Finland is not just an excellent place for students because of its magical cities and stunning sites that can inspire someone to pursue a degree. More than that, the country’s universities are globally recognized for academic excellence and innovation, as seen in its world-class institutions and strong international research profile. In addition, Finland works to make education more affordable and accessible: EU/EEA and Swiss students do not pay tuition fees at public universities, while non-EU/EEA students pay tuition for English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs, and doctoral programs do not charge tuition.
With all of this in mind, it is not surprising that so many students want to study in Finland. If you plan to join them, read through this article to learn about some English-taught universities in Finland. English-taught universities can make the transition to a new country much more manageable because they reduce language barriers in the classroom.
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Finland
| University | Undergraduate English-taught options | Graduate English-taught options |
|---|
| University of Helsinki | Bachelor’s programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Science. | English-taught master’s options, including the joint Plant Breeding program highlighted in the article. A doctoral degree can be completed in English in all doctoral programs. |
| Aalto University | Options include Design and Media, Economics, International Business, Chemical Engineering, Computational Engineering, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Digital Systems and Design, and Quantum Technology. | English-taught master’s options include Advanced Energy Solutions, Automation and Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Building Technology. Doctoral degrees can be completed in English, depending on the program and individual study plan. |
| University of Turku | English-taught bachelor’s-level routes in Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship and Information and Communication Technology. | English-taught master’s options across business, education, biomedical and health sciences, technology, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Doctoral opportunities are also available; confirm the teaching and research language with the specific program. |
| University of Jyväskylä | Bachelor’s in Business Innovation and Sustainability. | Fully English-taught international master’s programs across business, education, information technology, natural sciences, sport and health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. English-language doctoral opportunities are also available. |
| University of Oulu | Bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways in Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Software Engineering and Information Systems, and International Business Management. | Master’s options include Biomedical Engineering, Business Analytics, Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics, Finance, Environmental Engineering, Learning, Education and Technology, Biochemistry, Architecture, and Epidemiology and Biomedical Data Science. Confirm doctoral teaching and supervision arrangements by program. |
| Åbo Akademi University | No complete English-taught bachelor’s degree is identified in the article. Bachelor’s admission requires Swedish proficiency; individual English-language courses do not remove Swedish degree requirements. | English-taught master’s programs include Biomedical Imaging, Information Technology, Governance of Digitalization, and International Law and Human Rights. Doctoral dissertations may be written in English, but teaching and examination languages are determined by the faculty. |
| LUT University | Bachelor’s programs in Chemical and Process Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence. | Master’s programs include Circular Economy and Sustainability Science and Solutions. English-language doctoral opportunities are offered through Business and Management, Energy Systems, and Engineering Science. |
| University of Eastern Finland | Bachelor’s options include Social Sciences, Human and Planetary Health, Data Engineering, and Sustainable Forest Bioeconomy. | Master’s programs include Photonics, Public Health, and Environmental Policy and Law. English-language doctoral study in photonics is available through the Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology. |
| Tampere University | Bachelor’s in Science and Engineering, with tracks including Materials Science, Environmental Engineering, and Engineering Physics, followed by relevant master’s pathways. | Master’s programs include Materials Science and Engineering, Sustainable Architecture, and Public and Global Health. English-language doctoral options include Computing and Electrical Engineering. |
| University of Lapland | Bachelor’s in Design, with a continuation pathway into Design for XR and Immersive Experiences at master’s level. | Master’s programs include Design for XR and Immersive Experiences, Arctic World Politics, and Sustainable Art and Design. English is also available for doctoral study in art and design. |
1. University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is Finland’s leading public university in many international rankings and among its best English-taught schools. Established in 1640, it is also the country’s oldest and largest institution of academic education and research. Today, the university is an international research community of more than 40,000 students and staff across 11 faculties and four campuses. The university is committed to impactful, sustainable, and innovative research.
This institution has a wide array of programs to offer. These programs may be provided in Swedish, Finnish, and English. The university’s website has individual pages reflecting programs available for each language. For doctoral programs, completing a doctoral degree in English is possible in all of the university’s doctoral programs.
