Student story: Yohan from Geotechnical Engineering

How did you end up becoming a student in faraway Finland?

Several factors influenced my decision to come to Finland as a student. The most important one was during my 3rd and 4th years of my bachelor’s degree, when I met an incredible professor and mentor who taught me several geotechnical engineering courses. I worked with him on my undergraduate thesis, which sparked a strong passion for geotechnical engineering. That was when I realized I wanted to pursue further studies in this field.

I was looking for opportunities to study abroad. One of my friends was already in Finland and recommended it as a great place to study and build a career, though he also mentioned challenges such as the language barrier. After doing some research, I applied to several universities, and I was fortunate to receive a full scholarship from Tampere University. That was a clear sign that Finland—specifically Tampere—would be the next step in my academic journey.

How have your studies been going, and in what ways have they met your expectations – and in what ways perhaps not?

So far, my studies have gone very well. From the beginning of my Master’s program, I set a target to complete as many credits as possible in the first year. This meant a heavy workload during the autumn and spring semesters, but in hindsight, it was a great decision. Now, I only have my thesis and two additional courses left to complete the 120 credits required for the degree.

Compared to my home country, the study system here is quite different. Two aspects stand out as very positive:

• Practical application: The theories and concepts taught in courses are closely connected to real-world industry practices, which makes learning very meaningful.
• Flexibility: In Sri Lanka, deadlines were very strict, and the study plan was fixed. In Finland, we have the freedom to create a personal study plan, and even if a deadline is missed, it’s possible to discuss it with the teacher and resubmit. This flexibility makes studying less stressful and more enjoyable.

What did you do in the summer of 2025, during the long summer break typical of Finnish study culture? What kind of experiences did you gain during your summer internship?

During the summer, I worked as a full-time summer trainee at Destia Oy starting from May 12th. Since it was my first professional work opportunity, and in such a large company, I was a bit nervous at first. However, the Geo Design team at Destia was very welcoming, and I quickly adapted to the work environment.

My main tasks included slope stability calculations, settlement analysis, supported excavation calculations, and preparing design reports. I also learned how to derive soil parameters for soft soil based on laboratory test data and sounding results. The tools I mainly used were PLAXIS 2D, PLAXIS 3D, GeoCalc, GeoStudio, Tekla Civil, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. Overall, it was a very valuable experience that deepened both my technical skills and understanding of the Finnish work culture.

How much Finnish have you learned so far, and do you plan to continue studying the language – if so, how?

I have been studying Finnish through the language courses offered by the university. In total, there are eight courses, one per study period. Although they are not very intensive, they are helpful for learning the basics and staying in touch with the language while focusing on studies. So far, I have completed four courses, I am currently taking the fifth, and I plan to finish the remaining three as well.

After graduation, I intend to continue learning Finnish because I believe it is essential for building a career in the infrastructure industry here.

What are your current plans for the future: 1) for the coming year and 2) for a longer time span?

For the coming year, I will continue working at Destia on a zero-hour contract, which allows me to work alongside my studies. I also plan to start my Master’s thesis at Destia, most likely in January 2026.

In the long term, my goal is to build a successful career in the Finnish infrastructure industry, with a focus on improving my expertise in numerical modeling of geotechnical problems. I hope to settle down in Finland, grow professionally, and establish myself as a geotechnical engineer in this beautiful country.