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Finnish language and culture studies in universities outside Finland


The Finnish National Agency for Education is tasked with promoting the teaching of Finnish language and culture in universities outside Finland. We offer support to universities, teachers, students and postgraduates alike.

Below information on our support has been grouped according to who it is aimed at: support for universities, support for teachers, support for students and support for post-graduate students and researchers.

At the end of the page you will find, among other things, lists of universities where you can study Finnish.

Due to the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, the Finnish National Agency for Education refrains from cooperation with Russian and Belarusian universities.

Support for students of Finnish language and culture in universities outside Finland

Summer courses of Finnish language and culture in Finland

Summer courses of Finnish language and culture in Finland

Each year, we organise summer courses in Finnish language and culture in Finland, meant for students in universities outside Finland.

Summer courses in Finnish language and culture 2023

Summer courses in Finnish language and culture 2023

In summer 2023, EDUFI offers five courses in Finnish language and culture on different levels and a course in contemporary Finnish literature. The application deadline is 1 March 2023.

The summer course for beginning literary translators

The summer course for beginning literary translators

Interested in translating fiction literature? The course is meant for students of Finnish near the end of their studies but it also suitable for the recently graduated.

Finnish in Finland training programme

Finnish in Finland training programme

Test your language skills in the working life! Students of the Finnish language in universities outside Finland can apply for a Finnish in Finland traineeship in Finnish workplaces.

Scholarships to Bachelor's and Master's level students of Finnish

Scholarships to Bachelor's and Master's level students of Finnish

Are you a Bachelor's or Master's level student in Finnish? You can apply for a scholarship to study in a Finnish university. The maximum scholarship period is 6 months.

Course for kindred peoples in Russia

Course for kindred peoples in Russia

The kindred peoples course is meant for students of Finnish in the Finno-Ugric regions of Russia and is organised in turns in Komi, Mari El, Mordovia, and Udmurtia.

Master's level scholarships for kindred peoples

Master's level scholarships for kindred peoples

The Master's level scholarship programme is meant for students who speak one of the Finno-Ugric languages spoken in Russia as a native tongue or who have a command similar to a native speaker and who will study Finno-Ugric languages and/or culture in a Finnish university. (Students of Russian or Belarussian universities cannot get scholarships.)

Accessibility grants in the programme for Finnish language and culture

Accessibility grants in the programme for Finnish language and culture

A disability, disease or learning disorder won't stop you from taking part in EDUFI's programmes. You can apply for an accessibility grant to help you participate.

Universities you can study Finnish in

We have compiled lists of universities where you can study Finnish language and culture. We offer contact details of universities in and outside Finland.
Universities outside Finland in which you can study Finnish language and culture
Our network of universities that offer teaching of the Finnish language now includes over 60 universities in 24 countries.
Finnish universities in which you can study Finnish language and culture
Listed are Finnish universities where you can study Finnish and subjects related to Finnish culture.

Useful information

In these pages you can find more information on our activities and on Finnish language and culture studies.

If you did not find an answer to your question you can contact skk@oph.fi.
Email lists and social media
We offer email lists to Finnish language and culture teachers, students and alumni in universities outside Finland.
Advisory Group for Finnish Studies at Universities Abroad
An Advisory Group consisting of university lecturers and researchers supports our work.
Foreign students' experiences in studying Finnish language and culture
Students who participated in summer courses and traineeships tell about their experiences (in Finnish).