Language Studies

All degree programmes include compulsory studies of the Finnish language and communication as well as studies of the Swedish language (so called state official Swedish requirement). In addition, graduates have to gain such oral and written skills in one or two obligatory foreign languages that are necessary for practising the profession and for further professional development. For foreign students separate courses in Finnish as a foreign language are available as well as Finnish cultural studies.

According to the Examination Regulations (16 June 2004), the language competence of students who have been instructed abroad or who have received their secondary school education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish and related non-appliance of language skills requirements will be decided by the rector.

Language studies are mainly field-specific, but students also have the possibility to complete language studies in the optional basic or professional studies or in the free-choice studies. It is possible to study several foreign languages from the basics to the advanced level. Students can select language courses not only from the course supply of their own School, but also from other Schools of Oulu University of Applied Sciences. The language courses provided by the Schools can be found through course search. Students are encouraged to take versatile language studies, because language skills are needed in the international student exchange as wells as internationalised working life.

National Languages of Finland

The student must demonstrate through studies included in the degree of the University of Applied Sciences or through language examinations that he/she has gained such oral and written skills in Finnish and Swedish that are required of state officials functioning in a position requiring a higher education in a bilingual office and that are necessary for practising the profession and for further professional development.

However, this does not apply to students, who have been instructed abroad or who have received their secondary school education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish. They can apply for exemption from the Finnish/Swedish language requirements by the rector. Students have to complete studies in one or several foreign languages instead. The scope of the compensating language studies must remain same as of the studies to be compensated. The compensating language studies must be other than the language studies that are compulsory in the curriculum of the degree programme. Studies in Finnish as a foreign language can compensate the studies of national languages. The rector of the Oulu University of Applied Sciences decides the compensating studies. The head of the degree programme and the language teachers give a statement of the student's application.

The student must submit an application for the compensating language studies to the head of the degree programme in the beginning of their studies. It is recommended that foreign students compensate the Finnish courses that are meant for the Finnish native speakers with Finnish as a foreign language.

Assessment of Language Studies

The language proficiency demonstrated by the student shall be marked on the degree certificate. Compulsory foreign languages will be assessed on a numeric scale of 0 - 5.

The language proficiency in the second national language (Swedish) required of state officials is assessed, unlike other language skills, on the basis of the decree as either good or satisfactory. However, the individual courses included in the state official Swedish are additionally assessed on a numeric scale of 1 - 5.The grade 'good' corresponds to grades 4 and 5 on the numeric scale and the grade 'satisfactory' to grades 1, 2 and 3. If the degree in state official Swedish consists of more than one course, and their joint grade requirements have not been specified or the weights of the courses has not been determined, the grade for the degree is the arithmetic average of the grades given for the courses. The average is rounded off to the nearest integer (e.g. 2.4 -> 2 and 2.5 -> 3).

Recognition and Accreditation of Language Studies

The University of Applied Sciences can for a special reason exempt a student from all or some of the language proficiency requirements.

Previous language studies can be recognised and compensated according to certain principles. Please see recognition and accreditation. Secondary level language studies will not be credited, and they cannot compensate any higher education studies, because they are included in the admission requirements.

The guidelines concerning crediting previous studies in Swedish for the state official examination in the Swedish language will be confirmed by the rector.

The instructions on the exemption applications for the state official Swedish language requirement and recognition of previous Swedish language studies as well as audition examinations are available for the Finnish students in Finnish.

If the grade for a recognised or compensated course/study module corresponds to the numeric or verbal scales used at Oulu University of Applied Sciences, it will be marked as the student's grade. For study modules grades given on a numeric scale of 0 - 5 can also be marked as one joint grade. In this case if needed the grade for the study module will be the average of the course grades, weighted according to the scope of the courses, rounded off to the nearest integer (e.g. 2.4 -> 2 and 2.5 -> 3).

If a course or study module has been assessed using another grading scale, the course will be marked as passed in the course register. However, a grade in state official Swedish completed in a university will be converted as follows: satisfactory (s) = satisfactory 2, good (g) = good 4. If a recognised study attainment in state official Swedish is supplemented in the Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the grade given is the arithmetic average of the grades for the recognised attainment and the supplementary attainment. In addition grades for ECTS credits earned abroad are converted to the numeric scale according to the conversion table used in the ECTS system.

Further information on recognition of language studies and exemption applications can be obtained from the language teachers of the Schools and from the International Relations Officer, Ms Marjo Pääskylä, tel. (08) 312 6024, marjo.paaskyla(at)oamk.fi.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is a European framework developed by the Council of Europe for the learning, teaching and assessment of languages. It defines and describes six levels of language attainment from A1-A2 / the Basic User level to B1-B2 / Independent User to C1-C2 / the Proficient User level. The CEFR can be used as a tool both for student self-assessment as well as for planning language courses. In addition, it provides a common international basis for the evaluation of language learning, for example when deciding about compensation for language studies completed abroad. Students may also test their level of competence with the help of Dialang, a software program developed by the Council of Europe. Students are encouraged to get in touch with their language instructors or IT-services for information on where/how to use the program. The program can be freely installed in a PC.

The skills in Swedish and English are described on the basis of the CEFR (see extra.seamk.fi/arenektr/linkit -> kielten taitotasot) scale in the form of 'can do' statements and learning outcomes. This will help students understand which type of learning takes place in different courses and what the prerequisite for participation in a particular course is. The language level of each course is given in connection with the course description in the study guide.