| Metropolia University of Applied Sciences | |
| Native Name: | Finnish: Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu |
| Motto: | Osaamista ja oivallusta tulevaisuuden tekemiseen |
| Rector: | Riitta Konkola |
| Mottoeng: | Expertise and insight for the future |
| Established: | 2007 (opened 2008) |
| Students: | 16,400 |
| Faculty: | 1,000 |
| Colors: | Orange and Grey |
| Website: | www.metropolia.fi |
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences[1] (Finnish: Metropolia ammattikorkeakoulu) is a University of Applied Sciences in Finland.[2] The university has four campuses, offering a total of 93-degree programs in the fields of business, culture, healthcare and social services, and technology.[3]
In 2008, EVTEK University of Applied Sciences and Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia merged into Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, one of the largest and most prominent institutions of its kind in Finland. This strategic merger aimed to consolidate resources, expertise, and educational offerings to create a more robust and comprehensive academic environment. Metropolia now serves a diverse student body with a wide range of programs in fields such as technology, health care, business, and culture. The university emphasizes innovation, practical learning, and collaboration with industry, making it a key player in shaping the future workforce in Finland and beyond.
Metropolia is located in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Currently, Metropolia concentrates its operations on four campuses: the Arabia and Myllypuro campuses in Helsinki, the Karamalmi campus in Espoo and the Myyrmäki campus in Vantaa.[4]
This campus hosts students in the fields of medicine and architecture. The first sections of the campus to be constructed opened in January 2019 with 3,000 students and 250 employees. The second part of the campus opened in January 2020. Currently, about 6,000 students are attending this campus. The entire project cost about 165 million euros.
Creative Campus hosting programs are mainly dedicated to culture, conservation, and design.
Campus for Sustainable Technology and Business. There are now 3500 students and 230 staff members operating on the campus in the fields of industrial technology and international business. The construction of the final extension of this campus was finished in August 2018.
Developer Campus for Smart Solutions. Metropolia's new Developer Campus for Smart Solutions in Karamalmi, Espoo, was opened in August 2019. Leppävaara Campus in Espoo was closed on March 4, 2019, due to safety reasons. The property owner, the City of Espoo, informed Metropolia about the poor condition of the campus structures on February 14, 2019, and urged Metropolia to move campus activities away as soon as possible to maximize student and staff security.[5]
Metropolia offers 43 bachelor's degrees, with awarded titles varying by field. These include a Bachelor of Engineering, a Bachelor of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Health Care, a Bachelor of Social Services, and a Bachelor of Culture and Arts.
Additionally, 26 master's-level programs are available, while doctoral studies are not offered at Metropolia. However, with the ongoing Bologna process, graduates with bachelor's degrees from Metropolia are eligible to apply for master's programs at traditional universities.
Metropolia takes part in the Finnish Joint Application. After meeting the basic requirements for undergraduate studies, international applicants take part in an entrance examination organized by Metropolia. This test is different for every degree. Future students are selected based on their scores. Applicants may also apply by using SAT results. Minimum scores for every degree may vary but they average around 1250 points.
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is the largest International Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland. International activities at Metropolia include international degree programs, student and teacher mobility, work placement opportunities abroad, and various projects.
All undergraduate programs in business at Metropolia culminate in a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. While some specializations offer the possibility of earning a double degree with partner universities, the core curriculum focuses on a strong foundation in business principles. In 2017, Metropolia's business program achieved the highest ranking among Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences.[7]
Teaching takes place at the Myyrmäki Campus. The school offers three bachelor-level business studies programs, two of which are in English. Metropolia also offers learning pathways leading to an MBA degree.
Metropolia conducts many degrees in the fields of healthcare and social services. There are two bachelor's degrees in English (nursing and social services) and 15 in Finnish. The school also offers master-level studies leading to the MHA (Master of Health Administration) degree. All degrees in these fields are hosted at the Myllypuro Campus.
Metropolia has a unique learning environment called the Well-Being and Health Village. In this place, students provide free medical services under supervision. The idea behind the Health Village is to give students a taste of real-world medical work experience. Some of the services are: prosthetics and orthotics services; osteopathy services; and physiotherapy services.[8]
All culture courses are conducted in Finnish. There are 8 undergraduate degrees and 7 master's degrees. All teaching takes place at the Arabia Campus and nearby premises. Metropolia UAS is the first Finnish university to offer a degree focused entirely on XR design.
Studies in the field of technology take place on two campuses. The Myyrmäki campus mainly focuses on industrial technology, and teaching at the Karamalmi campus is more IT-based. Metropolia has a wide variety of industrial degrees, such as automotive engineering and industrial management. All industrial-based studies are conducted in Finnish. The school has two IT programs, one of them in English.
Metropolia publishes around 100 RDI projects each year in cooperation with partner networks. Right now, Metropolia conducts its research through five phenomenon-based innovation hubs. In 2018, Metropolia's external RDI income amounted to about EUR 5.4 million. One of the most prominent projects is Sohjoa Baltic, which promotes and pilots automated driverless electric minibuses as part of the public transport chain, especially for first- and last-mile connectivity. Sohjoa Baltic Consortium has partners from Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Norway, and Denmark.