Laurea University of Applied Sciences

What Laurea University of Applied Sciences does

Laurea University of Applied Sciences is a Finnish higher education institution operating as a private limited company (Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu Oy), founded in 1991 and headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, with six campuses across the Uusimaa region (Tikkurila, Leppävaara, Otaniemi, Hyvinkää, Porvoo, and Lohja). The institution serves approximately 11,300 degree students through 14+ bachelor's and 17+ master's programmes spanning nursing, social services, cybersecurity, business management, safety and risk management, physiotherapy, and hospitality, graduating roughly 2,700 students annually and maintaining a 41,500-strong alumni network. Its core technology stack consists of digital learning platforms (Canvas, DigiCampus, Viope) for online course delivery, the Laurea Smart e-commerce platform for Open University and continuing education enrollment, and the Laurea Living Labs framework that integrates applied research with real-world challenge-based learning.

The business model combines four revenue streams: core government funding from the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, tuition and fees from Open University and continuing education programs sold through Laurea Smart, external research and development project funding from EU programs (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+) and industry partners, and revenue from specialized training services including MAPA (Management of Actual or Potential Aggression) certification delivered through Suomen MAPA-keskus under Crisis Prevention Institute licensing. The go-to-market is hybrid: consumer-facing student recruitment via the Finnish joint application system (yhteishaku) and separate applications, plus enterprise-facing key partnership (avainkumppanuus) programs, LaureaLiike business collaboration, and BarLaurea service-learning environment. Research is organized across three thematic programmes (Coherent Security, Sustainable Social and Health Sector, Service Business and Circular Economy) and four specialized research groups, with the PIONEER European university alliance (10 institutions) anchoring international collaboration.

Name

Laurea University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu Oy

Website

https://laurea.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Laurea University of Applied Sciences is a Finnish higher education institution operating six campuses in the Uusimaa region, delivering bachelor's and master's degree programmes, continuing education, and applied research services to approximately 11,300 students, enterprises, and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Applied research
• Professional training
• University degree programs
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Vantaa

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core operational funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture (Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö), which is standard for Finnish universities of applied sciences.
2. Open University and Continuing Education Tuition: Revenue from Open University courses, specialization education, continuing education programs, and online course offerings sold through Laurea Smart e-commerce platform.
3. Research and Development Project Funding: External research funding from EU programs (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+), national funding bodies, and industry partners for applied research projects.
4. MAPA Training Programs: Revenue from managing Suomen MAPA-keskus (Finland's MAPA Center), providing Crisis Prevention Institute certified de-escalation and安全管理 training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Laurea University of Applied Sciences is a Finnish higher education institution that delivers bachelor's and master's degree programs, open university and continuing education courses, applied research and development services, and certified training programs (including MAPA). It also operates business partnership programs and a research-driven service learning environment across six campuses in the Uusimaa region.

Product overview

Laurea University of Applied Sciences operates as a multi-campus higher education institution with six campuses in the Uusimaa region, offering a portfolio of educational programmes and research services. The core offerings include Bachelor's degree programmes (AMK-tutkinnot) such as Nursing, Social Services, Business Management, Cyber Security, and Safety Security, and Master's degree programmes (YAMK-tutkinnot) under Master School covering areas like Global Health and Crisis Management, Service Innovation, and Digital Transformation. The institution's digital services include Laurea Smart (online course store) for continuing education and MOOCs, and Laurea Journal for research publication. Research activities are organized through three thematic programmes (Coherent Security, Sustainable Social and Health Sector, Service Business and Circular Economy) supported by four specialized research groups (ResLab, DiLing, Correctional Services, Sustainable Value Creation). Specialized training offerings include MAPA® crisis management training and BarLaurea hospitality services. Laurea participates in the European PIONEER Alliance for international collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Laurea Smart: Online store for courses, continuing education, and professional development offerings.
• Laurea Journal
• BarLaurea
• LaureaLiike
• Suomen MAPA® keskus
• PIONEER Alliance

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,300 students enrolled across degree programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered key partner, core and minor.

