Finnish as a second language
Study Finnish, live in Finland, work in Finland! At LAB and LUT, Finnish language studies for international students emphasize speaking and interaction skills. We encourage you to study the language in class, online, and outside together with Finnish-speaking people.
You will find a course that suits you from the wide range of studies intended for students whose mother tongue is other than Finnish.
News
Suomi-kahvila (Suomi Café)
Come and speak Finnish at the Suomi Cafe. The cafe is open at 14-15 on Thursdays:
Lahti
Place: Mukkulankatu 19, ravintola Isku Center, near the restaurant main entrance | Lappeenranta
Place: at Skinnarila campus, in Street Café. |
Information and help for learning Finnish!
S2-klinikka is meant for all LAB/LUT-students whose native language is not Finnish. In S2-klinikka you can get Finnish language counseling for:
- written assignments
- presentation material
- job application texts
- a specific question about Finnish language.
You can also get counseling for your Finnish studies, e.g. What is a suitable course for me? Where can I study Finnish? Please notice that S2-klinikka is not for text correction but you can receive help with your writing process. S2-klinikka is offered twice a week. Please make an enrollment in Moodle before.
Finnish Language Courses for International Students
You will find a suitable course from our vast course selection. You can study Finnish from the very beginning to B2 level.
Study Guide LAB - Finnish as a Second Language
| CEFR Level | Course | ects | Prerequisites | Period |
| A1 | Finnish 1 OR Suomi with Love 1 (100 % independent study; hop on course) | 3
| no previous skills | 1 and 3 (2 and 4) |
| A1 | Finnish 2 OR Suomi with Love 2 (100 % independent study; hop on course) | 3 | Finnish 1 OR Suomi with Love 1 OR equivalent skills | 2 and 4 (1 and 2) |
| A1 | Finnish 3 | 3 | Finnish 2 or equivalent skills | 1 and 3 |
| A1/A2 | Finnish 4 | 3 | Finnish 3 or equivalent skills | 2 and 4 |
| A1/A2 | Finnish Conversation 1 | 3 | Skills at level A1 | 1 - 2 and 5 |
| A2 | Finnish for Work 1 | 5 | Finnish 4 or equivalent skills | 1−2, 3-4 |
| A2 | Finnish for Work 2 | 5 | Finnish for Work 1 or equivalent skills | 3−4 |
| A2 | Finnish Conversation 2 | 5 | Skills at level A2 | 5 |
| B1 | Finnish for Work 3 | 5 | Finnish for Work 2 or equivalent skills | 1-2 |
| B1 | Independent Study in Finnish | 2 | Skills at level A2/B1 | 1 - 4 |
| B1 | Korkeakouluopinnot ja suomi toisena kielenä 1 * | 5 | Skills at level B1 | 2 |
| B1/B2 | Korkeakouluopinnot ja suomi toisena kielenä 2 * | 5 | Skills at level B1 | 3 |
| B2 | Korkeakouluopinnot ja suomi toisena kielenä 3 * | 5 | Skills at level B1/B2 | 4 |
| B1/B2 | Academic Writing in Finnish as a Second Language | 3 | Skills at level B1/B2 | 1-2 |
| B2 | Asiantuntijan viestintätaidot (S2) ** | 4 | Skills at level B1/B2 | 1−2 and 3−4 |
* only at LAB Lahti Campus
** only for students of the degree programs taught in Finnish