The Briefing
- Heffring University is not a real university, according to Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture.
- The scam promotes paid bachelor’s and master’s programmes in Helsinki, with fees reportedly reaching €6,000 a year.
- Students are urged not to share personal or payment information before verifying that an institution is officially recognised.
A fake institution calling itself Heffring University has been marketing paid degree programmes in Finland, using polished websites, advertisements and social-media content to appear legitimate, reports Helsingin Sanomat.
The institution, which has advertised bachelor’s and master’s degree intakes as well as diploma programs and bogus campus events, does not exist as a recognised university in Finland.
Jussi Sallila, a government secretary at the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, confirmed to HS that Heffring University has no official standing.
After the news broke, The New Finland checked the website of the alleged university. The operation is designed to look like a real higher-education provider. It uses a logo similar to Harvard University’s and website elements that resembled those of the University of Helsinki. The website is still up, but its social media accounts appear to have been taken down.
A now-deactivated Instagram account featured bogus campus tours, libraries and teaching facilities, creating the impression of an established institution.
The advertisements offered degree programmes for fees of up to €6,000 per year. However, Heffring University has no legal authorisation or accreditation to provide higher education in Finland.
Heffring University has no legal authorisation or accreditation to provide higher education in Finland.
Finland has 35 officially recognised universities and universities of applied sciences. Prospective students are advised to confirm an institution’s status through official sources before applying, paying fees or sending documents.
In April of this year, the Study in Finland website, operated by the Finnish National Agency for Education, warned that higher education institutions such as Kestora University, Penkka University, and Heffring University do not legally exist or have authorization in Finland.
The National Cyber Security Centre and education authorities recommend particular caution when dealing with unfamiliar institutions online. Students should avoid providing passport copies, bank details, application fees or other personal information until they have verified that a university is legitimate and officially authorised.
All of Finland’s authorized universities are listed here.
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