Research

Scientific research is the foundation of the university’s activities.

The aim of research at the University of Helsinki is high quality and good international standard in all fields. In accordance with the mission of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), the University of Helsinki strives to promote the status of basic research in society. 

The University’s teaching and postgraduate training are based on research, which guarantees the high standard of education. Research also produces solid expertise, based on which the University’s experts promote the progress of society and the Finnish economy, both regionally and on a national level through various collaborative projects. 

The University of Helsinki is involved in more than half of the National and Nordic Centres of Excellence in Research and it is also the only Finnish university invited to join the League of European Research Universities. 

The University targets resources to research on the basis of competition and evaluation. Special emphasis is given to new multidisciplinary approaches in basic research. Approximately half of the research carried out at the University of Helsinki is financed from the University’s operating expenses, while the other half is financed by external funding. In 2004, the University’s research funding totalled € 178 million. 

The University of Helsinki has participated in the creation of national graduate schools and has established postgraduate training positions of its own. These positions offer an increasing number of young researchers the opportunity to concentrate full-time on working on their doctoral dissertations for four years. 

The University promotes researcher mobility and cooperation with other universities and research institutes. 

The University of Helsinki promotes research, training and information dissemination concerning the ethics of science. The University is committed to observing the Good Scientific Practice and Procedures for Handling Misconduct and Fraud in Science drawn up by the National Advisory Board on Research Ethics.

More information on research at the University of Helsinki is available on the University website’s channel.