Finnish courses in Finland: where to learn and how to start

Your main options at a glance

Costs and offers vary by city. Check each provider's own page for current prices and dates.

Integration training (kotoutumiskoulutus)

Integration training is the main Finnish course for adult immigrants. It teaches Finnish (or Swedish) together with skills for working life and Finnish society. It is usually full-time and lasts months, not weeks.

How it is organised now

The system changed on 1 January 2025. The new Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (681/2023) came into force, and public employment services moved from the state TE Offices to municipalities and their employment areas (työllisyysalueet). At the time of writing:

• Municipalities run the integration programme: an assessment of your needs, an integration plan, civic orientation, integration training and guidance.
• If you are a jobseeker, your municipality's employment services arrange the services in your integration plan, including integration training.
• If you are not a jobseeker, contact your municipality's integration services (often called maahanmuuttajapalvelut or kotoutumispalvelut).
• Integration training ends with a national final language test in reading, listening, writing and speaking, managed by OPH.

More change is coming. In spring 2026 the government sent Parliament a bill that would reform integration services and funding from 2027, for example by organising more integration training as labour market training. At the time of writing in October 2026, the bill is still being processed. Check kotoutuminen.fi or your municipality for the current rules.

How to get a place

1. Register with your municipality's employment services if you are looking for work, or contact the municipality's integration services if you are not.
2. Have your skills and needs assessed. This is often called an initial assessment (alkukartoitus).
3. Agree an integration plan (kotoutumissuunnitelma) that says which training suits you.
4. Start the course your plan points you to. Waiting times vary by city.

Adult education centres

Almost every municipality has an adult education centre, called kansalaisopisto, työväenopisto or aikuisopisto. They offer Finnish courses for many levels, often in the evening or at weekends. Fees are usually low.

• Courses follow the school year, with autumn and spring terms.
• Popular courses fill fast. Watch for the registration date and sign up early.
• Many centres also run YKI preparation courses and conversation groups.

Folk high schools

Kansanopistot (folk high schools) offer longer Finnish courses, sometimes with full days of study. Some also have integration training or courses that prepare you for vocational studies. Contact the school directly about levels and fees.

Universities and open university

If you study or work at a Finnish university, its language centre probably offers Finnish courses for students and staff. If you don't, the open university (avoin yliopisto) sells single courses to anyone. These are structured, usually give credits, and are good if you like clear goals and homework.

Language cafés and libraries

A kielikahvila (language café) is a relaxed meeting where people practise speaking together. Public libraries, adult education centres and organisations often host them, and they are usually free. Libraries also lend easy-Finnish books (selkokirjat), audiobooks and course books.

Language cafés are great for confidence. They do not replace a course, but they give you what many courses lack: lots of real talking. See practise speaking Finnish for more ideas.

How to choose the right course

A good course matches your level, your timetable and your goal. Ask yourself three questions before you sign up.

• What is my level now? Courses are often labelled with CEFR levels like A1 or B1. If you are unsure, take a short level test first. See Finnish CEFR levels.
• How much time do I have? Full-time integration training moves fast. One evening a week moves slowly, so add daily self-study.
• What is my goal? For a job or YKI, choose courses with lots of speaking and writing. For daily life, pick practical topics: shops, health, housing.

Finding a course

• finnishcourses.fi is a search service for Finnish and Swedish courses, linked from OPH's YKI pages.
• kotoutuminen.fi has information on integration services.
• suomi.fi has general guidance on public services.
• Your municipality's website lists its integration services and adult education centre.

Self-study between classes

Courses give structure, but most learning happens between lessons. Even 15 minutes a day keeps new words alive. Mix these:

• Speak out loud every day, even alone. Shadow audio and repeat sentences.
• Learn the phrases you need this week: at the shop, the doctor, work. See everyday Finnish phrases.
• Listen to easy news and radio in Finnish.
• Free resources are listed in learn Finnish online for free.

Useful Finnish for signing up

Practise with Maija

Whatever course you choose, speaking practice makes it work. Maija is a speaking tutor app with spoken classes from Pre-A1 to C2. She listens, answers and gently corrects you, with explanations in 12 languages, plus lessons and flashcards to review what you learn in class. Take the free level check to find the right level before your course starts.