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General information The National Defence University is divided into divisions, departments and other administrative units. The university is led by a rector. The university has an under-graduate, graduate and post-graduate degree division. As well...

Contact Information The facilities for the National Defense Courses are located in Kruununhaka, Helsinki. Address: Maneesikatu 6 (P.O. Box 266), 00171 Helsinki Course Leadership Director: Colonel Jussi Kosonen Deputy Director: Lieutenant Colonel O...

Information Resilience in a Complex Environment Combating and detecting disinformation as a part of information resilience How do authorities make decisions and communicate in situations where information is limited, disinformation spreads and act...

Contact information Seminar preparations: Pentti Forsström, Lieutenant Colonel (ret.), Senior Researcher [email protected] / +358 299 530 511 Sanna Keränen, Seminar Coordinator [email protected] / +358 299 530 902 Seminar communications: Juho Auti...

Library The National Defence University (NDU) library supports studies and research at the university, while promoting access to resources and information. Please note that currently the library is not open for civilians. Library has an extensive ...

Studying at the National Defence University The National Defence University offers university classes to approximately 900 people annually and continuing training to approximately 1,000 people. This page brings together general information useful ...

Open science The National Defence University participates in advancing open science within the Finnish research community. The university has signed the Declaration for Open Science and Research . The declaration states that science and research r...

Russia Seminar 2026 The Finnish National Defence University will host the eight annual Russia Seminar on 11-12 February 2026 in Helsinki (Santahamina), Finland. The aim of this international seminar is to promote discussion on the Russian war agai...

MAPS1 research project looks into defence-related knowledge How and with what kind of information do citizens form their views and opinions on national defence? In the MAPS1 research project in Military Sociology, we study this by looking into int...

Impact of teaching Impact of research Responsibility and interaction Responsibility is a cornerstone of the operation of the National Defence University, and sustainable development, equality and non-discrimination are at the core of it. With its ...

3.6.2026 | The Finnish National Defence University (FNDU) will organise the 9th annual Russia Seminar on 17-18 February 2027 in Helsinki (Santahamina), Finland. The title of the seminar is: Russia’s Preparations and Development for War.

Department of Military Technology: Professors and Assistant Professors Professors Professor Kimmo Halunen, DSc (Tech.) Field of appointment: Cyber security Teaching and research Teaching in the NDU: Cyber security in Bachelor, Master and advanced ...

Practical information for requesting a visit to the National Defence University.

Military Museum The Military Museum offers its expertise and services on military history to the public, the Finnish Defence Forces, other authorities as well as researchers. Over 100,00 people visit the Military Museum's exhibitions every year. I...

Department of Warfare: Professors and Assistant Professors Professors Professor Petteri Jouko, PhD, Colonel (ret.) Field of appointment: Military history Teaching and research Military history during the Cold War, history of operational art and ta...

Publications The National Defence University publishes a wide range of scientific research across various publication series. Through our publication series, you can quickly access the latest research findings that meet comparable quality standard...

Professors and Assistant Professors Professors of the National Defence University (NDU) lead research in the chair they are holding and are in charge of implementing teaching together with other instructors in their departments. The National Defen...

Contact info NDU main campus is on Santahamina island, Helsinki. Postal address: National Defence University P.O. Box 7 FI-00861 Helsinki Finland Tel. +358 299 800 (operator) Official emails: kirjaamo.mpkk (at) mil.fi Information: maanpuolustuskor...

Finnish National Defense Courses Finnish national defence courses (NDC) aim to enhance comprehensive security by educating highly influential individuals on societal preparedness and crisis management. Read more Finnish National Defense Courses Pa...

Research Projects The National Defence University’s research activities support military defence and overall comprehensive security. The National Defence University is a higher education institution recognized for its military expertise, where res...

Would you like to request an expert from the Finnish National Defence University to speak at your company’s or organization’s event?

Department of Warfare The Department of Warfare is responsible for teaching military theory as a major. The teaching groups carry out the teaching of military theory as a unit consisting of operational art and tactics, strategy and military histor...

Speakers and moderators Moderator: Simo Pesu (FNDU) Lt. Col. Simo Pesu is the head of the Russia Group and a senior researcher at the National Defence University. He earned the General Staff Officer’s Degree in 2004 and has served as a commissione...

#Agents - Young People's Agency in Social Media Dark side of social media - Perspective of comprehensive security How are young people equipped to recognise risks of informational influence and to protect themselves from them? How does social medi...

