Laurea University of Applied Sciences

Laurea University of Applied Sciences (Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu) is a university of applied sciences that operates in the region of Uusimaa, in southern Finland. In 2024, it became a European University as part of the European Union's European Universities initiative.

Campuses
Laurea has six campuses. Three campuses are located in the Helsinki Capital Region and the Greater Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Two of them are located in Otaniemi and Leppävaara in the City of Espoo. The third one is in Tikkurila in the City of Vantaa. Laurea has three other campuses in Hyvinkää, Lohja, and Porvoo.

Otaniemi campus will move to Kivenlahti in Espoo. The new campus is set to open in 2025.

Laurea has approximately 9,900 students and employs approximately 660 personnel. In 2022, Laurea was the 10th most popular university in Finland among applicants, and its acceptance rate was the lowest by making it hard to get a place in the university.

Degrees
In 2024, Laurea offered degrees in business information, technology, and developing services; business information, technology, and cyber security; business management; safety, security, and risk management; nursing; social services; hospitality management and service design; business management; service innovation and design; global health and crisis management; leading transformational change.

Laurea has an exchange student program, and an Open University.

Laurea offers bachelor's and master's degrees in the English and Finnish languages.

Education at The Laurea University of Applied Sciences is based on the Learning by Developing (LbD) pedagogical model.

Acceptance rate
Of all universities and other higher education institutions in Finland, Laurea typically accepts the lowest percentage of applicants. In 2020, of the 15,700 applicants, only 1,160 or 7% were admitted.

Student associations
Laureamko is the student union of the university, which promotes student rights, high quality education, and student wellbeing.

Laurea Entrepreneurship Society promotes entrepreneurship among students at the university. Since, 2007, the university and Laurea Entrepreneurship Society has arranged Cambridge Venture Camp in Cambridge, the United Kingdom. Anglia Ruskin University is a key strategic partner in Cambridge.

Alumni
Laurea has two alumni groups: Alumni delegation, which consists of 100 members. Alumni Advisory Group supports the development of Laurea and it has 20 members.

In 2022, 34 700 students had graduated from Laurea.

Research
Laurea practices research, development, and innovation in entrepreneurship; pedagogy and co-creation; digitalisation and information management in society. In 2024, research programmes were coherent security; sustainable and versatile social and health care; service business and circular economy.

University partnerships
Laurea has higher education partners in Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Africa. An overwhelming number of partners are in the European Union.

In 2024, university partners were University of Gothenburg, University of Copenhagen, London College of Fashion, Coventry University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, University of Salford, Leeds Beckett University, University of Hull, Queen Margaret University, University of the West of Scotland, De Montfort University, Robert Gordon University, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, EPHEC Business School, ISC Paris - School of Management, ESCE École Supérieure du Commerce Extérieur, Université de Montpellier, Université de Savoie, University of Torino, University of Firenze, University of Calabria, Universidad de Malaga, University of Valencia, Universidad Europea de Madrid, St. Petersburg University of Management and Economics, Saint Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics, St. Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, FHS St. Gallen University of Applied Sciences, Bern University of Applied Sciences, FH Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences, Technological Educational Institution of Athens, Kocaeli University, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, National Institute of Technology Hamirpur, President University, National Taiwan University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Konkuk University, Aoyama Gakuin University, Saitaman University, University Of Johannesburg, University of Namibia, University of São Paulo, UDESC - Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Tecnológico de Monterrey, University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Nazareth College of Rochester, and many others.

International Advisory Board
Laurea has an International Advisory Board, which can have 5-10 members. Past and present members are from Gustave Eiffel University, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Universität der Bundeswehr München, Higher Colleges of Technology, Estonian Business School, and University of Cambridge.

Partners
Laurea's past and present key partners are Apotti, Assembly, Attendo, Barona, Bookers, Bonne, Caverion, Colliers Finland, Coor, CSC, Dieta, Digia, Ekerö Line, Eduix, Efecte, Elis, Elo, Go Strong, Hedengren Security, Helsinki Senior Foundation, HKScan, Hoivatilat, Hoiwa, Humana, Citymarket Järvenpää, Kaarikeskus, Kalatukku E. Eriksson, Kespro, Kolster, Lindström, Microsoft, Nokia, Nordic Beauty Import, OP Uusimaa, PwC Finland, Ramirent, RTV, SATO, Sector Alarm, SOL palvelut, Staffpoint, STARK, Terveystalo, Trainers' House, Transmeri, Varma, Vincit, YIT and Yliopiston Apteekki.

History
Laurea was established in 1992 with the name Espoo-Vantaa Polytechnic, which was later changed to its current form in 2001.