Finland: University of Jyväskylä

‌Accomplished as an internationally ranked research university, Jyväskylä offers multidisciplinary courses in one of Northern Europe's most vibrant, innovative and youthful cities. Jyväskylä hosts students from nearly 100 different countries each semester. Thanks to the compact and lively urban center, Jyväskylä is a “little big city”, where all the services and shops are close at hand.

Dates & Deadlines

Term: Fall 2025
App Deadline: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Program Dates: Monday, August 25 - Friday, December 19, 2025*

The application cycle for Spring 2025 is currently closed. Fall 2025 applications are open. Students can click the link below to schedule this meeting beginning in November.

Schedule First Steps Meeting

Interested in studying abroad in the spring of 2026 or later? Please fill out the waitlist form below and the study abroad center will notify you when applications for future terms open. If you are still deciding where or when you want to go abroad, you can also schedule an informational meeting with our office to learn more about the programs we offer and find one that works best for you!

Study Abroad Waitlist Schedule Info Meeting

Unsure where to begin? Visit our Application Process page to learn more!

Learn More about JYU

Location

Jyväskylä is called “A small city with a big feel”, with approximately 160,000 inhabitants. The seventh largest city in Finland ranks among its most important in terms of education and growth. Every fourth person in Jyväskylä is a student. Development of technologies remains one of the city’s main contributions, especially in the area of nanotechnology, energy technology, and forest industry. Jyväskylä maintains one of the highest qualities of life in Finland by promoting energy efficiency, elimination of pollutants, and reduction of light pollution. Local activities include: fishing all year round, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and many indoor sports.

Notable area sites include:

Alvar Aalto Museum
City of Light tour of Jyväskylä
Nyrölä rock planetarium
Petäjävesi Old Church (UNESCO world heritage site)
Oravivuori triangulation tower (UNESCO world heritage site)
Lake Päijänne & Lake Jyväsjärvi
Jyväskylä Arts Festival
Craft Museum of Finland
Rantaraitti (recreational and exercise venue)
188,000 lakes and 30,000 islands

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Academics

Students can study from various academic colleges at the university. Some courses will require prerequisites and pre-enrollment, which is a part of the application process. Listed below are the areas of studies offered.

Business
Economics
Education
Psychology
Humanities
Social Sciences
Language and Cultural Studies
Mathematics and Science
Sport and Health Sciences

All students need to take at least 30 credits in the ECTS system, in order to be considered full-time at UNI during the semester abroad. This will transfer back to UNI as 15 credits. Students typically take 5 classes.

Credits (Uses ECTS credit) Grades

2 ECTS = 1 U.S. Excellent (A) 5 = A

3 ECTS = 1.5 U.S. Very Good (B) 4 = B+

4 ECTS = 2 U.S. Good (C) 3 = B

5 ECTS = 2.5 U.S. Satisfactory (D) 2 = C+

6 ECTS = 3 U.S. Sufficient (E) 1 = C

7 ECTS= 3.5 U.S. Failure (FAIL) 0 = F

There is a winter school in January with Sport Sciences classes being offered. Many of the winter and summer schools offer activities including free cultural tours, getting to know Finnish life and society, excursions, and sports events.

Participant Info

Meet your Advisor:

Jamie is a full time study abroad advisor who will help you throughout the application process to Finland, including documentation, finances, scholarships, and more. From your first steps meeting until you take off for your new adventure, Jamie will help you every step of the way.

Important information to review:

Study abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be challenged by new experiences in new environments and cultures. UNI study abroad programs are designed to prioritize educational opportunities for students. Students are encouraged to embrace the adventure of exploring how housing, meals, and daily routines differ abroad.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

Review and follow the travel recommendations of the U.S. State Department for travel to Finland

Housing & Meals

Housing:

Student housing in Jyväskylä is provided by KOAS (Student Housing Foundation of Central Finland).

KOAS has internet, laundry rooms, saunas, and store rooms are available in the building. Kortepohja Student Village has a small shopping center, party room to rent, piano room, and sports facilities. Student apartments are located within walking distance or a short bus ride away from campus. Students will be placed in furnished single bedrooms with shared bathroom and kitchen.

Meals:

All accommodations are self-catered, so students are expected to cook for themselves. There are local restaurants, bars, cafes, and eateries for students to try, but cooking in their accommodations is the most cost effective option. Students will have a shared dining room and kitchen, and grocery stores are close by.

Program Costs

Estimated Program Cost: $14,409*

*estimated total cost of participation, actual amount depends on type of housing accommodation selected, actual airfare purchase price, personal spending habits, and other factors

Estimated Total Program Cost	$14,409
Estimated U-bill Charges	$5,464
Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs	$8,945

Spring 2025 Estimated Budget Sheets (PDF)

Fall 2024 Estimated Budget Sheet (PDF)

Prices are subject to change

Cost of Studying On Campus at UNI*

*per semester, estimated, will vary per person

Tuition & Fees	$4,864
Room & Board	$4,580
Books	$400
Personal Expenses	$878
Transportation	$320
Total	$11,042

Source: https://admissions.uni.edu/cost-aid

‌Eligibility Requirements to Study Abroad

The Study Abroad Center reserves the right to determine participants' eligibility to study abroad. Students must have a completed study abroad application, including supportive recommendation form(s). Additionally, students must meet all of the following in order to be eligible to study abroad:

Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher at the time of application and maintain this cumulative GPA prior to departure and throughout the study abroad process
If your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, submit the following to the Study Abroad Center (103 East Bartlett):
- Letters of reference from two academic contacts (e.g. academic advisor and former or current professor) supporting your pursuit of study abroad. If you are attending a faculty-led study abroad program, one of the letters must be from a course leader. However, if the program has two course leaders, only one of the letters can be from one of the course leaders.

Must be over the age of 18 years old
Must meet the course prerequisites (participation in the program is dependent upon meeting these)
Must be in good standing with the university
UNI's partner institutions may require additional eligibility requirements to be met, these vary from institution to institution. Please consult with the Study Abroad Center staff to discuss these additional requirements, if applicable.
Applicants traveling to a region of a country or a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel) will not be eligible.