For undergraduates, the University of Helsinki now offers two interdisciplinary bachelor’s programs in English: Liberal Arts and Sciences and Science. Both are three-year, 180 ECTS programs. For graduate students, options are more diverse, with several English-taught master’s degree programs and 14 doctoral programs available through the University of Helsinki Doctoral School.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Helsinki Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Suzan Bhadhury
Master’s in Plant Breeding (emPLANT) | Suzan completed the joint master’s at UniLaSalle and Helsinki and explicitly identifies English as the medium of instruction for those studies. | — |
2. Aalto University
Aalto University in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, is also one of Finland’s premier universities that offer English-taught programs. It describes itself as a place where science, arts, technology, and business meet. Despite being relatively young, the institution has earned its place in international rankings and ranked 21st in the 2024 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.
While Aalto University is known for art, science, technology, and business, its history explains why that is so. The institution began operating on January 1, 2010, when the Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki University of Technology, and the University of Art and Design Helsinki merged. The coming together of these major academies has allowed Aalto University to be a holistic and multidisciplinary institution.
There are many undergraduate programs one can choose from at Aalto University. These include design and media, economics, international business, chemical engineering, computational engineering, computer engineering, data science, digital systems and design, and quantum technology. The university also offers many master’s degree programs in English. At the doctoral level, students can complete a doctoral degree at Aalto University in English, Finnish, or Swedish, depending on the doctoral program and individual study plan.
What Current Students / Alumni of Aalto University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Abdur Rahman
Master’s in Computer Communication Information Systems, Communication Engineering | All his classes were in English, including lectures, assignments, and examinations. | He reports that not knowing Finnish did not prevent him from participating academically. |
Le Huu Huy
Bachelor’s in International Business | All his classes were in English. He also describes English-language learning materials, software, and communication with university staff. | He reports no problems from not knowing Finnish. |
Sanower Rehman
Master’s in Advanced Energy Solutions; Ph.D. in Energy Technology | Reflecting on his master’s experience before progressing to doctoral study, he reports that all his classes were in English. | — |
Muhammad Aiesh Ghayoor
Master’s in European Mining Course | All courses in his joint program were entirely in English. Professors and administrative staff also communicated and provided guidance in English. | Finnish was not an academic requirement; learning basic phrases was encouraged for cultural engagement. |
Abid Afridi
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Wireless Communications | He confirms that his classes were conducted in English. | — |
Muhammad Hassaan
Master’s in Smart Systems Integrated Solutions | English remained the language of instruction throughout his joint program, including his studies at Aalto. He experienced no academic language barriers. | English also made daily communication in Finland easy. Introductory language courses at the host universities helped with cultural adjustment. |
Muhammad Hafas Shafiq
Master’s in European Mining Course | All his program’s classes were entirely in English, and professors, supervisors, and staff communicated in English. | Finnish was not academically required. He recommends basic Finnish phrases for daily life and cultural interaction. |
Ushnish Chowdhury
M.Sc. in Automation and Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power and Energy Engineering | Almost all courses in his master’s program—including every mandatory course—were taught in English. | He reports no academic problems without Finnish. University information was available in English, and Finnish-speaking friends switched to English when he joined conversations. |
Thinh
Master’s in Computer Science, Game Development and Computer Graphics | His program’s courses were conducted entirely in English. | He describes no academic language barrier without Finnish and highlights opportunities to learn Finnish through the university’s language center. |
Umar Nawaz
Master’s in Building Technology | He reports that lectures, assignments, and examinations in his program were conducted in English. | Finnish was not academically necessary, but he recommends learning it for social integration and work opportunities during and after the degree. |
Khanh Nguyen
Bachelor’s in International Business | All her classes were conducted in English. | She found everyday activities manageable in English, but cautions that Finnish may matter for employment depending on the field and position. |
Muhammad Dayyan Hussain Khan
M.Sc. in Automation and Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power and Energy Engineering | All his classes, lectures, assignments, examinations, and academic communication with faculty were in English. | Not knowing Finnish caused him no academic difficulties. He distinguishes optional Finnish learning for daily life and integration from the language needed for his studies. |
3. University of Turku
The University of Turku is one of Finland’s large multidisciplinary universities and one of its notable English-taught universities. The institution was established in 1920 as the first Finnish-language university in the world.
