Scandinavian Language


The Scandinavian Languages/Swedish Language programme is intended for students who have begun their studies of Swedish abroad and who wish to continue their studies in Finland and Sweden. The programme is carried out in co-operation between the Department of Scandinavian Languages at the University of Vaasa in Finland and the Department of Scandinavian Languages at UmeĀ University in Sweden. Students are given considerable freedom of choice with regard to the parts of the examination they do in UmeĀ and Vaasa respectively.


The Department of Scandinavian Languages at UmeĀ University offers the following areas of specialization:

  • Swedish/Scandinavian Languages as a major subject
  • Swedish for the secondary school and upper secondary school teacher training programmes
  • Swedish as a second language supplementing the training programme for the teaching of immigrants
  • Swedish for foreign students


    The major subject Swedish/Scandinavian Languages consists of study units (20 credits each) at different levels (basic, intermediate, advanced and specialized level). The basic level focuses on modern, functional Swedish. The intermediate level offers basic insights into historical linguistics, dialectology, and the structures of other Scandinavian languages. At the advanced level, more advanced courses are offered on grammar, stylistics, vernaculars, onomastics, sociolinguistics, as well as language and communication and language and culture. The postgraduate level includes problem-based courses in the areas of language and identity (individual linguistic development) and the development of the Scandinavian languages, as well as research seminars.

    The Swedish for Foreign Students course (20 credits) requires previous knowledge of Swedish. The aim of the course is to improve the students¼ communicative competence and knowledge of Swedish culture and society.


    The Department of Scandinavian Languages at the University of Vaasa offers the following programmes (80 credits each), which all emphasize modern languages:

  • Swedish
  • Swedish as the Mother Tongue
  • Scandinavian Languages


    The Department offers two Swedish Language programmes, one of which is intended for students with Swedish as their second language and the other for students with Swedish as their mother tongue. The Scandinavian Languages programme is intended for students with Swedish as their second language. The study programmes are made up of four units, each representing 20 credits: basic studies, intermediate studies, advanced studies and a thesis.

    The programme (major subject) Swedish (as a Second Language) focuses on language for special purposes, multilingualism/language immersion and translation. Scandinavian Languages includes courses in the other Scandinavian Languages and in Scandinavian culture and literature. Swedish as the Mother Tongue focuses on modern Swedish, in particular for special purposes. At the postgraduate level the department specializes in LSP (Language for Special Purposes) communication and Multilingualism (the didactics of language immersion).

    At the departments of Scandinavian Languages at UmeĀ and Vaasa each foreign student will have an individually drawn up programme chosen mainly from the courses offered by the two departments. The instruction is carried out in Swedish, and the students therefore need to have a working knowledge of Swedish on their arrival in UmeĀ or Vaasa.

    It is possible to supplement one„s studies for an academic examination comprising 120 credits by choosing other subjects which widen the picture of Finland and/or Scandinavia and are offered at various university departments in Vaasa and UmeĀ.



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