Study in Helsinki, Finland

About Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and its largest city. It had 684,018 inhabitants at the end of 2024, and the City of Helsinki expects the population to pass 700,000 in 2026. Founded in 1550 as a trading town on the Baltic Sea, it became the capital in 1812 and is today the country's political, economic and cultural centre; in 2012 it was World Design Capital.

Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish, and Helsinki is home to institutions in both. For international students, the key point is that many degrees are taught in English, and Study in Finland, the official portal of the Finnish National Agency for Education, notes that daily life is easy to manage in English.

Studying in Helsinki

Our directory lists two universities and one summer programme in Helsinki:

• University of Helsinki: the city dates its beginning to 1640, when the Royal Academy of Turku was founded; the academy later moved to Helsinki after the Great Fire of Turku and became today's university. It offers bachelor's and master's programmes in fields such as the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, education, health, agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine.
• Arcada University of Applied Sciences is a Swedish-speaking university of applied sciences with about 2,900 students and 170 staff on one campus in Helsinki. It teaches in Swedish and English, in fields such as business, engineering, health and welfare, and information technology, and international students can study Swedish and Finnish alongside their degree.
• Helsinki Summer School is a summer study programme run by the University of Helsinki for university students and graduates.

Costs, fees and housing

Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland usually pay tuition for English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes, typically €9,000 to €20,000 a year; programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish are free. For living costs, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) requires proof of at least €800 a month, but Study in Finland recommends budgeting about €900 to €1,200 a month, depending on the city. A university student union membership (about €50 to €70 a year) gives discounts in student restaurants and on public transport.

Student housing is provided by student housing foundations; in the Helsinki region this is the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region (Hoas), whose shared apartments include water and electricity in the rent. A room in a shared student flat typically costs about €200 to €380 a month in Finland. Apply as soon as you are admitted, because demand is high at the start of the academic year.

Residence permit and work

Students from outside the EU/EEA usually need a residence permit for stays of more than 90 days, applied for through Migri after admission. International students may work up to 30 hours a week on average during term and full-time in holidays.

Getting around and climate

Helsinki has a metro, opened in 1982, that links eastern Helsinki with the city centre. Winters are cold: in January the average high is -2.6 °C and the low -8.5 °C, while July averages a high of 21.8 °C and a low of 11.8 °C, according to the 1971-2000 normals published by the World Meteorological Organization.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Helsinki?

Yes. You can complete a whole degree in English in Finland, and Arcada, for example, teaches in both Swedish and English.

How much does it cost to study in Helsinki?

Non-EU/EEA students usually pay €9,000 to €20,000 a year for English-taught degrees, and Study in Finland suggests budgeting €900 to €1,200 a month for living costs.

Do I need a residence permit to study in Finland?

Students from outside the EU/EEA usually need one for stays longer than 90 days. You apply to the Finnish Immigration Service after you have been admitted.

Can international students work in Finland?

Yes, up to 30 hours a week on average during the academic year and full-time during holidays.