2,300 graduates celebrated at Metropolia’s spring 2026 graduation ceremonies

At Metropolia’s spring 2026 graduation ceremonies, we celebrate approximately 2,300 graduating students from the fields of culture, business, social services and health care, as well as technology.

Of those graduating, over 1,800 have completed a lower university degree and nearly 500 have completed a higher university degree. The figures for graduates are preliminary and will continue to be updated until August.

Graduation ceremonies are celebrated together with graduating students and their loved ones on Metropolia’s campuses on four different days.

Graduation ceremonies have been held at the turn of May and June on the Myllypuro, Myyrmäki and Arabia campuses.

Nursing graduate Ruyao Tian learned Finnish as part of his studies

Ruyao Tian, who graduated from Metropolia as a nurse, began his studies at Metropolia with hardly any knowledge of the Finnish language. Now, at graduation, he works as a registered nurse and uses Finnish in the nursing field. Tian completed his nursing degree in a bilingual degree programme: TOKAKO is an educational model in which students study the Finnish language as an integral part of their degree.

“At the beginning of my studies, I was uncertain about whether I could cope with working life in Finland, especially with the language barrier. Looking back, I am surprised by the progress I have made during my studies both in the language and nursing education,” Tian says.

Tian says he completed his clinical practices entirely in Finnish. He received significant help and support in learning the language from his classmates and teachers. His studies provided a lot of Finnish learning support, ranging from extra Finnish classes focused in the nursing field to workshops organized by the language teacher.

“I would definitely recommend this program for students who want to settle and deeply integrate into the Finnish nursing field. I think the bilingual studies made it easier for students to navigate into Finnish job market with the language support,” Tian says.

Tian says that during his studies he also acquired other skills such as good communication and teamwork. He learned to work with professionals from different fields to provide good, evidence-based patient care.

Next, Tian plans to continue working as a nurse and explore different fields of nursing in the future.

“I am happy and excited about graduation, which marks another stage of my life and career. At Metropolia, I have broadened my horizons, gained friends, and experienced different cultures. To those now starting their studies, I would like to say: keep focused and try to optimize the resources and platform the school has provided. Stay focused, and keep a well-balanced study,” Tian says.

The Metropolia Foundation awarded scholarships to graduates

At the spring 2026 graduation ceremony, it was once again a pleasure to award a total of 27,800 euros in recognition and named scholarships from the Metropolia Foundation to students for good academic performance and distinguished theses.

For example, in the real estate and construction sector, seven Juho Vainion terveellinen rakentaminen scholarships and one Kiinko scholarship were awarded, totalling 7,500 euros. The 1,000-euro Risto Mäenpää scholarship was awarded to a student specialising in lighting design. Two students received the logistics-sector Reijo Rautauoma scholarship. For graduates in automotive and vehicle technology, three Henry Ford scholarships and one Katsastustoiminnan tuki scholarship were awarded, totalling 2,000 euros. A new scholarship, the 500-euro Electric vehicle engineering recognition, was awarded for the first time. The Elomatic named scholarship was awarded to four students. Keski-Helsingin yrittäjät awarded two encouragement scholarships in the cultural sector for the 15th time, and the Ranta-Meyer-Rautavaara scholarship was awarded for the sixth time to a graduating classical singing student with outstanding merits. 

Named scholarships in the social services and health care sector have also multiplied in recent years. Based on distinguished theses, 11 social services students were awarded the 500-euro Pro Humanitate scholarship, eight professori Henry Bardy scholarships, four Terveystalo scholarships and one Best midwife scholarship.

There are still many young students at Metropolia who would deserve recognition but whose field of study does not yet have a fund or targeted donated funds within the foundation. Even a small donation to the scholarship fund is a significant gesture and motivates graduates at the threshold of entering working life. 

Metropolia warmly congratulates all graduates and scholarship recipients! 

Spring 2026 scholarship recipients:

• Elomatic-stipendi: Marika Erkkilä, Antti Hiltunen, Mari Ovaska, Tommi Toikkanen
• Helsingin autoteknillisen yhdistyksen kannustusstipendi: Jesse Pirinen, Teemu Keränen, Eman Rasul, Fia Kaila 
• Henry Fordin säätiön stipendi: Pyry Jylhä, Vilma Koponen, Eetu Perttunen 
• Idän Kehräämön tunnustusstipendi: Jenna Savander
• Juho Vainion Terveellinen rakennus -stipendi: Julius Hytti, Joonas Jokitalo, Maria Kammonen, Anna Kabanova, Petri Kulmala, Lauri Lempinen, Valeria Terestsuk
• Katsastustoiminnan tuen nimikkostipendi: Topi Savinainen
• Keski-Helsingin yrittäjien kannustusstipendi: Emma Porthan, Nora Salonen
• Kiinko-stipendi: Siiri Moilanen
• Median, muotoilun ja konservoinnin valmistumisstipendi: Aaro Hakala, Jenni Hätönen, Jannika Kaatrakoski, Tiia Koivula, Riika Pieniaho, Ella Räntilä, Karita Selonen, Anna Terävä, Aaron Vuorilehto
• Metropolia-säätiön tekniikan valmistumisstipendit: Joni Kallio, Anton Kelo, Riku-Sakari Kujanen, Sami Kunnari, Katariina Luukko, Melika Mohammadhadi, Tero Nikkola, Anthony Rautavaara, Mikko Sarajärvi, Tea Sjövall, Kasper Tamm, Kirill Tcvetkov, Janina Torppa, Ada Varstala
• Musiikin ja kulttuuripalvelujen valmistumisstipendit: Eemeli Auvinen, Emma Heikkinen, Rebekka Holi, Riikka Jaakkola, Ilkka Miettinen, Johanna Ojapelto, Tiitus Ylipää, Minka Yltävä
• Paras kätilö -stipendi: Jemina Lyytikäinen
• Pro Humanitate -stipendi: Veera Aho, Hilla Auvinen, Selma Dahhouki, Essi Heinström, Liisa Helén, Eeva Huges, Anna Kallas, Riina-Kaisa Korteniemi, Merja Lähteenvalo Cesena, Anne-Mari Rantavuori, Tiia Tuominen
• Professori Henri Bardyn nimikkostipendi: Pham Dung, Milla Elo, Janette Haimila, Tatu Huttunen, Aino Kari, Aino Kuivila, Milla Kujala, Sini Laaksonen, Joona Laitala, Niko Manikas, Camilla Martikainen, Timi Mäkelä, Roosa Niemenlinna, Hanna-Riitta Nyyssönen, Maarit Pelkonen, Malithya Ramiyah Thyagarajan,  Nea Salin, Santeri Sihvo, Vu Trung, Niina Vainio
• Ranta-Meyer-Rautavaaran klassisen laulun stipendi: Eppu Mäkelä
• Reijo Rautauoman säätiön nimikkostipendi: Keijo Klenberg, Lauri Lehtinen
• Risto Mäenpään säätiön nimikkostipendi: Ninni Pennanen 
• Sairaanhoidon tunnustusstipendi: Jenni Niemenlinna
• Seppo Liukon rahasto stipendi á 500 euroa: Mecedes Milanto
• Sähköisen ajoneuvotekniikan kannustusstipendi: Tytti Pöllänen
• Terveystalon kannustusstipendi: Alisa Halford, Jasmin Hynninen, Marianne Lohman, Ninni Tornaeus

Further information about the Metropolia Foundation can be found on our website.