Impact of teaching Impact of research Sustainability and interaction Responsibility is a cornerstone of the operation of the National Defence University, and, among other things, sustainable development, equality and non-discrimination are at the ...

Our Main Functions The main functions of the National Defence University are research , education and societal impact . The main functions have strategic objectives and goals, that have been created based on our mission, vision and central princip...

Finnish National Defense Courses Finnish national defence courses (NDC) aim to enhance comprehensive security by educating highly influential individuals on societal preparedness and crisis management. Fostering cooperation among various sectors i...

Seminar recordings and podcast episodes Below you will find recordings from previous years’ Russia Seminars and podcast episodes that provide background information on the topic. Recordings Russia Seminar 2026: Russia’s War against Ukraine – Russi...

Research fields You can find information about the National Defence University’s research fields on this website. The military science research conducted in the university is divided into eight different areas: • Operational Art and Tactics • Mili...

Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy: Professors and Assistant Professors Professors Professor Heikki Kyröläinen, DSportSc, FACSM Field of appointment: Biology of sport, a soldier’s physical performance Teaching and research A soldier’s ...

TAHTO2 Research Project From the willingness to defend Finland to how citizens relate to national defence. This research project examines dimensions of how citizens relate to national defence. Citizenship and relations between the State, citizens ...

27.5.2026 | The fourth annual NATO Senior Leader Seminar (SLS) took place in Brussels from 14–16 April 2026, bringing together senior military and civilian leaders from across the Alliance. Building on the foundations laid in previous years, the seminar focused on adapting NATO’s Comprehensive Approach (CA) and Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) to the evolving security landscape, with particular emphasis on the challenges posed by developments in Europe and the Middle East.

Finnish Defence Studies Finnish Defence Studies is a peer-reviewed publication series under the auspices of the Finnish National Defence University. Its goal is to publish high-quality research within military sciences that is of interest for inte...

10.3.2026 | The National Defence University and the Finnish Society of Military Sciences will organise a Seminar of Military Sciences on 4-5 November 2026. The theme of the seminar this year is The world order is undergoing change - what should be the focus of the military sciences right now? This is an opening of discussion on topical military scientific and closely related phenomena and themes from the perspectives of research, teaching and working as an officer.

23.3.2026 | "Studying tactics" is a clear, instruction-oriented textbook with direct connections to the research process. The textbook is designed to support the teaching of operational art and tactics research, as well as the writing of a thesis.

30.1.2026 | The National Defence University will organize the 8th Russia Seminar in Santahamina on 11–12 February 2026. The theme of the seminar this year is "Russia's War against Ukraine – Russia's Future Military Development".

7.11.2025 | The majority of research on the People’s Liberation Army is conducted in the United States and, so far, the European perspective has not attracted a great deal of attention. Europe, in fact, has a growing need to strengthen its own research networks, so that the effects of China’s military progress would be better understood. The seminar China's Military Modernization and Growing Capabilities in ...

26.8.2025 | The 109th Cadet Course and the 92st Midshipman Course graduate from the Bachelor of Military Sciences programme on 29 August 2025. The Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb will promote the 173 graduates to the rank of Lieutenant in the Presidential Palace's Hall of State. The graduation day with its traditional ceremonies will be a memorable event for the young officers.

19.9.2025 | The Finnish National Defence University (FNDU) will organise the 8th annual Russia Seminar on 11–12 February 2026 in Helsinki (Santahamina), Finland. The purpose of the Russia Seminar is to increase discussion on the Russian war against Ukraine and produce new knowledge related to the war and warfare.

11.8.2025 | The National Defence University will organize the third doctoral conferment ceremony in its history in Helsinki on 18-20 September. The event will celebrate the doctors and honorary doctors of military sciences to be conferred, as well as Finnish research in military sciences.

25.6.2025 | At the beginning of June, the Finnish Defence Language Centre / Finnish National Defence University has assumed the chairmanship of the NATO Bureau for International Language Co-ordination (BILC) for the three-year period 2025-2028. The organization is chaired by the Head of the Language Training Branch of the Defence Language Centre, M.Soc.Sc. Laura Murto.

9.6.2025 | Becoming more international is a cross-cutting theme in the new strategy period of the National Defence University. In practise, the goal will materialize as a growing number of researcher, teacher and student exchanges with international military institutes. However, the core task of the university will remain the same. We will continue to conduct high-quality research in war sciences and prod...

15.5.2026 | Försvarsmakten förstärkte omedelbart sin egen övervaknings- och avvärjningskapacitet efter att tidigt på morgonen fredagen den 15 maj 2026 ha fått information om att drönare möjligen kunde avvika till Finland.

