Welcome to good company!
The Turku Finnish University Society supports the science and research conducted at the University of Turku by granting scholarships to degree students and dissertation awards to researchers. In addition, the events organised by the University Society offer an opportunity to learn more about the University of Turku and the work of its scientists and scholars.
You can keep up with the activities of the Turku Finnish University Society on social media (Facebook and Twitter) or by subscribing to our newsletter. The members also receive the University’s Aurora magazine twice a year.
Support the students of the University of Turku and become a member! The membership is only €25 per year.
Join the University Society (link coming soon)
Why was the Turku Finnish University Society established?
The Turku Finnish University Society was established in 1917 to organise the fund-raising for founding a Finnish-language university in Turku. Hundreds of volunteers travelled around the country collecting donations from private citizens. In the end, there were altogether 22,040 donors – farmers, officials, teachers, artists, scientists – whose support enabled the founding of the University of Turku in 1920. To this day, the University’s motto “From a free people to free science”, displayed in Finnish on the wall of the Main Building, reminds us of this great effort.
The University Society manages four foundations: the Valto Takala Foundation, Hilja and Toivo Piintilä Foundation, Mirjam Vähä-Kirvelä Foundation and the Turku Finnish University Society Foundation, which is funded by the University of Turku. The Society grants scholarships for gifted degree students of the University of Turku who are close to completing their studies and awards new, gifted doctors.
