University of Helsinki
Overview
Mission & Vision
The University of Helsinki prioritizes research into creation and application of future technologies. This is realized through 4 interdisciplinary Centers of Excellence that the Finland Research Council funds, in addition to 10 flagship projects that are financed by the European Research Council.
Research focus areas include the ability of artificial intelligence to positively impact sustainability goals, for example by building safer and greener cities by using machine learning to optimize traffic paths. The Centers of Excellence carry out groundbreaking research into neutron star physics, randomness & structures, molecular-level atmospheric transitions, and space resilience.
About City
The four major campuses of the University of Helsinki are located in the capital city of Finland. With almost 700,000 people, it is the country’s economic and cultural heart. But it also has many characteristics of a University town; more than 10% (or 70,000) of the residents of Helsinki are students. It has sprawling urban buildings and skyscrapers next to parks and islands, with excellent public transport and 8,000+ international students adding to the diversity of the city. More than a third of the city is covered by greenery - either parks or vegetation - so a green recreational area can always be reached from any of the four campuses by walking.
There are several other advantages of living and studying in Helsinki. The air is cleaner and less polluted than 90% of Europe’s major capitals. The public transport has four facets: metro, train, bus and tram networks cover every inch of the city, and passes for students are heavily discounted. In keeping with the health-centric mindset of the University of Helsinki, the city has 1,200 km of bike routes, allowing students to exercise while commuting, even if they do not own bicycles (through the Bike Share system). It is also one of the most supportive cities for entrepreneurship and innovation, with both Linux and Angry Birds having originated in the city.
Laboratory
The University of Helsinki prioritizes future-aligned research, and this means that their infrastructure often extends far beyond conventional laboratories. Some of these are at such a large scale that 20+ pieces of equipment are shared with the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructure. These include Research Field Stations and Observatories.
A full list of laboratories and equipment can be found on the University of Helsinki’s Research Infrastructure Search Portal. This includes labs across cutting edge STEM disciplines such as Biotechnology, Molecular Spectroscopy, Optical Spectroscopy, and Diagnostic Imaging for animals, as well as specialized equipment in field stations located in Subarctic and deep forest regions, creating a unique set of opportunities for researchers to excel in any field of their choosing, shaped by the geography and culture of Finland. All these are supervised by the respective Faculty; for example, the atmospheric deposition collectors come under the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
Incubation / Idea Lab
In keeping with Helsinki’s reputation as one of the most innovation-friendly cities in the world, the University is home to Helsinki Think Company, an organization which helps students incubate their companies, develop their ideas, access mentorship via successful entrepreneurs, and pitch their plans for funding at various rounds.
It focuses closely on helping academics and researchers understand how they can convert their ideas to scalable business plans that can benefit millions of people across the world, removing the pressure of having to worry about daily operations and allowing them to focus on the big ideas. Uniquely among such organizations, Helsinki Think Company has set environmental and social impact as a major goal from its inception, and this is reflected in the unique products and services that it has incubated over the years.
Renowned Alumni
In addition to the four Nobel Laureates who have studied at the University of Helsinki (and who were later awarded the Nobel Prizes in Literature, Medicine, Chemistry, and Economics), Linus Torvalds, who created Linux (which powers servers across the world as the most widely used Open Source Operating System) is also a distinguished alumnus of the University of Helsinki.
Other Amenities
Health Services
The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) provides ongoing and emergency physical and mental care to students of the University of Helsinki. All undergraduate and postgraduate students (but not doctoral degree candidates) can access these services by paying the healthcare fee every semester. FSHS also provides services like vaccinations and best practice awareness through various mobile apps.
Mental health is prioritized over and above the services offered by FSHS. The University of Helsinki provides support to students who require help with high pressure academic situations, difficult personal situations, or need understanding support from fellow students or researchers. These services can be accessed both online and in person, ensuring discretion and privacy.
There are also study psychologists who assist students with optimization in study plans, managing stress, staying motivated, and juggling multiple responsibilities. This is particularly useful to PhD or PG students who have to write and submit a thesis within a short period of time.
Campus Life
As one of the biggest Universities in the Nordic countries, the University of Helsinki has four campus locations in the city of Helsinki alone, in addition to ten locations around Finland. The City Center campus is the main location, and is both the largest and most diverse in terms of disciplines housed within it. Other campuses usually focus on 1-2 areas of study; for example, the Kumpula Campus is dedicated to research and teaching in the Natural Sciences, and the Meilahti Campus is home to the medical sciences departments.
The City Center campus is home to more than 17,000 students, 5 Faculties, and 1 School. Its central location within Helsinki means that students can access the business and cultural opportunities that the country’s capital offer, and it has prominent facilities such as the Helsinki University Museum, the Unisport complex where students and staff can access wellness, sports, and exercise spaces, Laurus and Unicafe for dining and restaurant areas, and the Think Corner, a large open area for discussions and collaboration.
All campus locations offer multiple spaces where student associations can organize events and conduct meetings, in addition to state of the art libraries and academic facilities.
UN SDG for HE
In addition to its primary focus of being a future-oriented research higher education institution, the University of Helsinki also has a clearly stated aim in its 2021-2030 strategic plan to become more responsible and sustainable. This aim is broken down through two detailed blueprints: the Sustainability and Responsibility Plan and the Equality and Diversity Plan. These are both 100% aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The University publishes an annual audit report of its progress along each of the dimensions in its overall goal, and has a goal of becoming completely carbon neutral by 2030. There is an entire structure of vice-rectors and vice-deans who lead compliance with the 17 SDGs, and the Equality and Diversity Committee works closely with them to ensure equal access to facilities for all, and discrimination against none.
Gender & Sexuality
Given that the University of Helsinki is largely decentralized, different campus locations have their own LGBTQ support organizations. For example, Kumpula LGBTQIAP+ organizes events and outreach services on the campus of the same name, with flagship annual celebrations such as the STEM Day for Queer and Allies. It provides logistics and booking support to make networking and event setup easier.
Begin your journey at University of Helsinki.
- Prospectus, fees and key dates by email
- A call back from the admissions office
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