Today, the university is a respected institution in Finland with eight faculties and several independent units. These faculties provide many programs delivered in English or Finnish. Students may take international bachelor’s or master’s degree programs taught in English.
For undergraduates, current English-taught options include bachelor’s-level routes in Sustainable and Social Entrepreneurship and Information and Communication Technology. For master’s-level students, prospects are more varied, including economics and business administration, education, biomedical and health sciences, technology, natural sciences, and social sciences and humanities. The University of Turku Graduate School also has 17 doctoral programs for the 2025–2029 term, including fields such as law, nursing science, clinical research, languages and translation studies, and technology.
4. University of Jyväskylä
The University of Jyväskylä is another excellent English-taught university in Finland. It traces its roots to 1863, when Finland’s first teacher training seminary was founded in Jyväskylä. Until now, the university has remained strongly connected to education, research, and teacher training.
Taking pride in its education and training, the University of Jyväskylä is recognized in international rankings and continues to develop its English-taught study offerings. The university offers study opportunities in English at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
At the bachelor’s level, the university offers the English-taught Business Innovation and Sustainability program. International and English-speaking students can also choose from several two-year international master’s programs taught fully in English, including programs in business, education, information technology, natural sciences, sport and health sciences, and the humanities and social sciences. They also offer doctoral programs, and students selected for doctoral studies must demonstrate proficiency in Finnish or English.
For applicants who need to prove English proficiency with a test, the University of Jyväskylä’s 2026 master’s admissions list IELTS Academic and IELTS Online with a minimum overall score of 6.5, and TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 92 on the 0–120 scale. For doctoral applicants, the university lists IELTS 6.5 and TOEFL iBT 92 among the accepted English test scores. Applicants should always check the latest program-specific requirements before applying.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Jyväskylä Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Kanykei
Master’s in Brain and Data Science, NeuroData | English was the main language of her program, and she experienced no language difficulties in university settings. | Translation tools helped with signs and grocery labels. She recommends learning Finnish for those planning to work or remain in Finland long term. |
Arna
M.Sc. in Brain and Data Science, NeuroData | She identifies English as the primary language of instruction during her studies in Finland and Croatia. | She reports no significant language barriers outside university because English was widely spoken; Russian-speaking communities also helped her. |
5. University of Oulu
Another leading university that offers English-taught programs in Finland is the University of Oulu, founded in 1958. It is one of Finland’s largest universities and is committed to research and education. The institution is ranked within the top 3% of universities in the world.
Since its establishment, the University of Oulu has grown into a large academic community with 8 faculties, 13,800 students, and 3,700 employees on its two campuses: Linnanmaa and Kontinkangas. This growing population may be attributed to the university’s brand of excellence, which entices thousands of students within and outside the country to learn within the institution’s halls. If you are an international student interested in pursuing studies at the University of Oulu, there is a selection of English-taught international programs available for you.
For undergraduates, the university currently offers four English-taught bachelor’s and master’s pathways: Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Software Engineering and Information Systems, and International Business Management. Meanwhile, master’s degree students can choose from more than 20 programs, such as biomedical engineering, business analytics, computer science and engineering, electronics, finance, environmental engineering, learning, education and technology, biochemistry, architecture, and epidemiology and biomedical data science. The institution also has doctoral programs, and doctoral applicants must demonstrate sufficient English or Finnish language skills.
6. Ã…bo Akademi University
Åbo Akademi University is a Swedish-language university with campuses in Turku and Vaasa, Finland. Its multidisciplinary academic offerings span the humanities, social sciences, education, natural sciences, and technology. International students seeking degree programs delivered in English will find the clearest options in its dedicated international master’s portfolio.
The university’s bachelor’s admissions guidance requires applicants to demonstrate Swedish proficiency. English-language courses are available, but these should not be confused with a complete undergraduate degree taught in English. Students considering bachelor’s study therefore need to account for Swedish-language admission and degree requirements, including compulsory academic writing studies.
English-taught master’s options include Biomedical Imaging, Information Technology, Governance of Digitalization, and International Law and Human Rights. Biomedical Imaging comprises 120 ECTS credits over two years, combining theoretical study with practical training in imaging methods and their biological and medical applications. Information Technology is also a two-year program. Doctoral research opportunities include Science and Information Technology and Biosciences and Drug Research. University regulations permit dissertations in English, although faculties determine the languages used for doctoral teaching and examinations.
