University of the Arts Helsinki

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. Established in 2013, 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.

World-class Education and Research

Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy placed 12th place in the field of music and 13th in the field of performing arts in the QS World University Rankings 2024. The ranking was released for the eight time in 2024, and the Sibelius Academy has placed among the top universities since the first year of the ranking.

Excellent feedback from students. We are the most sought-after place to study in Finland: about 8 percent of our applicants are admitted as students.

According to surveys, our bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are happy with the content and quality of their education, interaction with teachers and available resources and services. The results are based on the bachelor’s graduate surveys and career monitoring surveys carried out in 2021.

Bachelors who graduated in 2018 find that Uniarts Helsinki provides high-quality teaching. Master’s graduates from 2013 and doctoral graduates from 2015 find that their Uniarts Helsinki degree has made them well prepared for professional life.

Positive reviews from exchange students. Our exchange students, too, have been very satisfied with their studies, and the university has received recognition for its exchange student practices. This feedback was gathered in 2016–2017 from students who had participated in an Erasmus exchange program.

Uniarts Helsinki has been selected as a national Best Practice University when it comes to Erasmus mobility. There has been a significant increase in the number of exchange students applying to study music, in particular.

Audited quality system. Uniarts Helsinki employs a quality system that helps us ensure the high quality of our operations.

The system was audited in 2018. We received particularly positive reviews for the genuinely value-based and student-centered approach that we adopt in our operations. The education that we offer has a strong link to working life, and our alumni are involved in the development of our education.

• 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 five consecutive years (2016–2023).
• We have unique facilities for creating arts with two campuses in Helsinki and a new building for fine arts which was opened in 2021. 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 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.

22nd best in the world in performing arts

QS World University Rankings (2022)

9th in the field of performing arts

QS World University Rankings (2021)

13th in the field of performing arts

QS World University Rankings (2020)

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.