Work experience helped Hang Le in choosing the right major

Hang Le is a master’s student in Computer Science at Aalto University. She also works as a software engineer at Elekta, a global company that develops advanced technologies to improve cancer care.

Originally from Vietnam, Hang moved to Finland eight years ago to get a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Although she was accepted into an Aalto University master’s programme immediately after graduation, she chose to work for a few years before continuing her studies.

'I wanted to gain financial stability and clarify my goals. I’m glad I did – getting out in the real world and working helped me choose the right major,' she says. 

Initially, Hang planned to study international design for her master’s. 

‘Soon after starting work as a software engineer, I realised that what I really wanted was to strengthen my fundamentals in computer science.' 

Remarkable support and academic freedom

For Hang, Aalto University was an obvious choice. 

'Aalto is the number one university in Finland. All my friends who studied at Aalto have inspiring careers now,' she mentions. 

The 2-year Computer, Communication and Information Sciences Master’s programme (CCIS) provides a deep understanding on the design and analysis of algorithms, software, and computing technologies. CCIS offers ten majors, some of which also have several study tracks. 

Hang is majoring in Computer Science, in the Software Systems and Technologies track. She says its best features are easy to list: kind and knowledgeable professors, first-rate facilities, and a level of flexibility and support that is hard to match elsewhere. 

'I really enjoy my job as a software engineer, so I decided to continue working while getting my master’s. It’s intense, but doable, because there’s so much academic freedom at Aalto' she says. 

Academic freedom at Aalto means many things – students have a lot of leeway in designing their own schedules, and they also benefit from a supportive grading system. Despite the demanding coursework, students aren’t penalised for not mastering everything immediately. If they fail a course, they have two more chances to pass. 

'Most courses offer online options, so I don’t miss out on anything if I need to work. There’s also always a teaching assistant available to answer questions, and my amazing fellow students are always ready to lend a hand. The support here is remarkable.' 

Hang explains that in the Computer Science Master’s programme, teaching is first-rate, and not too theory heavy. 

'In my major, most of the learning comes from assignments, which suits my learning style perfectly. The courses boost my confidence as a software engineer.'

Magical memories

For Hang, the highlight of Aalto is crystal clear: it’s the people.

'I’ve made wonderful friends and built an incredible network. Aalto is a tough school to get in, but the selective admission has its perks – you make smart friends. I’m always surrounded by people who are way more intelligent than I am,' she says with a laugh.

Some of Hang’s favourite memories of student life are from a recent trip to Lapland. 

'A bunch of us went on a hardcore bus trip to Lapland and Norway. We visited Santa Clause Village, dipped into the Arctic Ocean after a sauna, took a husky ride, and saw the northern lights on three different nights. It was a magical experience that strengthened my bond with my friends from Aalto.'

Hang is an avid blogger. Her blog features marvellous anecdotes about life in Finland and studying at Aalto: www.hangmoon.fi