English
Welcome to the English department's pages!
Invest in yourself. The one easy way to become worth 50 percent more than you are now — at least — is to hone your communication skills — both written and verbal.
Studies in English
Studies in Business Communication in English provide you with the English communicative skills you will need to pursue a career during and after your university studies. The English introductory courses aim to help students achieve operational proficiency within a business context (CEFR skill level C1). Subsequent courses address a variety of areas within business and cultural contexts at C1 or C2 levels to help students attain communicative proficiency, the ability to work in English with ease, and the academic skills required by the studies.
English as a minor
The minor in English Business Communication strengthens your communication skills as well as your competitive edge. The minor consists of 25 ECTS. Please read more about the minor on a dedicated page: English as a minor.
Courses offered in English
The drop-down list provides the English courses offered at Hanken in 2024-2025. You can also see whether the courses are available in Helsinki, Vaasa or at both locations. For further information, please consult the full course descriptions in Sisu.
According to Hanken's Teaching Awards system, courses that have received top evaluations from students are noted annually. These are courses that have at least 4 in average on all three questions included in the evaluation form, and at least 35% response rate on the evaluation. These courses are mentioned in Sisu. By entering the course code in the search field in Sisu, you can read more about the course and see whether it has received top evaluations.
English courses in Helsinki
English courses offered in Helsinki:
5138 Each one teach one - English (Helsinki) (2 cr)
Each One Teach One course means that two native speakers of different languages (English, Finnish, French, German, Russian, Spanish or Swedish) meet informally to learn each other's language. The responsible teacher provides the students with a work scheme that they follow during the course.
5140 Business Presentations (Helsinki - Vaasa) (4 cr)
The course focuses on the giving of business-related presentations.
5148 Presentation skills (Helsinki) (2 cr)
The objective of this course is to hone your pitching skills. The course comprises an introductory lecture, consultation sessions and a workshop in which you deliver an individual presentation and receive peer and lecturer feedback.
5158 Team Communication Skills (Helsinki – Vaasa) (6 cr)
The course deals with interpersonal communication skills required for team environments. The focus is on themes relevant to teamwork such as motivation, relational engagement, trust, decision making and problem solving. This intensive course is highly interactive and task oriented. Group work, readings and self-reflective writing will enhance your understanding of your own and others’ interpersonal communication skills. The course is especially beneficial for students who already have some experience in teamwork, and/or who are interested in human behaviour and personal development.
5160 Academic Writing (Helsinki) (5 cr)
This course focuses on the academic thesis or paper: structure and coherence, academic language and style, and writing conventions. The course is primarily intended for Masters students, and it is suggested for students taking a minor in Business Communication and it is highly recommended to students on the English Master's programmes.
5162 Communication Clinic (Helsinki) (2 cr)
This course offers a Writers’ Workshop which is open to all Hanken students and exchange students to refresh and reinforce their acquired business communication skills. Through case studies and peer reviews the student is able to develop writing that is more audience- and purpose-focused.
5163 Making Yourself Employable (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 cr)
The course focuses on oral and written communication in the job application process, and on further employment-related documents.
5167 Business Communication (Helsinki) (6 cr)
The course gives an insight into what constitutes effective and efficient oral and written managerial communication in today’s ever-changing (global) business environment. The course is mandatory for Hanken Bachelor degree students in Helsinki.
5168 Cultural Sustainability and Communication (Helsinki) (4 cr)
The course provides participants with the opportunity to learn about visual arts and sustainability theories. It includes field trips and interaction with experts from the field. Participants are encouraged to constantly reflect on the theories and expose themselves to the forms of art, individually or in groups. At the end of the course the participants will create materials for a project related to cultural heritage and sustainability in cooperation with one or more stakeholders.
5169 Working Life Skills for Experts and Team Leaders (Helsinki – Vaasa) (2 cr)
During the course the students will learn, with the help of hands-on case assignments, how to succeed in job search and in employment contract and salary negotiations. The students will acquire practical skills for real working life situations by exercising team leader roles in case assignments, in typical, challenging workplace situations.
