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 2023 a total of 31,426 students pursued a first-, second- or third-cycle degree at the University of Helsinki. The number of international degree students was 2,572 (8%).
The distribution of students by degree pursued in 2023 was the following:
First-cycle (bachelor’s) degree: 15,405 students, of whom 64% were women and 36% men
Second-cycle (master’s) degree: 11,009 students, of whom 69% were women and 31% men
Doctoral degree: 4,863 students, of whom 60% were women and 40% men
The University employs 8,578 people, of whom 58% belong to teaching and research staff. Women account for 53% of all teaching and research staff.
In 2023 the full-time equivalents (FTE) of all staff amounted to 7,674, of which the share of teaching and research was 4,328 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 4,968 employees (4,328 FTEs) in 2023
650 professors, research directors and senior curators (level 4 on the University’s career path hierarchy)
1,568 university lecturers, clinical instructors, university researchers, senior researchers, research coordinators, curators, assistant/associate professors on the tenure track (level 3)
999 postdoctoral researchers and university instructors (level 2)
1,430 doctoral researchers and specialising doctors/dentists/veterinarians (level 1)
321 other teaching and research staff members
Specialist and support staff
A total of 3,437 employees (3,182 FTEs) in 2023
306 IT staff
273 library staff
24 technical staff
1,289 administrative staff
1,373 teaching and research support staff
172 other staff
The teaching staff of the teacher training schools included 173 people.
In 2023 a total of 5,840 degrees were completed at the University of Helsinki, of which 71% were completed by women.
First-cycle (bachelor’s) degree: 2,555 degrees, of which 74% were completed by women and 26% by men
Second-cycle (master’s) degree: 2,811 degrees, of which 70% were completed by women and 30% by men
Licentiate degree: 38 degrees, of which 79% were completed by women and 21% by men
Doctoral degree: 423 degrees, of which 59% were completed by women and 41% by men
Other degrees: 13 degrees, of which 93% were completed by women and 7% by men
43,159 continuous learners developed their skills at the University of Helsinki
37,713 students completed Open University courses, of whom 26,911 (71%) were non-degree students.
16,363 mature students took part in continuing education.
311 students advanced their skills in professional specialisation education.
A total of 1,458 Open university courses were on offer at the University of Helsinki, including
814 open bachelor’s programme courses
306 open master’s programme courses
54 introductory courses to university studies
170 massive open online courses, or MOOCs
The University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education HY+ provided 168 continuing education options to businesses, organisations and individual students.
In addition, the University offered 10 professional specialisation education options as well as several opportunities in postgraduate professional education and continuing education provided by faculties and units.
107,516 credits completed in continuous learning
In 2023 researchers of the University of Helsinki produced a total of 12,040 publications. The number of refereed scholarly publications was 9,050, of which 54% were drawn up through international collaboration.
8,811 refereed scholarly articles (73% of all publications)
1,132 non-refereed scholarly contributions (9% of all publications)
239 scholarly books (monographs, edited works; 2% of all publications)
1,159 publications intended for professional communities (10% of all publications)
699 publications intended for the general public (6% of all publications)
Find out more about the University of Helsinki’s publications.
In 2023 the University’s operating result, or the result without taking investment activities into account, was €16 million in deficit. The result generated by investments and fundraising was €72 million and the University’s overall result €57.
Staff costs constituted 60% 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 2023 the share of University of Helsinki teachers and researchers coming from outside Finland was 29%. The number of international degree students at the University of Helsinki was 2,572.
In 2023 a total of 546 students embarked on a student exchange, while the University of Helsinki welcomed 982 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 2023 the University of Helsinki had 11 Academy Professors, or 58% of all Academy Professors appointed.
Academy of Finland Centres of Excellence at the University of Helsinki