Jyväskylä is called “A small city with a big feel”, with approximately 160,000 inhabitants. The seventh largest city in Finland ranks among its most important in terms of education and growth. Every fourth person in Jyväskylä is a student and the adult population in the city. Development of technologies remains one of the city’s main contributions, especially in the area of nanotechnology, energy technology, and forest industry. Jyväskylä maintains one of the highest qualities of life in Finland by promoting energy efficiency, elimination of pollutants, and reduction of light pollution.  Local activities include: fishing all year round, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and many indoor sports.

• Alvar Aalto Museum
• City of Light tour of Jyväskylä
• Nyrölä rock planetarium
• Petäjävesi Old Church (UNESCO world heritage site)
• Oravivuori triangulation tower (UNESCO world heritage site)
• Lake Päijänne & Lake Jyväsjärvi
• Jyväskylä Arts Festival
• Craft Museum of Finland
• Rantaraitti (recreational and exercise venue)
• 188,000 lakes and 30,000 islands

University of Jyväskylä is one of the largest and most popular multidisciplinary universities in Finland. Its seven faculties are today hosting some 15,000 students from all over Finland and from nearly 100 countries around the world. Its core fields of research and education are:

• Basic natural phenomena
• The structure of matter
• Education
• Learning and teaching in the future
• Languages
• Culture and social change processes
• Physical activity and wellbeing
• Human technology

The University of Jyväskylä ranks among the top higher education insitutions in the world, having been established in 1934.  The university focuses on the seven faculty areas of education, humanities, information technology, mathematics and science, social sciences, sport and helath sciences, business and economics, and languages.  The University of Jyväskylä has a high faculty to student ratio which allows for a high level of interaction and quality education.  Its total enrollment includes 15,000 degree seeking students from over 100 countries around the world.

Students can study from various academic colleges at the university.  Some courses will require pre-requistes and pre-enrollment, which is a part of the application process.  All students need to take at least 30 credits in the ECTS system, in order to be considered full-time at UNI during the semester abroad. There is a winter school in January with Sport Sciences classes being offered.  UJ also hosts a summer school in May-June for 4 weeks that targets the areas of sport sciences, psychology, philosophy, arts, language, and cultural studies.  Many of the winter and summer schools offer activities including free cultural tours, getting to know Finnish life and society, excursions, and sports events.

Student housing in Jyväskylä is provided by KOAS (Student Housing Foundation of Central Finland) and Kortepohja Student Village. KOAS has internet, laundry rooms, saunas, and store rooms are available in the building. Kortepohja Student Village has a small shopping centre, party room to rent, piano room, and sports facilities. Student apartments are located within walking distance or a short bus ride away from campus. Students will be placed in furnished single bedrooms with shared bathroom and kitchen.

The University of Jyväskylä welcomes students to participate in the International Summer School. They offer a variety of courses during the program. Students can do one course per week and can choose to do the full four weeks of summer school or just parts of it.