Bilingual university

The two main official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. The University of Helsinki is a bilingual university with Finnish and Swedish as the official languages of instruction and examination. Together the university students and staff members create a multilingual community where Swedish plays it's own unique part. This site gives you more information about the bilingual university.
Teach­ing in Swedish
  • Education in Swedish is offered in the fields of science with Swedish professorships
  • More than 30 Swedish speaking professors and over 100 teachers teach in Swedish
  • Students are always entitled to write exams and course work in Swedish
  • Bilingual degrees (page in Swedish) are offered in a variety of subjects

According to the Universities Act (558/2009) there should be at least 28 professorships with Swedish being the teaching language at the University of Helsinki. University of Helsinki is the only university in Finland which offers academic education in Swedish in the fields of medicine, social work, social psychology, veterinary medicine, agronomy, geography and journalism. 

Ser­vice in Swedish, Finnish and Eng­lish

Students have the right to receive service in Finnish and/or in Swedish. Service is also provided in English. 

IT Helpdesk, Student Services, International Exchange Services and Admissions Services are available in these three languages. Faculties ensure that student counselling is offered in these languages.

Cam­pus groups

Each campus has a group tasked with developing and coordinating Swedish and bilingual activities and teaching. The Viikki and Kumpula campuses have a joint campus group. For additional information please contact the campus coordinator of the campus in question (see Swedish Affairs).

Vice-deans re­spons­ible for bi­lin­gual af­fairs

Each faculty has a dean or a vice-dean responsible for bilingual affairs. In order to see the list of vice-deans responsible for bilingual affairs, please see the Finnish or Swedish page. 

Vice-rector for Bi­lin­gual Af­fairs

According to the Universities Act the rector or one of the vice-rectors should be a holder of a professorship with Swedish as the teaching language. Vice-rector Kai Nordlund is responsible for the bilingual activities of the university.

 

Board for the De­vel­op­ment of Swedish Af­fairs and Teach­ing

“Svenska verksamhetsnämnden” is the Board for the Development of Swedish Affairs and Teaching. The board is regulated by the Universities Act and it is led by the rector or a vice-rector holding a Swedish professorship.

The Board of the University nominates the members and the deputies for a four-year term. All the faculties, the Swedish School of Social Sciences, partner universities and institutions and the Student Union of the University of Helsinki are represented in the board, and Swedish Affairs functions as the secretariat. For the list of members, please change to the Finnish or Swedish page. 

Del­eg­a­tion for Swedish Af­fairs at the University of Helsinki

The Del­eg­a­tion for Swedish Af­fairs at the University of Helsinki contributes to research and teaching in Swedish by developing the connections and interaction with society. 

 

Chair: Robin Harms, Senior Adviser/Head of Unit, Office of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman 
Deputy Chair: Vice-rector Kai Nordlund, the University of Helsinki
Secreterary: Specialist Belinda Andersson, the University of Helsinki

Members:

Eva Adlercreutz Carrero, Director, Marketing and Communications, Hanken School of Economics 

Elin Andersson, Chairperson SFP Porvoo, International Affairs Specialist, Haaga-Helia 

Victor Andersson, Programme Director, Hanaholmen 

Lotta Backlund, Director of brand and culture, Miltton Group 

Mia Bengts, Legal Councel, Navigator Partners 

Tom Böhling, Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki 

Patrik Floréen, Senior University Lecturer, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki 

Christoffer Forssell, Head of Programme Acquisitions and Co-operations, Svenska Yle 

Niclas Grönholm, Director of the Swedish Service Unit, Childhood and Education, City of Helsinki 

Johanna Grönroos, Marketing Director Corporate Customers, Fortum 

Mia Hafrén, Actress and artist, Chairperson, Marthaförbundet 

Josefin Hoviniemi, Vice President, Communications, Nordic Environment Finance Corporation Nefco 

