Do students plan to stay in Hämeenlinna? Study explores student experiences and future plans

Is it easy for a student to find a community they enjoy in Hämeenlinna? How often do students visit the campus? What requests do students have for Hämeenlinna’s decision-makers?

These are some of the topics addressed in the Student City study conducted in Hämeenlinna. Aimed at higher education students, the study explores experiences regarding housing, livelihood, transport, and sense of community. In the survey, students can share both the positive aspects of the city and things they would like to change.

Students’ future plans of interest to the city and employers

The results will provide the city, HAMK, and other stakeholders with information on how students’ daily lives and opportunities to stay in the region can be improved together. The responses help in understanding what encourages students to stay and what makes them consider moving elsewhere.

– Investigating student experiences is important to us, as we want Hämeenlinna to be a city where it is good to study, live, and spend free time. The study helps us understand what constitutes a positive student experience and which factors strengthen the feeling that Hämeenlinna could be one’s home city even after graduation through different stages of life, says Mia Hällström, Communications and Marketing Manager for the City of Hämeenlinna.

The survey can be completed in Finnish or English from 19 October to 8 November 2026

The survey is intended for higher education students studying in Hämeenlinna, including international students. Completing the survey takes about 10–15 minutes.

At the end of the survey, those who leave their contact details can enter a prize draw for a €100 gift card to Restaurant Uoma and Bio Rex cinema tickets (5 winners).

The study is conducted by Männikkömetsä Oy in cooperation with Otus, the Research Foundation for Studies and Education.