The Helsinki Graduate School in Computer Science and Engineering is a post-graduate programme jointly offered by the University of Helsinki and Aalto University. Year 2011 was the 17th year that this school has been in operation. The focal areas are Algorithms, structures and complexity (algorithm design and mathematical methods, basic research and innovative methods for novel applications), Pattern Analysis and Intelligent Systems (methods for finding meaningful patterns from and modelling of large data sets, intelligent interfaces) and System Software (operating systems, database systems, middleware, and compilers).

Hecse offers these post-graduates various benefits, such as advanced courses, funding for participation in summer schools and conferences, research visits, and annual student meetings. In 2011, Hecse arranged among others a three-day COMP-IT Summer School jointly with the FICS and FIGS Doctoral Programmes as well as several specialized courses on focal areas. At the end of the year, there were 78 doctoral students in the school, 17 of which had funding from the school. Of these 78, 26 (33.3 %) were foreign students and 13 (16.7 %) were women. The Hecse post-graduates attended numerous international courses and conferences. During 2011, 10 Hecse research students defended their PhD theses.