Masters in Geography

Entry requirements

If you do not meet these criteria, you cannot apply through this application procedure.

To apply through the master’s application procedure, you must have completed, by 31 August 2026, a higher education degree providing eligibility for master’s studies.

You can be admitted to the Master’s Programme in Geography if you have completed or will complete by 31 August 2026 at least a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent at a university or an institution of higher education in geography or another applicable degree. Applicable fields for the programme are, besides geography and regional studies, geosciences, physics, computer science, social sciences, politics and communications; history, social and cultural change and development, biology, environmental sciences and forestry.

You can apply even if your degree will not be completed during the application period. However, you must have completed a sufficient amount of studies applicable to the master’s programme by the application deadline. Studies completed after the application deadline will not be taken into account in the assessment of your application.

You can only be admitted if the degree you would be eligible to complete with the right to pursue studies you are applying for is sufficiently different in terms of its contents from the degree you have already completed.

Months of entry

September

Course content

In the Master’s Programme in Geography, students deepen their understanding of geography as an academic discipline while developing a strong professional identity as geographers.

Programme overview

The Master’s degree in Geography comprises 120 ECTS credits and can be completed in two academic years, leading to a Master of Science degree.

Your degree includes:

• Advanced studies in geography (minimum 60 credits, up to 120 credits depending on elective choices)
• Master’s thesis (30 credits)
• Optional studies (30 credits), which may be selected from geography or other programmes at the University of Helsinki or other universities
• Career orientation and professional development
• A personal study plan (PSP) with academic guidance

Studies and learning methods

Learning in the programme takes diverse forms. A significant part of teaching is contact-based, and most specialisation and methodology courses are organised in small groups of around 10–20 students. This setting encourages discussion, collaboration, and deeper engagement with academic topics.

Independent study is supported through workshops and reading groups, often guided by senior students.

Flexible study design

The Master’s Programme in Geography is not divided into fixed study tracks. Instead, it offers a broad understanding of geography as a discipline with multiple research traditions, while allowing students to design their own study paths.

Students choose a starting module, thematic modules, and a seminar. This flexibility enables you either to specialise in a specific subfield of geography or to build a broad and versatile knowledge base across the discipline.

Language of instruction

The main teaching language is English, although some courses may also be offered in Finnish or Swedish. The degree can be completed in English, Finnish, or Swedish. The language is selected when applying, but may be changed by the end of the first semester.

For English-language degrees, at least 75% of coursework must be completed in English, and the Master’s thesis must also be written in English.

Teaching approach and values

Geography teaching in the programme is:

• Based on scientific research and continuously evolving
• Encouraging of experimentation, inquiry, and critical questioning
• Closely connected to current social and environmental issues
• Designed to support both individuality and a sense of academic community
• Focused on critical thinking and strong scientific argumentation
• Committed to diversity and pluralism
• Transparent and openly structured
• Innovative, pedagogically modern, and forward-looking

Information for international students

https://www.instagram.com/universityofhelsinki/

Fees and funding