Language and communication studies

Published 5.9.2022 | Updated 16.12.2024

All bachelor’s degrees completed at Uniarts Helsinki include mandatory language and communication studies. The degree requirements of all academies include studies in communication, the second official language in Finland (Finnish or Swedish) and a foreign language.

The purpose of language and communications studies is to develop students’ skills in a variety of languages, including in Finnish and Swedish, and give them tools needed for working in multicultural environments. Students learn the vocabulary and other language skills needed in both writing and in face-to-face communications in their own artistic discipline. 

On language courses, students focus on developing their language skills and expanding their vocabulary in their personal professional field and artistic discipline by talking, writing and listening to the language. Communication studies help students improve their formal writing and oral communication skills. These studies give students tools needed to communicate their own artistic activities and thinking to others and to participate in discussions in the arts sector. 

Language teachers arrange language courses also for the staff and offer support in questions concerning languages and communications.

Language and communication studies in bachelor’s degrees

Students are expected to complete their language studies during their first or second year of studies. If you have gained language skills through previous studies, look into the possibility of credit transfer right in the beginning of your bachelor’s studies.

The language in which you have received your school education defines what language and communication studies you must complete. If you have studied Finnish or Swedish as a first language in comprehensive school and/or general upper secondary school, you have received your school education in Finnish or Swedish. 

When you have received your school education in some other language than Finnish or Swedish (international students)

Language and communication studies for a bachelor’s degree (language of education: some other language than Finnish or Swedish):

• A course in Finnish language according to your language skill level, Finnish 1–4 (4 cr)
• Foreign language, e.g. English* (5 cr)
• Textual skills and Interaction skills in English (3 cr).

* If you have received your school education in English, you are required to complete e.g. Finnish, German or Italian introduction courses at Uniarts Helsinki as foreign language studies instead of English for your degree.

When your language of school education is Finnish or Swedish

Language and communication studies for a bachelor’s degree (language of education: Finnish or Swedish):

• Studies in the second official language in Finland, Swedish or Finnish (3 cr)
• Foreign language, e.g. English (5 cr)
• Textual skills and Interaction skills in the language of school education (3 cr).

See the list of language and communication studies for the Bachelor’s degree in the Uniarts Helsinki study guide. You can also find the language and communication studies for your degree in the curriculum of your degree programme.

Foreign language studies

Foreign language studies in English must correspond to level CEFR B2 and in other languages to level CEFR B1. At Uniarts Helsinki, studies of suitable level are offered only in English, but you can choose to complete foreign language studies also in Spanish, Italian, French, German or Russian at some other university. JOO studies and the language networks KiVANET and KiViTa offer opportunities for language studies at other Finnish higher education institutions.

Preparatory study units

If you do not have upper secondary school level proficiency in English (and Swedish if mandatory in your degree), you must first participate in preparatory studies that are offered each academic year. In preparatory study units, students study the everyday vocabulary and basic grammar rules of the language required for participating in standard language courses.

Language proficiency tests and portfolios

At Uniarts Helsinki, students can receive credits by completing a language proficiency test for studies in English, Finnish, Swedish, German and Italian. Language proficiency tests should be completed early on in the studies because if you do not pass a language proficiency test, you must participate in the actual course. Proficiency tests cannot be retaken.

The language proficiency test for Finnish, German and Italian consists of a written and oral examination. You can contact the language lecturers to find out more about language exams.

The language proficiency test for English (and Swedish as the second national language) consists of a portfolio that the student compiles independently and an oral skills demonstration.

English and Swedish portfolios

In order to complete the English proficiency tests, you must have a strong command of the English language, min. level B2.2 (CEFR). For the portfolio in Swedish as the second national language, you must have at least B1 level language skills. You must also know the key vocabulary of your field of art.

Check the CEFR language proficiency levels on the Europass website.

Also make sure that you already have the language skills and competences listed in the learning outcomes of the course:

• English for Arts Studies and Practice 1 (CEFR B2)
• English for Arts Studies and Practice 2 (CEFR B2)
• Swedish, Second official language (CEFR B1-B2)

The accreditation process consists of the following:

1. Writing assignments related to arts studies and to your own artistic field, as well as to texts needed in professional life. Instructions and return of the written assignments are on Moodle.
2. An oral skills demonstration with a language lecturer on the same topics in the form of a presentation and an interview. The oral test will only be conducted if the written part has been passed first. The oral test can be held in Zoom or Teams.

