6 Best Universities in Helsinki

Of the 6 universities in Helsinki, Aalto University ranks highest at #114 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come University of Helsinki (QS World #116) and Hanken School of Economics (#10 in Finland). Across the whole list there are 230 courses to choose from.

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Universities 6 Programs 230 Scholarships 7

6 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

1Best overall

QS World #114 #1 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Aalto University

Public University · 111 courses

All 111 courses →

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

18,000Students

—International

Admissions open

#114 QS World University Rankings 2026

#1 in Finland

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2Top pick

QS World #116 #2 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

University of Helsinki

Public University · 55 courses

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—Tuition (indicative)

1640Founded

30,740Students

—International

Admissions open

#116 QS World University Rankings 2026

#2 in Finland

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3Top pick

#10 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Hanken School of Economics

Public University · 4 courses

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

2,500Students

—International

Admissions open

#10 in Finland · by research impact

213,350 citations · h-index 222

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4Ranked

#13 in Finland Helsinki, Finland

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

Public University · 42 courses

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—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

18,000Students

—International

Admissions open

#13 in Finland · by research impact

23,356 citations · h-index 76

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5Ranked

Helsinki, Finland

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences

Public University · 10 courses

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—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

11,000Students

—International

Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found

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6Ranked

Helsinki, Finland

Arcada University of Applied Sciences

Public University · 8 courses

All 8 courses →

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

2,700Students

—International

Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found

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How these universities are ranked

2 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #114 (Aalto University) to #116 (University of Helsinki); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: University of Helsinki is cited most (22,163,230 citations). 2 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

6 are public and 0 private (100% public). The biggest concentrations are in Helsinki (6). The oldest is University of Helsinki, founded in 1640. University of Helsinki is the largest, with 30,740 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 185 master's, 23 bachelor's and 22 phd / doctorate. The most common subjects are Engineering (45), Business & Management (35), Arts, Design & Architecture (28) and Computer Science & IT (21). The usual length is 2 years and 4 years. 100% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (86% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (19% of courses with a stated intake). Aalto University offers the widest choice, with 111 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities in Helsinki?

Aalto University (QS World #114), University of Helsinki (QS World #116) and Hanken School of Economics (#10 in Finland) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How many universities in Helsinki are public?

6 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a course take in Helsinki?

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

When do courses start in Helsinki?

Fall is the main intake — 86% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Which university has the most courses in Helsinki?

Aalto University, with 111, ahead of University of Helsinki (55).

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