The Centre for Language and Communication Studies (CeLCS) at The University of Turku offers Finnish as a foreign language studies from beginner's level (A1) to advanced (B1) and is aimed at the university's degree, exchange and postgraduate students and the staff of the university.
The Finnish language belongs to the Finno-Ugric group of languages and is spoken by 4.9 million people as their mother tongue and by about half a million as a second language. Finnish is often considered a difficult language, but it is important to remember that it is very different from, for example, many Indo-European languages. Studying the Finnish language in Finland is a natural and interesting way to get to know not only the language but also Finnish culture and Finnishness.
The main goal of the study is to give the student the ability from the beginning to survive in Finnish society and use the language in various communication situations. An important goal is to encourage students to communicate with people in Finnish and help them understand what is happening in the surrounding society. For those living in Finland for a longer period of time, language skills are very important both for working life and helping integration into society.
Finnish language courses are offered as contact and remote teaching and as independent online courses. From the very beginning, classwork aims at interactive learning by doing a lot of pair and group work. Different teaching methods and learning environments are used in a variety of ways. The central goal of teaching in all courses is learner-centeredness and functionality.
Students can achieve basic language skills by attending our Finnish courses in about two years. In addition to acquiring basic language skills, students can develop their language skills through complementary courses. Using the language proficiency levels of the European Framework of Reference (CEFR), students passing the courses at the Centre for Language and Communication Studies can reach level A2-B1. After these courses, the student can continue their studies in the Finnish Language and Culture program at the Faculty of Humanities.
Welcome to study Finnish!
Courses Offered
Let's Start! Introduction to Finnish Studies, 1 ECTS, A1
An independent online course that prepares students to the Finnish studies.
Finnish Survival Course for Exchange Students, 2 ECTS, A1
A short course for the exchange students of the University of Turku. The goal is to give basic knowledge to cope in everyday situations.
No previous studies in Finnish are required.
Requires course Finnish 1 or equivalent knowledge.
Requires courses Finnish 1 and Finnish 2 or equivalent knowledge.
Requires course Finnish 3 or equivalent knowledge.
Requires at least course Finnish 4 or equivalent knowledge.
Requires at least course Finnish 4 or equivalent knowledge.
Finnish 1, 4 ECTS, A1 (available spring 2025)
Finnish Pass, 1 ECTS, A1-A2, (available spring 2025)
In the Language Tandem studies the student works in pairs with a native speaker of the target language. One of the two target languages is always Finnish. The tandem pair meets weekly and discuss using equally both the target and native language. During the Language Tandem the students write a learning diary (or a blog), which they submit to the teacher in charge in the end.
The Finnish as a Foreign Language study module includes a minimum of 20 credits of courses defined by the Centre for Language and Communication Studies (CeLCS) of University of Turku. At least 15 credits must be completed at the CeLCS. Additionally, the study module may include courses completed elsewhere and they must be accepted by the CeLCS.
The study module must include at least two courses at the A2–B1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Finnish as a Foreign Language Study Module (20 ECTS), 2024-2027
Contact information
- E-mail: finnishkievi@utu.fi
Visiting Address
Agora, 2nd floor
Vesilinnantie 5
20500 TURKU
Postal Address
Centre for Language and Communication Studies
University of Turku
Agora
FI-20014 TURKU
Finland