• Traxon e:cuekey partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026International key partnership announced in June 2026 to create new global learning opportunities. Traxon e:cue is a technology company specializing in lighting and building automation solutions.
• PIONEER AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean university alliance of ten higher education institutions developing sustainable and smart cities. Laurea collaborates with international partners, students, and researchers to address urban challenges through research, innovation, and education.
• EU Consortium Partners (CONNECTOR Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational consortium of 17 organizations across Europe including technology companies (Satways, Leonardo SIMAVI, ISDEFE, INLECOM), research organizations (CERTH, CBRA, MDS, WOC), and customs, border guard and police authorities for European border security development.
• CRISING Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ funded consortium including Abilis Foundation (Finland), Berlin School of Economics and Law (Germany), VIVES University of Applied Sciences (Belgium), Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), and University of Gdańsk (Poland) developing social work education for crisis management.
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)coreTechnology or IntegrationLicensing partnership for MAPA (Management of Actual or Potential Aggression) training programs. Laurea manages Suomen MAPA-keskus (Finland's MAPA Center), providing certified MAPA training with CPI licensing.
• Haaga-Helia University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared campus partnership in Porvoo, providing a multidisciplinary learning environment in a historic city setting.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences (JAMK): Finnish UAS with campuses in Jyväskylä offering applied degrees in healthcare, business, technology, and education. Closely comparable in size, mission, and funding model to Laurea, with overlapping degree portfolios in nursing, social services, and business.
• Metropolia University of Applied Sciences: Finland's largest UAS by student headcount, headquartered in Helsinki with campuses across the capital region. Directly competes with Laurea for the same Uusimaa applicants in nursing, business, technology, and healthcare, with a similar applied-research mission and Ministry funding model.
• HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences: Finnish UAS with seven campuses in the Häme region offering applied degrees in business, technology, healthcare, and design. Comparable polytechnic model, similar Ministry funding, and overlap with Laurea in nursing, business, and engineering degree programs.
• Arcada University of Applied Sciences: Swedish-language Finnish UAS in Helsinki offering applied degrees in healthcare, business, energy, and cultural management. Competes with Laurea for Helsinki-area applicants and operates under a similar polytechnic funding model.
• Savonia University of Applied Sciences: Finnish UAS with campuses in Kuopio, Iisalmi, and Varkaus, offering applied degrees in healthcare, business, and engineering. Comparable UAS business model and Ministry funding structure to Laurea, with direct competition for healthcare and technology applicants.
• Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences (XAMK): Finnish UAS with campuses in Kymenlaakso and South Karelia regions, offering applied degrees in healthcare, business, technology, and design. Closely comparable UAS model and Finnish Ministry of Education funding structure to Laurea.
• Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK): Finnish UAS in the Tampere region offering bachelor's and master's degrees in business, healthcare, technology, and media. Competes with Laurea for the same national applicant pool, with a similar applied-research orientation and Ministry funding model.
• Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences: Finnish UAS based in the Helsinki metropolitan area (Helsinki, Porvoo, Vierumäki), offering business, IT, and hospitality degrees. Shares the Porvoo campus with Laurea, competes directly for the same Uusimaa applicant pool, and has a comparable Ministry-funded business model with a similar focus on applied research.
• Turku University of Applied Sciences: Finnish UAS based in Turku offering applied degrees in healthcare, business, arts, and engineering. Operates under the same UAS funding model as Laurea and competes nationally for the same applicant pool, particularly in healthcare and business programs.

Regional players

• Novia University of Applied Sciences: Bilingual (Swedish-Finnish) UAS with campuses along the western coast of Finland (Vaasa, Turku, Jakobstad). Operates the same UAS business model and Ministry funding structure as Laurea but primarily serves a different coastal Swedish-speaking market segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCykQrQ2yl9GWnaJMVYu1WRQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/LaureaUAS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/32851
• Instagraminstagram.com/laureauas
• TikToktiktok.com/@laureauas?
• Xx.com/laurea_uas

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Laurea University of Applied Sciences