Below you will find information on Aalto University’s support for student-athletes. The support is contingent upon the student’s membership of Metropolitan Area Sports Academy Urhea. Urhea is an official elite sports academy approved by the Finnish Olympic Committee and works in close cooperation with the Finnish Olympic Committee and its unit for elite sports (huippu-urheiluyksikkö).
The audit team praised personalised study planning, flexible study paths and guidance related to a dual career
Elite athletes are offered the same support and guidance services as all the other Aalto students. The planning officers and coordinators of the student’s programme will help students to plan and schedule their studies and create a personal study plan.
Read more about support services for students
In addition, students who are part of Urhea are supported in combining competitive sport and studies by offering, where possible, flexible arrangements in courses when their competitive sporting career affects course completion. In practice, this may include flexibility in assignment deadlines and submission methods, exam formats, or alternative completion methods. If possible with respect to the learning outcomes, flexibility is also recommended regarding compulsory attendance when the student is at a training camp or travelling to a competition. Flexibility does not mean that the learning outcomes are negotiable, but that flexibility be applied especially to completion methods and schedules. You should discuss any special arrangements with the relevant teacher and contact the teacher well in advance of the course beginning if you know there is a need for flexibility in the course arrangements. In case of questions or problems, please contact the Urhea contact person of your school.
Each school has an Urhea contact person with whom you can discuss about combining sports and studies and hear about the services available for members of Urhea. You can also obtain a certificate of your Urhea membership from the contact person. The certificate serves as a recommendation for teachers to allow flexibility in studies if special arrangements are required due to your career in competitive sports. It can be of help when you contact and discuss with the teacher about arrangements.
Career in competitive sports is also taken into consideration if you need to apply for an extension to your right to study.
The School of Business allows students to delay their choice of major if they are unable to complete the first-year courses in the recommended time.
See below for more information about other support measures.
As an Urhea member, you are entitled to obtain a certificate of your Urhea membership. The certificate will serve as a recommendation for teachers to allow flexibility in studies if special arrangements are required due to your career in competetive sports. Submit the recommendation to your teacher, discuss and agree on any special arrangements well in advance of the course. You can ask for the certificate from the Urhea contact person of your school.
Students who are members of Urhea are offered two special courses, which can be included in the elective studies of the degree. You can complete the courses independently in your own time within a single academic year. For details on the course contents and assignments, see MyCourses. Only Urhea members can register for these courses.
Throughout the academic year, members of Urhea have a chance to meet with other elite athletes and get peer support. The events give students information concerning the current affairs of Urhea and Aalto and are organised around varying themes, such as communicating your competencies or making the transition to the world of work. The event attendees include a varying number of alumni and stakeholders as well as the Urhea contact persons of the schools.
The Urhea contact persons will email information about the meetings using the Aalto email addresses. Please contact the Urhea contact person of your school if you are not sure whether you are on the university list of Urhea members.
UniSport offers a training card free of charge for members of Urhea. For more information, please see .
Aalto University has had a partnership agreement with the Metropolitan Sports Academy Urhea since 2015. Through this agreement, Aalto University is committed to supporting the combination of students' competitive sports with their studies.
In practice, this support may include flexibility in assignment deadlines and submission methods, mandatory attendance, or exam formats, or alternative completion methods if the student is unable to complete the study module in the usual way due to competitive sports. The intended learning outcomes of the course unit should not be compromised, and the authority regarding flexibility always lies with the course's teacher-in-charge. If you wish, you can ask for a certificate of the student's Urhea membership from the student.
If necessary, you can contact your school's Urhea contact person for more information. To discuss practical examples of flexibile opportunities for athlete students, please contact Professor of Practice Sami Itani (sami.itani@aalto.fi).
is a foundation supporting the daily training of athletes, helping them to combine sports and education and bringing expert coaching services to the everyday life of athletes and their coaches. Its operations are intended for young athletes who aim for or have already attained the highest level of performance in their sport.
‘Finland and Aalto University had a great representation at the Winter Olympics again,’ says Professor of Practice Sami Itani
A speed skater's competitive career and studies can be combined with the support of the sports academy Urhea and the university
Sarah Asfar, who plays badminton at a competitive level, studies Energy and Mechanical Engineering at Aalto University. What particularly interests her about the field is its relevance to the future and the practical nature of the studies. The flexibility of the program has allowed Sarah to pursue elite sports and part-time work alongside her studies.
Tero Tiitu, three-time world floorball champion, shared his experiences of combining studies, competitive sport and working life
Eva Wahlström, an Aalto alum who has boxed for 25 years, shared her memories of the people and experiences that were ultimately more important to her than success and medals
As many as four Aalto University students competed in the Paris Olympics 26.7.–11.8.2024
This time, Aalto and Haaga-Helia's students with Urhea status met in a joint branding event
The Urhea meeting attracted 30 students to the network's autumn meeting
The skaters studying at different Aalto schools are Aalto’s Urhea athletes
Aalto University and Urhea have a partnership agreement. Whether your sport is basketball, synchronized skating, or something else, you get encouragement and support to combine practicing and studying
‘Aalto University has supported us in combining professional sports and studies in accordance with the principles of Urhea.’
