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University of the Arts Helsinki
University of the Arts Helsinki

University of the Arts Helsinki

About

The University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) provides the highest level of education in music, fine arts, theatre, dance and writing in Finland. Uniarts Helsinki is an international forerunner in education and research in the field of arts and strengthens the role of art as a force that reforms society. Established in 2013, Uniarts Helsinki consists of the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy, and Theatre Academy.

The University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) provides the highest level of education in music, fine arts, theatre, writing and dance in Finland. Uniarts Helsinki is an international forerunner in education and research in the field of arts and strengthens the role of art as a force that reforms society. Uniarts Helsinki consists of the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy, and Theatre Academy.

We are an open meeting place for the arts and a critical university community for bold reformers and experts of tradition, based at the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy, and Theatre Academy.

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World-class Education and Research

The top subject-specific rankings for University of the Arts Helsinki include Sibelius Academy’s 9th place in the field of music and 14th place in performing arts in 2025. Additionally, the university ranked among the top 260 in the field of art and design.

Most satisfied bachelor's students in Finland

Based on the responses to Uniarts Helsinki's most recent student survey (2024), Uniarts Helsinki students are satisfied with their studies and the degrees they have completed. According to the survey, Uniarts Helsinki has the most satisfied bachelor’s students in Finland.

International student life

As a student at Uniarts Helsinki, you will be part of a distinctly international community. A total of 20% of our bachelor’s and master’s degree students come from outside Finland. In addition to our permanent teaching staff, our degree programmes regularly host top international experts who lead master classes, thematic workshops, special courses and projects.

Artistic activities

In 2024, Uniarts Helsinki held nearly 1,400 performances, concerts and exhibitions open to the public. 96 % of these were live events. Artistic events attract over 90,000 attendees annually – in 2024, the events drew 93,535 people.

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Read more on the institution's website

Studies

  • Number of students: 1,927 students (2024)
  • Number of completed degrees: 176 bachelor’s degrees, 353 master’s degrees, 18 doctoral degrees (2024)
  • Number of applicants: 5,563 applicants, 335 admitted as students. 6 % of applicants were accepted as students (2024)
  • University rankings: The top subject-specific rankings for University of the Arts Helsinki include Sibelius Academy’s 9th place in the field of music and 14th place in performing arts. Additionally, the university ranked among the top 260 in the field of art and design.
  • International students: 20 % of the bachelor’s and master’s degree students. Of the new undergraduate students, 27 % come from outside Finland (in 2024).

Research

  • Amount of external research funding: 2 million euros (in 2024)
  • Number of researchers: 20 researchers (Academy of Finland research fellow, researcher, postdoctoral research fellow, university researcher), 222 doctoral candidates. In addition, part of our 63 professors carry out research. (Other figures from 2022; number of doctoral candidates from 2024.)

Personnel

  • Number of employees: 782 full-time equivalent employees (in 2024)
  • International staff: 13% of the teaching and research staff come from outside of Finland (in 2024)

    Uniarts Helsinki has two campuses in Helsinki – Sörnäinen, and Töölö – and it also operates in Seinäjoki and Kuopio.

    Töölö Campus

    The teaching facilities and performance venues for music are located primarily on Uniarts Helsinki’s Töölö Campus. The buildings are located in the heart of Helsinki.

    The facilities (Helsinki Music Centre, N Building, and R Building) provide several practice rooms and classrooms in Helsinki’s city center especially for students of Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy.

    The Helsinki Music Centre and the buildings on Nervanderinkatu and Pohjoinen Rautatienkatu have halls for various purposes as well as work facilities for Uniarts Helsinki’s staff.

    Sörnäinen Campus

    The Sörnäinen Campus in central Helsinki offers an inspiring learning environment especially for students of fine arts, theatre, and dance.

    The Kookos Building, in which the Theatre Academy is located, provides facilities, especially for dance and theatre students. The Mylly building, which was completed in 2021, houses students of fine arts, lighting and sound design, and design for the performing arts. There is also a well-stocked library and a student restaurant on the Sörnäinen campus.

