Languages and courses at the Language Centre

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.

Language skills are an asset on the job market. At the Language Centre, you can study in a flexible way to attain good, diverse language skills. The Language Centre is in charge of the studies in the foreign language and the other national language of Finland required for degrees, as well as for the communication studies in the native language when the faculty does not provide teaching in the native language. In addition to the required studies in a foreign language, native language (Finnish or Swedish) and the second national language of Finland (Swedish or Finnish), remember to take advantage of the other learning opportunities, as the Language Centre offers teaching in more than a dozen different languages.

Start planning your language studies at the beginning of your studies. If you intend to study a language that you have no previous competence in, you should start your language studies during your first year so that you have enough time to gain a level of proficiency that can support your studies, work and international activities.

Teaching in different languages
Teaching methods for Language Centre courses
Communication and language studies required for a degree
Finnish for International Students (Faculty of Arts)
Courses in the Finnish language open to all (Open University)
Language Centre’s preliminary teaching programme 2025–2026

Teaching in different languages

Teaching is offered in the following languages:

Check also the list of Language Centre courses suitable for non-Finnish speakers.

In many language it is also possible to complete the Language Centre programme which can be included in your degree as optional studies. Read more about the Language Centre's programmes on the page Language Centre programmes in languages as optional studies.

Teaching methods for Language Centre courses

Language Centre’s courses are available as contact teaching, distance teaching, blended teaching, online teaching and independent project. You can find information about the teaching method of the course in Sisu and on the Courses section under the course units name. For a more detailed description of completion method of the course, see the course page or the course description.

Communication and language studies required for a degree

All degrees feature a set amount of compulsory studies in communication and languages. The minimum scope of the language and communication studies required for the Bachelor’s degree is 10 cr. If you are completing a Master’s degree only, the language of your secondary education is Finnish or Swedish and you have completed your Bachelor’s degree abroad, you will have to demonstrate the language proficiency required by the Government Decree on University Degrees in conjunction with your Master’s degree, if your Bachelor’s degree cannot be considered to demonstrate sufficient proficiency.

Finnish for International Students (Faculty of Arts)

The Bachelor’s Programme in the Languages and Literatures of Finland (Faculty of Arts) organises Finnish for international students courses for visiting students, exchange students and international degree students enrolled at the University of Helsinki.

Courses in the Finnish language open to all (Open University)

The Open University organises courses in the Finnish language. These courses carry a fee and are open to all, regardless of their connection to the University of Helsinki.

Language Centre’s preliminary teaching programme 2025–2026

Below you can find the Language Centre’s preliminary teaching programme for the academic year 2025–2026. The final teaching programme will be published in Sisu and on the Courses section by end of June. Final teaching programme contains information on the dates and times, teaching facilities, teachers and registration practices, as well as, if necessary, information specifying the curriculum.

Please note, that files below are mono-, bilingual or trilingual (Finnish, Swedish and English) depending on the language.

Preliminary teaching programme in Arabic (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Chinese (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Danish (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in English

Preliminary teaching programme in Estonian (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Finnish as a second national language (pdf) (in Finnish and Swedish)

Preliminary teaching programme in Finnish as a native language (in Finnish)

Preliminary teaching programme in French (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in German (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Italian (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Japanese (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Korean (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Portuguese (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Russian (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Spanish (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Swedish (pdf)

Preliminary teaching programme in Swedish as a native language (pdf) (in Swedish)