Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is Finland’s oldest and largest academic institution and a multidisciplinary research university in Finland. In 2024, it had 31,871 degree students, including 2,944 international degree students, who represented 9% of the total. The university has 11 faculties, provides teaching across four campuses in Helsinki, and operates research stations in Finland and Kenya. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, it placed 105th globally and was the highest-ranked university in Finland.
The University of Helsinki is bilingual, with Finnish and Swedish as its official languages of instruction and examination. However, it also offers two English-taught bachelor’s programs, more than 30 international master’s programs taught in English, and the option to complete a doctoral degree in English in all 14 doctoral programs. International students can also explore scholarship opportunities in Finland. At the University of Helsinki, eligible tuition-fee-liable applicants to master’s programs may apply for the university’s scholarship program. The awards cover either 50% or 100% of the tuition fees at Helsinki, although most available awards cover 50%, and the scholarships do not cover living expenses. In this article, we provide an overall guide for international students applying to the University of Helsinki. Read on to learn how to apply in a few steps.
Admissions Process at the University of Helsinki
It is important to understand what is expected of you before starting an application to a degree program. Below are the general steps in the admission process at the University of Helsinki.
Step 1. Choose your Study Program
First, learn as much as possible about your preferred program so that you do not miss any admission requirements. Choose a program using the university’s program and course search tool. Read the program description and admission criteria carefully, check the required documents, and confirm the application dates, possible application fee, and other program-specific conditions.
Application dates depend on the degree level and admission group. For English-taught bachelor’s programs beginning in the fall, the application periods are in January. Bachelor’s and Master’s have one intake, and the application is in January as well. Doctoral study rights can be applied for two to five times per year, depending on the doctoral program.
Step 2. Prepare the Required Documents
Once you have chosen your study program, prepare for the application process by collecting the required documents. Each program and degree level has its own admission rules, so applicants must always follow the instructions published for their chosen program. Common application documents may include the following:
- Educational documents, such as a degree certificate or diploma and an academic transcript, together with authorized translations when the originals are not in English, Finnish, or Swedish
- Proof of proficiency in the language of the degree; accepted methods for English may include IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Cambridge C2 Proficiency, or an eligible educational background
- A copy of a passport, identity document, or residence permit, when required
- Program-specific documents, which may include a motivation letter, portfolio, or other materials; doctoral applications normally also require a research proposal, a funding plan, and any supporting documents specified by the doctoral program
Non-EU/EEA citizens have generally been required to pay a one-time national application fee of €100 when applying to bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in Finland, unless they qualify for an exemption based on their citizenship or residence status. The fee covers all applications for programs beginning in the same academic term, cannot be waived, and does not apply to doctoral degrees or Erasmus Mundus programs.
During the application stage, applicants generally upload good-quality digital copies of their documents. However, applicants who are conditionally admitted may later be required to submit officially certified or electronically verifiable copies. Physical documents may also be required when an accepted electronic verification or delivery method is unavailable.
Step 3. Submit your Application Online
After collecting the required documents, submit your application through Finland’s Studyinfo service during the applicable application period. Follow the instructions carefully, complete every required section, and upload all mandatory and program-specific documents by the relevant deadlines. Applications submitted without the required attachments may be rejected.
Eligible applicants to international master’s programs apply for a University of Helsinki tuition fee waiver using the same application form as the degree application. There is no separate scholarship form. Applicants must select the appropriate scholarship category, provide the requested information, and submit all required attachments before the deadline.
Tips to Get Into The University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki consistently ranks among the top 1% of universities worldwide and offers research-based education across a wide range of disciplines. Admission requires careful preparation because applications are assessed according to published eligibility requirements and program-specific selection criteria. Below are three important tips for applying to the University of Helsinki.
Tip 1. Demonstrate your Academic Skills and Interests
Admission decisions are based on the predetermined criteria of the program to which you apply. Applicants should therefore focus on clearly demonstrating that they satisfy the academic, language, and program-specific requirements rather than relying on general claims about their abilities.
A strong academic record, relevant projects or portfolio, extracurricular experience, and a well-written statement of purpose may help demonstrate your suitability when these materials are requested by the program. Do not submit unnecessary documents: the university states that extra attachments that have not been requested will not be considered in the evaluation.
Tip 2. Prove your Advanced Language Proficiency
Applicants to English-language international master’s programs, or multilingual master’s programs in which English is selected as the language of the degree, must demonstrate English proficiency through an accepted method. For master’s applicants, the current minimum IELTS Academic requirement is an overall score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in writing. For TOEFL iBT tests using the former 0–120 scale, the minimum is 92 overall, with at least 22 in writing. TOEFL introduced a new 1.0–6.0 scale in January 2026, and the university states that its corresponding master’s requirement will be updated.
Doctoral applicants must demonstrate academic-level proficiency in English, Finnish, or Swedish. For applicants using English, the IELTS Academic requirement is 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in every section. For TOEFL iBT tests completed before January 21, 2026, the requirement is 92 overall, with at least 22 in writing. For tests completed on or after January 21, 2026, the requirement is 4.5 overall on the new scale, with at least 4.0 in every section. Meeting the minimum English proficiency test requirement establishes language eligibility but does not guarantee admission, because the application is also evaluated under the program’s other selection criteria.
Tip 3. Research Well about the Program and Faculty
Choosing a program that matches your skills, needs, and expectations requires careful research into its curriculum, degree structure, faculty, research opportunities, facilities, admission criteria, and career prospects. This preparation can help you determine whether the program supports your academic and professional goals.
Read all available information on the program and faculty webpages before applying. Doctoral applicants should also study the research profiles of potential supervisors and begin contacting suitable supervisors well in advance, because many doctoral programs require one or more supervisors at the time of application. For questions about the application process, applicants can use the university’s HelsinkiUni Help service, expert chat, or online service-request system. Questions about doctoral research plans or supervisors should be directed to the relevant doctoral program.
Admission to the University of Helsinki requires applicants to meet the relevant academic, language, documentation, and program-specific requirements. International students can strengthen their applications by following the official instructions, preparing all requested documents carefully, and submitting a complete application by the deadline. Take the initiative, review the current admission criteria, and begin preparing well before the application period opens.
We hope you find this article useful when applying to the University of Helsinki. To learn more about study requirements in Finland, visit our Study in Finland page. Still deciding which study program to pursue? Explore the available courses for international students!