5170 Academic Terminology and Phraseology (Helsinki – Vaasa) (2 cr)
The course focuses on the terminology and phraseology needed in Economics and Business Studies. It is intended for students beyond their first year who want to deepen their knowledge of terminology. The course is a self-regulated course in Moodle, providing weekly modules over a period of seven weeks.
5171 Upscaling Your Academic Writing (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 cr)
This course is aimed at helping you scale up your academic writing. This course is not about the business concept of scaling but applies the notion of increased development to writing skills and overall academic competence. The aim of this course is to guide you through the writing process by having you plan and execute a research paper on the topic of your choosing.
5172 Creative Community Engagement (Helsinki) (2 cr)
Social involvement and active participation in the community is a tangible way to practise communication skills and contribute to the improvement of society. The course “Creative Community Engagement” aims to promote personal growth and self-esteem, increase awareness of societal needs and resources, and prepare students to become more caring and responsible citizens. The course is open to all Hanken students and exchange students who want to enhance their oral and written communication skills through different forms of social engagement (support groups, recycling program, environmental volunteering, etc).
5178 Intercultural Communication (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 cr)
In this course, you will enhance your intercultural communication competence through cultural awareness, fluency, openness, and active listening to effectively communicate with people from other cultures in professional, international, and culturally diverse business-related contexts. The course benefits students who want to or already work across cultures and countries in today’s interconnected world, who are coming or going on exchange, or who are interested in interculturality.
English courses in Vaasa
English courses offered in Vaasa:
5138 Each one teach one - English (Vaasa) (2 cr)
Each One Teach One course means that two native speakers of different languages (English, Finnish, French, German, Russian, Spanish or Swedish) meet informally to learn each other's language. The responsible teacher provides the students with a work scheme that they follow during the course.
5139 Business Meetings and Negotiations (Vaasa) (4 cr)
The course focuses on business meetings and negotiations and on the writing of business meeting agendas and minutes.
5140 Business Presentations (Helsinki – Vaasa) (4 cr)
The course focuses on the giving of business-related presentations.
5158 Team Communication Skills (Helsinki and Vaasa) (6 cr)
The course deals with interpersonal communication skills required for team environments. The focus is on themes relevant to teamwork such as motivation, relational engagement, trust, decision making and problem solving. This intensive course is highly interactive and task-oriented. Group work, readings and self-reflective writing will enhance your understanding of your own and others’ interpersonal communication skills. The course is especially beneficial for students who already have some experience in teamwork, and/or who are interested in human behaviour and personal development.
5160 Academic Writing (Vaasa) (5 cr)
This course focuses on the academic thesis or paper: structure and coherence, academic language and style, and writing conventions. The course is primarily intended for Masters students, and it is suggested for students taking a minor in Business Communication and it is highly recommended to students on the English Master's programmes.
5163 Making Yourself Employable (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 cr)
The course focuses on oral and written communication in the job application process, and on further employment-related documents.
5167 Business Communication (Vaasa) (6 cr)
The course gives an insight into what constitutes effective and efficient oral and written managerial communication in today’s ever-changing (global) business environment.
5169 Working Life Skills for Experts and Team Leaders (Helsinki – Vaasa) (2 cr)
During the course the students will learn, with the help of hands-on case assignments, how to succeed in job search and in employment contract and salary negotiations. The students will acquire practical skills for real working life situations by exercising team leader roles in case assignments, in typical, challenging workplace situations.
5170 Academic Terminology and Phraseology (Helsinki – Vaasa) (2 cr)
The course focuses on the terminology and phraseology needed in Economics and Business Studies. It is intended for students beyond their first year who want to deepen their knowledge of terminology. The course is a self-regulated course in Moodle, providing weekly modules over a period of seven weeks.
