The University of Helsinki is the only university in Finland to consistently rank in the top 1% of the world’s approximately 18,000 universities.
In 2024 the University of Helsinki placed 107th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 117th in the QS World University Rankings, and 99th in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Read more about university rankings and the University of Helsinki’s success in them.
The University of Helsinki has 11 faculties, and it provides teaching on four campuses in Helsinki: the City Centre Campus, Kumpula Campus, Meilahti Campus and Viikki Campus. In addition, the University has research stations in Hyytiälä, Kilpisjärvi, Lammi, Muddusjärvi, Tvärminne and Värriö as well as in Kenya.
In 2024 a total of 31,871 students pursued a first-, second- or third-cycle degree at the University of Helsinki. The number of international degree students was 2,944 (9%).
The distribution of students by degree pursued in 2024 was the following:
First-cycle (bachelor’s) degree: 15,619 students, of whom 64% were women and 36% men
Second-cycle (master’s) degree: 11,143 students, of whom 69% were women and 31% men
Doctoral degree: 5,079 students, of whom 60% were women and 40% men
The University employs 8,796 people, of whom 59% belong to teaching and research staff. Women account for 54% of all teaching and research staff.
In 2024 the full-time equivalents (FTE) of all staff amounted to 7,884, of which the share of teaching and research was 4,493 FTEs.
The mean age of University of Helsinki employees is 41 years, while the mean age for the transition to old-age pension is 66 years.
Teaching and research staff
A total of 5,200 employees (4,493 FTEs) in 2024
660 professors, research directors and senior curators (level 4 on the University’s career path hierarchy)
1,604 university lecturers, clinical instructors, university researchers, senior researchers, research coordinators, curators, assistant/associate professors on the tenure track (level 3)
1,010 postdoctoral researchers and university instructors (level 2)
1,572 doctoral researchers and specialising doctors/dentists/veterinarians (level 1)
354 other teaching and research staff members
Specialist and support staff
A total of 3,417 employees (3,225 FTEs) in 2024
313 IT staff
277 library staff
23 technical staff
1,246 administrative staff
1,374 teaching and research support staff
184 other staff
The teaching staff of the teacher training schools included 179 people.
In 2024 a total of 6,253 degrees were completed at the University of Helsinki, of which 72% were completed by women.
First-cycle (bachelor’s) degree: 2,731 degrees, of which 74% were completed by women and 26% by men
Second-cycle (master’s) degree: 3,046 degrees, of which 71% were completed by women and 29% by men
Licentiate degree: 5 degrees, of which 80% were completed by women and 20% by men
Doctoral degree: 444 degrees, of which 67% were completed by women and 33% by men
Other degrees: 17 degrees, of which 94% were completed by women and 6% by men
43,882 continuous learners developed their skills at the University of Helsinki
36,266 students completed Open University courses, of whom 26,290 (72%) were non-degree students.
12,467 mature students took part in continuing education.
349 students advanced their skills in professional specialisation education.
A total of 1,854 Open university courses were on offer at the University of Helsinki, including
972 open bachelor’s programme courses
491 open master’s programme courses
62 introductory courses to university studies
197 massive open online courses, or MOOCs
The University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education HY+ provided 146 continuing education options to businesses, organisations and individual students.
In addition, the University offered 12 professional specialisation education options as well as several opportunities in postgraduate professional education and continuing education provided by faculties and units.
119,976 credits completed in continuous learning
In 2024 researchers of the University of Helsinki produced a total of 11,802 publications. The number of refereed scholarly publications was 8,933, of which 57% were drawn up through international collaboration.
8,730 refereed scholarly articles (74% of all publications)
1,019 non-refereed scholarly contributions (9% of all publications)
203 scholarly books (monographs, edited works; 2% of all publications)
1,209 publications intended for professional communities (10% of all publications)
641 publications intended for the general public (5% of all publications)
Find out more about the University of Helsinki’s publications.
In 2024 the University’s operating result, or the result without taking investment activities into account, was €1 million in surplus. The result generated by investments and fundraising was €97 million and the University’s overall result €99.
Staff costs constituted 61% of the overall expenses. Another considerable expense are the facilities required for studying, research and other activities.
The University of Helsinki is the only Finnish university in the League of European Research Universities LERU, an association of leading European universities promoting the conditions and opportunities for basic research in Europe.
The University of Helsinki is a member of the Una Europa alliance, a network funded by the European Union. Una Europa is a significant partnership between the oldest and most distinguished universities in Europe, whose goal is long-term strategic collaboration to foster the quality and competitiveness of European higher education.
In 2024 the share of University of Helsinki teachers and researchers coming from outside Finland was 30%. The number of international degree students at the University of Helsinki was 2,944.
In 2024 a total of 647 students embarked on a student exchange, while the University of Helsinki welcomed 1,096 incoming exchange students.
Of the units granted the status of Centre of Excellence by the Academy of Finland, eleven are coordinated by the University of Helsinki. In addition, the University is a partner in five Centres of Excellence coordinated elsewhere. In 2024 the University of Helsinki had 6 Academy Professors, or 60% of all Academy Professors appointed.
Academy of Finland Centres of Excellence at the University of Helsinki