Language and communication studies
Language studies are a part of your degree program so please be sure that you complete them in good time. Start as soon as possible.
If you have lived in Finland and completed your earlier education in Finnish or Swedish, your language studies include Finnish or Swedish as they are the official languages of Finland. Your language studies also include foreign languages. Often English is chosen for the foreign language requirement, but in some programs German is also accepted. Other optional languages are available as well and many degree programs include these optional studies.
In the University of Oulu, it is possible to study French, Japanese and Russian and we have courses at all levels from beginner level to intermediate level. Since autumn 2022, also free courses of Ukrainian have been taught online.
In open or summer university, as a student you can also study Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Open and summer university also offer some of the required courses so if you miss out during the academic year, you can possibly complete your required course in the summer if it is offered.
We welcome you to study languages!
Why are languages and communication studies included in your degree?
In your studies and in working life you will need proficient language and communication skills as well as cultural knowledge. You are on a journey which will lead you towards becoming an academic expert and this requires your ownership of concepts and communication skills both in Finnish as well as other languages. The future of work includes mobility. Where will you be in 10 years?
Each faculty determines in compliance with the law how much you will study languages and communication in your degree program. Our webpages show the collection of languages under which you can find the courses required in your degree program. Each course serves as a link by which you can gain immediate access for registration in Peppi or Tuudo.
Study right
The Language courses are targeted at the bachelor's degree students of the University of Oulu as part of their degree. If you are an exchange student, a master's degree student or a member of staff,you may be eligible to participate..
Recognition of learning
Recognition of learning refers to set practices that can be used to assess the learning of the student and to approve that learning as part of the student’s studies.
Discover our language courses and array of language options.
Study languages online!
The KiVANET university network organizes online courses in several different languages and in multilingual tandem learning in the spring term of 2025. We offer, among others, courses in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Korean, Japanese, Estonian and Russian.
Enrollment for spring courses from 2.12.2024-12.1.2025.
Further details and enrollment instructions available here: https://sites.uwasa.fi/kivanet/
Complete the language studies on time
Start your language studies early enough! You get the most out of language courses and complete them without stress.
The Centre for Languages and Communication Lingua is at your service
It is easiest to reach us online:
· Staff members can be reached via email. Addresses are formed firstname.lastname@oulu.fi
· If you do not know to whom you should address your inquiry, please email study.languages@oulu.fi.
Lingua's staff is on Christmas break from 23.12.-6.1. We will reply to messages again on 7.1.2025. Merry Christmas!
Location and address
The Centre for Languages and Communication is located on the Linnanmaa campus, on Koneenkatu, 4th floor above the Architecture department. The stairway and elevator at T2 lead to our office. See kampuskartta (find ST450).
Visiting address
Pentti Kaiterankatu 1, Linnanmaa
Postal address
Centre for Languages and Communication Lingua
P.O. Box 8000
90014 UNIVERSITY OF OULU
FINLAND
Tel 0294 480 000
study.languages(at)oulu.fi
Personnel emails are formed as firstname.lastname@oulu.fi