Still wondering what to study?

This is what I would do if I were 20 years old today: I would enter an interdisciplinary study program. My favorite among the programs offered in Finland is the International Master’s Programme in Pharmacy  (officially “Master’s Programme in Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Safety”, abbreviated MPHARM) at the University of Helsinki. I give you 5 compelling reasons:

1. Versatility. Pharmacy is life science with a clear future application of your research results. But if you are more into basic research, that is also ok: there is still much to learn about fundamental processes in neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases, or cancer. If it’s your thing, you can also do hardcore organic chemistry: if you are good at it, you are much sought after by industry and academia alike. Computational modelling or AI? No problem, we have you covered! Interested in the economics of drug development or the societal dimension? Drugs do not exist in a vacuum, but their impact is hugely dependent on how they are used in the real world! Review article about the multi-facetted and interdisciplinary nature of modern pharmaceutical research  .
2. Flexibility. In the MPHARM program, we value independence and ingenuity. Your studies do not follow a cookie-cutter design. You are responsible for your success. Our study program tries to be as flexible as possible. While you can join a research group in our faculty, we not only allow but also encourage students to actively pursue possibilities at other faculties or companies. The same goes for courses. Yes, we do have a few obligatory studies, but you will be able to choose from a wide variety of courses from all faculties (and even other universities). Have a look at what courses we offer  .
3. Reality. Finland prepares you well for a scientific career. Any scientific career has its challenges, and we want you to be prepared for the future. Do not expect everything to be easy: Sometimes it takes a while to find a research topic that you are passionate about, but you will get our support when you need it. Many research groups in Finland face real-world constraints, and navigating austerity is a reality in academia, not only in Finland. While many students regard Finland as a jump-off point to “better” opportunities, even the ultimate scientific superpower, the USA, has clamped down on research funding, making it difficult to plan ahead in a political climate where the only constant is rapid change. With an MSc degree from the University of Helsinki, you have a realistic chance to join top PhD programs around the globe. And yes, quite a few of our graduates do continue on to a PhD in Finland. Despite all the positives, I have also been writing a blog post about why you might not want to choose Finland , and you might as well take a look!
4. Experiences. The University of Helsinki participates in the annual iGEM competition with a team of Master’s students, and students receive study credits for doing so. While the iGEM projects are not strictly about therapeutic approaches, the requirement to address a real-world problem aligns well with pharmaceutical synthetic biology projects. Since last year, the Aalto-Helsinki iGEM team has been hosted by the Faculty of Pharmacy. In 2025, four MPHARM students were part of the 13-strong team, achieving the best results ever by a Finnish team. Read more about this unique experience: https://www.aaltohelsinki.com/  !
5. Environment. You love nature, you love the winter, you love the solitude. Wherever you end up living in Helsinki, nature is just a few hundred meters away. Be aware that nature will be mostly dark, wet, and cold. Yes, there is the eternal midnight sun in summer that compensates for the 10 months of misery. Maybe it’s these contrasts that make you feel alive  .