2 Best Universities in Oulu

Of the 2 universities in Oulu, University of Oulu ranks highest at #342 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come Oulu University of Applied Sciences (#9 in Finland). The universities on this list offer 45 matching courses between them.

Subject

Level

University type

Location

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Universities 2 Programs 45 Scholarships 4

2 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

1Best overall

QS World #342 #3 in Finland Oulu, Finland

University of Oulu

Public University · 37 courses

All 37 courses →

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

13,500Students

—International

Admissions open

#342 QS World University Rankings 2026

#3 in Finland

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2Top pick

#9 in Finland Oulu, Finland

Oulu University of Applied Sciences

Public University · 8 courses

All 8 courses →

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

10,300Students

—International

Admissions open

#9 in Finland · by research impact

216,379 citations · h-index 153

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How these universities are ranked

Only one university here holds a QS World position — University of Oulu at #342 — so it heads the list. Below them, universities follow their research output: University of Oulu is cited most (5,970,531 citations).

Public, private and where they are

2 are public and 0 private (100% public). The biggest concentrations are in Oulu (2). University of Oulu is the largest, with 13,500 students.

Inside the course list

By level: 36 master's, 7 phd / doctorate and 2 bachelor's. The most common subjects are Engineering (15), Business & Management (11), Medicine & Health Sciences (5) and Education (3). The usual length is 2 years and 4 years. 100% are full-time. Start dates lean to Spring (61% of courses with a stated intake) and Fall (35% of courses with a stated intake). University of Oulu offers the widest choice, with 37 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities in Oulu?

University of Oulu (QS World #342) and Oulu University of Applied Sciences (#9 in Finland) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How many universities in Oulu are public?

2 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a course take in Oulu?

Most listed courses run 2 years, with 4 years the next most common.

When do courses start in Oulu?

Spring is the main intake — 61% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Fall is the second.

Which university has the most courses in Oulu?

University of Oulu, with 37, ahead of Oulu University of Applied Sciences (8).

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