Career

The ICE programme takes professionalism and preparation for future work life seriously and has a strong emphasis on enhancing students' career prospects. ICE's aim is to work as much as possible with real-life situations and case studies. In the courses, students integrate academic knowledge and research with on-site visits and guest lecturers from professional life.

There will be no intake for the Master's Programme in Intercultural Encounters in 2026.
Employment opportunities for graduates

There is a wide range of employment opportunities for ICE programme graduates. Opportunities span from cultural and public management to international projects in private companies. Potential employees include the EU, the UN and other national and international organisations; ministries; universities; the municipal sector; non-governmental organisations; and the media.

Part of ICE's compulsory studies focuses on developing skills and working methods that you will need in your future career. The ICE programme includes a minimum of 10 credits in Professional Contexts. The optional traineeshipand project work modules allow you to gain hands-on work experience that will develop your skills and strengthen your professional identity.
ICE alumni testimonials

Are you interested in the experiences of our alumni studying topics in intercultural encounters, how they obtained their current work and how their Master's studies apply to professional life?
Networking programme: UNITalent

Please note that the continuation of the programme will be decided in spring 2026.

Do you want to build a career in Finland? Get valuable insight into Finnish working life and build your professional networks by applying to HelsinkiUNI International Talent Programme (UNITalent). UNITalent is a programme to connect university students and doctoral researchers with Finnish companies and organisations. It offers international students the opportunity to

  • explore career paths,
  • build professional networks, and
  • gain insights into Finnish working culture.

UNITalent is not

  • a recruitment or a trainee programme. This means that the host is not obliged to provide a job or traineeship.
Where students work after graduation?

The University of Helsinki conducts career monitoring surveys to collect information on graduate employment and the skills needs of employers. Career monitoring aims to determine how well a university education can meet the requirements of professional life. The data collected are used, among other things, for developing the career skills of current students.

According to the surveys, general skills gained from the studies include :

  • the ability to describe their skills (this had been the most important factor for their employment)
  • the ability to learn and adopt new things as well as self-direction/initiative
  • cooperation skills
  • problem-solving skills and stress tolerance.
International experience, organisational work or hobbies, and social media activity have been important or highly important for the employment of some respondents, even though these factors don’t stand out at the University level"
Career services

Studies are part of your career. The Career Services at the University of Helsinki supports, in cooperation with the degree programmes, the growth of your expert identity as part of your studies and with separate services.

From the start of your studies until one year after the completion of your degree, the Career Services supports your career path by:

  • giving career counselling and job-seeking support,
  • arranging info sessions, workshops and events,
  • maintaining the JobTeaser career portal and
  • sharing the university’s subsidy for traineeships.
Improve your career options with Finnish

Although international students get by with English in the Helsinki region, learning Finnish significantly improves their career options after graduation. It is challenging to find a job without any knowledge of the local language.

The University of Helsinki offers free Finnish language courses for enrolled international degree students. The beginner and intermediate level courses are not only a way to learn the language, but you also learn more about Finnish culture and network with other international students across fields.
Doctoral education

If you are interested in an academic career, the ICE programme provides you will high-quality research training and a solid foundation for doctoral studies. Upon completion of your Master's degree you will be eligible to apply for doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki and other leading international research institutions. 

Depending on your thematic specialisations, these doctoral programmes within the University of Helsinki, may be of interest:
Alumni of the Uni­versity of Helsinki

After graduation, the world is wide open and full of possibilities. How can you venture forward to make the career path you want? What kind of work would you like to do? What kind of life should you lead? The Helsinki alumni community is there to support you as you transition from the University to the world of work.

All previous University of Helsinki degree and exchange students, as well as staff, are our alumni. As a member of the University of Helsinki alumni network, Finland’s largest network of experts, you get valuable support, knowledge and contacts for your working life.
More about the programme