Finland has been chosen several times as one of the happiest countries in the world thanks to its high quality of life and overall stability. It is also a country where the values of equality, integrity, and openness are important.
The Finnish education system is considered to be one of the most advanced in the world and schoolchildren have excelled in PISA surveys for several years.
As a nation, Finland is simultaneously at the forefront of technology and still has its roots deep in nature. It is the most heavily forested country in Europe with wide-ranging rights for everyone to explore nature and enjoy outdoor activities.
Nature is also an essential part of the capital, Helsinki. It is a safe and compact city by the sea with both urban culture and nature at your doorstep. With more than 70 000 university students, it offers many leisure activities and services for students.
The University of Helsinki operates on four campuses in Helsinki. In addition, there are 15 other locations in Finland and abroad.
From the first lessons in elementary school to specialising in your field of interest at university, the Finnish education system is widely recognised for its greatness.
What are the key elements that helped Finland progress from austere conditions to the global forefront? An equal school system, high regard for teachers and top-quality teaching have played a significant role in the process.
Find out more about Finland’s world-famous education system:
As the University of Helsinki is one of the world's top 1% universities and renowned for high-quality teaching and research, it is an excellent place to experience the Finnish education system.
At the University of Helsinki, Finnish equality shows in a flat hierarchy. Students and researchers work together on the campuses, and international students often mention the easily approachable professors and teachers.
Another often mentioned feature of studying at the University of Helsinki is the freedom to tailor your studies. However, this also requires being independent and taking responsibility for your own studies.
According to our international students:
-"There’s a lot of freedom at the University of Helsinki, which can be good or bad — you’re able to tailor your studies much more personally, but there’s also more room for self-doubt and procrastination."
-“You don’t have to address your teachers with their titles. You are treated more as a peer than as a student: instead of being told to sit down and listen, you can have real scientific discussions with your teachers.”
-"I have a lot of freedom. Although I have some mandatory courses, I am able to choose and schedule the courses I take myself. This means I have a lot of responsibility, but also that I can make my studies suit my needs."
-“At the University of Helsinki, they trust the students. You are treated as a professional. It’s amazing."
-"In Finland, students are valued as assets. They are given countless opportunities to study whatever interests them, both in Finland and abroad. It is up to the student to pursue these opportunities and tailor the degree toward their needs and ambitions."
Starting your studies and a new life in another country can be very exciting. At the same, it can be slightly intimidating and tiring as it requires being very independent and involves a lot of administrative tasks.
This list includes a few things that hopefully help with making everything go as smoothly as possible before and upon your arrival in Helsinki.
In the Studies Service, you can find lots of information for new students about residence permits, housing and all types of other tasks that are required when moving to Finland and starting studying at the University of Helsinki.
Find answers to all your questions about moving to and living in Finland! InfoFinland provides information about housing, work, health care, leisure, Finnish culture and much more. You can use this website in 12 languages.
Find out more at InfoFinland.
Are you planning to move to Helsinki? InfoFinland provides information about Helsinki and its services for newcomers.
It is easy to get by in Finland with English as the Finnish people are among the best non-native English speakers in the world*. However, learning the local language will make your stay more rewarding and gives you more career options.
Finland is officially a bilingual country with Finnish (95%) and Swedish (5%). Finnish is part of the Finno-Ugric family of languages, and the structure and vocabulary are very different from the Indo-European languages. But it doesn't mean that it is difficult - it is merely different!
A Taste of Finnish is an online course that has been designed especially for students planning to come and study at the University of Helsinki for a term or longer. It gives a good picture of the Finnish language and a toolbox for simple everyday situations with the Finns – a taste of Finnish.
For enrolled exchange, visiting and international degree students, the University of Helsinki offers free Finnish language courses. They are a fun way to learn the language and network with other students across the fields, and you to get to know the culture as well.
*EF English Proficiency Index
Our students can tell you about their own experiences and give some tips via chat or you can read their blogs.
The University of Helsinki offers the admitted students an opportunity to connect and get to know their future classmates and other students already before your studies begin through the Goin' Connect app.
A personal link is provided after the admission results have been published.
"Although I read a lot about the University of Helsinki and Finland, there were new information that I only knew from Goin': from the application and from my fellow classmates! It gave me this sense of a community, that I'm not alone in this stressful process."
- Master's student in Changing Education
International House Helsinki (IHH) provides a wide range of information and public authority services in one place to meet the needs of international newcomers in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Their multilingual information and counselling service for internationals are free of charge.
All new Bachelor's and Master's students at the University of Helsinki are assigned a tutor (or a peer counsellor) and a tutoring group based on their study programme and faculty. The tutors assist the new students during their first days and during the orientation week with practical things like registering as a resident, where to get a student travel card and what are the most important services on the campuses. Tutors contact the students before the orientation week starts.
Tutoring is a good introduction to the Finnish university life and makes it easier to settle into the new environment and get in contact with other students.
Each autumn and spring, before the semester and the classes begin, there is a period full of orientation activities for all new international degree and exchange students. It will make it easier to start your studies and life in Helsinki as you will get to know the university campuses and facilities, and get support with administrative matters.
The orientation activities include tutoring, introduction meetings with your own study programme or faculty and the Check In event.
At the Check In event you can get some of the official paperwork and admin done, but also get information about language courses and various university services like UniSport, the University Library, the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) and the Study Psychologists. And most importantly, you will meet new people while talking to people from the student organisations.
Read more about the orientation period and the Check In event.
When arriving in Helsinki, it is easy to get around by public transport in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The Helsinki public transport system has been named the 2nd best among European cities, with a highly effective public transport system of metro, tram, bus and train lines.
If you prefer cycling, an extensive bike share system with over 250 bike stations and more than 2 500 bikes is available from April to October.
Go to the route planner of public transport in Helsinki at the HSL website.
Read more about student fares in public transport and other student benefits. Please note that a valid student card is required to get the discount.
During the first week of the academic year, you can easily recognise all staff by a pink logo. They are there to help and support you with any study-related issues. The Ask Me! campaign welcomes new students to the university community and makes it easier to ask for help.
For the rest of the year, you can turn to the student service points on each campus. They provide services for all students at the University of Helsinki the whole year around. Find the contact details for the student service points.
You can also drop by at the Guidance Corners operated by the Student Services in the City Centre and Viikki Campuses. They are student spaces where many types of low-threshold activities are organised to support your well-being and your studies. Check the programme for the Guidance Corner.
Finland is a Northern European nation bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia. It has been an independent state since 6 December 1917 when Helvi was only two and a half weeks old. A lot has happened since then.
Watch the story of Finland in 100 seconds through the eyes of six different generations. Video by Finland Toolbox, published by the Finland Promotion Board.
Facts about Finland:
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