The application period for the new master’s programme will be in January 2027, and the programme will begin on 1 August 2027.
- However, we are launching pilot courses from the upcoming master’s programme already for the next academic year, 2026–2027. One of these is a field course on food tourism in Mikkeli, while two others are planned to be offered through the University of Helsinki’s Open University, explains University Lecturer Sari Ollila, who has led the programme’s development.
In addition to the food tourism course, the pilot courses will include a course on sustainable gastronomy and another on international food business.
- As a faculty, we are thrilled about this unique master’s programme. The feedback we’ve received from the field and stakeholders has been truly inspiring and encouraging. Students are already actively inquiring about the admission requirements, even though the actual marketing efforts are just beginning, says Mari Sandell, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.
The Master’s Programme will be delivered in English and will award graduates the degree of Master of Science.
In its inaugural year, the programme will admit 20 students. Following its launch, the annual intake is planned to increase to 40 students.
The programme has been developed as part of a project under Finland’s Food Industry Growth Programme, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The Food Industry Growth Programme is a key initiative in Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government programme, which aims to double Finland’s food exports by 2031.
With this decision, the University of Helsinki will now offer a total of 66 master’s programmes.