The University of Kuopio has an international reputation in the fields of health, environment and well-being, with particular strengths in biotechnology, biosciences and molecular medicine. The University's latest fields of expertise are business administration and technology education. The University's Foundation Act was passed in 1966, and teaching started in 1972. Today the University has 6,135 students of which 968 are postgraduate students. Annually 1,000 new students start their studies. The University of Kuopio offers more than 140 learning pathways.

The University boasts several world class research units, for example in the fields of diabetes, atherosclerosis and climate change research. The degree programme in medicine was designated one of the high quality units of Finnish university education for the period 2004 – 2006. The University of Kuopio is also the most prolific postgraduate research training centre in Finland. For more information, please visit the official site of the university http://www.uku.fi/english/.