What Current Students / Alumni of Ã…bo Akademi University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Lameya
Master’s in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) | Instruction remained in English throughout her studies, including her first year at Åbo Akademi. She experienced no academic language barriers. | She found everyday communication in Finland straightforward because English was widely spoken. |
Juan Carlos Pichardo
Master’s in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) | All his classes were conducted in English, and he encountered no major language barrier during his studies in Finland and Sweden. | Learning basic Finnish and Swedish helped him understand everyday messages and engage with local culture. |
Motunrayo Ibiyo
M.Sc. in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) | All her classes were conducted in English except language courses. | She experienced no communication difficulties in Finland because many people spoke English. |
Kaf
Master’s in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) | English was the medium of instruction, and he experienced no academic language difficulties. | He found daily communication in Finland smooth in English and reported no major language barriers. |
Shihabur
Master’s in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) | He reports smooth communication in English during his first year in Finland, without specifying the language of individual classes. | He encountered little to no language barrier because people readily switched to English. |
Muhammad Adnan
Master’s in Technology and Management for Circular Economy (IMATEC) | His joint program, including studies at Åbo Akademi, was entirely in English. | Basic Finnish phrases helped with shopping, public offices, and travel. He wishes he had started learning the languages of his host countries earlier. |
Mira
Master’s in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) | She describes studying in an English-medium program, while noting that adjusting to different accents and using English every day initially required effort. | She found Finland convenient to navigate without knowing Finnish or Swedish. |
Saad Waseem
Master’s in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) | All his EDISS courses were taught in English, and he encountered no language barriers during his studies in Finland and Sweden. | He recommends Finnish or Swedish courses for cultural understanding and access to internships or research opportunities that sometimes require basic language skills. |
Sarosh
Master’s in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) | He reports that English was generally understood at university, without specifying the proportion of classes taught in English. | He found language barriers less pronounced in Finland than in Italy, with English commonly understood at student events and in government buildings. |
7. LUT University
LUT University, officially Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT, has campuses in Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland. Its academic fields include technology, business, and social sciences, with substantial attention to energy, sustainable production, and the relationship between technological development and business.
English-taught undergraduate options include Chemical and Process Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence. These programs lead to a Bachelor of Science in Technology and comprise 180 ECTS credits over three years. Chemical and Process Engineering and Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence are based in Lappeenranta, while Civil Engineering is offered in Lahti. The university also provides routes from bachelor’s study into relevant master’s programs.
LUT’s English-taught master’s degrees normally comprise 120 ECTS credits over two years. Examples include Circular Economy and Sustainability Science and Solutions, which address resource efficiency, environmental impacts, and sustainable technological systems. Graduate teaching connects academic study with challenges facing industry. English-language doctoral opportunities are organized through the doctoral programs in Business and Management, Energy Systems, and Engineering Science, combining advanced studies with independent dissertation research.
What Current Students / Alumni of LUT University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Prachi
Master’s in Software Engineering for the Green Deal (SE4GD) | Her courses were in English, so she experienced no academic language barrier during her joint studies, including Finland. | Across her host countries, basic phrases and translation apps helped with shopping, transport, and paperwork; she does not isolate particular difficulties to Finland. |
Aleezay Anjum Ahmed
Master’s in Sustainable Biomass and Bioproducts Engineering | Instruction remained in English throughout her joint program. She primarily used English with classmates and faculty, and found communication effective despite differences in accents and fluency. | — |
Daniela Fajardo
M.Sc. in Software Engineering for Green Deal (SE4GD) | Her program was taught in English, and she experienced no academic language barrier. | She found daily life in Finland manageable in English, while recommending Finnish learning to deepen local connections. |
Rosheen Naeem
Master’s in Software Engineering for Green Deal (SE4GD) | Instruction remained in English throughout her program, including her semester at LUT, and she reported no language-related academic difficulties. | — |
Hiba
Master’s in Software Engineering for Green Deal (SE4GD) | English was consistently the language of instruction, including during her second semester in Finland. | She reports no significant language barrier but recommends learning basic Finnish for everyday communication and using optional language classes. |
8. University of Eastern Finland
The University of Eastern Finland operates in Joensuu and Kuopio, Finland. Its multidisciplinary teaching and research cover fields including health sciences, forestry, education, natural sciences, and social sciences. English-language degree opportunities extend across undergraduate and graduate study, allowing students to pursue subjects connected to both human well-being and environmental change.
