University of Eastern Finland

Overview

Established in 2010, the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is a multidisciplinary university based in the cities of Joensuu and Kuopio, Finland. Compared to other colleges and universities in Finland, the UEF offers the widest range of fields of study.

The university is currently composed of four main faculties: the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Forestry, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, and the Philosophical Faculty. Through these faculties, the university offers Bachelor's, Master's, and doctoral programs in 13 fields of study, the most in Finland. These fields of study include dentistry, natural science, theology, law, and medicine.

The UEF also offers various international study programs at the Bachelor's and Master's levels for exchange students and visiting students. These programs are taught in English and are available for many scientific fields available at the university. UEF students can also enroll in the university’s Summer School to pursue additional learning in different courses.

In addition to these study programs, the UEF is home to centers for professional development and language proficiency. The Aducate center provides training for the practical applications of new scientific findings, while the university's Language Center provides language and communication studies for exchange students, university staff, and external customers.

Aside from its diverse program offerings, the university is known for its commitment to using high-level interdisciplinary research to respond to global challenges. The university is particularly focused on four main areas of research, which include aging and environmental change. The university has built numerous research communities around these areas, with communities focused on specializations such as neurosciences, photonics, and sustainable governance of natural resources.

The UEF positions itself as an international research university and is a member of various university networks, including the European University Foundation and the Sino-Finnish Environmental Research Centre.

In accordance with its commitment to high-level research, the university lends its research services to various companies and communities in Finland. To date, the UEF has collaborated with various state research institutes such as the Geological Survey of Finland and the Finnish Environment Institute. Moreover, the university organizes public science events in Joensuu and Kuopio and participates in regional development projects in eastern Finland.

Today, the UEF continues to enjoy a high enrollment rate of Finnish and international students. The university maintains two main campuses, one each in the cities of Joensuu and Kuopio. The Joensuu campus is home to some of the UEF's teaching facilities, including the Teacher Training School. On the other hand, the university hospital can be found near the Kuopio campus.