Towards University – preparatory education for immigrants

The project will support more broadly the integration of immigrants into higher education and their pathways to the university. The main objective of the project will be achieved through the following sub-objectives:

Objective 1: Piloting coaching and guidance

Objective 2: Facilitating transitions between services through regional cooperation

Objective 3: Sharing of results and practices and peer learning

The project has resulted in the development and piloting of a guidance model and a curriculum tray for preparatory training, which brings together the courses offered and developed as preparatory education. The project has created a new model for assessing the Finnish language skills of immigrants applying for co-selection and has also developed selection principles and application procedures for preparatory education at the Universities of Lapland and Oulu. The project has a positive impact on the opportunities and readiness of immigrants in the region to apply for university education by strengthening immigrants' academic skills and knowledge of university studies and by developing their Finnish language skills.

During the project, the skills and cooperation of university staff and network actors will be developed to guide migrants to appropriate studies. Transitions from integration education and other guidance services to preparatory training have developed through the emergence of common practices. Experts and partners from Lapland and North Ostrobothnia have been involved in the co-development activities and all results and materials are available for national use.

The target group of the project are the immigrants living in northern Finland who wish to apply for university studies in Finnish.

The training is open to immigrants who have:

• Finnish language level B1.1 or higher (according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages). The language proficiency level has been achieved either through participation in integration training or through other means.
• A qualification equivalent to at least upper secondary education, either from abroad or from Finland.

The coaching programme targets, among others, immigrants who have completed integration education and are interested in Finnish-language university studies, but need preparatory training to develop language and academic skills, as well as guidance towards a suitable degree programme and admission.

The main coordinator of the project is the University of Lapland. At the University of Oulu, the project is coordinated by the Centre for Languages and Communication Lingua, in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities.

The development of regional cooperation is key: the University of Oulu works in cooperation with the education and guidance services working with immigrants in North Ostrobothnia, in order to facilitate the transitions of immigrants from one service to another. The project will increase cooperation between educational institutions, school levels, preparatory training and networks working with migrants in Northern Finland.

The project will develop the skills and cooperation of university staff and network actors to guide migrants towards appropriate studies. The transition from integration training and other guidance services to preparatory education will be facilitated through the development of common practices.

Experts and partners from Lapland and North Ostrobothnia will be involved in co-development activities. All results and materials will be widely disseminated within the expert and cooperation networks of both universities nationwide in scientific and other educational publications, networks and seminars, so that they can be used nationwide. The project will also peer-learn from other similar projects and actors.

You can apply to the preparatory training if you have:

• Finnish language level B1.1 or higher (according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages). The language proficiency level has been achieved either through participation in integration training or through other means.
• A qualification equivalent to at least upper secondary education, either from abroad or from Finland.

Contact us and ask more!

Liisa Väisänen, liisa.vaisanen@oulu.fi, +358 50 5210 638

Anne Koskela, anne.koskela@oulu.fi, +358 50 3504 568

Elina Palola, elina.palola@oulu.fi, +358 50 5984 732

The next possibility to apply to the preparatory training is in autumn 2025. For the academic year 2024-2025, there are no more places left in preparatory education. Information on the application procedure will be made available here in spring 2025.

The application period for the first preparatory training was May 1 - 31, 2024. The first preparatory training starts in autumn 2024 and the second in autumn 2025. The next possibility to apply to the preparatory training is in autumn 2025. Training can be offered in short courses of less than 6 months.

Before the application process, it is very important to discuss your plan with your own expert at the employment office.

In the preparatory training you will

• develop your Finnish language skills
• learn the Finnish language needed for university studies
• get information about studying in Finland
• develop your study skills
• get to know interesting fields and study environments
• get support from your own coach
• get help with applying to university.

There are no course fees for preparatory training courses. You can take as many courses as you need. We will plan your own study path together to help you apply to university. Training can be offered in short courses of less than 6 months.

Please remember to talk to your own official at the employment office before you apply to the training.

Information sessions will be organised during the Spring 2025 in the integration training units. Ask your Finnish teacher for more information!

Download the brochure here.