Interior view of Hive Helsinki, a modern open-plan office or coworking space. Rows of light-colored desks with green legs are equipped with Apple iMac computers. A person is seated and working at a desk on the left, while another person walks in the aisle towards the right. The space features exposed industrial ceilings, bright lighting, and a decorative neon hand sign on a pink textured wall.

A DIFFERENT WAY TO LEARN

Hive Helsinki is a software engineering program where you learn the profession by practicing it. Full-time, on-site, 18 months. No teachers, no tuition.

Studying at Hive is free. The estimated value of the studies is 10 000€, and students may be eligible for financial support through Kela. The program runs in English. To apply, you need to be at least 18 and either an EU citizen or hold a residence permit that allows you to study in Finland.

Illustration of two people discussing and a thought bubble with a light bulb in it, indicating peer-to-peer learning

LEARN FROM EACH OTHER

THERE ARE NO TEACHERS. STUDENTS LEARN FROM AND WITH EACH OTHER.

You seek and share knowledge with the people around you, review each other’s work, and solve problems together. Every project goes through peer review, at least 50 of them by graduation. You develop the teamwork and communication skills that matter as much as the technical ones.

Isometric illustration of a desktop computer with a monitor showing a circular multicolored diagram of connected nodes (yellow, red and gray segments with colored dots) and a keyboard placed in front on a black background.

Project-based learning

LIKE ANY CRAFT, YOU LEARN IT BY DOING.

Every project starts with a problem to solve. The brief defines the constraints, not the solution: you decide what to build and how to build it, then defend those decisions in review. You learn to look for the theory and tools you need. Ultimately, you learn how to learn.

Illustration of an entrance door with with a sign saying 24/7 above it, to indicate that the campus is always open

Open 24/7

THE STUDIES ARE ON-SITE, AND THE CAMPUS IS ALWAYS OPEN.

Learning at Hive happens on campus, with the people around you. Being present is part of the deal. In return, the doors never close: you work when you’re most productive, whether that’s morning or midnight.

Flexible timeframe

Hive does not offer schedules or timetables.

You get milestones and recommended deadlines, but your hours are your own, and so is your progress. Nobody chases you. Plan for 30 to 40 hours a week; the studies take about 18 months. Some move faster, some slower, and no two paths are the same.

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MORE THAN THE CURRICULUM

HACKATHONS, WORKSHOPS, AND INDUSTRY EVENTS, ALL ON CAMPUS.

Alongside the projects, the campus runs hackathons, workshops, and visits from people working in the industry. New tools show up here first, and so do the people you might work with later.

Illustration of two hands shaking, indicating that Hive will make you ready for work

Get ready for work

TRAIN THE SKILLS THE PROFESSION ACTUALLY RUNS ON.

Hive prepares you for the needs of both leading tech companies and start-ups. Hivers have been hired by 200+ companies across Finland, including Supercell, Nokia, and Wolt. Some have founded their own.

Three tracks, one program

Three things happen in parallel during your 18 months at Hive.

1. THE CORE CURRICULUM

The project-based studies that train software engineering thinking. Built on the principle that technologies change but engineering doesn’t. AI is a tool you use in this work, not the subject of it.

2. THE LIVE EVENTS TRACK

Workshops, hackathons, and keynotes bring the latest tools and industry trends to campus, including AI. This is where the conversation about new tools happens.

3. THE MENTORING TRACK

Toward the end of your studies, you can work with a mentor from the industry. It’s open to everyone who wants it, and mentors bring the current reality of how software teams actually work today.

The journey at Hive Helsinki

From your application to your first role.

Illustrated treasure map with stops on the way, indicating the gamified experience in Hive Helsinki

1. apply

Register on the application portal, pass the online logic game, and join a Check-in event on campus. From there, you’re eligible to sign up for a Selection Sprint.

An illustration depicting a diverse group of ten individuals in various poses and attire, suggesting an open and interactive community. Some are walking, others are conversing, and one person is holding a tablet. The group includes people with different hairstyles and clothing styles, creating a sense of dynamic interaction.

2. selection sprint

Three weeks on campus, full-time. You’ll work the way Hivers do: projects, peer review, no teachers. There’s no quota: everyone who shows they’re a good fit gets in. Historically, that’s been around a third of those who complete the Sprint. Sprint spots are limited and fill up fast, so plan ahead.

3. STUDIES

If you’re offered a place, you’ll spend eighteen months on campus full-time, building real software with your cohort. The projects get harder. You’ll choose where to go deeper along the way.

Illustration showing steps leading to a final goal, representing the learning journey at Hive

new career

Graduate ready to apply for junior software engineering roles, or start building your own products. Either way, you’ll have the habits to keep learning long after Hive.

An illustration depicting three potted plants of different shapes and sizes on the left, symbolizing individualized growth or learning paths. On the right, three people are looking at the plants, as if contemplating choices or development. One person wears a pink hoodie and shorts, another an orange long-sleeved shirt, and the third a blue denim jacket.

Create your own path

Everyone starts with programming fundamentals in Go. From there you widen into full-stack application development, then go deeper in the areas that interest you most. The studies take about 18 months, and no two paths through them look the same.

See the curriculum