Career

Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies will give you a basis for many different careers.

• Depending on your studies and acquired expertise, you can find employment, e.g., in the public sector, education, research, journalism, business and non-governmental organisations.
• You could also continue your studies as a postgraduate student after completing your master’s degree. Successful completion of postgraduate studies will give you the opportunity to pursue an international career in the academic world.

• Project Courses shift the focus from academic work towards planning for your career after graduation. An internship can be completed as part of your degree programme.

The Programme is also part of the talent programme for international students at the University of Helsinki (HelsinkiUni Talent Programme, HITP).

Studies are part of your career. At the University of Helsinki, all degrees include career planning. The Career Services at the University of Helsinki, in cooperation with degree programmes, supports 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.

Career Services  

• gives career counselling and job seeking support, 
• arranges info sessions, workshops and events, 
• provides suitable job and traineeship offers for students,
• shares university’s subsidy for traineeships and  
• facilitates group mentoring programmes.

Are you an international student and would like to build a career in Finland? Do you want to build professional networks during your studies and get valuable insight into Finnish working life? Then you should apply for the HelsinkiUNI International  Talent Programme (HITP).  

HITP is a group mentoring programme where Finnish companies and international students are brought together to share ideas and to learn from each other.

Successful applicants are placed in a group and assigned a mentor from a Finnish company or organisation. When applying you can choose which of the participating companies interest you the most. 

You will receive support in growing your network among both professionals and fellow students. During the programme, your group will meet 4–5 times. Themes for the meet-ups include a company introduction and an overview of current competency requirements in that specific field.  You will also get to present your own skills to the company.

When the HITP has been completed, the goal is that cooperation can continue between the student and the company if both parties wish to do so. 

Although it is easy for international students to get by with English in the Helsinki region, learning Finnish will significantly improve your career options after graduation.

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

The process of writing your Master's thesis also develops the basic skills required for conducting research. If you are interested in pursuing a career in research, you can continue your studies as a postgraduate student after completing your Master of Arts degree. You can apply to one of the Doctoral Programmes at the University of Helsinki or other universities in Finland or abroad. Successful completion of postgraduate studies will provide you with an opportunity to consider an international career in the academic world.

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.