The University accommodates independent institutes that focus on research, teaching or the provision of services. Some of them are shared with other universities. There are also some independent institutes that operate within faculties. They are introduced on the faculty websites.
With their long history, research stations are able to provide long term environmental background data sets.
University consortiums complement the Finnish university network. They bring together the activities of many universities in localities that do not have their own university. The University of Helsinki participates, together with other Finnish universities, in the activities of university consortiums in Lahti, Mikkeli and Seinäjoki.
Teacher education at the University of Helsinki always includes teaching practice. Teaching practice is the responsibility of the University's Faculty of Educational Sciences, and it is organised by its two affiliated teacher training schools: