The University of Helsinki in numbers

More than 31,000 people study and nearly 10,000 people work at the University. Since 1640, the University has helped to build a nation and sustain its education and welfare through the power of science and scholarship.
Bet­ter than 99% of the world's universities

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.

11 faculties

The University of Helsinki has 11 faculties, and it provides teaching on four campuses in Helsinki: the City Centre CampusKumpula CampusMeilahti Campus and Viikki Campus. In addition, the University has research stations in Hyytiälä, Kilpisjärvi, Lammi, Muddusjärvi, Tvärminne and Värriö as well as in Kenya.

Faculties and units

 

31,871 degree students

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

 

8,796 employees

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.

6,253 degrees

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

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

  • 156,064 credits completed at the Open University, of which 98,420 (63%) were completed by non-degree students
  • 13,471 credits completed in non-degree studies
  • 4,772 credits completed in collaborative studies organised by Finnish higher education institutions
  • 3,397 credits completed in professional specialisation education
11,802 publications per year

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.

 

Finances

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.

 

International community

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.

11 Academy of Finland Centres of Excellence

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