Finnish as a second language

The courses are intended mainly for international students and staff at the University of Oulu.

Most international programmes include or will include mandatory Finnish courses on the level A1 to C2. You can start your Finnish studies from the very beginning or continue them on the level that you have earlier achieved. It is always good for your future to learn even more Finnish voluntarily.

Non-degree students can apply for contact learning Finnish courses, except the Survival Finnish Course and Beginners' Finnish Course 1. There are few places for them in each group. Please note that online courses are not available to non-degree students, except the courses of Working life Finnish in the Faculty of Humanities (see below). The Finnish courses are free of charge. NB: There are not any places left for spring term 2024.

Course descriptions, schedules and rooms of the courses and registration information are available in Peppi system and Tuudo application.

Registration for the autumn courses starts at the beginning of August and for the spring courses at the beginning of December, as follows:

• If you are an exchange, degree, or PhD student, use Peppi system or Tuudo application.
• If you are a member of the staff, use the staff training portal Osku.
• If you are not a member of the University, you can apply for a separate study right with the Application for non-degree studies, but for contact learning groups only. Please contact study.languages@oulu.fi to get more information how to apply.

Further information by emailing study.languages@oulu.fi and study.humanities@oulu.fi.

Arja Haapakoski, Contact teacher, Languages and Communication
arja.haapakoski(at)oulu.fi

Anne Koskela, Contact teacher, Faculty of Humanities
anne.koskela(at)oulu.fi

Are you about to graduate and would like to continue your Finnish studies? Please apply for a complementary study right when submitting your application for degree certificate through Peppi's Graduation service. Complementary study right cannot be applied later or anywhere else. Complementary study rights are a easy way for you to continue your studies, and they are free of charge.

Here you can find the instructions:

https://www.oulu.fi/en/for-students/study-right/complementary-study-right

Elementary level (A1)

• 900017Y Survival Finnish Course 2 ECTS (No places left)
• 900013Y Beginner's Finnish Course 1, 3 ECTS (No places left)
• 900053Y Beginner's Finnish Course 2, 5 ECTS (No places left)

Intermediate level (A2)

• 900015Y Intermediate Finnish Course 1, 5 ECTS (No places left)
• 900016Y Intermediate Finnish Course 2, 5 ECTS (No places left)
• YK00AI94 Intermediate Finnish Course 3, 5 ECTS (No places left)

Advanced level (B1–B2)

• YK00AJ82 Ready, Set, YKI! Prep course for national language test, 3 ECTS (No places left)
• 900027Y Special Course in Finnish: Writing Skills 3 ECTS
• 900054Y Conversational Skills in Finnish 3 ECTS
• 900065Y Finnish Language Workshop 2 ECTS
• 900022Y Finnish for Teaching 2 ECTS

Advanced level

Working life Finnish – Minor subject modules

Core Studies (B1–B2)

• HS00AG76 Knowledge of Language Structures 1, 5 ECTS
• HS00AG77 Language Training 1 Finnish Society and Work Communities, 2 ECTS
• HS00AG78 Language Training 2 Culture and Communication in Finnish, 2 ECTS
• HS00AG79 Language Training 3, Professional Expertise and Communication in Finnish, 2 ECTS
• HS00AG80 Language Training 4 Communication in Job Search, 2 ECTS
• HS00AG81 Getting to know Working Life – Orientation to Work-life in Finnish, 2 ECTS
• HS00AG82 Getting to know Working Life – Practical training, 5 ECTS
• Optional courses 5 ECTS (if you want to complete the entire core studies)

Intermediate Studies (B2–C1/C2)

• HS00AG71 Knowledge of Language Structures 2, 5 ECTS
• HS00AG72 Academic Writing and Reading (focus on your own field), 5 ECTS
• HS00AG73 Academic Speaking and Interaction Skills (focus on your own field), 5 ECTS
• HS00AG74 Advanced Practical Training, 5 ECTS
• Additional optional courses 10–15 ECTS (if you want to complete the entire intermediate studies)

• 903041Y Finnish-German tandem
• 904024Y Finnish-French tandem
• 905046Y Finnish-Japanese tandem
• 905014Y Tandem Finnish-Italian
• 900051Y Tandem Finnish - other language

Read more about Tandem-studies and Café Lingua.