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
NOTE!
Registration for the fall 2026 courses will begin
August 1.
Suomi-kahvila (Suomi Café)
Come and speak Finnish at the Suomi Cafe. The cafe is open approximately every other Thursday at 14 - 15 as follows:
Lahti, autumn 2026
Place: in Isku Center, 2. floor (Ravintola Isku Center > stairs 2. floor; next to the room D246), at Mukkula campus (Mukkulankatu 19) | Lappeenranta, autumn 2026
Place: in Street Café, at Skinnarila campus (Yliopistonkatu 36) |
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. Finnish courses are intended for students whose native language is not Finnish.
| CEFR Level | Course | ects | Prerequisites |
| A1 | Self-study Finnish 1 (100 % independent study; hop on course) | 3
| no previous skills |
| A1 | Self-study Finnish 2 (100 % independent study; hop on course) | 3 | Finnish 1 (= Self-study Finnish 1) OR equivalent skills |
| A1 | Finnish 3 | 3 | Finnish 2 or equivalent skills |
| A1/A2 | Finnish 4 | 3 | Finnish 3 or equivalent skills |
| A1/A2 | Elementary Conversation in Finnish | 3 | Skills at level A1 (e.g. Finnish 1 - 4) |
| A2 | Finnish 5 - Finnish for Work | 5 | Skills at level A1 (e.g. Finnish 1 - 4) |
| A2 | Finnish 6 - Finnish for Work | 5 | Finnish 5 or equivalent skills |
| A2 | Pre-intermediate Conversation in Finnish | 5 | Skills at level A2 |
| B1 | Finnish 7 - Finnish for Work | 5 | Finnish 6 or equivalent skills |
| B1 | Intermediate self-study in Finnish | 2 | Skills at level A2/B1 |
| B1/B2 | Academic Writing in Finnish as a Second Language | 3 | Skills at level B1/B2 |
| B2 | Asiantuntijan viestintätaidot (S2) * | 4 | Skills at level B1/B2 |
* only for students of the degree programs taught in Finnish
Other Finnish language courses
- Korkeakouluopinnot ja suomi toisena kielenä 1 (5 ECTS), CERF-level B1
- Korkeakouluopinnot ja suomi toisena kielenä 2 (5 ECTS), CERF-level B1/B2
- Korkeakouluopinnot ja suomi toisena kielenä 3 (5 ECTS), CERF-level B2
- Esiintymistaito (5 ECTS), CERF-level B1/B2
Remember also cross-institutional studies: https://elab.lab.fi/en/completing-studies/other-study-opportunities/cross-institutional-studies