Located in Northern Europe, Finland is often called the “Land of a Thousand Lakes.” Its capital is Helsinki. According to Statistics Finland’s preliminary data, the country’s population was 5,650,933 at the end of March 2026. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish, and Finland is increasingly multilingual. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland remains the largest religious community, with 62.2% of the population registered as Lutheran in 2024.
When it comes to must-visit tourist spots, Finland has quite a long list. Some of the most impressive ones include Suomenlinna Fortress, Kauppatori or Market Square, the Åland Archipelago, Turku Castle, and the Kvarken Archipelago World Heritage Site. For those who enjoy sightseeing, it is best to travel from late August to early April, especially in September to October and February to March, to see the famous Northern Lights. Besides this, more adventurous travelers might want to check out the country’s roughly 168,000 lakes that are at least 500 square meters in area.
In 2023, Finland hosted 31,656 international full-degree students in higher education institutions. It is a solid choice for those who plan on studying abroad or pursuing their higher education in Finland. Universities in Finland offer competitive scholarships and tuition waivers for many fee-paying non-EU/EEA students, but there is no general government scholarship scheme for all international bachelor’s and master’s degree students. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens generally do not pay tuition fees for bachelor’s and master’s programs, while non-EU/EEA students usually pay tuition for English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs. In this article, we will look at the best cities to study in Finland!
Top Cities to Study in Finland for International Students
1. Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland, making it a major business hub and tourist destination. At the end of 2024, Helsinki had 684,018 residents, and preliminary data put the city at about 694,000 residents by the end of October 2025. The Kiasma Museum, Uspenski Cathedral, Linnanmäki Amusement Park, Kamppi Chapel, and Temppeliaukio Church are among its most-visited landmarks.
For prospective students, Helsinki is an excellent destination to study in Finland because there are several well-known colleges and universities in the city, such as the University of Helsinki, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Hanken School of Economics, University of the Arts Helsinki, and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.
Those who have a passion for the arts should check out the University of the Arts Helsinki, or Uniarts Helsinki. It provides the highest level of education in music, fine arts, performing arts, and writing in Finland. Established in 2013, the university consists of three academies: the Academy of Fine Arts, the Sibelius Academy, and the Theatre Academy.
On the other hand, future economists and business administration experts should look into the Hanken School of Economics. It is a long-established business school that opened its doors to students in 1909. Today, Hanken has four departments and one center: the Department of Finance and Economics, the Department of Management and Organisation, the Department of Marketing, the Department of Accounting and Commercial Law, and the Centre for Languages and Business Communication.
2. Tampere
Tampere is a charming city in southern Finland. In 2025, it had 263,337 inhabitants and was Finland’s third-largest city. It is also a favorite destination among travelers because of awe-inspiring sites such as Museum Centre Vapriikki, Pyynikki Observation Tower, Tampere Cathedral, Särkänniemi, and Kaleva Church.
Police University College, Tampere University, and Tampere University of Applied Sciences are well-known educational institutions in the city. Tampere is one of the top cities to study in Finland if you are an aspiring international student. For those who want police academy training, Police University College, or Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu, is the main option. The Finnish police training tradition dates back to 1918, while police training in Tampere began in 1974. Today, Police University College is Finland’s only police educational institute and a center of expertise in police education, research, and development. Education is organized in Finnish and Swedish, and some courses are also taught in English.
3. Espoo
Espoo is part of Finland’s Uusimaa region and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. At the end of 2025, Espoo had 325,716 residents. It is a bustling city filled with tourist attractions such as the Laajalahti Nature Reserve, Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Nuuksio National Park, the Finnish Nature Center Haltia, and Serena Water Park.
Espoo is one of the best cities for international students in Finland. As for educational institutions, perhaps the best-known one in the area is Aalto University. It is a multidisciplinary university with six schools: School of Arts, Design and Architecture, School of Business, School of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering, and School of Science. Aalto University started operating in 2010 after the merger of the Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki University of Technology, and the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Its name pays homage to the famed architect and designer Alvar Aalto, whose work is closely connected to the Otaniemi campus.
4. Turku
Known as Finland’s oldest city, Turku has a rich history that is proudly displayed through architectural and cultural sites such as Turku Castle, Kuralan Kylämäki, the Sibelius Museum, the Qwensel House, and Turku Cathedral. Its population is now close to 210,000 residents.
The University of Turku, Turku University of Applied Sciences, and Åbo Akademi University are well-known centers of learning in the city. The University of Turku is one of Finland’s leading multidisciplinary universities and is a strong choice for international students. It was founded in 1920 and has eight faculties: Faculty of Education, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Technology, and Turku School of Economics. Furthermore, it has campuses in Turku, Pori, and Rauma.
5. Vantaa
Vantaa is Finland’s most international city. At the end of 2024, it had over 251,000 residents, and 28.7% of its residents were foreign-language speakers. Those who visit often go to the Finnish Aviation Museum, Tikkurila Railway Station, Science Center Heureka, Vantaa Museum, and Kuusijärvi.
In Vantaa, the most notable institution is the Laurea University of Applied Sciences. It began operating in Vantaa in 1991 and was formerly known as Vantaa University of Applied Sciences and Espoo-Vantaa University of Applied Sciences. The name Laurea University of Applied Sciences was adopted in 2001. Today, it has six campuses and about 10,900 students.
The cities above offer many attractions as well as well-known higher education institutions in Finland. You can also check out the Study in Finland page for more information about different Finnish universities and available financial aid opportunities. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe to learn more about studying abroad.
