If you are a Finnish language student from a university outside Finland, you can apply to a summer course in Finnish language and culture held in Finland. The courses are organised by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) in collaboration with Finnish universities.

Course participants are provided with tuition, study materials, accommodation and free-time activities free of charge.

Youngsters hanging out on a beach
Photo: Johanna Kokkonen

 

 

The primary objective of our activities 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. To this end we strive to diversify the study opportunities available to students.

The purpose of the summer courses is to activate and develop participants' language skills. The courses focus especially on spoken interaction, which is easier to practise in a Finnish-language environment than in participants’ home universities.

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You apply primarily for a place in a summer course. You will find information on courses available under Summer courses 2025.

If you are admitted to a summer course, you will also be awarded a grant. The size of the grant is determined by your country of study:

  • Baltic and Nordic countries €210
  • Rest of Europe €320
  • Non-European countries €430
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Fill in and submit the application form below (the link will be activated on 3 February). In addition to this, your teacher will have to send us a statement about you.

Assess your own Finnish language skills corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference: 
https://europass.europa.eu/en/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills 
You can use Kielibuusti's self-assessment tool to help you in the assessment:
https://www.kielibuusti.fi/en/learn-finnish/language-learning-tips/assess-your-language-skills

The application period begins on 3 February 2025 and ends on 1 March 2025 at 23:59 Finnish time (UTC +2). After that it is not possible to send an application.

Please fill in the form in Finnish. We will not process applications that are completed in English.

When filling in the application form, you can save what you have filled in after every page and continue filling in the form later. Click Tallenna ja jatka myöhemmin. Please note! Remember to copy the link so that you can continue filling in the form.

After submitting the application, save the summary page (Yhteenvetosivu) for yourself.

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We will announce the course selections by 30 April 2025. Some applicants will be admitted, some put on a reserve list, and some cannot be admitted. If you are on a reserve list, it is possible that you can be admitted to a course if some of the selected applicants cancel their participation.

If you have also applied for a Suomea Suomessa internship, it is possible that you will be selected for both if the schedules allow it.

We will retain the application forms for two years. We need to collect personal information for the selection process of the summer courses and for course arrangements. The information will be disclosed only to the course organiser.

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Who can be admitted to the summer courses

You can apply to a summer course and receive the associated grant if you

  • are studying Finnish language and culture at a university outside Finland and
  • have completed Finnish language and culture studies during the preceding academic year and
  • are at least 18 years of age at the start of the course.

You cannot participate in the summer courses if you

  • have already completed your university studies
  • live or study in Finland
  • study at a Russian or Belarusian university (due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine).

Purposes for which the grant can be awarded

The grant can be used for travel and living expenses associated with the summer courses.

 

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We may take into account the geographical distribution of applicants to ensure that course participants are selected from several different universities.

Applicant details

  • The role of Finnish language and culture in the applicant's studies. Priority is given to students who study Finnish language and culture as their major or minor subject or in whose degree programmes it is otherwise an important part of studies.
  • Level of the applicant's Finnish language skills. The student’s level has to correspond to the level of the course.
  • The applicant's previous participation in EDUFI’s summer courses. Priority is given to first-timers, but others may also be admitted depending on available places in the courses.

Objectives and impact

  • The applicant clearly describes how attending a summer course would benefit their study progress.
  • The applicant clearly describes how attending a summer course would benefit their transition into the working life.
  • The applicant intends to continue studying Finnish language and culture at MA level after completing their BA degree.
  • The applicant intends to become a doctoral candidate in Finnish language and culture after completing their MA degree.
  • The applicant intends to work in a field where they can utilize their Finnish language skills or knowledge of Finnish culture and society.
     
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Contact person

Leena Kärnä
Send your inquiries to skk [at] oph.fi

 

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On this page you will find more information on summer courses 2025.

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EDUFI and Finnish Literature Exchange FILI arrange every other year a course for beginning translators. It is intended for those who are at the end of their studies or have recently graduated.

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Updated