Finnish for International Students

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By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.

Questions about Finnish studies? Contact us: suomenkurssit@helsinki.fi.

 

Finnish courses for degree and exchange students:

chart of the Finnish courses

Nice to know: See what our students can tell you about studying Finnish!

Finnish Courses for Exchange Students
Finnish Courses for Degree Students
Advanced Level Courses (B2-C2)
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about Finnish Language Courses
Study modules in the Finnish language

Finnish Courses for Exchange Students

Spring semester 2026

Finnish courses for exchange students are organized at two campuses: City Centre and Kumpula.

All courses require registration on Sisu system. Registration is open 25.11.2025 - 11.1.2026. If you miss the registration, you can ask the teacher of the group if there is space.

You should always start registration via your primary study plan on Sisu. NB. here you can find some additional instructions on how to register on the courses on Sisu!

  • SUO-113 Finnish for Exchange Students, short course (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 3rd teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday & Wednesday 12–14. Teacher: Tanja Asikainen-Kunnari (tanja.asikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-113.

  • SUO-114 Finnish for Exchange Students 1 (5 credits, lessons twice a week, 3rd & 4th teaching period)

Group 1: KUMPULA Tuesday & Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Emilia Harjunpää (emilia.harjunpaa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-114.

Group 2: CITY CENTRE Monday & Wednesday 16–18. Teacher: Hanna Raatikainen (hanna.raatikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-114.

 

Both SUO-113 and SUO-114 are beginner courses, so you don't need to know any Finnish when you start the course. 

If you have studied Finnish before, you can also participate in the intermediate and advanced Finnish courses for degree students (such as Finnish 2, 3 or 4) if there is space in the groups.

 

Nice to know: You can also check out the ALICE courses (Academic Language and Intercultural Exchange courses) organised by the Language Center.

For more information about the Finnish courses, please contact teachers of the courses or address suomenkurssit@helsinki.fi.

Finnish Courses for Degree Students

Spring semester 2026

Finnish courses for degree students are organized at three campuses: City Centre, Kumpula, and Viikki. There are also online groups.

All courses require registration on Sisu system. Registration is open 25.11.2025 - 5.1.2026. If you miss the registration, you can ask the teacher of the group if there is space. Registration for courses starting in the 4th teaching period is open in February.

You should always start your registration via your primary study plan on Sisu. N.B. here you can find some additional instructions on how to register on the courses in Sisu!

  • SUO-111 Finnish/Suomi 1A (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 3rd teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday and Wednesday 10–12. Teacher: Saija Pyhäniemi (saija.pyhaniemi@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-111.

Group 2: SELF-STUDY ONLINE COURSE. Teacher: Tiina Nahkola (tiina.nahkola@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-111.

  • SUO-112 Finnish/Suomi 1B (2 credits, lessons twice a week, 4th teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday and Wednesday 10–12. Teacher: Saija Pyhäniemi (saija.pyhaniemi@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-112.

Group 2: SELF-STUDY ONLINE COURSE. Teacher: Tiina Nahkola (tiina.nahkola@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-112.

  • SUO-121 Finnish/Suomi 2A (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 3rd teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday and Wednesday 14–16. Teacher: Tanja Asikainen-Kunnari (tanja.asikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-121.

Group 2: CITY CENTRE Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Paula Hongisto (paula.hongisto@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-121.

Group 3: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Tanja Asikainen-Kunnari (tanja.asikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-121.

Group 4: VIIKKI Monday and Wednesday 16–18. Teacher: TBA. Course page for Group 4/SUO-121.

Group 5: ONLINE Tuesday and Thursday 16–18. Teacher: Réka Aarnos (reka.aarnos@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 5/SUO-121.

Group 6: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Emilia Harjunpää (emilia.harjunpaa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 6/SUO-121.

  • SUO-122 Finnish/Suomi 2B (2 credits, lessons twice a week, 4th teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday and Wednesday 14–16. Teacher: Tanja Asikainen-Kunnari (tanja.asikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-121.

Group 2: CITY CENTRE Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Paula Hongisto (paula.hongisto@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-121.

Group 3: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Tanja Asikainen-Kunnari (tanja.asikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-121.

Group 4: VIIKKI Monday and Wednesday 16–18. Teacher: TBA. Course page for Group 4/SUO-121.

Group 5: ONLINE Tuesday and Thursday 16–18. Teacher: Réka Aarnos (reka.aarnos@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 5/SUO-121.

Group 6: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Emilia Harjunpää (emilia.harjunpaa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 6/SUO-121.

  • SUO-130 Finnish/Suomi 3 (5 credits, lessons twice a week, 3rd and 4th teaching periods)

Group 1: ONLINE Tuesday and Thursday 14–16. Teacher: Jan Tolles (jan-niklas.tolles@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-130.

