University of Oulu main building in Linnanmaa, Oulu.Departments of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering and Telecommunications Engineering in the Linnanmaa campus.Faculty of Humanities located at the northern end of the university building.Oulu University Pegasus Library (former Main Library) in Linnanmaa.Old part of the Linnanmaa campus.Oulu University Hospital buildings in Kontinkangas, Oulu, where the Faculty of Medicine is located. The heliport of the hospital in the foreground.Oulu University Botanical Gardens.
The University of Oulu (Finnish: Oulun yliopisto) is one of the largest universities in Finland, located in the city of Oulu. It was founded on July 8, 1958. The university has around 13,000 students and 2,900 staff.[2] 21 International Master's Programmes are offered at the university.[3] The university is often ranked as one of the best universities in Finland and in the top 400 worldwide.[4][5]
1919 Oulu College Association was founded to manage the establishment of a university in the town
1958 Oulu University Act
1959 Activities begin. Faculty of Philosophy (programs in biology and mathematics), Faculty of Technology (architecture, civil and industrial engineering) and Oulu Teaching School
1960 Faculty of Medicine
1965 Teaching begins in humanities
1965 Departments of Electrical Engineering and Machine Engineering added to the Faculty of Technology
The main campus is located in Linnanmaa, about 5 kilometres (3 mi) north of Oulu city centre. It includes six faculties, four focus institutes, Botanical Gardens and Museum, and university library Pegasus, and Tellus Innovation Arena.
Faculty of Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine are located at the Kontinkangas Campus 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) southeast from the city center, Kontinkangas, Oulu. Oulu University Hospital, Medical Research Centre (MRC) and Biocenter Oulu are also located there.[7]
The University has a number of research units and shared locations. In Linnanmaa Campus there are:
The University of Oulu is divided into eight faculties
International cooperation
The University of Oulu aims to promote mobility among its students. It takes part in a number of international exchange programmes, such as Erasmus Programme (Europe), Nordplus (Nordic Countries), FIRST (Russia), ISEP and International to International ISEP (USA, South America, Asia), UNC-EP (USA), north2north (USA, Canada, Russia, Nordic Countries), North-South-South (Africa). Besides, the University of Oulu has about 50 bilateral agreements with partner universities around the world.[8]
Research
University works in 70 research areas.[9] There are five research focus areas which are coordinated by four focus institutes.[10]
Focus Area
Focus Institute
Molecular and environmental basis for lifelong health
Biocenter Oulu
Understanding humans in change
Eudaimonia Institute
Digital solutions in sensing and interactions
Infotech Oulu
Creating sustainability through materials and systems
Kvantum Institute
Earth and near-space system and environmental change
About 60 invention disclosures are done yearly from the University of Oulu. The university has also served as a birthing place for over 60 research-based companies.[11]
Academic rankings and statistics
The University of Oulu has been consistent in gender equality securing a ratio of 53 men to 47 women.[12] The University has also consistently increased in citation per faculty ratio over the years, with positive increases each year.[13]
The University of Oulu has rapidly risen in rankings in recent years, and is ranked in the top 3 Finnish Universities according to the QS 2024 World University rankings.[14] Overall, the university is a popular choice for both international and domestic applicants in Finland and has been steadily improving in academic reputation.
In the year 2022, The University of Oulu received 17,667 domestic applications, and accepted 2,497 new students, making the University's 2022 domestic acceptance rate 14%. Because of this, The University of Oulu is a competitive university to get accepted into.[15]
Sakari Orava, D.Sc., professor, surgeon specializing in sports related injuries. Famous for operating surgeries on many top athletes such as David Beckham.
Vuokko Hirvonen, Ph.D., professor and author, noted scholar of Sámi literature and education policies
Lasse Lehtinen, Ph.D., former Member of the Finnish Parliament and former Member of the European Parliament.
Tuija Lehtinen, B.Sc., (Stat.), writer, freelance author. Known for Mirkka, Laura and Janne novel series, chief scriptwriter of The Dibidogs animation series.
Sami Lopakka, M.A. musician and writer, one of two guitarists for the band Sentenced (1989-2005).
University of Oulu alumni body is over 55,000.[18]
Student services
Student Union of the University of Oulu[19] (Finnish: Oulun yliopiston ylioppilaskunta; OYY) provides services to and supervises the interests of all undergraduate degree students in the University of Oulu. All bachelor's and master's degree students at the University of Oulu belong to the Student Union. By paying the Student Union membership fee, students are entitled to a student card which allows them to get student services and discounts. This way, students get inexpensive or free medical and dental care from Finnish Student Health Services,[20] (Finnish: Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö; YTHS) traveling discounts in trains and buses, student meals reduction, etc.
There are a number of students organizations or so-called student guilds[21] presented within the University.
The international student house Aurora.
Student housing
Student Housing Foundation of Northern Finland[22] (Finnish: Pohjois-Suomen opiskelija-asuntosäätiö; PSOAS) is the leading provider of student accommodation in Oulu. The organization operates on a foundation basis which ensures affordable rents for students. Following its mission, PSOAS offers housing services for people studying in Oulu as economically as possible. The residents of PSOAS houses in different areas around the city elect tenant committee for that area, which e.g. organises different activities, maintains club rooms and does other related issues, depending on the active members.[23]
The new international student house, named Aurora, was built next to PSOAS housing office in downtown Oulu. The building was finished during the spring of 2013. The house is supposed to be accommodated both by international degree students and Finnish students. The main purpose of the new building is to support the internationalization of Oulu and give the international students better access to Finnish culture and local people. The premises will also support these efforts: More space is dedicated for casual get-togethers, as there is a lounge space on every floor and a café of high level will be serving both Finnish and foreign customers on the ground floor.[24][25]
The International Student Barometer 2019 ranked the University of Oulu first in the world when it comes to internet access and sixth in overall life satisfaction.[26]
