Heikki Kirkinen (22 September 1927 in Kuusjärvi), is a professor in history at Joensuu University. He has been a visiting professor in the Finnish language, literature and culture at Sorbonne 1966–1970.
Kirkinen has written many books about the Carelian history and the Carelian identity. One of his main interests is music; he has studied musicology and even composed music.