In working life, you need a wide range of language and communication skills. The aim of language and communication studies at the University of Applied Sciences is to prepare students for the demands of working life and internationalisation. Language studies focus on professional language and communication skills, with an emphasis on professional, workplace, and practical relevance.
Please note! If the language of your secondary education has been Finnish or Swedish see the information of language and communication studies here.
Learning Finnish is essential for living, studying and working in Finland. Fluency in Finnish will greatly enhance your ability to integrate into Finnish society, succeed in your studies and improve your employment prospects.
International degree students of Lapland UAS have 10-20 ECTS of Finnish language studies included in their degree. In addition, it is recommendable to choose free choice electives of Finnish language study units. See for example the study units Finnish club and YKI training. If your degree studies only include 10 ECTS of Finnish, you are welcome to take additional courses (Finnish 3 and Finnish 4). The levels of our Finnish courses are based on CEFR.
This is how you can choose the best study units for you:
A. Starting from scratch?
If you don’t know any Finnish yet, the basic Finnish study units are part of your degree programme. You just need to follow the degree programme study path from the beginning.
B. What if I speak some Finnish already?
If you have some prior knowledge of the Finnish language, you can substitute the Finnish language study units included in your degree programme. The Lapland University Language Centre offers 25 credits of B1-B2-level Finnish language study units. Note, that you need to fill in a PIA application. See for example,
C. I am already a pro in Finnish!
If you speak fluent Finnish already and you think you don’t need to study more Finnish, you may follow these instructions:
If you don’t have a certificate, you may show your Finnish language competence in a skills demonstration. Contact a Finnish language teacher for more information.
Spring 2025 / Lapland UAS
Finnish 2 (Nursing) Finnish 2 (IB/DPT) Finnish 2 (Engineering) Finnish 4 Finnish club
YKI training
To enroll for this study units, please check the instructions: https://blogi.eoppimispalvelut.fi/peppi-ohjeet/for-student/my-studies/enrolments/
Spring 2025 / University of Lapland
XFIN0003V24 Suomi 3 (CEFR A2.1) | Opinto-opas XFIN0004V24 Suomi 4 (CEFR A2.2) | Opinto-opas XFIN0224V24 Suomen suullinen kielitaito 2 (CEFR B1.2) | Opinto-opas XFIN0225V24 Suomen kielen tuntemus ja kirjoittaminen (CEFR B2.1) | Opinto-opas XFIN0226V24 Suomen kirjakielen rakenteita (CEFR B2.1) | Opinto-opas
Are you interested in evaluating your skills level in Finnish? Take YKI-test! The national certificate of language proficiency (YKI test) is a language test for adults. You may use the test for example:
There are three levels of YKI test and each test consists of four subtests: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. Each test is evaluated separately. The places to participate in the test, the test dates, and additional information you may find on Opetushallitus web pages. You may also find information about the test fee and register for the test here.
Want to know more about the YKI test? Check these:
Make learning and using Finnish part of your everyday life!
Explore great language learning tips and materials from Kielibuusti webpages.
PLAY GAMES AND USE APPS
PARTICIPATE ONLINE COURSES
READ, WATCH AND LISTEN
MEET PEOPLE
Beside reading and listening, it´s important to use the language in everyday life. The easiest way for that is to find someone to talk with. Don´t make it too difficult. You don´t need handle the language perfectly. People will understand! Just start in shops, public transportation, school restaurant etc. There are also some specific meeting places:
In Rovaniemi
In Kemi
Senior Lecturer | Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Economics, Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Economics / Educational Sciences
riikka.partanen@lapinamk.fi