L2 Finnish language support

Approximately 5 % of students who study in Finnish-taught programmes are non-native speakers of Finnish. Some of them have acquired their basic and secondary education in Finland, some of them outside Finland. This page gives information about the language issues of non-native students for students themselves, teachers and other staff members.

Language requirements when applying to university education in Finnish and how to prove one’s language proficiency

• In Finnish-taught programmes the general language requirement for students is B2 (CEFR) which is the official level of “good” command of Finnish, determined by law. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that ths students have necessary prerequisites to complete their studies in Finnish.
• In some master’s degrees the language requirement can be higher, e.g. MA degree in Finnish language (C1).
• Adequate language proficiency is usually proven automatically when the student has passed Finnish Matriculation Exams. Read more on how and when to prove adequate language proficiency level (available only in Finnish).  

The language of the school education and maturity test

• The language of the school education is determined by the language in which a student has taken their mother tongue syllabus at primary and secondary school or by the grade the student gets from the Finnish as a second language matriculation exam.
• The language of school education can be Finnish, Swedish or other.
• Some students with non-native Finnish background have Finnish as their language of the school education, some have “other”. The language of school edication determines the language with which the student needs to write their maturity test as part of their university degree. It also determines which language proficiency level the student must or can demontrate. Read in more detail on the page on Maturity test and demonstration language skills in degrees

Communication and language studies

• As a default, obligatory communication and language studies apply also to students with other language backgrounds.
• However, it is possible for weighty reasons to apply for an exemption from the obligatory communication and language studies.
• There is a new study module at the Language Centre on academic writing in Finnish for those students who are at levels B2–C1 in their Finnish skills. It is offered to all students at those proficiency levels, regardless of their obligatory language courses or exemption from them. Read more on the course in the curriculum.
• If a student’s proficiency level in Finnish is approximately B2, it is adviced to take Finnish language and culture as a free-choice elective study module.  The Finnish language and culture study module is designed for the B2 Finnish proficiency level and it offers teaching and support especially in Finnish language use and development at the higher education environment. Also students at C1 proficiency level may benefit from the courses. One can choose to take the whole study module or just one or two courses, according to their needs and schedule.

Support during studies

• At Tampere University, there is an L2 Finnish councellor, who offers services to all students and staff members in L2 Finnish matters. They offer support and personal guidance in Finnish language related problems and needs. The service is designed primarily for students who study in Finnish but are not native speakers of Finnish (or whose language of school education is not Finnish). 
• You are adviced to contact L2 Finnish councellor with matters such as:
  • A study module feels demanding because of Finnish language.
  • Some study tasks feel difficult because of Finnish language.
  • It takes excessive amounts of time to accomplish study tasks because of Finnish language.
  • Writing a thesis is very slow and painstaking because of Finnish language.
  • It is unsure, whether student’s Finnish language proficiency is developing as expected towards the degree graduation and job market requirements.
• Also staff members are welcomed to contact the L2 Finnish councellor if they are unsure about a student’s Finnish language proficiency.
• In 2024 – 2025 the L2 Finnish councellor is Maija Tervola, maija.tervola [at] tuni.fi
• On the TLC webpage, advice is available for teachers who teach in Finnish on how to take into account students whose language backgrouds are diverse (only in Finnish): Työkaluja opettajalle S2-taustaisen opiskelijan huomioimiseen

More information

Read about research made on the language challenges of students studying in their non-native language (in Finnish): Korkeakouluissa pärjääminen ja kielelliset haasteet