Non-Finnish and Finnish universities can strengthen their networks and develop the teaching of Finnish language and culture by applying to EDUFI for support for cooperation projects.

The financial support for a cooperation project in Finnish language and culture is intended for cooperation projects between non-Finnish universities or between non-Finnish and Finnish universities. There is no limit on the number of universities. 

The project must be related to the teaching of Finnish language and culture. The project may also involve other actors, but EDUFI’s support can only be used to cover the costs of universities.

Projects can include, for example,

  • joint study units and courses
  • development and implementation of digital/virtual teaching
  • curriculum cooperation and degree planning
  • development of assessment and language proficiency tests
  • seminars and other events
  • teacher and student mobility
  • cooperation with working life.
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We can grant up to EUR 20,000/year to a single project.

The project participants’ own contribution must be at least 10%. The participants can decide for themselves how they will divide this among themselves. For example, the project participant’s own contribution can cover the part of teachers' salaries used to plan and implement the project.

EDUFI will pay the support in euros. If you use a currency other than the euro, please calculate the euro amount that you are applying for according to the European Central Bank’s exchange rate on 30 April 2025.

We may not be able to grant the total amount applied for.

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The applicant can be a non-Finnish or Finnish university. The applicant university coordinates activities, maintains contact with EDUFI, manages financial transactions and reports to EDUFI on the project.

We will arrange an additional application round for the support of cooperation projects. The application period starts on 2 May 2025 and ends on 30 September 2025 at 16:00 Finnish time (UTC +3). We will not process applications that arrive late. The support has to be used by 31 December 2026.

Please submit the application form and attachments to kirjaamo [at] oph.fi (kirjaamo[at]oph[dot]fi). Please use ”Financial support for a cooperation project in Finnish language and culture OPH-3468-2025” as the subject line of the email.

The application form must be either electronically signed or manually signed and scanned. If this is not possible for whatever reason, please submit the application by email with the person authorised to sign on behalf of the university as the sender or second recipient.

The application must include the participants' commitment forms as attachments.

We may request further clarifications on applications after the application period. We will announce the decisions by 17 November 2025.

Application and commitment forms
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Our primary objective is to ensure that university-level Finnish language and culture teaching in different countries is of high quality and continuous. In particular, we want to ensure the availability of language experts. 

With this support, we pursue our primary objective through these sub-objectives:  

  • diversifying students’ study opportunities
  • ensuring that teaching stays up to date
  • supporting the launching of new educational programmes.

We strive for both qualitative and quantitative effectiveness, cooperation between universities and the sharing of teaching resources across university and national borders. 

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Eligible candidates

The support can be awarded to a project involving at least two universities:

  • a non-Finnish university providing teaching in Finnish language and culture
  • a non-Finnish university that intends to start providing teaching in Finnish language and culture
  • a Finnish university, provided that there is also a non-Finnish university involved in the project.

If necessary, EDUFI may take into account the geographical distribution of eligible projects.

Ineligible candidates

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the support cannot currently be granted to projects involving Russian or Belarusian universities.

Purposes for which the grant can be awarded

The support can be used to cover the costs incurred by the project, such as wages and fees, travel and accommodation expenses, the preparation of materials needed for the project or the use of digital services.

Purposes for which the grant cannot be awarded

The support cannot be used to cover facility rental costs, hospitality costs (such as catering, gifts and prizes) or university overhead costs.

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The evaluation focuses particularly on the quality of the application and the impact of the project. 

Applicant details

  • The number of universities, students, teachers and any other parties participating in the project.
  • The description of the responsibilities, roles and tasks of the participating universities and other parties is clear. 

Objectives and impact

  • The project responds to the participants' educational needs in the field of Finnish language and culture and provides clear added value.
    Special attention is paid to various types of development work and the benefits of the project for students and teachers.
  • The expected results are concretely and realistically described. 
  • The project and its results will continue to be utilised after the end of the project.

Implementation of supported activities

  • The plan is realistic and clearly describes how the objectives are to be achieved.
  • The plan clearly describes how the funding applied for is intended to cover the planned activities.
  • The project utilises digital opportunities.

Cost estimate and financing

  • The universities' own contribution is at least 10%. A contribution of over 10% is considered an advantage.
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The support must be used by 31 December 2026. Any surplus must be returned to EDUFI.

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The financial support will be paid in full to the applicant university, which will pay the partners the share they need.

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The applicant university will report on the use of the support to EDUFI. Activity and financial reports for the preceding calendar year must be submitted by 31 March.

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Contact person Leena Kärnä

Contact us: skk [at] oph.fi
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Autumn 2024

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (coordinator), Universität Bielefeld, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Universität Hamburg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität Wien, Universität zu Köln: Collaborative meeting in Berlin

Tampere University (coordinator), Università degli Studi di Firenze, Università degli Studi di Napoli - L'Orientale: Languages and cultures in interaction: Round trip from Finland to Italy

Autumn 2023

Universität zu Köln (coordinator), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Universität Bielefeld, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Universität Hamburg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität Wien: Languages of Nature

Uniwersytet Warszawski (coordinator, Universität Greifswald, Universität zu Köln ja Univerzita Karlova: Autumn School for Fennistics abroad

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Click the link below to learn about cooperation projects in Finnish language and culture that EDUFI has previously supported.

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