28,870 admission seekers apply to Helsinki University

A total of 28,870 students submitted applications to get admission to the University of Helsinki this spring, said a press release of the university on Thursday. The joint application procedure closed on Wednesday.

The number of applicants is slightly higher this year, which was 28,780 in 2018.

Out of the 28,870, a total of 27,532 applied to bachelor’s programmes while 1,677 to master’s programmes.

The number of applicants to bachelor's programmes grew, among others, at the Swedish School of Social Science, as well as in psychology, computer science and agricultural sciences. In psychology, entrance examination cooperation expanded to several universities, which most likely affected applicant numbers. A particular cause for the increase in applications to master’s programmes was the establishment of a new programme, the Master’s Programme in Social and Health Research and Management.

The application period for the Open University route, separate from the joint application procedure, also closed. A total of 236 applications were received through the route, an increase of 62% compared to the previous year.

The primary reason for this growth was the DEFA (Digital Education For All) project. In the project, students have the opportunity to supplement their skills in computer science and even gain a study right for the Bachelor's Programme in Computer Science. Gaining such a right requires strong commitment and industrious studying in the project for a year as a student of the Open University.

“This is first tangible evidence of the trial’s success and that it should be continued. The hard-working and motivated students as well as the teachers who boldly took up the challenge must be thanked,” said University Lecturer Kjell Lemström, also head of the project.

Applicant numbers and available places by degree programme have been published on the University website. More detailed statistics on gender and language distribution, the number of first-time applicants and applicants with the University as their first choice, as well as other factors will be compiled for each degree programme next week, followed by their publication on the same website.