Finnish-language Degree Programmes
Language and Communication Studies for Students Who Have Received Their School Education in Finnish or Swedish
The language and communication requirements are specified in each degree programme’s study guide in Peppi as well as in the Language Centre’s study community (opens in a new tab, login required).
Degree programmes in the School of Humanities: 14 ECTS
• Mother tongue (interaction skills and written communication) 5 ECTS
• Second national language (oral and written skills) 4 ECTS
• Foreign language 5 ECTS
School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology (excluding psychology): 13 ECTS
• Mother tongue (interaction skills and written communication) 6 ECTS
• Second national language (oral and written skills) 4 ECTS
• Foreign language 3 ECTS
Psychology: 13 ECTS
• Mother tongue (interaction skills and written communication) 3 ECTS
• Second national language (oral and written skills) 4 ECTS
• Foreign language 6 ECTS
School of Theology: 12 ECTS
• Mother tongue (interaction skills and written communication) 4 ECTS
• Second national language (oral and written skills) 4 ECTS
• Foreign language 4 ECTS
The Language Centre organises teaching and proficiency tests related to the recognition of foreign language skills only in English. Another language may be accepted as the foreign language of the degree if the student has completed at least basic studies in that language. Students may apply for credit transfer for foreign language courses based on basic studies. At the University of Eastern Finland, credit transfer for basic studies is available in English, French, German, and Russian. The Language Centre processes all credit transfer applications related to language and communication studies.
The decision of the Academic Rector “Definition of the Language of School Education and Language Proficiency Requirements for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees” specifies the criteria under which the head of department/school may grant a student exemption from studies in the second national language. The student must apply for the exemption at the beginning of their studies. If the head of department/school grants the exemption, the decision will specify other language and communication studies appropriate for the degree
to replace the compulsory language studies, so that the minimum scope of the degree is fulfilled.
Language and Communication Studies for Students whose Language of School Education is other than Finnish or Swedish
A student whose language of school education is other than Finnish or Swedish, as well as a student who has received their school education abroad, must apply to the head of department/school for a decision on which language studies are required. The application must be submitted at the beginning of studies.
If the head of department’s/school’s decision states that the student’s language of school education is other than Finnish or Swedish, or that the education was completed abroad, the following language and communication studies are required:
Degree Programmes in the School of Humanities, School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, and School of Educational Sciences and Psychology: 2–14 ECTS
• 12 ECTS of Finnish language studies offered by the University of Eastern Finland Language Centre or through cross-institutional studies in UEF’s partner networks, and
• at least 2 ECTS of studies in one foreign language
The above-mentioned Finnish language studies are not required from a student whose degree includes Finnish as a major or minor subject (Finnish language, Teaching Finnish as a Second and Foreign Language, Finnish Language and Translation, Finnish Language and Culture for Non-Native Speakers), or who can otherwise demonstrate sufficient proficiency in Finnish.
School of Theology: 8–16 ECTS
• Depending on Finnish language proficiency, either 4 or 12 ECTS of Finnish language studies are required:
- If proficiency is sufficient, the student must successfully complete the courses “Interaction Skills for Students of Theology” (2 ECTS) and “Written Communication in Finnish for Students of Theology” (2 ECTS).
- Otherwise, the student must complete 12 ECTS of Finnish language studies offered by the UEF Language Centre or through cross-institutional studies in UEF’s partner networks.
• At least 4 ECTS credits of studies in one foreign language from the UEF Language Centre’s course offerings.
English-language Degree Programmes
English-language Bachelor’s Programme
The student’s language of school education affects the required language and communication studies.
If the student has received their school education in Finland in Finnish or Swedish, they must complete the following language and communication studies:
• Scientific Communication and Interaction 3 ECTS
• Second national language (oral and written skills) 3 ECTS
• English language studies 6 ECTS
If the student has received their school education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, or has received their school education abroad, proficiency in Finnish affects the required language and communication studies:
• According to their proficiency in Finnish, 6 ECTS of Finnish language studies are required:
- If the student’s Finnish proficiency is good, they must successfully complete Written Communication (3 ECTS) and Interaction Skills (3 ECTS).
- Otherwise, the student completes 6 ECTS of Finnish language studies.
• English language studies 6 ECTS
The language and communication courses are described in detail in the degree programme study guide in Peppi.
English-language Master’s Programmes
The Master’s degree programme in Clinical Linguistics includes a 3 ECTS Finnish language course in the degree structure. In other English-language Master’s programmes in the Philosophical Faculty, students must complete at least four ECTS credits of studies in Finnish language, intercultural communication, or internationalisation. In the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, students who have obtained the right to study on or after 1 August 2025 must complete at least 6 ECTS of the same.
Language Proficiency Requirements for Teachers
The qualification requirements for teaching staff are regulated by the Government Decree 986/1998 as follows:
Principal
• Must have excellent oral and written skills in the language of instruction of the institution or in the language specified in the licence granted under the Act on Vocational Education and Training.
Principal under the Act on Liberal Adult Education and the Act on Basic Education in the Arts
• Must have proficiency in the language of instruction of the institution.
Teacher providing basic education or pre-primary education
• Must have excellent oral and written skills in the school’s language of instruction.
• If the language of instruction differs from the school’s official language, the teacher must have proficiency in the language used in teaching.
Language proficiency requirements in general upper secondary education
• Must have proficiency in the language used in teaching.
• A teacher of mother tongue and literature must have excellent oral and written skills in the relevant language.
A person is considered to have excellent oral and written skills in the language of instruction if their school education language is the same as the language of instruction and they have completed the maturity test in that language.