Language Centre Programmes in Languages as optional studies

Belongs to themes:

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.

You can acquire diverse and profound language proficiency for your studies and work life by completing a Language Centre Programme in Language in the language of your choice. The minimum requirement to complete a programme is 15 or 25 credits. You can combine language and cultural courses offered by the Language Centre, UH degree programmes or other Finnish higher education institutions as well as language studies completed in a foreign higher education institutions into a programme. Completing the programme does not mean that the student receives a right to study the language in question at the corresponding degree programme. The study modules are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

You can find Language Centre's courses by language on the page Languages and courses at the Language Centre.

Language Centre Programmes in Languages
Who and when?
Completing a Language Centre Programme

Language Centre Programmes in Languages

Chinese

KK-KIOK15 Yuyan Zhongxin Zhongwen Xiangmu – Language Centre Programme in Chinese Language, 15 cr

KK-KIOK25 Yuyan Zhongxin Zhongwen Xiangmu – Language Centre Programme in Chinese Language, 25 cr

Responsible teacher Ching-Yeh Lin

English

KK-ENOK15 Language Centre Programme in Advanced Academic and Professional English, 15 cr

KK-ENOK25 Language Centre Programme in Advanced Academic and Professional English, 25 cr

Responsible teacher Fergal Bradley

Finnish as native language

KK-AIOK15 Language Centre Programme in Finnish as a Native Language, 15 cr

Responsible teacher Maiju Ranta

French

KK-RAOK15 Etudes françaises - Language Centre Programme in French Language, 15 cr

KK-RAOK25 Etudes françaises - Language Centre Programme in French Language, 25 cr

Responsible teacher Päivi Lehto-Peura

German

KK-SAOK15 Studieneinheit Deutsche Sprache und Landeskunde - Language Centre Programme in German Language, 15 cr

KK-SAOK25 Studieneinheit Deutsche Sprache und Landeskunde - Language Centre Programme in German Language, 25 cr

Responsible teacher Tia Patenge

Italian

KK-ITOK15 Italianistica - Language Centre Programme in Italian Language, 15 cr

KK-ITOK25 Italianistica - Language Centre Programme in Italian Language, 25 cr

Responsible teacher Giuseppe Feroldi

Japanese

KK-JAOK15 Language Centre Programme in Japanese, 15 cr

Responsible teacher Pia Matilainen 

Professional communication and interaction skills

KK-KIEOK Programme in Professional Communication and Interaction Skills (Language Centre), 15 cr

Responsible teacher Hanna Kosonen

Russian

KK-VEOK15 Russkij jazyk dlja studentov-nefilologov - Language Centre Programme in Russian Language, 15 cr

KK-VEOK25 Russkij jazyk dlja studentov-nefilologov - Language Centre Programme in Russian Language, 25 cr

Responsible teacher Nina Shilova, from 1.8.2025 Heidi Mäkäläinen

Spanish

KK-ESOK15 Estudios de la lengua española - Language Centre Programme in Spanish Language, 15 cr

KK-ESOK25 Estudios de la lengua española - Language Centre Programme in Spanish Language, 25 cr

Responsible teacher Mirjami Matilainen

Swedish

KK-RUOK15 Studiehelheten nordiska språk och kulturer - Language Centre Programme in Nordic Languages and Cultures, 15 cr

KK-RUOK25 Studiehelheten nordiska språk och kulturer - Language Centre Programme in Nordic Languages and Cultures, 25 cr

Responsible teachers Johanna Manner-Kivipuro and Carola Rewell-Heikkinen

Who and when?

Students of all University of Helsinki faculties can complete a Language Centre Programme in Languages. NB! Students of the Bachelor’s Programme in Languages or the Master’s Programme in Languages at the Faculty of Arts may not complete a Language Centre study module in the language of their study track.

Language Centre Programmes in Languages are not currently available to Open University students.

You can begin to pursue the language studies to be included in the programme from the beginning of your studies. You must specify the intended scope of the programme in your personal study plan (PSP). Often Language Centre Programme in Language can be included in the optional studies of your degree. However, always check the applicability from your degree programme.

NB! Language studies included in a Language Centre Programmes should not be included in a bachelor’s degree if you intend to continue the programme during your master’s degree.

Completing a Language Centre Programme

1. Planning a programme in languages with the teacher

First check the Language Centre’s language-specific requirements for Programmes, and contact the responsible teacher of the programme. If you have already begun studies in a language and wish to complete an entire programme in that language, contact the responsible teacher of the programme in question. You should also contact the responsible teacher of the programme if your study plan changes during your studies and whenever you need advice on choosing language courses. 

2. Completing language courses included in a programme

At the University of Helsinki
 At other Finnish higher education institutions
  • Students must agree with the responsible teacher of the programme on the inclusion of language courses completed at other Finnish higher education institutions (universities, universities of applied sciences) in a Language Centre programme.
At higher education institutions abroad
  • It is recommended that before your student exchange, you agree with the responsible teacher of the programme on the inclusion of language studies to be completed at higher education institution outside Finland before the beginning of the exchange period.
Transferring credits for a language course completed elsewhere to a Language Centre programme

3. Approval and compilation of the Language Centre Programme

The Language Centre programmes must be separately approved by the responsible teacher of the programme. When you have completed all the courses that you planned to include in the programme, you must apply for separate approval in Sisu in accordance with the instructions provided. NB! With this application, you are applying approval for the content of the module. The module will be compiled separately at the latest when you graduate.

When compiling the module, take the following into account:

  • Modules completed more than ten years ago cannot be included in degrees, and courses completed more than ten years ago cannot be included in modules. You can find more information on the page Expiry of studies.
  • Requests for the approval of modules must be submitted in Sisu by the end of May each academic year. Requests received during the summer will be processed as of mid-August.
  • A compiled study module cannot be deleted from the records.