Focus Asia

The University of Helsinki has versatile and impactful collaborations with several Asian universities in a range of fields.
Strategic Partnership with Yonsei University

, South Korea, and the University of Helsinki forged a strategic partnership in April 2025. In the collaboration, the universities focus on three broad themes of health, society, and computing. The partnership aims to boost research initiatives, enhance academic excellence, and provide new opportunities for students and staff between the two globally renowned institutions

The two universities support new and existing collaborations through an exploratory seed funding instrument. The calls for funding welcome joint proposals on the themes of health, society, and computing, aiming to bring research groups together to prepare for further funding applications and strengthen research collaboration.

Collaboration with Korea University

in South Korea is a long-standing partner of the University of Helsinki and a member of the Universitas 21 Network. 

The University of Helsinki participates in the Climate Corps summer school organized by Korea University. The programme brings together students and scholars from leading universities to address the climate crisis through interdisciplinary collaboration. The aim of the summer school is to promote global climate collaboration by training future leaders. The topics include climate technology, climate business innovation, and climate policy.

Collaboration with Nanjing University

Collaboration with Nanjing University, China, has grown from academic exchanges to a vast collaboration in research and education, resulting in the establishment of the Joint International Research Laboratory of Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences. Its goals include developing an integrated observation platform, combining observations with modeling for improved climate prediction, and nurturing top talent to advance atmospheric and Earth system sciences.

Joint education at the joint Nanjing-Helsinki Institute in Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences started in September 2023. The Institute offers joint (dual) degree programmes in atmospheric sciences at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels. 

Collaboration with Fudan University

in China is a long-standing partner of the University of Helsinki and a member of the Universitas 21 Network. 

Fudan University hosts the of which the University of Helsinki is a member. Nordic Centre is a bridge between universities in the Nordic countries and their counterparts in China, based on academic knowledge and partnership.

Finnish Universities’ Research Scholarships to the Fudan Nordic Centre, Shanghai, are open for applications until 31 March 2026 for the Fudan Nordic Centre Finnish member universities’ researchers. 

Collaboration with Peking University

The collaboration dates back to the 1980s when the first Memorandum of Understanding with Peking University was signed. 

The collaboration areas included

  • atmospheric science,
  • teacher education,
  • law,
  • and medicine.
Universitas 21 Partner Universities in Asia

is a diverse, global network that brings together world-leading research-intensive universities across six continents. The member-led initiatives and programmes are designed to benefit staff, students and member institutions, through sharing resources, learning together and co-designing solutions to our common challenges. 

Mobility opportunities

The University of Helsinki offers several opportunities for international mobility in Asia! For a full list of mobility partner universities in Asia, please visit the university's website.