The aim of the course is to provide students with basic-level language skills that enable them to cope in simple everyday situations – using basic phrases and vocabulary – and talk about themselves and their surroundings. Students will practice speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and different language learning strategies. Finnish will be learned in meaningful contexts, and the course material, provided by the Centre for Multilingual Academic Communication, will be especially tailored for the international university students. Methods used in the course include pronunciation and listening exercises, conversation in small groups, language games, reading texts, written homework assignments, small tasks in Finnish on the Internet, and practicing the skills out in the real world. The My Finnish course is targeted primarily for the international degree students to JYU.
My Finnish is a mandatory course in most of the international degree programmes to non-native students who don’t have prior Finnish studies. The course is organized regularly during your studies but only this version starts prior to the orientation programme and other courses, giving you an excellent opportunity to focus your full attention to your Finnish language studies in the beginning. Students with prior Finnish studies are encouraged to continue with the more advanced Finnish courses organised during the academic year in order to meet the possible programme criteria for the Finnish courses. See the programme curricula: Curricula of the Degree programmes: University of Jyväskylä Study Guide (jyu.fi)
Information on the Finnish courses: Finnish as a second language studies at Movi | University of Jyväskylä (jyu.fi)
The former My Finnish (5ECTS) course is divided into two parts as of August 2026. The first part is 3 ECTS (XSUX1011 My Finnish 1) and the second part is 2 ECTS.
Learning outcomes and content of the first part (XSUX1011 My Finnish 1) can be seen from the course description in the Sisu-data system Sisu student tools
The detailed schedule for the first part (XSUX1011 My Finnish 1) the can be seen in the Sisu-data System Sisu student tools(Teaching > Groups and Teaching times) once confirmed. The course will run as intensive contact teaching on the first weeks 11-21.8.2026 (Mon-Fri) and resume a less frequent schedule after the orientation week with teaching on Tuesdays 14-16 and Fridays 10-12 until the end of September.
Information and sign-up for the second part will be informed later.
How to apply for the first part:
- Application time: 1- 15 May
- Application form: to be published when application time begins
- Application process: Applicants will receive information on their admission to the course within a few weeks after the application deadline. The participation on the course must be confirmed by 15 June at the latest.
- Minimum and maximum number of participants: min. 14, max. 30.
NB. It is not possible to take other intensive courses in August alongside My Finnish course because of the work load and conflicting schedules. My Finnish course is targeted primarily for the international degree students to JYU.
Degree students already studying at JYU who have not done My Finnish can apply for this August course in Sisu (as for any regular course). Priority is given to new students.
