup. But beyond the fancy amenities, what stood out most were the teachers. The classes were interesting, and the professors were kind, responsive, and always ready to help, answer questions, and support us however they could.

I truly believe the most important part of an exchange program is the people you meet. To my surprise, there were many international students and professors at the university. Tallinn itself has a very international vibe — many foreigners come to start businesses there, as Estonia is considered the startup capital of Europe. The ecosystem is highly developed and actively supported by the government. And of course, there were plenty of exchange students. For a relatively small city, there were a lot of international students, so no one was surprised to hear English spoken everywhere. English became my main language, and all of my friends came from different countries — especially Italy, Spain, France, and Germany. I still stay in close contact with many of them today.

In Estonia, you don’t really experience culture shock — you quickly start to feel at home. Traces of medieval charm linger in the Old Town streets and in moments like sharing a bowl of elk soup with other exchange students (a favorite among us!).

Since I’m an Estonian citizen, I can’t give much advice on the visa or insurance process, but I do have a few key tips to keep in mind:

• I was lucky that knowing Russian and English was enough in Estonia. But keep in mind that this won’t be the case in every country, so choose a destination where you’re confident in your communication abilities.

• Be very careful when building your individual study plan — ideally avoid needing to take HSE courses online. Time zone differences and scheduling conflicts are common.

• When calculating monthly expenses, always multiply your estimate by at least 1.5. Europe is expensive — especially if you want to meet up with friends, go out to bars or clubs, or travel.

• Since EBS was a new partner university, I didn’t have anyone to ask about the exchange program. But I was lucky to have helpful buddies in Estonia who provided a lot of useful information. So if you're going somewhere, try to reach out to students who’ve already been.

• Be open and positive! I think this is one of the most important things for an exchange student. That’s how you meet amazing people, experience new cultures, and get the most out of this life-changing time.

Now, a few Estonia-specific tips:

• If you’re used to rainy, windy Saint Petersburg weather — brace yourself: Tallinn is twice as bad. Pack scarves, hats, and umbrellas.

• On that note — sunshine is rare. Bring some vitamin D!

• Be prepared for sticker shock. Estonia is expensive — housing, groceries, restaurants. BUT public transport is completely free for residents!

• Start looking for housing as soon as you get your nomination. The best place is the Erasmus Tallinn Facebook group, where you can find apartment listings and flatmates. I started searching two months before arrival, which turned out to be too late — I ended up living far from the center and overpaying.

• Be ready to be the only Russian exchange student — you’ll need to start using English right away :)

This exchange program was a turning point in my life. I felt like I became a new person — more mature, open, confident, and determined (in the best way). The new environment, new knowledge, and new people gave me so much joy and helped me grow both personally and professionally. I found a job, made lifelong friends, and discovered new goals — and that’s priceless.

If you get the opportunity to go on exchange — take it. It will be one of the best decisions of your life.

Thank you, HSE, for making it possible!