The Helsinki metropolitan area is one of Finland's most important educational hubs. The region is comprised of five universities and five universities of applied sciences. In addition, several free adult education colleges operate in the area that guidance and teaching in different professional fields.
Whatever the precise area, students arriving from abroad find it easy to find worthwhile and high quality studying options for themselves or their children.
University of Helsinki and Aalto University are highly acclaimed globally
The title of Finland's largest university goes to the University of Helsinki, which makes groundbreaking and multidisciplinary research in its 11 faculties. Its scientific community numbers 40,000 students and researchers. It is repeatedly ranked among the world's top 100 universities – the only one in this list from Finland. The university's campus areas spread throughout the city and offer a wide selection of disciplines such as medicine, law, natural sciences and humanistic studies.
Just a short metro ride from downtown Helsinki, Aalto University is found in the Otaniemi district of Otaniemi. Its main focus is on technology, business, arts and design. In 2017, nearly 12,000 students were enrolled in the different faculties and Aalto became number seven in the QS ranking of universities that were founded within the last 50 years.
In addition to the aforementioned facts, Helsinki's university offering also includes the Helsinki University of the Arts offering many different arts disciplines and the Swedish-language Hanken School of Economics. There are also several universities of applied sciences in Helsinki: Arcada, Diak Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Humak University of Applied Sciences, Laurea University of Applied Sciences and Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.
Higher education leading to a degree is free of charge in Finland for students arriving from EU/EEA countries.
I was attracted to Helsinki by the free and high quality education. Everything works in Helsinki: the city offices are easy to visit and public transport runs smoothly.
Master's programmes attract students from around the world
Universities in the metropolitan area also offer Master's degree programmes in English, which are suitable for deepening one's knowledge in a field or for navigating towards new fields of science.
Like undergraduate programmes, Master's degree programmes are also free of charge for students from EU/EEA countries. Students arriving from beyond this region with prominent success in their previous studies can apply for scholarships to cover their tuition fees.
The international study programmes in Helsinki attract both locals and foreign students. Starting a Master's programme also offers the possibility to get acquainted with the many professional and leisure opportunities of the city.
