Degree Student
Language and Communication Studies
The Language Centre is responsible for all language and communication teaching and development of teaching in the area.
Course Offering
Compulsory Language and Communication Studies for Bachelor's and Master's Degrees
The aim of the language and communication studies common to all Bachelor's Degrees is to equip students with the ability to communicate orally and in writing in important working life tasks and roles.
Compulsory language and communication studies include:
- English for Working Life, 4 ECTS credits
- Swedish for Working Life (for Finnish students), 4 ECTS credits
- Communication Skills for Working Life, 3 ECTS credits
- Finnish 1 (for foreign students), 4 ECTS credits
- Thesis Writing, 2 ECTS credits (Bachelor's level)
- Research Writing, 3 ECTS credits (Master's level)
Demonstrating Language Proficiency in Bachelor's Degree Programmes (UAS)
The student of university of applied sciences must demonstrate in their degree studies or otherwise that they have achieved:
- the skills in Finnish and Swedish that are required of state officials functioning in a bilingual office in a position requiring a higher education degree as per the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (242/2003), and are necessary for practising their profession and for further professional development, and
- the written and oral skills in one or two foreign languages that are necessary for practising their profession and for further professional development.
The grade of the second national language is marked with a word (Good/Satisfactory) in the degree certificate, in compliance with the Government Decree on the Demonstration of Proficiency in the Finnish and Swedish Languages in the Civil Service (481/2003). The written and oral language skills are assessed separately. In accordance with the national guidelines, grades 1-3 correspond to the verbal grade “Satisfactory”, and grades 4-5 to the verbal grade “Good” in the assessment of the language skills referred to in the Act 424/2003.
The requirement stated in item 1 above does not apply to students who have completed their school education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, or abroad. In such cases, the Manager of the Language Centre decides on the language requirements.
The Manager of the Language Centre may exempt a student partially or fully from the language requirements for the following reasons: the student does not have prior studies in the Swedish language, the student does not have prior studies in the English language or a professional has diagnosed the student with severe dyslexia or an issue connected to their health or functional capacity, for which the student has a medical certificate.
Finnish Language for Foreign Students
Our courses in Finnish enable a continuum of language studies from the basics level (A1) to the proficiency level of an independent language user (B1). We offer courses in Finnish as a foreign language as part of the optional studies and in the Talent Boost: Viestitään suomeksi. You can also participate in Finnish courses via Open Studies.