If the portfolio seems to be the right method of completing English for you, please contact kielet@uniarts.fi to move forward.

Credit transfer of language and communication studies

Students may substitute mandatory language and communication studies with their prior studies in accordance with the vice rector’s decision. Credits for the studies are transferred in full, regardless of minor differences in the scope of the studies.

Studies that a student has completed over 10 years ago cannot substitute language and communication studies unless the student proves their language skills in a language proficiency test. Language tests or studies completed at private language schools or at other similar institutions are not acceptable substitutions.

Prior learning that can substitute foreign language studies (in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian):

• prior foreign language studies at a higher education institution (minimum CEFR-level for English is B2, for other languages B1)
• foreign language studies completed at a university (minimum scope: 25 cr)
• a degree completed in a foreign language at a higher education institution 
• grades laudatur and eximia in level A English test in the Finnish Matriculation Examination or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma (substitutes 2 credits for English language studies).

Beginners’ courses in Italian and German can be substituted with general upper secondary school studies of adequate scope or participation in the Italian/German language test of the Finnish matriculation examination.

Prior learning that can substitute studies in Interaction skills or Textual skills:

• studies in interaction skills, speech communication or oral communication completed at another higher education institution in Finland (also the Sibelius Academy’s study units S-OP8_24 Interactive skills and S-IY11_24 Luomus 1)
• studies in textual skills, written communication or academic writing completed at another higher education institution in Finland or a written thesis.

Prior learning that can substitute studies in the second national language, Finnish or Swedish (for those who have received their school education in Finnish or Swedish):

• prior studies in the second national language completed at a higher education institution (CEFR-level B1-B2)
• core studies (25 cr) or intermediate studies (35 cr) in the second national language completed at a university
• a degree completed in the second national language at a higher education institution.

Please note that the CampusOnline course “Professional Swedish” by Metropolia UAS, which is completed independently online, does not replace studies in the second official language (Swedish).

Exemption from Finnish or Swedish as a second national language

The requirement of demonstrating one’s proficiency in Finnish or Swedish as a second national language (for those who have received their school education in Finnish or Swedish) does not apply to the following students: 

• Students who have not previously completed studies in Finnish or Swedish as a second national language, e.g. students who have completed their comprehensive school or general upper secondary school education in Åland. 
• Students who have been exempted from studies in Finnish or Swedish as a second national language already on previous levels of education.
• Students whose language of education is some other language than Finnish or Swedish and students who have received their education abroad. 
• Students who have some other special reason that prevents their language studies (a certificate must be attached to the application).

You need to apply for an exemption from studies in Finnish or Swedish as a second national language if your language of school education was Finnish or Swedish. A student who has been exempted from these studies must substitute the credits by completing studies in the second national language in question on a level that is suitable for the student or by completing studies in some other language, as decided by the academy. 

Send an application form to your home academy’s head of academic affairs if needed.

Please remember, however, that language proficiency in Finnish or Swedish is required of personnel in public bodies in Finland, which means that in practice, it is often a requirement for being selected for a permanent public-service employment relationship. A student who has been exempted from studies in Finnish or Swedish as a second national language is not able to use their degree to demonstrate their proficiency in the second national language that is required of central government staff in bilingual public organisations.

Optional language studies

Uniarts Helsinki offers beginners’ courses in Italian, German and Finnish. There are also online and independent language studies available.

“Each One Teach One” language studies give students the opportunity to learn the basics of an entirely new language or to activate their existing language skills together with another Uniarts Helsinki student. The idea in “Each One Teach One” is that students teach each other their own first language or some other language that they know very well. Each pair of students plans their studies independently.

You can also include courses from different language networks in your optional studies. KiVANET offers online language courses from different higher education institutions in Finland. KiViTa’s language and communication studies include courses organised by universities in the capital region. Uniarts Helsinki’s students can apply freely for these courses. There are several application deadlines per year.