What is Hive Helsinki
Hive Helsinki is an 18-month, full-time, on-site tech program. There are no teachers, tutors, or courses. You build products, review each other’s work, and figure things out.
The skills you build go beyond tech: problem-solving, ownership, and the ability to keep learning.
Who is it for
Hive Helsinki is for people who want to solve problems, build, and work with others. Your past doesn’t matter to us: you don’t need any previous degrees or a tech background.
What matters is the drive to commit full-time and learn by doing.
AI at Hive Helsinki
AI is changing how software gets built. Hivers use it to buil faster and better, but not to replace thinking.
The software engineers who use AI well are the ones who understand systems, reason through problems, and know what they’re building and why. That’s what you’re set out to learn at Hive.
“Coding is evolving due to AI, and that’s a good thing.
Software engineering has shifted from typing code to understanding systems, users, and business. The engineers who thrive are those who can see the big picture and still build real solutions.
But you can’t learn the big picture from theory. You learn it by getting your hands dirty in practice. The only way to become a senior software engineer is to start as a junior builder, write code and build applications yourself.”
Marko Aalto
VP, Data & AI
Reaktor
transformations
Hivers go on to work as Software Developers, Full-Stack Engineers, Data Scientists, Game Programmers, DevOps Engineers, among others. Some start their own startup.
Hivers work at more than 200 companies
From the industry
Being involved in Hive from the beginning, I knew the learning model worked. Seeing Hive students later at Supercell confirmed it.
They approach problems proactively and take responsibility instead of waiting for instructions. That mindset translates directly into real team work.
It’s really difficult for people in general to adapt to new situations, environments and ways of working. Hivers genuinely excel at this.
Drussila Hollanda
Head of New Games
Supercell
As tech changes, the expectations for developers change too.
Strong technical skills remain essential, but they are increasingly the baseline. What differentiates engineers today are the skills beyond tech: critical thinking, ownership, collaboration.
For me, Hive graduates stand out because they are self-starters who demonstrate end-to-end ownership. This means they understand the briefing, take full ownership, and actually finish what they started.
Tomi Tuominen
Cybersecurity Expert
Gentleman Hacker (Herrasmieshakkerit)
The journey at Hive Helsinki
From your application to your first role, this is the journey at Hive. The campus is open 24/7. You plan your hours, but you show up.
apply
Register, try the online game, and attend a check-in event.
selection sprint
Build with tech for three weeks on the Hive campus, full-time. Work together with others.
Selected applicants are offered a spot in the studies.
STUDIES
Build software and products with others for 18 months, on-site, full-time.
graduate
Get the skills and the networks to apply for tech roles or start building something of your own.
Life at Hive Helsinki
Life at Hive is about learning together, supporting each other, and showing up every day to build something real.
Key Partners
Hive Helsinki is made possible by the long-term support of Supercell and OP Pohjola, who fund the core operations of the program.
Is Hive right for you?
Hive is not a casual course or a side project. It’s a full-time, on-site program built for people ready to commit and learn by doing. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
The commitment
- Full-time, on-site studies (on average 18 months)
- No teachers, lectures, or workbooks
- Learn with others, project-based learning
- You own your schedule, your progress, and your results
Who can apply
- No previous education or coding experience required
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must have a Finnish citizenship, EU citizenship, or a valid Finnish residency permit
Cost & support
- The studies are free of charge
- Hive students are eligible to apply for Kela student financial aid and student loan
Outcomes
- A portfolio of real projects you built yourself
- Readiness to work in teams or build your own startup
- The ability to keep learning independently as tools and stacks change
- Access to a wide alumni network and industry connections in Finland
If this sounds like the kind of challenge you’re looking for, the next step is simple.
Is Hive right for you?
Hive is not a casual course or a side project. It’s a full-time, on-site program built for people ready to commit and learn by doing. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
The commitment
- Full-time, on-site studies (on average 18 months)
- No teachers, lectures, or workbooks
- Learn with others, project-based learning
- You own your schedule, your progress, and your results
Who can apply
- No previous education or coding experience required
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You must have a Finnish citizenship, EU citizenship, or a valid Finnish residency permit
Cost & support
- The studies are free of charge
- Hive students are eligible to apply for Kela student financial aid and student loan
Outcomes
- A portfolio of real projects you built yourself
- Readiness to work in teams or build your own startup
- The ability to keep learning independently as tools and stacks change
- Access to a wide alumni network and industry connections in Finland
If this sounds like the kind of challenge you’re looking for, the next step is simple.