Tampere University Language Centre

The Language Centre is classified as an independent institute of the University of Tampere since 1975. It specializes in the teaching and research of Languages for Specific Purposes. Our main function is to provide teaching in the official languages of Finland (Finnish and Swedish) and in foreign languages as required in the degree programmes of the University. The Language Centre teaches both students - Finnish and foreign - and the personnel of the University, as well as people in working life.

International exchange programmes are bringing ever greater numbers of foreign students to Tampere. The Language Centre has a variety of courses to provide them with the Finnish language skills they need, ranging through the survival and follow-up courses to intensive advanced courses.

Tampere University Language Centre offers a 25 ECTS credit program in Intercultural Communication Studies designed to complement language and communication skills courses, and thereby increase intercultural communication competence. The aim is to increase students' knowledge and awareness of culture, its influence on communication and their awareness of themselves as cultural beings. The program is open to students of all faculties. The courses are taught mainly in English to encourage the participation of international students and promote interaction between them and Finnish students.

The following courses belong to the programme of Finnish as a Foreign Language:

  • ELEMENTARY COURSE 1
  • ELEMENTARY COURSE 2
  • ELEMENTARY COURSE 3
  • ELEMENTARY COURSE 4
  • ADVANCED COURSE 1
  • ADVANCED COURSE 2
  • ADVANCED LEVEL VOCABULARY COURSE
  • READING COMPREHENSION AND CONVERSATION COURSE 1
  • READING COMPREHENSION AND CONVERSATION COURSE 2

Which course to choose?

If you want just a quick introduction to elementary Finnish and if you are not planning to continue your Finnish studies after one term, join the Survival Course and after that the Follow-up Course.
If you want to study Finnish quite intensively and perhaps continue your studies longer than only one term, join Elementary Courses 1-4.
If you have already passed through the levels A1 and A2, join the advanced level courses.