New pathways for applicants with Finnish as a second language for the spring 2026 joint application
The Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ is creating new educational pathways for applicants who have studied Finnish as a second language. The new pathways will take into account the different linguistic and cultural backgrounds of the applicants. The Finnish as a second language pathways will be open for applications to class teacher training, early childhood education and social work studies for the first time in the spring 2026 joint application. According to Marja-Leena Laakso, Vice Rector for Education, the reform is important from a societal perspective.
"The Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ has been a pioneer in developing practices towards equal and accessible university education. This initiative, too, is based on our values of the educational responsibility of the university in a changing society and world. The university must be able to serve increasingly diverse groups of applicants and students and respond to changing skills requirements and demographic changes," Laakso says.
"Access to a university education will have far-reaching effects on people's experiences of inclusion and belonging - not just for those who take part in this education, but for all children and young people who encounter a teacher from a similar background in kindergartens or schools, for example. Pupils and students from a completely Finnish cultural background will also have the opportunity to learn in a more linguistically and culturally diverse environment."
According to Marja-Leena Laakso, a linguistically and culturally aware approach that takes into account the different backgrounds of students will also contribute to a more equal treatment of students in the degree programmes and better prepare them for Finnish working life.
The reform is part of the Ministry of Education and Culture's internationalisation objective
During the contract period 2025-2028, the Ministry of Education and Culture's (OKM) strategic funding will support, among other things, the responsible internationalisation of universities in research and education. The planning and implementation of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥'s language and culture awareness training is part of this objective. The work will progress in stages from the development of the model to the actual training courses, which will be integrated into the Finnish language year groups of the schools. The first students will start in the renewed training modules in autumn 2026.
As Finland's population becomes more diverse, it is important to provide opportunities and, in some cases, targeted pathways to higher education," says Kaisu Piiroinen, Education Counsellor at the Ministry of Education and Culture. Piiroinen says that for the balance and representativeness of society, it is extremely good that the diversity of the population is better reflected in different parts of society and in different professions, especially in regulated public sector positions.
"When foreign-language students are offered studies in Finland's national languages, their employment prospects after graduation are better. Language- and culture-sensitive pathways provide the opportunity to participate in higher education leading to a degree, taking into account developing language skills alongside substantive studies," says Piiroinen.
However, background with Finnish as a second language does not always imply a need for support in language skills, Piiroinen points out. However, language and culture pathways also make visible the skills and knowledge that are needed in Finnish working life - but which are not actually included in the qualification requirements.