Verified English-taught bachelor’s options include Social Sciences and Human and Planetary Health. Each comprises 180 ECTS credits and has a normal duration of three years. Social Sciences develops students’ understanding of social theory and research methods. Human and Planetary Health, based in Kuopio, examines connections between human health and environmental conditions, drawing on expertise across health-related disciplines. Other listed English-language undergraduate options include Data Engineering and Sustainable Forest Bioeconomy.
English-taught master’s programs include Photonics, Public Health, and Environmental Policy and Law. The two-year Photonics program explores optical science and its technological applications. Students can also pursue a four-year, English-language doctorate in photonics through the Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology, developing specialist research expertise through advanced study and independent investigation.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Eastern Finland Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Ivena Nathania Victor
M.Sc. and M.A. in Clinical Linguistics (EMCL++) | Instruction remained in English throughout her joint studies at Groningen, Ghent, and Eastern Finland. She reports that everything was in English and she experienced no language barrier. | — |
Md Shahab Uddin
Master’s in Medical Physics | His classes and research activities were conducted in English, which he found sufficient within the university. | He considers Finnish essential for pursuing work in industry or local companies. Communication remained manageable even with the few staff members who were less fluent in English. |
9. Tampere University
Tampere University is located in Tampere, Finland, and brings together expertise in technology, health, and society. Its English-language degree offerings span engineering, computing, architecture, and social sciences. It is a separate institution from Tampere University of Applied Sciences, although both belong to the Tampere Universities community.
The English-taught Science and Engineering bachelor’s program offers study tracks including Materials Science, Environmental Engineering, and Engineering Physics. The bachelor’s degree comprises 180 ECTS credits over three years, followed by a two-year, 120-credit master’s pathway. In Materials Science, students study how materials behave and how their properties can support technological applications. Teaching includes laboratory work and projects, with opportunities to gain experience in university research groups.
English-taught master’s options include Materials Science and Engineering, Sustainable Architecture, and Public and Global Health. These programs normally require two years and 120 ECTS credits. Doctoral study is also available in English, including the Doctoral Programme in Computing and Electrical Engineering. Its planned duration is four years, with research opportunities across areas such as machine learning, signal processing, electronics, and communications.
What Current Students / Alumni of Tampere University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Maryam Gul
Master’s in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE) | Her program, including her studies in Finland, was entirely in English. Core lectures, assignments, readings, assessments, and communication with faculty were in English. | Finnish was not academically necessary. Drawing on her experience across host countries, she recommends basic language skills for administration, public services, and cultural connections. |
10. University of Lapland
The University of Lapland is located in Rovaniemi, northern Finland. Its academic fields include art and design, education, law, and social sciences. Arctic and northern perspectives shape many of its teaching and research activities, providing a distinctive setting for studying design, international politics, and relationships between communities and their environments.
The English-taught Design bachelor’s program leads to a Bachelor of Arts over three years and comprises 180 ECTS credits. Students explore user-centered products, services, and interactions through studio work and workshops, working across physical, digital, and virtual environments. The degree pathway continues into the two-year, 120-credit master’s program in Design for XR and Immersive Experiences.
Other English-taught master’s options include Arctic World Politics and Sustainable Art and Design. Arctic World Politics comprises 120 ECTS credits over two years and examines international politics and societal change through an Arctic perspective, drawing on the university’s Arctic research expertise. English is also an available language for doctoral study in art and design. The Doctor of Arts pathway has a stated duration of four years and can incorporate artistic components alongside scholarly dissertation research.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Lapland Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | English in Practice | Local-Language Insight |
|---|
Tooba Tul Muntaha
Master’s in Service Design Strategies and Innovation | Instruction remained in English across Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. Her main academic and social environment operated in English, with no academic language barrier. | Learning basic Finnish phrases helped her connect with people. She describes translation tools and language learning as useful for occasional everyday difficulties across her host countries. |
We hope that this article on Best English-Taught Universities in Finland was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