Group 2: CITY CENTRE Intense course in May and June. Teaching times will be announced in March. Teacher: Leena Ferreira (leena.ferreira@helsinki.fi).

  • SUO-131 Puhekieli tutuksi/Study spoken Finnish (3 credits, lessons once a week, 3rd and 4th teaching periods)

Group 1: ONLINE Wednesday 10–12. Teacher: Jan Tolles (jan-niklas.tolles@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-131.

  • SUO-140 Finnish/Suomi 4 (5 credits, lessons twice a week, 3rd and 4th teaching periods) 

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Leena Ferreira (leena.ferreira@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-140.

  • SUO-141+142 Kulttuuria ja ajankohtaisia ilmiöitä 1 / Finnish culture and current topics 1 (5 credits, lessons twice a week, 3rd and 4th teaching periods) 

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday and Friday 10–12. Teacher: Tiina Nahkola (tiina.nahkola@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-141+142.

  • SUO-005 Yhteiskuntatietoa suomenoppijoille 1 / Information on the Finnish society 1 (3 credits, self-study MOOC) Teacher: Sari Päivärinne (sari.paivarinne@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-005.  

  • SUO-003 Yhteiskuntatietoa suomenoppijoille 2 / Information on the Finnish society 2 (2 credits, self-study MOOC) Teacher: Sari Päivärinne (sari.paivarinne@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-003.

     

  • SUO-210 Työelämän suomea / Workplace Finnish (5 credits, lessons twice a week, 3rd and 4th teaching periods)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Anu Muhonen (anu.muhonen@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-210.

Nice to know: You can also check out the ALICE courses (Academic Language and Intercultural Exchange courses) organised by the Language Center.

For more information about the Finnish courses, please contact the teachers or address suomenkurssit@helsinki.fi. 

Advanced Level Courses (B2-C2)

Students who already have an advanced level of language proficiency (at least Level B2.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) can enhance their written or spoken skills in the Finnish language by participating in courses offered in the Finnish Language and Culture study track. Instruction in Finnish Language and Culture is open to all students at the University of Helsinki who have the required language proficiency. Adequate language proficiency can be demonstrated through the Finnish Matriculation Examination in the second language (s2) or the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) test, or by taking the Finnish Language and Culture proficiency test. Learn more about demonstrating language proficiency and the Finnish Language and Culture studies here.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about Finnish Language Courses

Question 1: "I don't know any Finnish yet. Can I start studying Finnish directly in the second period of the autumn with the Finnish 1B course?"

Answer: You need to complete the Finnish 1A course first. After that, you can proceed to the 1B course. Following the Finnish 1B course, you can choose the Finnish 2A course, and so on.

Question 2: "I completed the Finnish 2B course last year. Now I want to continue my Finnish studies! Which course can I choose?"

Answer: You can choose one of the following courses: Finnish 3, Spoken Finnish or Learn Finnish by Reading Literature. If you wish, you can even take all of these courses! 

The courses "Finnish 3" are offered in both the autumn and spring semesters. Courses "Learn Finnish by Reading Literature" and "Spoken Finnish" are offered once a year.

Question 3: "I am currently studying on the Finnish 3 course. What can I study next?"

Answer: You can choose one of the following courses: Finnish 4, Spoken Finnish, Learn Finnish by Reading Literature or Finnish Culture and Current Topics 1. If you wish, you can even take all of these courses!

The courses "Finnish 4", "Spoken Finnish" and "Finnish Culture and Current topics 1" are offered in both the autumn and spring semesters. Course "Learn Finnish by Reading Literature" is only offered in the autumn semester.

Question 4: "I haven't completed the Finnish 3 course at the University of Helsinki, but I have been studying Finnish independently. I believe my language proficiency is at about level A2. Can I enroll in the Finnish 4 course?"

Answer: The Finnish 4 course is likely a good choice for you. However, it is recommended that you still take the online placement test to get an assessment of your skills. You can also contact the teacher of the Finnish 4 course for guidance.

Question 5: "I completed the Finnish 4 course this year, but I noticed that there are no Finnish 5! What should I do?"

Answer: No worries! You can choose any of the following courses: Workplace Finnish, Media Finnish, Finnish Culture and Current Topics 2, or the Finnish Grammar Online Course. 

Question 6: "I have completed the Finnish 1-4 courses as well as the Workplace Finnish, Media Finnish and Finnish Culture and Current topics 2 courses. I'm really interested in the Spoken Finnish course. Can I take it this academic year?"

Answer: The Spoken Finnish course is best suited for approximately A2 level, intended for students who have studied Finnish for 10-20 credits. Therefore, this course is likely not the best option for you. You might consider the Finnish Grammar Online Course or the Listen and Write learning method instead. You can contact suomenkurssit@helsinki.fi to discuss different options for developing your Finnish language skills.

Study modules in the Finnish language