Language studies

Languages as part of professional studies

If you are studying in an English-language Bachelor's degree programme and have completed your prior education abroad or in a language other than Swedish or Finnish, you are required to complete 10 ECTS in Swedish for Beginners and 5 ECTS in English Academic Writing as part of the common language studies.

If you are studying in an English-language Bachelor's degree programme and your language of schooling prior to Arcada was Finnish, you are required to complete 5 ECTS each in Finnish, Swedish at the intermediate level (the second national language), and English Academic Writing. Your degree certificate will include a statement of your language proficiency and grades in accordance with Section 6 of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003).

If you are a Swedish-speaking student in an English-language Bachelor's degree programme, you are required to complete 5 ECTS each in Swedish (language of schooling), Finnish (the second national language), and English Academic Writing. For more information, please see the Start pages in Swedish.

Language studies as development studies

Irrespective of the Bachelor's programme, international students can choose Swedish or Finnish language courses as part of their development studies. Learning Swedish and/or Finnish supports integration in Finland. All students complete 10 credits of Swedish, Arcadas main language, as part of their compulsory studies, and further language studies in Swedish or Finnish are also a available.

We recommend allocating a total of 15 credits of the development studies to Swedish or Finnish language courses to build a solid foundation in the language.

Through co-operation with Hanken , the Swedish School of Economics, Arcada students can study e.g. Spanish, German, French. Use the search function in Sisu and make sure to click on Cross-institutional studies. In the menu Cross-institutional network, choose Language Studies Arcada Hanken. There is a limited number of spots for Arcada students at Hanken, so make sure to register in good time and remember to check when the registration period for the course closes.

Kivanet and Unitandem are two networks for language studies at universities in Finland.

Master´s students

The aim of a higher education degree at a university of applied sciences is, among other things, to develop strong communication skills and language proficiency relevant to one’s own field. In master’s degree programmes, language studies are not included as separate mandatory study units. Master’s students are encouraged to independently focus on developing their language and communication skills and are welcome to participate in writing workshops in both Swedish and English. 

Swedish for Beginners

For international master’s students, optional beginner-level instruction in Swedish is offered through the project MISAS. This is a great opportunity to take your first steps in Swedish, connect with fellow students, and learn more about Finland-Swedish culture. After completing Swedish for Beginners 1, you can continue with Swedish for Beginners 2, 3, and 4. Swedish for Beginners courses are self-paced and supported by videos, assignments, and learning materials on Itslearning. You will also participate in online cafés where you can meet your teacher, share your progress, and receive personal feedback. Depending on your degree programme, 5 ECTS may count towards your elective studies.

Enrollment in Sisu
Study Unit: SP-SV-002 Swedish for Beginners 1 (5 ECTS)
Group:(MISAS) Swedish for Beginners 1 (Master students)

Finnish for Beginners i

Finnish for Beginners is also an option, although it is only available as an on-campus course.

Enrollment in Sisu
Study unit: SP-3-016 Finnish for Beginners 1
Group: Ryhmä 2 – Finnish for Beginners 1

After completing Finnish for Beginners 1, you can continue with Finnish for Beginners 2 and 3. These courses are offered only on campus and require attendance in person.

Exemption

A student in Swedish-language programmes at Arcada who has completed their prior education in Åland or in a country other than Finland may apply for exemption from the B1-level requirement in Finnish. For more information, please see the Start pages in Swedish.

Re-exams for language courses

You need to inform your teacher if you intend to attend re-exam. Upcoming re-exams will be held on 

Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 2:30–4:00 PM

Monday, November 9, 2026, 2:30–4:00 PM

Monday, December 14, 2026, 2:30–4:00 PM

Writing guide and Writing support

Remember to always keep Arcada’s Writing Guide at hand when you write. The more you read the guide and actively follow its advice, the easier your writing process will become.

You are welcome to join Arcada’s writing workshops. Every week, we are available to support you with various writing tasks in English, as well as in Swedish and Finnish. You will benefit most from the workshops if you attend early in your studies and at the beginning of a writing process.