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.

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

Autumn semester 2026

Finnish courses for exchange students are organized at three campuses: City Centre, Kumpula and Viikki.

All courses require registration on Sisu system. Registration is open 11.8. - 1.9.2026. If you miss the registration, you can ask the teacher of the group if there is space. 

In the 1st teaching period, the teaching starts in the second week of the semester (week 37).

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-011 Finnish for Exchange Students 1 (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 1st teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Tuesday & Thursday 14–16. Teacher: Emilia Harjunpää (emilia.harjunpaa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-011.

Group 2: KUMPULA Monday 16–18 & Friday 8–10. Teacher: Jan Tolles (jan-niklas.tolles@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-011.

Group 3: VIIKKI Tuesday & Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Hanna Raatikainen (hanna.raatikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-011.

Group 4: CITY CENTER Wednesday & Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Stella Kanto (stella.kanto@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 4/SUO-011.

Group 5: KUMPULA Tuesday & Thursday 16–18. Teacher: Athina Tsentemeidou (athina.tsentemeidou@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 5/SUO-011.

  • SUO-012 Finnish for Exchange Students 2 (2 credits, lessons twice a week, 2nd teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Tuesday & Thursday 14–16. Teacher: Emilia Harjunpää (emilia.harjunpaa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-012.

Group 2: KUMPULA Monday 16–18 & Friday 8–10. Teacher: Jan Tolles (jan-niklas.tolles@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-012.

Group 3: VIIKKI Tuesday & Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Hanna Raatikainen (hanna.raatikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-012.

 

SUO-011 is a beginner-level course, 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 3, 4 or 5) 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

Autumn 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 11.8.2026 - 30.8.2026. If you miss the registration, you can ask the teacher of the group if there is space. Registration for courses starting in the 2nd teaching period is open in October.

In the 1st teaching period, the teaching starts in the second week of the semester (week 37).

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-010 Suomi/Finnish 1 (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 1st 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-010.

Group 2: CITY CENTRE Tuesday 14–16 and Thursday 12–14. Teacher: Hanna Raatikainen (hanna.raatikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-010.

Group 3: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Tanja Asikainen-Kunnari (tanja.asikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-010.

Group 4: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Emilia Harjunpää (emilia.harjunpaa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 4/SUO-010.

Group 5: VIIKKI Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Karoliina Kopsa (karoliina.kopsa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 5/SUO-010.

Group 6: VIIKKI Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Karoliina Kopsa (karoliina.kopsa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 6/SUO-010.

Group 7: ONLINE Tuesday and Thursday 16–18. Teacher: Tatja Lasola (tatja.lasola@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 7/SUO-010.

Group 8: SELF-STUDY ONLINE GROUP. Teacher: Karoliina Kopsa (karoliina.kopsa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 8/SUO-010.

  • SUO-020 Suomi/Finnish 2 (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 2nd 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-020.

Group 2: CITY CENTRE Tuesday 14–16 and Thursday 12–14. Teacher: Hanna Raatikainen (hanna.raatikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-020.

Group 3: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Tanja Asikainen-Kunnari (tanja.asikainen@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-020.

Group 4: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Emilia Harjunpää (emilia.harjunpaa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 4/SUO-020.

Group 5: VIIKKI Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Karoliina Kopsa (karoliina.kopsa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 5/SUO-020.

Group 6: VIIKKI Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Karoliina Kopsa (karoliina.kopsa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 6/SUO-020.

Group 7: ONLINE Tuesday and Thursday 16–18. Teacher: Tatja Lasola (tatja.lasola@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 7/SUO-020.

Group 8: SELF-STUDY ONLINE GROUP. Teacher: Karoliina Kopsa (karoliina.kopsa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 8/SUO-020.

  • SUO-030 Suomi/Finnish 3 (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 1st teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Tiina Nahkola (tiina.nahkola@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-030.

Group 2: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Jan Tolles (jan-niklas.tolles@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-030.

Group 3: ONLINE Monday and Wednesday 8–10. Teacher: Jarna Piippo (jarna.piippo@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-030.

