Finland is a developed country that offers a very high quality of higher education for free for students from Switzerland or EU/EEA-member countries. In contrast, all doctoral programs in the country are free for all nationalities. Meanwhile, outstanding non-EU/EEA students may apply for generous scholarships offered by universities or the government of Finland.
The country is also considered one of the best destinations for international students eager to pursue a degree in Data Science. Most of the top universities in Finland offer English-taught Master’s programs relevant to the field to reinforce the qualifications and upgrade the skills of professionals with backgrounds in related fields, such as Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Statistics.
Many of the universities in Finland have partnerships with prestigious institutions globally, allowing students to participate in exchange programs and experience an international learning environment. As a result, Finland hosts approximately 20,000 international students, and the number increases every year. In this article, we will be looking at the best universities for data science in Finland!
Top Universities for Data Science in Finland
1. University of Helsinki
- Data Science Program Link
- Degrees Offered: Master
The University of Helsinki has a pretty long history dating back to the mid-17th century. It witnessed several political transitions, went by many names, and was instrumental in building the Finnish civilization. It eventually acquired its current name in 1919.
The University of Helsinki is a top institution for data science in Finland and currently enjoys prestige being among the top 1% of academic institutions worldwide. It is home to over 31,000 students, including roughly 2,000 from other countries. It also actively participates in exchange programs sending off approximately 400 and welcoming around 800 students annually. In addition, the university employs over 4,000 academic and research staff, with more than a quarter being international.
The university’s Master of Science in Data Science is an English-taught program that lasts two years and is worth 120 ECTS credits. It welcomes international students, and Non-EU/EEA students have to pay €15,000 per year in tuition fees. The degree can help graduates secure a competent job in the data science market or pursue a doctoral degree in various top universities worldwide, considering the University of Helsinki’s international recognition.
2. Aalto University
- Data Science Program Link
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor, Master
Aalto University is a young institution that arose in 2010 from the merger of three prestigious schools: the Helsinki School of Economics (1911), the Helsinki University of Technology (1849), and the School of Art and Design (1871). It currently ranks among the top ten universities under 50 in global rankings and hosts approximately 12,000 students. Its international appeal is aided partly by the fact that almost half of its teaching staff are international.
The Aalto University is among the best universities for data science in Finland that offers a five-year program that includes a three-year Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science and a subsequent two-year Master of Science degree. The undergraduate degree consists of 180 ECTS credits, whereas the Master’s degree is comprised of 120 ECTS credits. Non-EU/EEA students must pay €12,000 annually for the undergraduate program and €15,000 per year for the Master’s program.
Both degree programs are conducted entirely in English and a fifth of the teaching staff in the department hail from other countries. Graduates of the program will gain outstanding competencies to secure a lucrative job as a business analyst, data scientist, or researcher in Finland or abroad.
3. LUT University
- Data Science Program Link
- Degrees Offered: Master
The Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT University) opened in 1969, specializing in business and science. The university currently has almost 6,000 students spread between its two campuses, with international students representing 85 other countries.
In response to the growing demand for professionals who can help deal with the advancement in data-driven technologies, prospective students may pursue a Master’s program in Data-centric Engineering at LUT University. Students can earn 120 ECTS credits in two years, and the program costs €13,500 per year for non-EU/EEA students.
For better chances of maximizing the competencies offered by the program, applicants must have an undergraduate degree in relevant fields, such as mathematics, computer science, or statistics. Qualified students may choose to specialize between Applied Mathematics and Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition.
4. Åbo Akademi University
- Data Science Program Link
- Degrees Offered: Master
The Åbo Akademi University is a recognized school for data science in Finland and was founded in 1918 with two campuses in Turku and Vaasa. The university mainly uses Swedish as the medium of instruction but currently uses English in many of its programs for a highly international environment for students.
The university offers a Master’s Degree in Engineering of Data-Intensive Intelligent Software Systems (EDISS) as part of an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree with three other universities: University of the Balearic Islands in Spain, University of L’Aquila in Italy, and Mälardalen University in Sweden. All students enrolled in the program have to spend the first year at Åbo Akademi University in Finland.
Depending on the specialization, students must spend the second year in a partner university. Those who want to pursue Industrial Machine Learning – Software Engineering may study in Sweden, Model-Driven Machine Learning – Software Engineering in Italy, or Computer Vision and Intelligent Systems in Spain. The international nature and unique skills graduates can gain from completing the program provide them with a professional and academic edge against other candidates for data-related jobs.
5. Tampere University
- Data Science Program Link
- Degrees Offered: Master
Tampere University is one of the youngest universities and is an excellent institution for data science in Finland that started in 2019 from the merger of two older universities: the University of Tampere (1925) and the Tampere University of Technology (1965). Currently, the institution hosts roughly 21,000 students and 4,000 academic and administrative staff.
The Master of Science in Data Science, Computing Sciences program of Tampere University provides high-level education for statistical and computational data analysis. The skills graduates can earn upon completing the program can help them secure a job as data analysts in numerous industries, such as finance, government agencies, private companies, and more.
The program uses English as the medium of instruction, lasts two years, and is worth 120 ECTS credits. Non-EU/EEA students must pay €12,000 per year in tuition fees. However, qualified students may apply for a scholarship or other financial assistance programs that can cover a part of the total cost of tuition fees.
I hope that this article on Best Universities for Data Science in Finland was helpful. Check also the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying Data Science abroad.
