Medicine Schools and Programs in Finland

Medicine Studies in Finland

The Lutheran Cathedral in Helsinki

Medicine in Finland is studied at research universities and leads to the degree of Licentiate of Medicine, the Finnish qualification for doctors. The programme takes six years and 360 credits. At the two universities in our directory, the University of Helsinki and the University of Oulu, it is taught in Finnish, with a Swedish-language line in Helsinki. There is no English-taught route to the medical degree at either of them.

This is the main point for international applicants: Finland has 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences with over 30,000 international students, according to the official Study in Finland portal (2026), but basic medical education is one of the fields that stays in the national languages.

How the degree is organised

The University of Helsinki gives the extent of its Degree Programme in Medicine as 360 credits and six years, at bachelor plus licentiate level. The University of Oulu describes the same structure: a Bachelor of Medicine followed by a Licentiate of Medicine (3 + 3 years), 360 credits in all.

Teaching is tied closely to university hospitals. In Oulu, clinical teaching starts in the second year and the degree includes 24 credits of compulsory practical training. Oulu also states that the degree cannot be studied remotely: it requires presence on campus and in hospitals.

After the licentiate, doctors can train as specialists. The University of Oulu refers to almost 50 medical specialities, and the Faculty of Medicine in Helsinki provides specialist training in medicine and dentistry as postgraduate professional education.

Where to study

• Helsinki: the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki, a university founded in 1640, awards the Licentiate of Medicine and the Licentiate of Dentistry. Medicine can be studied on a Finnish-speaking or a Swedish-speaking study line. According to the faculty, students admitted to Swedish-language medical education are no more than five per cent of all medical students admitted in the country. First-year students can apply for a PhD Study Track and work in research groups for five summers during the degree. The faculty also runs an international Master's Programme in Translational Medicine; it is not among the programmes that the faculty lists as preparing for a licensed health profession.
• Oulu: the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oulu is on the Kontinkangas campus, next to the University Hospital of Oulu. It awards MD and DDS degrees and offers master's-level education in nursing science, health management science and medical bioengineering. The medical programme has 172 study places and is taught in Finnish. Students do clinical training in health centres and hospitals across northern Finland.

Admission and language

Applications go through the national joint application on Studyinfo.fi. For studies starting in autumn 2027, both universities list the application period for Medicine as 9 to 23 March 2027.

Because teaching and patient work are in Finnish or Swedish, applicants need a strong command of one of these languages before they apply.

Costs and residence permit

Degree programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish do not charge tuition fees. Tuition fees of typically €9,000 to €20,000 per year apply to non-EU/EEA students in English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes, according to Study in Finland (2026).

Other costs to plan for:

• Living costs: the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) sets a minimum of €800 per month; Study in Finland recommends about €900 to €1,200 per month, depending on the city
• Student union fee: about €50 to €70 per academic year
• Student healthcare fee: around €35 per term, for the Finnish Student Health Service

Non-EU/EEA students usually need a residence permit to study in Finland for more than 90 days. They apply to Migri after admission and must show sufficient funds and valid insurance.

Licence to practise

The right to practise as a doctor is granted on application by the Finnish Supervisory Agency, a national government authority. Medical doctor and specialist doctor are licensed professions. The agency also registers the student status of medical students in Finland.

Doctors trained outside the EU/EEA follow a separate path. They must demonstrate proficiency in Finnish or Swedish, complete at least six months of job training in Finland and then pass three examinations in a fixed order. One accepted proof of language skills is the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) at intermediate level, with a score of at least 3 in every skill.

Careers

According to the University of Oulu, graduates find work in public and private health care, research, teaching and administration. Specialist training and research towards a doctorate are the two main ways to continue after the degree.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study Medicine in English in Finland?

Not at the University of Helsinki or the University of Oulu. Their medical degrees are taught in Finnish, and Helsinki also has a Swedish-speaking line.

How long does the medical degree take?

Six years and 360 credits, leading to the degree of Licentiate of Medicine.

Do medical students pay tuition fees in Finland?

Degree programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish do not charge tuition fees. Students pay a student union fee and a student healthcare fee, and cover their own living costs.

Can a doctor trained abroad work in Finland?

Yes, after the Finnish Supervisory Agency grants the right to practise. Doctors trained outside the EU/EEA need Finnish or Swedish, six months of job training in Finland and three examinations.