  • SUO-040 Suomi/Finnish 4 (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 2nd teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Tiina Nahkola (tiina.nahkola@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-040.

Group 2: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 10–12. Teacher: Jan Tolles (jan-niklas.tolles@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-040.

Group 3: ONLINE Monday and Wednesday 8–10. Teacher: Jarna Piippo (jarna.piippo@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-040.

  • SUO-050 Suomi/Finnish 5 (5 credits, lessons twice a week, 1st and 2nd teaching periods)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday 10–12 and Thursday 12–14. Teacher: Paula Hongisto (paula.hongisto@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 1/SUO-050.

Group 2: ONLINE Monday and Wednesday 16–18. Teacher: Réka Aarnos (reka.aarnos@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 2/SUO-050.

Group 3: KUMPULA Tuesday and Thursday 8–10. Teacher: Jan Tolles (jan-niklas.tolles@helsinki.fi). Course page for Group 3/SUO-050.

  • SUO-051 Keskustellaan suomeksi / Conversations in Finnish (3 credits, lessons twice a week, 2nd teaching period)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday & Wednesday 10–12. Teacher: Karoliina Kopsa (karoliina.kopsa@helsinki.fi). Course page for Conversations in Finnish.

  • SUO-052 Kaunokirjallisuuden lukupiiri / Reading fiction in Finnish (2 credits, lessons once a week, 1st and 2nd teaching periods)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Thursday 14.30–16.00. Teacher: Sari Päivärinne (sari.paivarinne@helsinki.fi). Course page for Reading fiction in Finnish.

  • SUO-060 Suomi/Finnish 6 (5 credits, lessons twice a week, 1st and 2nd teaching periods) 

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Wednesday 8–10 & Friday 12–14. Teacher: Emmi Pollari (emmi.pollari@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-060.

  • SUO-070 Työelämän suomea / Workplace Finnish (5 credits, lessons twice a week, 1st and 2nd teaching periods)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Monday 10–12 & Thursday 14–16. Teacher: Anu Muhonen (anu.muhonen@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-070.

  • SUO-072 Kulttuuria ja ajankohtaisia ilmiöitä 2 / Culture and current topics 2 (3 credits, lessons once a week, 1st and 2nd teaching periods)

Group 1: CITY CENTRE Tuesday 10–12. Teacher: Emmi Pollari (emmi.pollari@helsinki.fi). Course page for SUO-072.

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 term with the course Finnish 2?"

Answer: You need to complete the course Finnish 1 first. After that, you can proceed to the course Finnish 2. Following that, you can choose the course Finnish 3, and so on.

Question 2: "I completed the course Finnish 1B last year. Now I want to continue my Finnish studies! Which course should I choose?"

Answer: Next, choose the course Finnish 3.

Question 3: "I completed the course Finnish 2B last year. Now I want to continue my Finnish studies! Which course should I choose?"

Answer: You can choose one of the following courses: SUO-050 Finnish 5, SUO-051 Conversations in Finnish or SUO-052 Reading fiction in Finnish. If you wish, you can even take all of these courses! 

The courses Finnish 5 and Conversations in Finnish are offered in both the autumn and spring semesters. The course Reading fiction in Finnish is offered once a year.

Question 4: "I completed the course Finnish 3 last year. Now I want to continue my Finnish studies! Which course should I choose?"

Answer: You can choose either SUO-060 Finnish 6 or SUO-052 Reading fiction in Finnish. If you wish, you can choose both!

The course Finnish 6 offered in both the autumn and spring semesters. The course Reading fiction in Finnish is only offered in the autumn semester.

Question 5: "I have been studying Finnish independently, and I believe my language proficiency is at about level A2. Can I enroll in the course Finnish 6?"

Answer: The course Finnish 6 is probably a good choice for you. You can contact the teacher of the course for guidance.

Question 6: "I completed the course Finnish 4 last year. Should I choose Finnish 5 next?"

Answer: No, but instead you can choose SUO-070 Workplace Finnish or SUO-072 Culture and current topics 2. 

 

Study modules in the Finnish language