Welcome new 2026 students

Dear New Students,

Congratulations on being selected to join our programme!

We are delighted to welcome you to our brand-new Master's programme in Technologies for Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources (SustTech) in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.

Our team is excited to support your growth into a skilled sustainability and technology expert within the field of natural resources. With our strong connections to the industry and working life, this programme will provide you useful knowledge and real-world experience to prepare you for career after the graduation.

We look forward to meeting you and sharing more details about the programme. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or our programme board.

Warm regards,

Ville Luoma

Programme Director

In the Master’s Programme in Technologies for Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources (SustTech), you will explore new technologies and the sustainable management of renewable resources. You will take core courses that are common to all programme students, while also having the opportunity to tailor your studies by selecting courses that match your interests. Additionally, we offer three specialisation modules to deepen your understanding of the programme’s key themes.

Our new SustTech students come from various backgrounds. This is why all students start their studies in their first semester with the introductory course called “Finnish Renewable Resources and Sustainability: Theory and Practice”. In this course, you will have your first opportunity to explore Finnish working life in food and forest systems and learn about real-life case examples that combine sustainability with technological solutions. Throughout your studies, we will provide opportunities for collaboration with companies, which is a unique feature of our programme.

Learn more about the courses in

Our programme offers you an international study environment on the in Helsinki, as well as opportunities outside the university with collaborating companies and partner organisations. Our comprehensive learning opportunities include practical experience through field studies and project courses.

As part of your studies, you will complete at least four weeks of project and intensive courses, gaining extensive insight into companies and working on real-life cases throughout your studies. Students collaborate with companies and other partners to solve challenges and learn through practical examples.

These field studies will take place in Western Finland, in Satakunta, offering you diverse perspectives on sustainable resource management and technologies in the natural resources sector in working life.

The teachers in the Master’s Programme in Technologies for Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources represent a multidisciplinary group from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. Our programme includes teachers from the departments of Agricultural Sciences, Economics and Management, Food and Nutrition, and Forest Sciences, all with high-level expertise.

Our programme team is excited to meet you. This spring, we will provide more details about the studies and give you the opportunity to ask questions during the programme webinar. Further information will be sent via email.

During your very first week, you will meet the programme team on Viikki campus on the 26th of August. You are also welcome to contact the teachers via email prior to starting your studies.

Do you wonder what it is like to study at the University of Helsinki? How is student life or housing in the City of Helsinki?

You can . However, note that for questions related to admissions you should contact the .

The are also a great way to get an overview of student life in Helsinki.

The Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) advocates students’ interests both at the university and in society. They organise services, benefits and events so that you as a student can focus on the most important part: studying and student life.

Extracurricular opportunities are an important part of your study experience. Over operating within the Student Union (HYY) open up a field of opportunities for you.

The teaching officially starts on 31 August 2026, but you should participate in the orientation activities for the new students already before classes begin (Orientation week 24–28 August 2026). You will be assigned to a tutor group led by a senior student, or student tutor. You will learn more about studying in our programme and get support with administrative matters. This will make it easier for you to start your studies and life in Helsinki.

The detailed information concerning the will be published in the Instructions for students. Remember to select your programme in the dropdown menu to access the information relevant to your degree programme.

You should also get in contact with your academic mentor and make the initial during the orientation week.

We encourage you to plan your studies before the programme begins on 31st August. During the orientation week, you will have the chance to meet the programme staff and our tutors who can help you with your study plan. Explore our diverse range of courses on our website and create your own path to becoming a technology expert in the field of natural resources.

We recommend that you participate in the University of Helsinki’s joint Introduction to Sustainability MOOC course (3 ECTS) before starting your studies in the programme. This online course is voluntary, but it offers an excellent opportunity to familiarise yourself with the different dimensions of sustainability, which you will deepen further during your first semester. .

As a student in the Master's Programme in Technologies for Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources, the  at the  will be your home base.

 is part of the campus and serves as a platform for research and education purposes of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. The Faculty also has locations in Mikkeli and Seinäjoki, and manages the Hyytiälä research station located in North-Häme as well as the Muddusjärvi research station in Northern Lapland.

brings together students, researchers and people interested in entrepreneurship. One of their workspaces is at the Viikki campus offering free co-working spaces, boot camps, idea accelerator programmes, hackathons, mentoring and a community of like-minded individuals.

The international students in the Master's Programme in Technologies for Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources can apply to the UNITalent Programme. It is designed to support international students in building professional networks in Finland and to gain insight into field specific working life. Students take part by attending monthly group meetings with hosting organisation for a period of three months. During the programme, the University Career Services also provides training in career management skills. The continuation of the programme will be decided in spring 2026.