Abo Akademi University

About

Åbo Akademi University is Finland’s only Swedish-language university, yet it has evolved into a remarkably international institution known for its strong research culture and intimate campus environments in Turku and Vaasa. The university is best known academically for its excellence in chemical engineering, human rights research, biotechnology, and computer science, offering a robust selection of master's degree programs taught entirely in English. International students benefit from a welcoming and inclusive community supported by the International Office, which provides comprehensive guidance on housing, arrival services, and integration into Finnish student life. What sets the university apart is its unique bilingual heritage, allowing students to experience the charm of a historic Nordic academic tradition while studying in a modern, multicultural, and English-friendly environment.

Background

Åbo Akademi University (Swedish: Åbo Akademi [ˈǒːbʊ akadɛˈmiː], Finland Swedish: [ˈoːbu ɑkɑdeˈmiː]) is the only exclusively Swedish language multi-faculty university in Finland (or anywhere outside Sweden). It is located mainly in Turku (Åbo is the Swedish name of the city) but has also activities in Vaasa. Åbo Akademi should not be confused with the Royal Academy of Åbo, which was founded in 1640, but moved to Helsinki after the Turku fire of 1827 and is today known as the University of Helsinki. Åbo Akademi was founded by private donations in 1918 as the third university in Finland, both to let Turku again become a university town and because it was felt that the Swedish language was threatened at the University of Helsinki. The Finnish University of Turku was founded in 1920, also by private donations and for similar reasons. Åbo Akademi was a private institution until 1981, when it was turned into a public institution. As the only uni-lingually Swedish multi-faculty university in the world...

Location

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