3.10.2025 | The third National Defence University conferment ceremony was held in Helsinki between 18 and 20 September 2025. At the conferment ceremony, 23 doctors of military sciences graduating after 2018 and 5 Honorary Doctors were conferred. Conferment grants them the right to use the doctoral hat and sword.

15.7.2025 | Swiss Mannerheim Fellow, Major Robin Gubler, visited Finland for three weeks at the turn of May and June. The purpose of the visit was to familiarize himself with Finland and the Finnish Defence Forces. The visit was part of the Mannerheim Fellowship Programme between the Finnish and Swiss Armed Forces. The fellowship programme began in 1949, offering Finnish officers the opportunity to spend ab...

18.9.2025 | RUSSIA SEMINAR 2026 ABSTRACT Descriptive title of the presentation and article: Short biography(-ies) and current affiliation(s) of the speaker candidate(s) 1. Surname Given names 2. Surname Given names Title/Education: Affiliation (s): Biography:...

29.1.2025 | Over the two decades, the Foundation of the Confederation of Finnish Industries and Employers (TT) has distributed funding totalling approximately 95 million euros. On its anniversary, the foundation decided to grant 600,000 euros to the National Defence University for the new professorship in Geo-economics.

26.8.2024 | The 108th Cadet Course and the 91st Midshipman Course graduate from the Bachelor of Military Sciences programme on 30 August 2024. The Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb will promote the 164 graduates to the rank of Lieutenant in the Presidential Palace's Hall of State. The graduation day with its traditional ceremonies will be a memorable event for the young officers.

Tiedon huoltovarmuus kompleksisessa ympäristössä Disinformaation havaitseminen ja vastatoimet osana tiedon huoltovarmuutta Miten viranomaiset jakavat, levittävät ja päivittävät tilannetietoisuuttaan disinformaatiosta ja vajaasta tiedosta aikakriit...

Donationer till Försvarshögskolan Donationer till Försvarshögskolan kan göras av företag, samfund och privatpersoner. Vi använder donationer ansvars- och verkningsfullt i enlighet med de etiska principerna för medelanskaffning vid Försvarshögskola...

Förvarskursens genomförande Under förvarskurserna bekantar sig deltagarna med de olika områdena övergripande säkerhet genom föreläsningar, besök och uppgifter. Utöver föreläsningar av sakkunniga och grupparbeten innehåller läroplanen för de nation...

Undervisningens effekt Forskningens effekt Valitse kieli Suomi Välj språket Svenska Select language English Ansvarsfullhet och växelverkan Ansvarsfullhet är hörnstenen i Försvarshögskolans verksamhet och i dess kärna finns hållbar utveckling, jäms...

Öppen vetenskap vid Försvarshögskolan Försvarshögskolan är med i arbetet att befrämja den öppna vetenskapen inom det finländska vetenskapssamfundet. Försvarshögskolan har undertecknat Deklarationen för öppen forskning och vetenskap . I samfundets ...

19.4.2023 | If you are late, you are Beyond help: Disinformation and Authorities in Social Media Milla Alaraatikka, Pekka Koistinen, Miina Kaarkoski, Aki-Mauri Huhtinen and Teija Sederholm Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence Unive...

19.4.2023 | Public Authorities as a Target of Disinformation Pekka Koistinen, Milla Alaraatikka, Teija Sederholm, Dominic Savolainen, Aki-Mauri Huhtinen and Miina Kaarkoski Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki,...

Institutionen för krigskonst Institutionen för krigskonst svarar för undervisningen i krigskonst som hör till huvudläroämnena vid Försvarshögskolan. Undervisningsgrupperna genomför undervisningen i krigskonst i form av en undervisningshelhet som u...

Studier Försvarshögskolan ordnar årligen examensundervisning på universitetsnivå för cirka 900 personer och fortbildning för cirka 1000 personer. Denna sida samlar allmän information som är nyttig för studerande vid Försvarshögskolan samt material...

Biblioteket Försvarshögskolans biblioteket PB 7 (Santahaminantie 2) 00861 HELSINGFORS --- Må 10.00-16.00 Ti 10.00-18.00 Ons-Fre 10.00-16.00 OBS! Försvarsmaktens inre säkerhetsnivå har höjts 15.2.2022 . Biblioteket är öppet endast för försvarsmakte...

Vill du bjuda in en sakkunnig från Försvarshögskolan till ett evenemang som arrangeras av ett företag, en förening eller någon annan organisation?

Interview requests, key figures and fact sheets.