UniOulu Kickstart to Finnish language and life
The UniOulu Kickstart offers you the opportunity to begin your studies in Oulu as early as August and start learning the Finnish language intensively before starting your other courses. In this intensive program, the course Survival & Beginners' Finnish 1 is condensed into a one-month intensive study, which would typically last an entire autumn semester. You will get to know both the University of Oulu and the city of Oulu, with many cultural events and activities taking place in August.
Acquiring the language at a faster pace makes it easier to adapt to life in Finland. During the lessons, we will also go out of the classroom and for example, go to a store or bake together, thus putting our learned vocabulary to use. By studying intensively in a close-knit group, you will get to know other students more easily. All this will make the orientation to your new study life smoother.
After this intensive course, you've finished beforehand the mandatory Finnish course in all the international degree programs and can continue to the Beginners' Finnish 2 course in September.
Please note that the UniOulu Kickstart course is available only to new degree students who will begin their studies in autumn 2026.
Registration to UniOulu Kickstart course 2026 is now open. The registration ends at 31st of May. We accept 50 students for the course. All the accepted students will be informed during the first of week June. Mini-get together before arrival via Zoom will be organized in July.
Note, that registrations are binding, so make sure you will have a valid residence permit (if applicable) and can arrive at Oulu by the beginning of August 2026. Kickstart is a full time intensive course, taking other courses at the same time is not possible. (If you have applied to another summer programme, remember that you can only attend one programme.) Participants are also responsible for organising their housing. See more information in the "Practical Issues" section below.
We reserve the right to changes.
Registration is now open until Sunday the 31st of May! Read the information on the registration form carefully before sending it. Remember to inform us if your situation changes at any point.
"Thanks to this course, I could start my university life smoothly and comfortably. I made friends, know bits of the Finnish language, familiar with campus before uni started."
“It really met my expectations, I got to learn a lot about Finnish culture, play fun games, meet new friends, and have so many great new experiences.”
"Best thing was the mix of free-time activities and learning the language, already took a lot of pressure off us comparing to the others that will just arrive in a week and would have to jump into their busy uni schedules!”
"Through this course, I learned the Finnish language and culture in advance. And I met many friends from different countries and study programs."
