Finland is an excellent place to study law for many reasons. First, it is one of the world’s safest and most peaceful countries, ranking 10th overall and third in the Safety and Security domain in the 2025 Global Peace Index. Second, Finland has topped the World Happiness Report rankings since 2018. Third, Finland is a multilingual and multicultural country: Finnish and Swedish are its national languages, and more than 150 first languages are spoken in the country. Fourth, Finland has a strong education system, with OECD data showing that Finnish adults score among the highest in literacy, numeracy, and adaptive problem-solving skills.
Finnish universities offer law degrees and English-taught study options, although the availability of full English-taught law degrees varies by university and year. Students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are generally not required to pay tuition fees for bachelor’s and master’s studies, while non-EU/EEA students usually pay tuition for English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs. Doctoral programs do not charge tuition fees, regardless of nationality. These are just some reasons why Finland is a well-known destination among tourists and students. The cold weather may be a downside for some students: winter is Finland’s longest season and lasts about 100 days in southwestern Finland and about 200 days in Lapland. However, for students who want to receive a high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment, Finland is worth considering.
We gathered some of the notable law schools the country has to offer, and we encourage you to have a closer look at what these law schools can provide. Here is a list of the top law universities in Finland.
Top Law Schools in Finland
1. University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is the oldest university in Finland and one of the country’s leading institutions for legal education. It was founded in 1640 during the Swedish Empire as the Royal Academy of Turku. In 1828, when the university moved to Helsinki, its name was changed to the Imperial Alexander University in Finland. After Finland gained independence in 1917, the university later became the University of Helsinki.
As the oldest university in the country, it has contributed significantly to scientific research and teaching developments and provides high-quality education.
The Faculty of Law carries out research and teaching in Finnish, Swedish, and English. It offers a three-year Bachelor’s Programme in Law, a two-year Master’s Programme in Law, and the two-year Master’s Programme in Global Governance Law. Students can complete the Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees in Finnish or Swedish, while the Master of International and Comparative Law degree is offered in Helsinki through the Global Governance Law program. The university states that there will be no intake for the Master’s Programme in Global Governance Law in 2026, so prospective students should always check the current admissions page before applying. The faculty also offers doctoral education in law after a master’s degree.
The institution is committed to international cooperation in higher education and research. It is one of the founding members of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), a network that expanded to 24 member universities in 2024 and promotes research, innovation, and higher education policy development in Europe.
2. University of Lapland
Established in 1979, this relatively young university provides higher education and law studies in Finland. Another reason to study on this side of Finland is the chance to experience the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. The school is situated in Rovaniemi in the Lapland region, where auroras can appear roughly every other clear night between August and April.
The Faculty of Law of the University of Lapland offers law degree programs primarily in Finnish. The Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws pathway is designed to be completed in five years, and the Master of Laws degree alone is designed to take two years. Graduates who wish to advance their legal studies may apply for a doctoral program at the same university; the aimed completion time for doctoral studies is four years. The faculty also offers a comprehensive selection of English-taught law courses for its students, including exchange students.
The university has about 5,000 degree students, making it smaller than some other Finnish universities. This can support a close academic community and strong relationships with fellow students. Since Finland is considered one of the safest and most peaceful countries in the world, safety and security are important advantages for international and exchange students.
3. University of Turku
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Offered: Doctoral degree in English; bachelor’s and master’s law degree studies are not currently offered in English | Medium of Instruction: Finnish, English
The University of Turku is one of the leading law universities in Finland and is located in the southwest part of the country. Established in 1920, the university has eight faculties, four independent units, over 23,000 students, and over 4,000 staff members. Faculty members work together to promote and enhance the university’s quality of research and education.
The Faculty of Law does not currently offer English-taught bachelor’s or master’s degree studies. However, it is possible to study for a doctoral degree in English through the Doctoral Programme in Law. The Doctoral Programme in Law has a planned duration of three to four years, does not charge tuition fees, and leads to the Doctor of Laws qualification. New doctoral researchers are admitted twice a year.
We hope that this article on the best law universities in Finland was helpful. For more information, visit our Study in Finland page, which contains everything you need to know as you prepare for your academic journey in Finland. Don’t forget to also check out the Available Open Courses for International Students!
