The course is especially designed for international students who wish to know more about the Finnish society and culture. The main purpose is to introduce the students to the society and culture of contemporary Finland. After the course, the students will have an idea of the development and cultural, political and economic background of one of the Nordic welfare states.

Obtaining 3 ECTS credits: active participation in the lectures, passing the lecture exam organised at the end of the lecture series. The exam will be a multiple choice exam which possibly also includes writing some short essays.

Obtaining 5 ECTS credits: in addition to participation in the lectures and in the lecture exam, student must also pass an exam based on additional reading organized together with the lecture exam. Additional reading consists of scientific articles on Finnish Society and Culture and is to be confirmed in the course programme in Moodle.

Lectures and dates (subject to changes):

20.1. Finnish Political System (Johanna Peltoniemi)

27.1. Finnish History – Finns and Finland between East and West (Seija-Leena Nevala-Nurmi)

3.2. How to communicate in Finland? (Katja Keisala)

10.2. Finland – Living in and from the Forests (Ari Vanamo)

17.2. History of Tampere Region (Seija-Leena Nevala-Nurmi)

24.2. Boundaries of Finnishness and Ethnic Minorities in Finland (Hannu Sinisalo)

2.3. Finnish Education System (Eero Ropo)

9.3. Finnish Art History in a Nutshell (Katja Fält)

16.3. Finnish Popular Music (Juho Kaitajärvi-Tiekso)

30.3. lecture cancelled, see 8th of April

23.3. Easter Holiday

6.4. Technology and Innovation in Finland: Current Issues and Future Challenges (Tomi Nokelainen)

8.4. on FRIDAY: Finnish Literature (Toni Lahtinen), lecture at 15-17

13.4. Special Features of Finnish Mass Media (Jyrki Jyrkiäinen)

20.4. Exam

27.4. Exam retake

Students of the University of Tampere enroll via Nettiopsu by clicking "To Enrolment" below.

TTY and TAMK students: please enroll via this link:

Participation in the lectures and an exam. The exam will be organised at the end of the lecture series. It will be a multiple choice which, possibly, also includes writing some short essays.

Contact person: Coordinator of international education, Anna Wansén-Kaseva