Helsingin yliopisto
Helsinki, Finland • Founded 1640 • World Rank #147
Updated May 2026
Overview
Established in 1640, the Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Helsinki (population range of 500,000-1,000,000 inhabitants), Uusimaa.
Officially recognized by the Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, Suomi (Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland), Helsingin yliopisto (HY / UH) is a large-sized coeducational Finnish higher education institution. Helsingin yliopisto (HY / UH) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
This 384-year-old Finnish higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades. The acceptance rate range is 0-9% making this Finnish higher education organization an extremely selective institution.
International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.
HY / UH also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, sports facilities, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Where to find Helsingin yliopisto, plus its phone, email, website, and social media links. Confirm the published channels here are current before sending application materials.
Academic Details
Enrolment, faculty headcount, and accreditation data for Helsingin yliopisto — the academic basics in one place. Cross-reference these against programme-specific data when finalising your shortlist.
Academic Structures
The internal academic structure of Helsingin yliopisto — by faculty, school, and unit. Research-only units exist alongside teaching units; their function and student involvement differ.
Unit 12 items
- Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Behavioral Sciences
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Swedish School of Social Science
Degrees
Find the degree level matching your study stage at Helsingin yliopisto. Bologna-process cycles (1st/2nd/3rd) map roughly to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral but with country-specific variations.
Other 82 programs
- Agricultural Economics
- Agriculture
- Arts and Humanities
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Astrophysics
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Biomedicine
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Commercial Law
- Communication Studies
- Computer Science
- Cultural Studies
- Danish
- Data Processing
- Dentistry
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Sciences
- English
- Environmental Studies
- European Studies
- Fine Arts
- Finnish
- Food Science
- Forestry
- Gender Studies
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Government
- Health Sciences
- Heritage Preservation
- History
- Hungarian
- Icelandic
- International Law
- Law
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Education
- Medicine
- Meteorology
- Microbiology
- Modern Languages
- Molecular Biology
- Nanotechnology
- Natural Resources
- Natural Sciences
- Neurosciences
- Nordic Studies
- Notary Studies
- Nutrition
- Oral Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Regional Studies
- Religious Studies
- Russian
- Science Education
- Social Sciences
- Social Studies
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Statistics
- Theology
- Town Planning
- Translation and Interpretation
- Urban Studies
- Veterinary Science
- Wildlife
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, Suomi.
Centre for University Teaching and Learning (HYPE) (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/centre-for-university-teaching-and-learning-hype
HY+ (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://eduvisit.hyplusglobal.fi/
Language Centre (Centre) 2 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Offers language courses for all students
- faculty and staff
Neuroscience Center (Centre) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/hilife-neuroscience-center
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Agriculture and Forestry (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture
- Arctic Studies
- Environmental Studies
- Food Science
- Forestry
Common Career Paths
- Agricultural Scientist
- Agronomist
- Farm Manager
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Arts (Faculty) 31 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Aesthetics
- African Studies
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Asian Studies
- Baltic Languages
- Cinema and Television
- Comparative Literature
- Comparative Religion
- Cultural Studies
- English
- Ethnology
- Film
- Finnish
- Folklore
- German
- History
- Hungarian
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Museum Studies
- Musicology
- Philology
- Philosophy
- Romance Languages
- Scandinavian Languages
- Slavic Languages
- Theatre
- Translation and Interpretation
- Women's Studies
Biological and Environmental Sciences (Faculty) 9 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Ecology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Neurosciences
- Physiology
- Plant Pathology
- Zoology
Common Career Paths
- Environmental Consultant
- Sustainability Officer
- Climate Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Educational Sciences (Faculty) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Behavioural Sciences
- Cognitive Sciences
- Education
- Educational Testing and Evaluation
- Handicrafts
- Higher Education
- Home Economics
- Speech Studies
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law (Faculty) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Commercial Law
- Criminal Law
- Human Rights
- International Economics
- International Law
- Justice Administration
- Private Law
- Public Law
Common Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Legal Consultant
- Compliance Officer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Medicine (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biomedicine
- Dentistry
- Forensic Medicine and Dentistry
- Medicine
- Psychology
- Public Health
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Pharmacy (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Pharmacy
Common Career Paths
- Pharmacist
- Clinical Pharmacist
- Pharmaceutical Researcher
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Science (Faculty) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Geography
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Statistics
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Social Sciences (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Political Sciences
- Social Psychology
- Social Studies
- Social Work
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Policy Analyst
- Social Worker
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Theology (Faculty) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Bible
- Comparative Religion
- History of Religion
- Orthodox Theology
- Theology
Common Career Paths
- Religious Educator
- Pastoral Counsellor
- Faith Community Leader
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Veterinary Medicine (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Veterinary Science
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Aleksanteri Institute - Finnish Centre for Russian and East European Studies (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/aleksanteri-institute
Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFIN) (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/verifin-finnish-institute-for-verification-of-the-chemical-weapons-convention
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/helsinki-collegium-for-advanced-studies
Helsinki Institute for Information Technology (HIIT) (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.hiit.fi/
Common Career Paths
- IT Consultant
- Network Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE) (Institute) Faculty details available
Specialisations & Subjects
No specified subjects listed.
