Finnish for international students

While studying at Hanken you have a great opportunity to learn Finnish! Knowing Finnish will help you to integrate into the Finnish society, and most jobs also require a good command of Finnish.

Finnish courses: from zero to B1

Hanken offers courses in Finnish for international students at different levels, starting from no knowledge of Finnish and ending with level B1 (independent user of the language). If you have never studied Finnish before or have no previous knowledge of it, you are welcome to join the beginners' course Suomi 1 – Finnish 1. If you already have some knowledge of Finnish, please choose a course that suits your level best. 

The levels of the courses are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). If you are not familiar with the system, please read more here: Kielibuusti: Language skill levels A1–C2. You can also assess your current Finnish language level with this self-assessment tool. 

All the courses available in Finnish for international students are listed below, and they take place at Helsinki campus. You may choose courses according to your own starting level:

• Suomi 1 – Finnish 1 (starting level: no knowledge of Finnish, target level: A1.2)
• Suomi 2 – Finnish 2 (starting level: A1.2, target level: A1.3/A2.1)
• Suomi 3 – Finnish 3 (starting level: A1.3/A2.1, target level: A2.2)
• Suomi 4 – Finnish 4 (starting level: A2.2, target level: B1)

All the courses except Finnish 1 are also open for students from other Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences as well as for students via open university.

If you have studied Finnish elsewhere and would like to apply for transferring credits, read more here: Recognition of prior learning.

The search function in Sisu

This page presents the search function in Sisu and how it works. You can find the study sections in Finnish by using the filter Organisation and then selecting "Finnish, Helsinki". By using the search function in Sisu, you can independently read more about all the Finnish courses offered.

Learn Finnish for everyday life

Newcomers to Finland are often told that Finnish is a difficult language (usually by Finns themselves!), but this myth is actually not true: Finnish can be learned just like any other language, and thousands of people who have come here from other parts of the world have learned it very well. Rather than being difficult, Finnish is different from other European languages, both in structure and in vocabulary, and therefore can seem challenging at first. However, Finnish is a very logical language, and once you get started and continue practising it, it will get easier.

A good advice is to make use of the Finnish-speaking environment around you and start to speak Finnish as soon as you arrive in Finland: in the beginning even the little bits of language are worth using at cafés and shops, in museums, at tram and at bus.

Hanken's Finnish language courses will support you in your learning path: the aim is to enable you already from the first lesson to actively participate in daily activities in the Finnish society - and to step by step also integrate into it. In the courses, we use a lot of authentic videos, peer and group activities, different media resources and interactive online tools, and make visits. During the course Suomi 2 – Finnish 2, students also have a unique opportunity to participate in small-group language mentoring led by Finnish-speaking Hanken students.

As a Hanken student, you’re also warmly welcome to practice using Finnish at Hanken’s Language Café.

Video series: 3 paths to learning Finnish

What is it like to study Finnish? What tips do Hanken's international students who have studied Finnish give to new students? Watch the following short videos: