Electronics and Electrical Physics student Antti Salpakari believes in a brighter future

Antti Salpakari is a second-year student in the Electronics and Electrical Physics major, provided in Finnish and Swedish). He is an active member of the Guild of Electrical Engineering (SIK) and serves as the second freshman captain until Wappu (student May Day celebrations) of 2027. Sometimes, he can also be found outside of the teekkari (tech student) bubble: at the Nation of Southern Finland or events of his parish. He also finds time for reading, choir activities, meetings, sitting on the bus, and theology in the form of his second ongoing degree. 

How did you end up studying Electronics and Electrical Physics at Aalto University? 

Aalto was my first choice when applying for universities due to its excellent location. Living in the Helsinki metropolitan area has its advantages, as everything a person could wish for is close by – except for the peaceful embrace of nature, but few teekkaris need that. 

As for the majors, Electronics and Electrical Physics appealed to me because it provides a diverse and concrete study programme. In this field, you can challenge yourself within topics that are interesting, yet relevant to each of us in our everyday lives. You also get to learn truly useful things – like what electricity is and how it's utilised – and gain the skills for creating concrete innovations for a better future. 

What has been the best part of your studies? 

Definitely the versatility! Who hasn't been interested in how a computer works, how a phone connects to the internet or how satellites are made to last in space? 

During the bachelor's degree, you can dip your toes into a huge variety of topics and use that knowledge to decide what you want to do in the future. When it comes to master's studies, this one degree allows you to specialise in everything from solar panels to signal processing and optics, from space technology to microchips and robots. The world's your oyster! 

How is studying at Aalto like in practice? 

My own studies are surprisingly similar to high school. The days are filled with lectures and various assignments, which the lecturers push at every opportunity to encourage students to develop math and writing routines. The evenings often feature events and meetings. 

However, everyday life varies from person to person. Some students don't really attend lectures, study on campus or come to events. My own way works for me, but it is possible to adapt the routine to suit your own lifestyle. 

What's the best thing about student life? 

Student life IS the best thing! This kind of sense of community isn't found in many other places, at least in Finland. The biggest issue with participating in events is also having to study at some point – you can't be partying day in and day out. 

I've made many new friends at Aalto, and met even more potential future friends. You can meet people during group projects, while standing in line for lunch, or at events – as long as you're active and step out of your comfort zone. Guilds offer excellent opportunities for integrating into the Otaniemi bubble. 

What does your future look like? 

I hope my future life and career will be meaningful. I'd like to achieve something good for this society, no matter the form. Electrical engineering has given me trust that the world is still open, and that tomorrow will be brighter. Thankfully, artificial intelligence is still pretty bad at circuit analysis. 

Who would you recommend this field to? 

I would recommend Electronics and Electrical Physics to those not afraid of challenges, and a will to be a concrete part of building the world of tomorrow. The importance of technology is constantly growing, and you could be the one with the next big idea! The field requires an interest in physics and mathematics – straight-A grades are not mandatory, but they definitely help. You can get far with problem-solving skills, perseverance, and a desire to learn.