Annika Jansson, Chief Executive Officer, Söderlångvik 

Patrik Karlsson, Member of Folktinget (Swedish Assembly of Finland), Chairperson for the Committee of Education at Folktinget, vice rector, City of Vantaa 

Jessica Lerche, Head of Development, Föreningen Luckan rf 

Lia Markelin, Researcher, Think Thank Magma 

Anna-Christina Martin, CEO, Stiftelsen Sedmigradsky 

Maïmouna Matikainen-Soreau, Academy Postdoctoral Researcher, Swedish School of Social Science 

Klaus Olkkola, Director, Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine 

Mikko Ollikainen, Member of Parliament, The Swedish People’s Party of Finland 

Dimitri Qvintus, Director, Kreab 

Jaan Siitonen, Executive Director, Kielilähettiläät ry/Språkambassadörerna rf 

Jonita Siivonen, University Lecturer, Swedish School of Social Science 

Ann-Sofie Stude, Chief of the Secreteriat for Nordic Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Leena Suurpää, Director, Finnish Red Cross 

Anna Svanjung, Subject Teacher in Immersion, City of Helsinki 

Niklas Talling, Deputy CEO, Acting CFO, Samfundet Folkhälsan 

Joachim Thibblin, Artistic director, Svenska teatern 

Rasmus Vuori, Vice Dean, Aalto University  

Swedish Affairs

The team of Swedish Affairs is a part of the University Services and coordinates and develops the bilingual activities at the University.

Each campus has its own coordinator developing bilingualism at the University's four campuses.

Our job is to

  • support the University management in strategic questions concerning Swedish-language education and bilingualism
  • create new initiatives to enhance the University’s bilingual activities and promote practical bilingualism
  • participate in the bilingual strategic development at the University level
  • promote bilingual interaction between the University and the society

Swedish Affairs
svenska-arenden@helsinki.fi
PO Box 59 (Unioninkatu 38)
00014 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

Harriet Lindeberg-Saapunki
Head of Swedish Affairs 
harriet.lindeberg-saapunki@helsinki.fi
Tel. +358 50 453 1401

Belinda Andersson
Specialist
belinda.andersson@helsinki.fi
Tel. +358 50 411 2728

Olivia Högnabba
Campus Coordinator, City Centre Cam­pus
mailto:olivia.hognabba@helsinki.fi
Tel. +358 50 314 6792

Miska Siilin
Campus Coordinator, Meilahti (Mejlans)
miska.siilin@helsinki.fi
tel. +358 50 566 8762

Mikaela Wickman
Campus Coordinator, Viikki and Kumpula (Vik och Gumtäkt)
mikaela.wickman@helsinki.fi
tel. 050 3438129

Milla Mäntylä
Coordinator for Helsingforsalliansen
milla.mantyla@helsinki.fi
tel. +358 50 479 4406

Richard Backman
Project leader, the Nightingale mentoring program
richard.backman@helsinki.fi
Tel. +358 50 414 2318

Inkeri Rönnerg
Project coordinator, the Nightingale mentoring program
inkeri.ronnberg@helsinki.fi
Tel. +358505751942

Collaboration between higher education institutions

Coordination body for Swedish-language higher education in Finland

  • Coordination body for Swedish-language higher education in Finland (Samordningsdelegationen för den svenskspråkiga högskoleutbildningen i Finland) is a statutory body issuing statements and recommendations on Swedish-language education in Finland.
  • The body has representatives from all Swedish-language and bilingual higher education institutions in Finland. The University of Helsinki representative is Vice-Rector Kai Nordlund.

Helsingforsalliansen 

Helsingforsalliansen (Helsinki alliance) (page in Swedish) is a cooperation network for Swedish-language and bilingual universities and higher education institutions in the Helsinki area. The goal of the cooperation is to strengthen high-quality Swedish-language education in the region.

The University of Helsinki is responsible for the administration of Helsingforsalliansen. 

Our policies