In their studies, the students are exposed to multiple forms of collaboration with different actors, such as public administrations, civil society and companies.
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
Check out the Career Services on the Instructions for students “Work and Career” and “Traineeships”.
The programme prepares students to understand complex urban phenomena as well as to interpret and apply knowledge from different expert areas related to urban development. Students will have an integrated understanding of, and training in applying, more interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to urban development. As graduates they will be prepared to find employment in local and international positions within public, private and non-profit organisations, planning, architectural and policy advisory firms, research institutes and NGOs.
The programme offers six different degrees that ensure sufficient expertise to work in established and emerging expert roles in urban development in the public and private sectors, in Finland and internationally:
Degrees at the University of Helsinki:
Degrees at Aalto University:
The students choose their target degree when applying to the programme.
Would you 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.
What will you gain from HITP?
More information about the HelsinkiUNI International Talent Programme.
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.
Information about the Finnish courses for international students in the Instructions for students.
Yu-Yi Huynh, student of the Master's Programme in Urban Studies and Planning, completed a six-month internship in Paris in Spring 2018. She worked at URBACT, a European territorial cooperation programme for cities.
"The internship helped me to understand the value of my multidisciplinary background", Yu-Yi says.
Barbara Radaelli-Muuronen graduated as a Master of Arts in June 2019. After studying in the Master’s Programme in Urban Studies and Planning for two years, she was the first student to ever graduate from USP.
"Studies at USP really increased my knowledge, professional expertise and motivation to my own work at HAM [Helsinki Art Museum]", Barbara says.
After completing a degree in the Master’s Programme in Urban Studies & Planning, a student can apply for doctoral programmes in the University of Helsinki, Aalto University, and other international universities.
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 information about the Helsinki alumni community and its activities.