Sport and studies

Elite athlete friendly higher education institution

Haaga-Helia is an elite athlete friendly higher education institution audited by the Olympic Committee. We are committed to supporting goal-oriented competitive and elite sports during studies. For more information go to the Finnish Olympic Commitee's website (note: info on this topic is available only in Finnish)

Haaga-Helia offers flexible opportunities to combine goal-oriented competitive and elite sports with higher education studies. The offer consists of degree studies, major studies and various study paths targeted at athletes.

Apply to Haaga-Helia

You can apply to become a student at Haaga-Helia in different ways.

As a degree student through a joint application or rolling admission. Haaga-Helia educates business professionals (business administration and IT), professionals for hospitality and service business, journalism and sports management. Read more about our Bachelor's degree programmes and how to apply to Haaga-Helia.
You can purchase individual courses or larger study packages from the Open University of Applied Sciences. Some free studies are also available each semester.

Are you already studying at Haaga-Helia? Apply to become a student athlete!

Apply to become a member of the local sports academy or Urhea when you start your studies.
The Sports Academy will inform Haaga-Helia of your athlete status.
Haaga-Helia records your athlete status in the study register.

As a member of the Sports Academy, you will receive the benefits offered by your own academy for your sports career. You can find more information on your academy's website. As a student athlete at Haaga-Helia, you can enjoy flexible studies. We organize networking events annually together with other higher education institutions in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. You will receive an invitation to the next networking event in your email. We also send newsletters about current issues.

In addition to your own guidance counsellor, you can get advice from a specialised athletes' study coach to ensure your studies and sports career are coordinated smoothly.

The benefits you get by becoming obtaining the student athlete status

When you have been recognized as a student athlete, you will receive the URHEILIJA-group indicator in Peppi. Teachers can check your status through this group code. Please remember to tell each teacher in the beginning of a course that you are a student athlete. If you need assistance in practical issues, contact your athlete guidance counsellor.

As a recognized student athlete normal attendance rules are relaxed if you need to participate in training camps or competitions. When necessary, you can complete project and group work presentations through video files or live Teams connection by agreeing it with the teacher. If you are practicing or competing somewhere else in Finland or abroad, you can agree on examination arrangements with the teacher. Haaga-Helia is a member of the national Exam network. This allows you to complete examinations that are offered electronically in the Exam software in other participating institutions throughout Finland.

You have your own guidance counsellor throughout your studies. If necessary, you can also make use of the additional guidance provided by an athletes' counselor in balancing your studies and sports.

The designated sports counselors are

Marit Keränen, International Business
Liila Mäntylä-Peuralinna, Information Technology
General advice on sports and study in the open university, Katriina Haverinen.
Sports & Study programmes in the open university, Jere Peiponen.

Martina Roos-Salmi is the dual career network manager. The network manager develops high-quality combinations of sports and studies in cooperation with sports schools, sports academies, sports federations, players' associations and the Olympic Committee.

Our curricula are competence-based. All studies can be completed as demonstrations. Key competences are recognized by the implementation type DEMO.

The aim is for you to make the most of the skills and networks you have acquired or will acquire during your sports career in your studies. It is a good idea to compare the learning outcomes of the courses with the skills you have acquired during your sports career. Consider completing demonstrations in studies where you already have a good grasp of the learning outcomes. You can also take demonstrations as a student at an open university of applied sciences.

Read more about recognition of learning in Haaga-Helia and ask your guidance counsellor or teachers for more information if necessary.

Below a list of courses suited for athletes. You can complete these by attending tuition, by doing demonstrations or through Work&Study. You can also complete the basic work placement (15 op) using your sports career.

OTH8HH009 Kilpaurheilu ja työelämäosaaminen 5 op
SPO016AS3A Vastuullinen urheiluseuratoiminta ja urheilijan kehityspolut 5 op
ENT011AS2A Urheiluliiketoiminnan kansainvälistäminen 5 op
SPO004AS3A Osaamisen kehittämisen suunnittelu ja toteutus 5 op
SPO017AS3A Osaamisen kehittämisen suunnittelu ja oppivat yhteisöt urheilussa 5 op
SER029AS2A Asiantuntijaosaamisen kehittäminen 1 , 5 op
SER030AS2A Asiantuntijaosaamisen kehittäminen 2 , 5 op
SER029AS2AE Developing Professional Competencies 1 , 5 op
SER030AS2AE Developing Professional Competencies 2, 5 op
PHY003LI1A Tapahtumajärjestäminen 5 op
SER024AS2AE My Event Portfolio 5 op

We encourage you to apply for membership in your local sports academy. However, as a student athlete at Haaga-Helia, you can apply to become a member of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Sports Academy Urhea, regardless of which campus you are studying at.

Remember to update your study information if you have already been a member of the academy in your second year.