Time: Students can start their studies approximately within a week after enrolling on this course. The estimated time for completing this course is two months. Please notice that the first nonstop start is on 27 January 2025.
Please notice that Xamk’s lecturers do not assess completed courses nor enter the course assessments in Xamk’s record of credits (Peppi) during their non-teaching periods. Completed courses will not be assessed between 2 June and 17 August 2025.
Place: Online studies
Extent: 3 ECTS credits
Target group: Everyone interested in the topic
Required previous skills: The course is suitable for students without prior experience with Finnish language. This is an online course, so Internet access and computer or laptop with audio equipment are required.
Please notice that from September 1, 2024 onwards, only students with a Finnish social security number (i.e. a personal identity code) can start their studies on Xamk Pulse’s courses. You can read more here.
Course is completed independently.
Credited in degree at Xamk: All bachelor level degrees
Area of competence mentioned in Curriculum: Optional studies
Enrolment by: 14th December 2025. This is a nonstop start and students can start their studies approximately within a week after enrolling on this course.
Price: Free of charge
Note that you can enrol for Open UAS studies at the maximum of 50 ECTS credits per semester. One person’s enrolments exceeding 50 ECTS credits are deleted in the enrolment order. Paying attention to this is important when planning your studies.
Please also notice that
Xamk degree students can enrol on this course only via Peppi or Tuudo.
Path students enrol at Peppi or Tuudo only for study courses included in path studies. Check your invitation letter for more detailed instructions for your own path study.
Learning about Finland and Finnish culture is easy. But how valuable knowledge obtained from websites is? There are facts – significant ones, but many stereotypes too. Personal touch and opinion are crucial.
This course offers you to learn about Finland with the help of websites but also see Finnish culture from the eyes of the foreigners studying or working here. They are people with different backgrounds and have come to Finland for various reasons. They will tell you what it means to live here. So, enjoy the soft encounter with the Finnish culture.
And what if you are a Finn? You can see your country and culture through the lens of outsider perception. Indeed, you will find something interesting. Probably also help to develop the course.
Learning outcomes:
The course gives you the main characteristics of Finnish society – a brief history, way of life, economic environment and working opportunities. You will learn to identify and describe the new trends in the development of Finnish society and learn about famous Finns and their contribution to the image of Finland worldwide. Share your experience with others and learn from their experience.
After completing this course students can:
- define and identify elements in Finnish culture essential for interpersonal communication and communication in the global world,
- compare and contrast one’s original cultural values, beliefs, perceptions, and communication styles with the Finnish culture,
- recognise negative perceptions and avoid stereotyping,
- recognise the patterns in intercultural communication when dealing with institutions and social structures in Finland.
Contents and methods:
- cultural challenges and interpersonal communication tips,
- a brief history of Finland – how it impacts Finnish culture,
- social development of Finland, trends, economics, institutions,
- studying and working in Finland – authentic views from foreigners presented in the form of podcasts, videos and short stories.
The course is carried out by means of independent online studies. Students can complete this course at their own pace. The course must be completed within two months after it has started.
The information is divided into sections and you will be able to see the titles but the content will open as soon as you have completed the present section. There is a short quiz at the end, mainly to give you an idea on what you learned about Finland.
The course covers 3 ECTS credits, totalling 81 hours of independent student work. The number of hours is theoretical and varies according to student effort.
Study material:
All the material is in Learn, and it requires consequent completion of the tasks.
Assessment: Accepted/Failed
The Transcript of records will be delivered automatically by email in PDF form. You can read more about the The Transcript of records on: Information on Open UAS, Xamk Pulse studies.
This course is based on the curricula of Xamk's degree programmes and the Finnish credits are fully compatible with the ECTS.
Additional information on enrolment:
Xamk Pulse, email: openstudies@xamk.fi.
Terms of cancellation:
If you are not able to participate in the course, please let us know as soon as possible by email openstudies@xamk.fi.
Before the course starts, you'll receive an invitation by email to this course.
Please note that there can be changes in the course details in terms of the timetable and teachers, for example.
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is audited by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC).