Arcada - University of applied sciences

What Arcada - University of applied sciences does

Arcada - University of Applied Sciences (Yrkeshögskolan Arcada Ab) is a multi-professional higher education institution located on a single international campus at Jan-Magnus Janssons plats 1 in Helsinki, Finland. It is the only Swedish-language university of applied sciences in Finland and operates under the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014) with a designated national responsibility for Swedish-language education in society-critical fields including occupational therapy, film and media, business economics, technology, healthcare, health and welfare, and culture and media. The institution serves approximately 2,900 students and is supported by 170 staff across disciplines covering business and financial analysis, energy and materials technology, health and welfare, culture and media, and nursing. Arcada delivers Bachelor's, Master's, and continuing education programs in Swedish and English, alongside Open University Studies, applied research, development and innovation services, laboratory and testing services, venue rental, and career and alumni services through a network of approximately 14,000 graduates.

Arcada's core technology stack consists of standard higher-education IT infrastructure: the SISU student administration system, the itslearning learning management platform, the MoveOn international mobility system, and the Koha library system, with no proprietary AI/ML or platform IP disclosed in source materials. Products are organized across nine named offerings, with Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, continuing education (fortbildning), and research, development and innovation services positioned as core products, and laboratory/testing services, venue rental, career centre, alumni network, and Open University Studies as supporting services.

The business model combines public government funding as the primary revenue stream with supplementary income from non-EU/EEA tuition fees (administered via Flywire), tuition-free EU/EEA enrollment, fee-based continuing education marketed at market rates through a dedicated channel ([email protected]), quote-based customized corporate training, pay-as-you-go Open University Studies, tax-deductible donations from individuals and foundations, and facility rental revenue. Go-to-market is hybrid: a sales-led motion through the national Studieinfo application portal for degree students, paired with a community-led motion through an active 14,000-member alumni network, dedicated corporate relations, student hiring programs, and SIMHE-certified immigrant integration services. End customers are segmented into prospective students, the Swedish-speaking population of Finland, organizations and companies seeking workforce development, alumni, and highly educated immigrants.

Name

Arcada - University of applied sciences

Legal name

Yrkeshögskolan Arcada Ab

Website

https://arcada.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Arcada is Finland's only Swedish-language university of applied sciences, operating an international campus in Helsinki with about 2,900 students and 170 staff. It delivers Bachelor's, Master's, continuing education, and applied research, funded primarily by the Finnish government with supplementary tuition, donations, and corporate training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Student Orientation & Transition Programs (EDALANAC), Virtual Recruitment Events, Fairs & Webinar Platforms (EDAIACAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Swedish-language university
• Applied sciences programs
• Continuing professional education
• Applied research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinginpitäjä

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Government Funding: Primary funding from Finnish government as a registered university of applied sciences under the Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014). Core operational funding provided by public sources.
2. Tuition Fees: Tuition fees charged to non-EU/EEA students. Fee payment administration through Flywire system.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Fundraising campaign 2022-2024 with support from private individuals, foundations, and companies. Donation amounts eligible for tax deduction (min 850 EUR, max 500,000 EUR for individuals; max 250,000 EUR for companies). Money collection permit RA/2022/1502.
4. Continuing Education Services: Customized professional development programs and courses for organizations and individuals. Fee-based continuing education services marketed to working professionals.
5. Facility Rental and Event Services: Venue and facility rental services including auditoriums, meeting rooms, and computer labs with modern technology. Event services for various occasions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Arcada is a Swedish-language university of applied sciences offering Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes across business, engineering, healthcare, culture, media, and sport, plus continuing education, applied research and innovation services, laboratory and testing services, and venue rental. It enrolls around 2,900 students and 170 staff on an international campus in Helsinki, graduating roughly 500 students annually into a 14,000-member alumni network.

