Turun yliopisto brand identity

Turun yliopisto

Turku, Finland • Founded 1920 • QS 2027 #398 =

Updated May 2026 · Source: utu.fi

Overview

English Name: University of Turku
Local Name: University of Turku
Acronyms: TY / UTU
Founded: 1920
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Religious Affiliation: None
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #398 = Times Higher Education 2026 #301-350 ARWU (Shanghai) 2026 #301-400 CWTS Leiden 2025 #671 SCImago 2026 #493
Motto: Vapaan kansan lahja vapaalle tieteelle
Daily life at Turun yliopisto
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Founded in 1920, the Turun yliopisto (University of Turku) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the small city of Turku (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Southwest Finland.

This institution also has a branch campus in Pori. Officially recognized by the Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, Suomi (Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland), Turun yliopisto (TY / UTU) is a large-sized coeducational Finnish higher education institution.

Turun yliopisto (TY / UTU) 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 104-year-old Finnish higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations.

The acceptance rate range is 10-19% making this Finnish higher education organization an extremely selective institution.

International students are welcome to apply for enrollment. TY / UTU 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

Address, contact details, and online presence for Turun yliopisto are summarised below.

Address: Yliopistonmäki
Postal Code: 20014
Other Sites: Also Turku University Central Hospital. Campuses in Rauma and Pori in Finland. Degree programmes and non-degree programmes in English in various fields
Phone: +358 029 450 5000
Fax: +358 029 450 5040
Social Media:

Academic Details

The numbers behind Turun yliopisto: student body, academic staff, and recognising bodies.

Academic Year: August to July (August-December; January-July)
Recognition: Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, Suomi
Accrediting Agency: Ministry of Education and Culture
Admission Requirements: Secondary school certificate (Ylioppilastutkinto) or foreign equivalent, and entrance examination. Applicants not fluent in Finnish are required to hold a lower university degree (BA, BSc) and TOEFL test
Total Students: 20,323
Female Students: 12,422
Academic Staff Range: 800-899
Full-Time Academic Staff: 1,071
Academic Staff with Doctorate: 1,346
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
European University Association (EUA) Coimbra Group

Academic Structures

The academic units of Turun yliopisto are listed below.

Unit 11 items
  • Baltic Sea Region Studies
  • Centre for Translation Studies
  • Faculty of Humanities
  • School of Art, Literature and Music
  • School of Classical and Romance Languages
  • School of Cultural Production and Landscape Studies
  • School of Cultural Research
  • School of English
  • School of Finnish and General Linguistics
  • School of History
  • School of Swedish, German and Russian

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, Suomi.

Brahea Centre of the University of Turku (Centre) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Operation areas: Food Sector and Circular Economy
  • Sea and Maritime Studies
  • Staff and Organisations' Development
  • Smart Cities and Regions
  • Development of Higher Education
  • Cultural Diversity and Migration
Centre for Language and Communication Studies (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Modern Languages
Finnish Centre for Astronomy with ESO (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Astronomy and Space Science
Turku Bioscience (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biotechnology
Turku PET Centre (Centre) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Medicine
Education (Faculty) 7 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Adult Education
  • Education
  • Educational Sciences
  • Preschool Education
  • Special Education
  • Teacher Training
  • Technology Education
Humanities (Faculty) 32 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Art History
  • Baltic Languages
  • Classical Languages
  • Comparative Literature
  • Comparative Religion
  • Cultural Studies
  • English
  • Ethnology
  • Finnish
  • Folklore
  • Foreign Languages Education
  • French
  • German
  • History
  • Hungarian
  • Italian
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Media Studies
  • Museum Studies
  • Musicology
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Scandinavian Languages
  • Spanish
  • Swedish
  • Translation and Interpretation
  • Women's Studies
  • Writing
Law (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law
Medicine (Faculty) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Dentistry
  • Health Sciences
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
School of Economics (Faculty) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Business Administration
  • Economics
Science and Engineering (Faculty) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences
  • Phonetics
  • Statistics
Social Sciences (Faculty) 9 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Asian Studies
  • Contemporary History
  • Philosophy
  • Political Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Social Policy
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Urban Studies
Archipelago Research Institute (Institute) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • in Nauvo
  • Seili Island
Functional Foods Forum (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • brings together the multidisciplinary expertise for the research and development of high-quality and healthy foods of the future.
Kevo Subarctic Research Institute (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • in Utsjoki
Cultural Production and Landscape Studies (School) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Cultural Studies
  • Landscape Architecture

Programs Offered

Every programme Turun yliopisto currently runs, grouped by degree level and searchable.

140 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 114 programmes

Showing 10 of 114.

Doctorate 22 programmes

Showing 10 of 22.

Scholarships in Finland

Funding options available to students studying in Finland, alongside Turun yliopisto's costs.

How to apply to Turun yliopisto

How to apply to Turun yliopisto — a five-step structure.

  1. 1
    Research programmes at Turun yliopisto

    Use the programme finder to browse Turun yliopisto's 140 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.

  2. 2
    Review admissions criteria

    Programme-level requirements at Turun yliopisto typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.

  3. 3
    Gather supporting documents

    Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.

  4. 4
    Lodge your application

    Turun yliopisto processes applications through www.utu.fi. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.

  5. 5
    Confirm receipt and track progress

    Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. Reach the institution by phone at +358 029 450 5000. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Turun yliopisto

Common questions about Turun yliopisto, answered from data on record.

When was Turun yliopisto founded?

Turun yliopisto was established in 1920 (approximately 106 years ago).

What city is Turun yliopisto in?

Turun yliopisto operates from Turku, Finland.

Is Turun yliopisto public or private?

Turun yliopisto is a public institution.

How big is Turun yliopisto's student body?

Turun yliopisto serves approximately 20,323 students.

How is Turun yliopisto ranked?

Turun yliopisto holds rank QS 2027 #398 =.

What is Turun yliopisto's academic structure?

Turun yliopisto is organised into 11 academic units across its disciplines.

Who recognises Turun yliopisto?

Turun yliopisto is accredited by Ministry of Education and Culture.

What is Turun yliopisto's official website?

You can find Turun yliopisto online at www.utu.fi.

Members of European University Association (EUA)

Below: other European University Association (EUA) member institutions, alongside Turun yliopisto.

Faculties at nearby universities

Also in Turku: universities located close to Turun yliopisto.

Where Else to Study Social Sciences & Education

Below: other Finland universities that offer Social Sciences & Education programmes.

Universities Compared with Turun yliopisto

These universities are of a comparable scale to Turun yliopisto.

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