Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is a privileged public research university in Finland with a high-quality education and a great number of students with all degrees, 5% of whom are international. The university operates with four campuses and several research institutes and is ranked #1 in the best global universities in Finland.
The medium of instruction at the University of Helsinki is Finnish and Swedish at the undergraduate level, yet master’s and doctoral programs often include English-only programs for international students. Moreover, international students have the opportunity to apply for Finland Scholarship to be exempt from the tuition fees at Helsinki. In this article, we will provide an overall guide for international students to apply at the University of Helsinki. Read more to find out how to get into Helsinki in a few steps.
Admissions Process at the University of Helsinki
It is important to know what is expected of you before you start your application to a study program at the university. Below are the general steps for the admission process at the University of Helsinki.
Step 1. Choose your Study Program
First things first, it is crucial to know everything about your program that is available on the university’s web page; otherwise, you may miss some of the requirements and fail in your admissions. Choose your program from the course catalog, read the program description carefully, check the required documents, and take action if you can provide them or not, lastly, check for the important dates for applications, application fees, etc.
For instance, application periods for international master’s programs last for a month, starting in early December and ending around early January for winter applications. International doctoral applications, however, last about 13 days, starting around mid-January till the end of the same month.
Step 2. Prepare the Required Documents
Once you decide on your study program, it is time to get ready for the application process and provide the necessary documents needed for the application. Although each program has its own regulations when it comes to admissions, below are the common required documents for international student admissions at the University of Helsinki.
- Educational documents (diploma, academic transcript, and translated documents)
- Proof of language proficiency in English (IELTS Academic, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge, and more)
- Copy of passport
The University of Helsinki doesn’t charge any application fee for international students in any degree, so there’s no need to submit any receipt along with the application documents. Lastly, the documents are sent as digital copies, meaning no physical document is needed for the applicants to post within the application deadline.
Step 3. Submit your Application Online
After collecting the necessary documents, it is time to submit your application using the university’s online application system. When creating an account on the platform, read the instructions carefully and make sure you have only one account.
Scholarship applications are made at the same time using the university’s platform, there’s no separate form when applying the scholarship applications. It is on the same application form as the university application. Fill out the necessary information for the scholarship and submit your application before the deadline.
Tips to Get Into The University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is among the 1% prestigious global universities and is prominent in its quality education and top-notch research opportunities. The university definitely has much to offer, but it also takes serious effort to be accepted. Below, we state three of the most important tips to get into the University of Helsinki.
Tip 1. Demonstrate your Academic Skills and Interests
The University of Helsinki is pretty selective when it comes to accepting students, and considering applicants are from all parts of the world, the chances of getting into the university are not an easy task for international students.
At this point, it plays a critical role for the applicants to demonstrate their skill sets, achievements, and passion in your application. A good record of academic achievements, completed projects, extracurricular activities, and a well-written statement of purpose, if applicable, are some of the ways to make your application stand out among others.
Tip 2. Prove your Advanced Language Proficiency
To apply to Helsinki’s master’s and doctoral degree programs, a proficient level of English proficiency is required. The required scores on the English proficiency tests, such as a minimum of 92 in TOEFL iBT or 6.5 in IELTS Academics; however, obtaining the required score does not necessarily guarantee a student’s admission. International students seeking to have a comprehensive guide to study at the University of Helsinki must obtain the highest score they can in such exams to increase their chances of being admitted to their desired programs.
Tip 3. Research Well about the Program and Faculty
As it is crucial to choose which program matches your skills, needs, and expectations, it plays a big role in researching the program structure, faculty staff, research opportunities, and other facilities provided to its students at the university. This way, applicants can have well-grounded information and opinions about their desired program and set their goals accordingly.
It helps to read the available information about the program on the faculty web page. You can also contact the faculty members or the admission office to request more information to make sure everything is clear. Don’t hesitate to email or call the admission office as it is available for all prospective students to offer guidance.
Getting into the University of Helsinki may not be easy due to the higher standards of student profiles at the university, yet international students who can prove they have the necessary set of skills and achievements will make it by following the steps and tips we mentioned in this article. However, it is the student who takes the initiative with confidence, determination, and talent. Apply today and start your academic journey at the University of Helsinki.
Hopefully, this article you can make use of this article when you apply to the University of Helsinki! If you want to learn more about studying requirements in Finland then make sure to also check out Study in Finland Page! Still thinking of what study program to pursue? Check out our open courses for more study options!
