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 2022 the University of Helsinki placed 110th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 106th in the QS World University Rankings, 92nd in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, 99th in the U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings and 99th in the NTU Ranking.
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 2022 a total of 30,996 students pursued a first-, second- or third-cycle degree at the University of Helsinki. The number of international degree students was 2,240 (7%).
The distribution of students by degree pursued in 2022 was the following:
First-cycle (bachelor’s) degree: 15,308 students, of whom 64% were women and 36% men
Second-cycle (master’s) degree: 10,821 students, of whom 68% were women and 32% men
Doctoral degree: 4,656 students, of whom 60% were women and 40% men
The University employs 8,381 people, of whom 58% belong to teaching and research staff. Women account for 53% of all teaching and research staff.
In 2022 the full-time equivalents (FTE) of all staff amounted to 7,471, of which the share of teaching and research was 4,207 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 4,863 employees (4,207 FTEs) in 2022
626 professors, research directors and senior curators (level 4 on the University’s career path hierarchy)
1,507 university lecturers, clinical instructors, university researchers, senior researchers, research coordinators, curators, assistant/associate professors on the tenure track (level 3)
1,017 postdoctoral researchers and university instructors (level 2)
1,412 doctoral researchers and specialising doctors/dentists/veterinarians (level 1)
301 other teaching and research staff members
Specialist and support staff
A total of 3,349 employees (3,108 FTEs) in 2021
300 IT staff
271 library staff
23 technical staff
1,249 administrative staff
1,328 teaching and research support staff
178 other staff
The teaching staff of the teacher training schools included 169 people.
In 2022 a total of 5,580 degrees were completed at the University of Helsinki, of which 71% were completed by women.
First-cycle (bachelor’s) degree: 2,514 degrees, of which 72% were completed by women and 28% by men
Second-cycle (master’s) degree: 2,613 degrees, of which 70% were completed by women and 30% by men
Licentiate degree: 13 degrees, of which 85% were completed by women and 15% by men
Doctoral degree: 424 degrees, of which 61% were completed by women and 39% by men
Other degrees: 16 degrees, of which 100% were completed by women
41,965 continuous learners developed their skills at the University of Helsinki
34,406 students completed Open University courses, of whom 24,109 (70%) were non-degree students.
12,052 mature students took part in continuing education.
384 students advanced their skills in professional specialisation education.
A total of 971 Open university courses were on offer at the University of Helsinki, including
603 open bachelor’s programme courses
154 open master’s programme courses
22 introductory courses to university studies
200 massive open online courses, or MOOCs
The University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education HY+ provided 170 continuing education options to businesses, organisations and individual students.
In addition, the University offered 9 professional specialisation education options as well as several opportunities in postgraduate professional education and continuing education provided by faculties and units.
105,755 credits completed in continuous learning
In 2022 researchers of the University of Helsinki produced a total of 11,123 publications. The number of refereed scholarly publications was 8,522, of which 56% were drawn up through international collaboration.
8,314 refereed scholarly articles (75% of all publications)
941 non-refereed scholarly contributions (8% of all publications)
208 scholarly books (monographs, edited works; 2% of all publications)
1,032 publications intended for professional communities (9% of all publications)
628 publications intended for the general public (6% of all publications)
Find out more about the University of Helsinki’s publications.
In 2022 the University’s operating result, or the result without taking investment activities into account, was €8.5 million in deficit. The result generated by investments and fundraising was €–43 million and the University’s overall result €–52.
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 2022 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 2,240.
In 2022 a total of 553 students embarked on a student exchange, while the University of Helsinki welcomed 1070 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 2022 the University of Helsinki had 10 Academy Professors, or 53% of all Academy Professors appointed.
Academy of Finland Centres of Excellence at the University of Helsinki