    Uniarts Helsinki has two campuses in Helsinki – Sörnäinen and Töölö – and it also operates in Seinäjoki and Kuopio. The teaching facilities and performance venues for music are located primarily on Uniarts Helsinki’s Töölö Campus. The buildings are located in the heart of Helsinki. The Sörnäinen Campus in central Helsinki offers an inspiring learning environment especially for students of fine arts, theatre and dance.

    It is very important to start processing housing applications as soon as you are accepted. We recommend the following student housing options:

    Sibelius Academy Student Housing Foundation, Clavis:

    Clavis is a small hall of residence for Sibelius Academy students only. Both degree students and exchange students can apply for a room in Clavis.

    HOAS – the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki region:

    HOAS offers rooms in shared apartments and studios. HOAS has reserved a quota of shared, furnished apartments for exchange students and international degree students.

    More information on student housing is available on our website.

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      Uniarts Helsinki has a scholarship program for students who are liable for payment in the form of tuition fee waivers.

      If you are liable for payment, you must state on the application form if you want to apply for a scholarship from Uniarts Helsinki to cover the annual tuition fee if you are admitted as a student.

      Find out more about the scholarships program on our website.

      • The University of the Arts is one of the leading performing arts universities in the world: Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy has ranked among the top 26 universities in the QS World University Ranking for nine consecutive years (2016–2025).
      • We have unique facilities for creating arts with two campuses in Helsinki and a new building for fine arts. The facilities are in the use of the Academy of Fine Arts as well as students of light design, sound design, and design for the performing arts. We host well over 1,000 public performances or exhibitions per year.
      • At Uniarts Helsinki you can study in an inspiring environment where different disciplines of art influence each other. The academies of Uniarts Helsinki; Academy of Fine Arts, Theatre Academy and Sibelius Academy, have roots deep within the Finnish arts education and history of art. The predecessors of all three academies were founded in the 19th century although then they operated under slightly different names.
      • The Academy of Fine Arts of Uniarts Helsinki is an international academy with a focus on fine arts. Students' personal aspirations and one-to-one guidance in teaching are at the heart of the academy.
      • The Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki is one of the largest music academies in Europe. It is the cornerstone of the Finnish music culture through its expertise in teaching, research and artistic activities.
      • The Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki is a reformer of the performing arts and offer the highest education in theatre, dance and writing in Finland.

      Success in the QS ranking

      Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy was ranked 9th in the field of music and 14th in the field of performing arts in the QS World University Rankings 2025. In 2025, the ranking was released in performing arts for the tenth time and for the second time in music. Sibelius Academy has been placed among the top universities since the first year of the ranking. Additionally, the university ranked among the top 260 in the field of art and design in 2025.

      The University of the Arts Student Union (ArtSU) is the community and interest organisation of all University of the Arts students. Every attending bachelor’s and master’s degree student is automatically a member of the Student Union when enrolling in the university, and exchange students and doctoral students are also welcome to join. The purpose of ArtSU is to be a tie between its members, promote the interests and rights of students and provide services that facilitate studies.

      Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is rich with activities and attractions to suit everyone. It is a lively student city with around 70,000 student inhabitants. Visit the city's official website myHelsinki.fi for more information.

      • You can contact our study psychologist if you are facing difficulties in studying or in your personal life.
      • The university chaplain of Uniarts Helsinki is accessible to everyone in the university community, both students and staff.
      • UniSport provides sports and exercise services in six locations in Helsinki and there is a gym at the Theatre Academy of Uniarts Helsinki.
      • Uniarts Helsinki library has four locations: the Academy of Fine Arts, the Theatre Academy, and the Sibelius Academy in both Helsinki and Kuopio.

      • Helsinki

        Töölönkatu, 3

      • Helsinki

        Sörnäisten rantatie 19

        Read more on the institution's website

        University of the Arts Helsinki