IB Pathways
Kaisa-talo, main building of Helsinki University Library, main hall

University of Helsinki · Finland

Liberal Arts and Sciences

An interdisciplinary degree joining natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to train analysis, problem-solving and critical thinking; it leads on to more than a dozen Helsinki master's programmes.

Hyperboreios · CC0

Where
HelsinkiFinland
Degree
BA, BSc or Bachelor of Social Sciences
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027
Apply by
23 March 2027
Admission
SelectiveIB grades
EU/EEA fee
Free
More facts
Degree
BA, BSc or Bachelor of Social Sciences
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027

Deadlines

  1. 9 March 2027

    Admission group 2 (IB Diploma holders) opens, 08:00 Finnish time
    DetailsSource

  2. 23 March 2027

    Admission group 2 (IB Diploma holders) closes, 15:00 Finnish time
    Hard deadline
    Details

    Helsinki runs its own dates. IB Diploma holders are in group 2 and apply in March, not January.

    Published as "9–23 March 2027", closing "at 15.00 UTC+2". Helsinki's Admission group 2 is for applicants who have completed an International Baccalaureate diploma (or a Finnish matriculation examination, EB or Reifeprüfung/DIA); group 1, 5–19 January 2027, covers everyone else, so it is a window you are excluded from, not one you can miss. Åbo Akademi's bachelor round is also 9–23 March 2027, but every one of its bachelor's degrees is taught in Swedish.

    Source

  3. 6 July 2027*

    IB results released
    DetailsSource

* Last year’s date, not yet confirmed.

Every date in Finland

What it is

The programme combines disciplines that are usually studied apart. A common core of courses teaches you how the disciplines relate and how to work interdisciplinary, and disciplinary modules of growing depth are combined into one of six specialisations: Data Science, Digital Humanities, Ecology and Adaptation, Economics of Natural Resources, Resource Management of Global Forests, or Social Data Science. The degree finishes with a thesis seminar and bachelor's thesis, and Finnish language and communication studies can be added. The aim is skills in analysis, problem-solving and critical thinking, and graduates typically continue to a master's programme.

What you need

  • IB Diploma holders must apply in admission group 2 and are ranked on their IB grades. An IB taken in English proves your English; otherwise English A at grade 2 or English A2 at grade 5.
Requirements in full

Where it says so

Its entry requirements

Check it on helsinki.fi

How places are decided

    • IB grades
    2026 criteria; 2027 not yet published (due by end of October 2026). IB holders apply in admission group 2 (9–23 March 2027) and are ranked on IB grades.
Sources (3)
  1. Liberal Arts and Sciences at UH — checked 2026-09-26
  2. Entry requirements
  3. IB applicants at UH

Other degrees at UH