Product overview

Arcada University of Applied Sciences is a multi-professional higher education institution offering a portfolio of degree programmes and continuing education services. The institution operates as a unified university structure with degree programmes across Bachelor, Master, and continuing education levels, complemented by research and development services, and support services including career centre, library, laboratory and testing services, and venue rental. The core offerings consist of educational programmes in Swedish and English across fields including business, engineering, health and social care, culture and media, and continuing professional development courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree Programmes Undergraduate degree programmes at Bachelor level, offered in Swedish and English, covering fields such as business, engineering, health and social care, culture and media, and sports. Targeted at Swedish-speaking Finns and international students seeking a professionally oriented first-cycle qualification.
• Master's Degree Programmes Postgraduate degree programmes at Master's level, offered in Swedish and English, for professionals seeking advanced qualifications and specialisation. Targeted at working professionals and graduates pursuing second-cycle degrees.
• Continuing Education (Fortbildning) Professional development courses and programmes for working professionals, offered both online and on campus, covering various industry sectors and customized for organizations seeking workforce upskilling.
• Research, Development and Innovation Services Society-relevant research and innovation services delivered in collaboration with business and public-sector organisations, with strong interaction between teaching and research, focused on applied solutions for working life.
• Laboratory and Testing Services Laboratory facilities and testing services for product testing and simulation in educational and research purposes, available to external clients including companies and public-sector organizations.
• Venue Rental and Events Rental of versatile spaces including auditoriums, meeting rooms, and computer labs for events, equipped with modern technology and wireless networks for external clients and partners.
• Career Centre Career guidance and support services for students throughout their studies and as alumni, including job-matching with employers.
• Alumni Network Professional networking platform connecting Arcada's 14,000 alumni worldwide, offering events, mentoring, and career development support.
• Open University Studies (Öppna yrkeshögskolan) Individual courses and flexible study paths available to non-degree students through the Open University pathway, with alumni receiving 5 free study points.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 students graduate annually from Arcada
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Diak, Haaga-Helia, Laurea, Metropolia (Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Five Swedish-language Finnish universities of applied sciences entered comprehensive framework agreement to strengthen Swedish-language higher education through increased synergies, choice breadth, and specialization opportunities.
• EU Interreg Central Baltic ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EU-funded BalticReed project (2023-ongoing) developing reed harvesting and reed-based business activities in Finland, Åland, and Sweden. Project focuses on blue economy and identification of potential value chains for reed biomass.
• Arene (Rectors' Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArcada participates in Arene's sustainability and responsibility program. Contributed 2 articles to the national collection 'Innovative Sustainability Solutions in Regional Development' (2025) from 20 universities of applied sciences.
• Finnish Companies and OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with businesses and public sector organizations for applied research, student hiring, continuing education, and lab/testing services. Corporate relations managed through dedicated contact [email protected].
• K-Citymarket BorgåminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative project where Arcada students developed robotics solutions and customer experience innovations for retail environment.
• 13 Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (Professional Doctorate Working Group)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group proposing pilot project for professional doctorate (yrkesinriktad doktorsexamen) in Finland. Survey of 306 company leaders showed 50% positive reception and 49% indicated potential positions for professional doctoral candidates.
• Finlands Svenska Idrott (FSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with FSI producing 'Vi också' podcast on equality in sports and para-sports. Alumni from Arcada serve as project managers and coordinators.
• Donor Network (Individuals, Foundations, Companies)minorOthersFundraising campaign 2022-2024 supported by private individuals, foundations, and companies. Notable donors include Aktiastiftelsen i Esbo-Grankulla, Föreningen Konstsamfundet, and 80+ other donors including Walter Ahlströms stiftelse.
• City of Helsinki Social Services and Health Care DivisioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerData sharing agreement for new student information transfer to support integration of student health and social services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Yrkeshögskolan Novia: The other Swedish-language University of Applied Sciences in Finland, providing the closest direct competitor to Arcada in the Swedish-language professional higher education niche across similar fields. Both institutions share the same regulatory framework and serve overlapping student segments.
• Turku University of Applied Sciences: Another Finnish UAS providing applied bachelor's and master's degree programs across similar fields. Comparable institutional model, regulatory framework, and revenue structure to Arcada.
• Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK): Finnish UAS offering similar applied bachelor/master programs across business, technology, health, and design. Comparable in operating model, funding structure, and applied research approach, though primarily Finnish-language.
• Laurea University of Applied Sciences: Finnish UAS in the Helsinki metropolitan area and member of Arcada's framework consortium. Overlaps with Arcada in business, healthcare, and service innovation degree programs.
• Diakonia University of Applied Sciences (Diak): Finnish UAS focused on social services, health, and diaconal work, also part of the 5-university Swedish-language framework. Competes with Arcada particularly in healthcare and social services degree programs.
• Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK): Finnish UAS with similar applied degree portfolio and similar operating structure under the same UAS Act. Comparable in scale and student offering even though geographically separate.
• Metropolia University of Applied Sciences: Helsinki-based Finnish UAS and partner in Arcada's 5-university framework. Competes with Arcada in health, technology, and business programs and shares similar Swedish-language service obligations.
• Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences: Finnish UAS based in Helsinki region that is one of the five partners in Arcada's 2026 Swedish-language higher education framework agreement. Offers overlapping business, hospitality, and IT programs and competes for the same Helsinki-area applicant pool.

Regional players

• Åbo Akademi University: The other Swedish-language multi-faculty university in Finland, based in Turku. Overlaps with Arcada in business, technology, and social sciences at bachelor/master level under the same Swedish-language mandate.
• Hanken School of Economics: Swedish-language business university in Finland offering bachelor and master programs in business and economics. Comparable niche positioning in Swedish-language higher education but specialized rather than multidisciplinary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ArcadaUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArcadaUAS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arcada-university-of-applied-sciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/arcadauas
• Xx.com/arcadauas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arcada - University of applied sciences