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Helsinki Institute of Physics (HIP) (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- http://www.hip.fi/
Common Career Paths
- Physicist
- Research Scientist
- Data Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/helsinki-institute-of-sustainability-science
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth system Research (INAR) (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/inar-institute-for-atmospheric-and-earth-system-research
Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/hilife-fimm
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Institute of Biotechnology (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/hilife-institute-of-biotechnology
Institute of Seismology (Institute) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/institute-of-seismology
Helsinki University Library (Unit) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- https://www.helsinki.fi/en/helsinki-university-library
Programs Offered
Search and filter Helsingin yliopisto's available programmes by degree level. The list reflects the institution's current catalogue and may not include programmes that are paused or pending approval.
127 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Finland
Bachelor's Degree 4 programmes
Master's Degree 109 programmes
Showing 10 of 109.
Doctorate 14 programmes
Showing 10 of 14.
How to apply to Helsingin yliopisto
How to apply to Helsingin yliopisto — a five-step structure with notes on documents, channels, and timing for each phase.
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1
Identify the right programme
Helsingin yliopisto's catalogue includes 127 programmes. Browse by level, identify candidates matching your prior qualifications, and note their entry requirements for the next step.
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2
Check entry requirements
Entry requirements vary by programme and degree level. Verify academic minimums, language tests (if international), and any additional documents required for Helsingin yliopisto's admissions process.
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3
Prepare your application documents
Typical documents include academic transcripts, identity proof (passport or national ID), language proficiency test scores, a personal statement or motivation letter, and recommendation letters. International applicants should account for translation and notarisation time.
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4
Submit via the institution
Submit your completed application through Helsingin yliopisto's official website at www.helsinki.fi. Most institutions use an online portal — register an account, complete the application form, and upload your prepared documents. Keep copies of all submissions and confirmation receipts.
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5
Get in touch with admissions
Follow up to confirm your application was received and is being processed. Reach the institution by phone at +358 (9) 1911. Admissions teams may request interviews or additional documents — respond promptly to keep your application active.
Frequently Asked Questions about Helsingin yliopisto
Frequently asked questions about Helsingin yliopisto, covering the institutional basics most prospective applicants want to confirm first.
When did Helsingin yliopisto open?
Helsingin yliopisto traces its founding to 1640 (approximately 386 years ago).
Where is Helsingin yliopisto located?
Helsingin yliopisto is located in Helsinki, Finland.
Is Helsingin yliopisto public or private?
Helsingin yliopisto is a public institution.
What is the student enrolment at Helsingin yliopisto?
Student enrolment at Helsingin yliopisto is around 20,000-24,999.
How is Helsingin yliopisto ranked?
Helsingin yliopisto is ranked #147 globally and #1 in Finland.
How many faculties does Helsingin yliopisto have?
Helsingin yliopisto is organised into 12 academic units across its disciplines.
Is Helsingin yliopisto accredited?
The institution holds recognition from Ministry of Education and Culture.
How do I find Helsingin yliopisto online?
You can find Helsingin yliopisto online at www.helsinki.fi.
Members of European University Association (EUA)
Tuition reciprocity exists in some European University Association (EUA) networks, where members charge in-network rates for student exchanges. Worth checking specific bilateral terms within the broader membership.
Faculties at nearby universities
Public transport hubs near Helsingin yliopisto affect access to all the universities below similarly. Major transit nodes often correlate with where the cluster of institutions is densest.
Where Else to Study Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Accreditation portability differs for Natural Sciences & Mathematics programmes across Finland. Professional accreditation (where applicable) matters more than institutional accreditation for regulated career paths.
Universities Compared with Helsingin yliopisto
When students choose Helsingin yliopisto, they typically weigh it against institutions of similar standing. These universities sit at a comparable level — useful comparisons before committing to a final choice, especially when programme content is similar across the options.
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