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
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.
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.
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.
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.
We hope that this article on Best English-Taught Universities in Finland was helpful. If you are planning to study in Finland, check out our Study in Finland Page for more information about the admissions process, the best cities to study, and more. If you are still undecided about which programs to pursue, here are several Available Programs in Europe for international students!