5171 Upscaling Your Academic Writing (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 cr)
This course is aimed at helping you scale up your academic writing. This course is not about the business concept of scaling but applies the notion of increased development to writing skills and overall academic competence. The aim of this course is to guide you through the writing process by having you plan and execute a research paper on the topic of your choosing.
5173 Copywriting for Social Media: Boosting Engagement (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 cr)
Boosting consumer engagement through powerful social media texts is an essential communicative skill in our digital business climate. This course will help you outline a strong brand voice, analyze the online copy-writing strategies of successful contemporary businesses, create persuasive social media posts and develop narrative value through storytelling, practice the strategic use of power words and learn to provide customers with focused feedback on online platforms.
5178 Intercultural Communication (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 cr)
In this course, you will enhance your intercultural communication competence through cultural awareness, fluency, openness, and active listening to effectively communicate with people from other cultures in professional, international, and culturally diverse business-related contexts. The course benefits students who want to or already work across cultures and countries in today’s interconnected world, who are coming or going on exchange, or who are interested in interculturality.
Courses offered for non-degree students
Exchange students at Hanken are welcome to apply for most of the English language courses. For those specific courses that are open to exchange students in both Helsinki and Vaasa, see below. If you are a non-degree student, you can apply for our courses here.
Open courses, Helsinki:
Courses to which exchange students can apply to in Helsinki:
5138 Each one teach one - Engelska (Helsinki) (2 sp)
5148 Presentation skills (Helsinki) (2 sp)
5158 Team Communication Skills (Helsinki) (6 sp)
5162 Communication Clinic (Helsinki) (2 sp)
5167 Business Communication (Helsinki) (6 sp)
5168 Cultural Sustainability and Communication (Helsinki) (4 sp)
5169 Working Life Skills for Experts and Team Leaders (Helsinki – Vaasa) (2 sp)
5170 Academic Terminology and Phraseology (Helsinki – Vaasa) (2 sp)
5171 Upscale Your Academic Writing (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 sp)
5172 Creative Community Engagement (Helsinki) (2sp)
5178 Intercultural Communication (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 sp)
Open courses, Vaasa:
Courses to which exchange students can apply to in Vaasa:
5138 Each one teach one - Engelska (Vaasa) (2 sp)
5139 Business Meetings and Negotiations (Vaasa) (4 sp)
5140 Business Presentations (Vaasa) (4 sp)
5160 Academic Writing (Vaasa) (5 sp)
5163 Making Yourself Employable (Vaasa) (5 sp)
5167 Business Communication (Vaasa) (6 sp)
5169 Working Life Skills for Experts and Team Leaders (Helsinki – Vaasa) (2 sp)
5170 Academic Terminology and Phraseology (Helsinki – Vaasa) (2 sp)
5173 Copywriting for Social Media: Boosting Engagement (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 sp)
5178 Intercultural Communication (Helsinki – Vaasa) (5 sp)
Search function in Sisu
This page presents the search function in Sisu and how it works. You can find the study sections in English by using the filter Organisation and then selecting "English, Helsinki" or "English, Vaasa". By using the search function in Sisu, you can independently read more about the English courses offered.
Contact information
Should you have any questions for which you cannot find answers on the current pages, do not hesitate to contact us!
You can find contact information to all the English staff by following the links below. You can also find us on the fifth floor in Hanken's building in Helsinki and on the third floor in Hanken's building in Vaasa.
Contact information
Caroline Enberg – Lecturer (subject English and Swedish)
Maria A. Gajitos – Lecturer
Martti Mäkinen – University Lecturer
Taija Townsend – Lecturer
Carola Wide – Lecturer (subject English and Swedish)
Projects and publications within the English department
Research is carried out within the English department. The links below will take you to the English department's researchers profiles on Hanken's Research Portal HARIS, where Hanken's research output and intellectual resources are collected and presented. In HARIS you can search and browse publications, activities and current projects for all researchers and languages. Read more about the research conducted at the Language Centre as a whole here.
Read more!
If you are interested and want to read more about English, follow the links below for more in-depth information.