The University of Helsinki

The University of Helsinki

The University of Helsinki condemns the military action by Russia and expresses its support for Ukraine and its university community. 

We, together with all Finnish universities, join in Universities Finland’s expression of support to Ukraine, as well as the European University Association’s Statement to the same. As a demonstration of support, the Main Building of the University and Unioninkatu 35 have been

lit in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

The University of Helsinki believes in and supports international collaboration in research and higher education, even in difficult circumstances.

However, there are times when collaboration must be reconsidered, and Russia’s condemnable attack in Ukraine warrants exceptional action.

We keep monitoring both national and EU sanctions, and will adjust policies and processes accordingly. We will work together with other

Finnish and international universities in an effort to end hostilities in Ukraine, and to support Ukrainian institutions and individuals.

The University of Helsinki has established a team to monitor the situation in Ukraine, the related sanctions and their impact, to issue

recommendations and coordinate measures taken by the University.

Ukraine related questions and queries can be sent to ukraine@helsinki.fi.

All Ukrainian degree and exchange students studying at the University of Helsinki as well as Ukrainian employees of the University have been

personally contacted to offer them support. In keeping with the institutional value of inclusion, all members of the University community are to

be treated equally, and with respect, regardless of nationality and will continue to have the same rights and services as before.

Support for health and wellbeing on the Instructions for Students and occupational healthcare (link goes to Flamma).

University of Helsinki grants the right to complete non-degree studies to persons who have arrived in Finland and whose degree studies have

been suspended at the Ukrainian higher education institution due to war and also to Ukrainian citizens who have arrived in Finland and whose

degree studies have been suspended at a Russian higher education institution due to war.

The right of completion may be granted to courses or study modules. This does not give the right to complete a degree at the University of Helsinki.

The right to complete a degree can be applied for in the normal admission process.

Applications will be processed until the end of 2022 without application deadlines. Rights of completion will be granted until 31.7.2023 and

no fees will be charged for non-degree studies.

Read more about non-degree studies for people fleeing the war in Ukraine and apply.

Ukrainian citizens will not be charged for studies at Open University until autumn 2023.

Aleksanteri Institute organises an interdisciplinary series of lectures on Ukraine and from Ukraine in Spring 2022. The lectures

are for wider audiences.

The University of Helsinki has launched a Crisis Fund and an emergency appeal. The money raised will be used to support researchers

and students fleeing Ukraine who wish to move to Finland and conduct research or study at the University of Helsinki, as well as those already

at the university. 

You can donate here.

The University of Helsinki is supporting the victims of the war in Ukraine with a donation of € 50,000 to Unicef. The donation is made

from the income of the University of Helsinki’s funds (HYR).

The University Pharmacy has also supported Ukraine in the humanitarian crisis and has made two donations worth a total of 20,000 euros

to those in need. The first donation was made through Operation Hope and the second donation was made to the Finnish Red Cross

Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, the University Pharmacy has reduced its pharmacy chain in Russia and plans to exit the Russian market.

Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies receives additional funding from Kone Foundation to support researchers fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The grant allows for a total of 36 months of research time at the Collegium. Kone Foundation has granted additional resources for fellowships

targeted for scholars who have escaped the war in and cannot continue to work in their home country. The additional funding will be distributed

through the Collegium’s Kone Foundation Fellowship program, which supports researchers from the Baltic countries, Russia, Belarus,

and Ukraine.

• The University will suspend the development of all new collaborations with Russia and Belarus for time being.
• In line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Education and Culture, all institutional collaboration with Russian and Belorussian
• universities and other institutions is suspended. Ongoing mobility periods of students and scholars from Russia will be allowed to be
• concluded as planned.
• The University community members are asked to make note of the fact that the European Commission has decided to halt research,
• education and innovation co-operation with Russian organisations, and has stopped making payments to Russian entities under current
• contracts.
• The University community is asked to refrain from any engagement with any government agency of the Russian Federation.
• At UH, we do not recommmend using employees of Russian universities as experts in recruitments or when granting the tittle of docent.
• If such action is ongoing already, it does not need to be aborted. However it is important to note, that compensating Russian individuals
• for these kind of services might be difficult because of the sanctions imposed on Russian banks.  ​
• We also recommend UH staff not to act in roles described above at Russian universities.
• Units and community members will freeze all institutional invitations to representatives of Russian and Belorussian universities and
• research institutions.
• Researcher are recommended to not initiate new publications with researchers affiliated with Russian or Belorussian universities or
• research institutions. No action is required regarding publications already in progress of being published.
• The university does not recommend participating in peer review processes involving a researcher affiliated with a Russian or Belarusian
• institution, nor act in any role with journals published in these countries.
• Work related travel to Russia is not possible at the moment.
• In accordance with EU directives (EU 2022/328 ja EU 2022)/355) access to certain IT-infrastructures from Russia and Belorussia
• will be blocked. As a result, the University’s VPN service will be restricted based on geographic location.

Staff feeling anxious or worried about the situation can contact occupational health services; instructions for students are available here.

Travel to Ukraine, Belarus and Russia should be avoided in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

of Finland.

See the website of the Finnish Immigration Service for information relating to the war in Ukraine.

Last updated on 30 March

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/war-ukraine