It's a multidisciplinary module that provides the students with opportunities to orientate themselves to the study of Ukrainian culture, history, politics, international relations and contemporary society. The module gives an excellent basis for deepening student’s expertise on Ukraine.
Every degree and exchange student of the University of Helsinki has the right to take the Ukrainian Studies. Students of the Aleksanteri Institute Expertise in Russian and Eastern European Studies (ExpREES) can take the Ukrainian Studies courses that are included in the ExpREES teaching programme.
Students outside the University of Helsinki may apply for the right to partake in the Ukrainian Studies through the Flexible Study-Right Scheme (JOO). All Finland’s universities are signatories to the JOO agreement, which gives undergraduate and postgraduate students the chance to include studies from other Finnish universities in their degrees. The flexible study right for the Ukraine Studies can be applied through the Faculty of Arts at the University of Helsinki. Further information about JOO
Master’s or Bachelor’s degree holders that hold are not subscribed to any university can apply the right to take Ukrainian Studies as non-degree studies: this refers to the possibility of taking completing specific courses in order to upgrade professional qualifications. Further information about non-degree studies
Please note that the teaching programme might be subject to changes and additions, so it is advisable to check course-specific information before the start of the course. You can find course descriptions and registration links at the course pages.
Ukraine lecture course: The Russian invasion in the core of Europe: Bringing Ukrainian voices to the fore (ALKU-IK531, ALKU-IK533, PVK-P209, KUKA-UK501, KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK503, RUS-521, RUS-522, RUS-523, RUS-524), course page, I-II period, online independent studies course
Ukrainian film classics: avant-garde and poetic cinema (KUKA-UK501, ALKU-IK533), course page, I period, online course
Migration in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union (ALKU-IK533, ALKU-IK531, ALKU-E319, ALKU-E320, ALKU-E313, KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK503, KUKA-AL216, KIM-SB305), course page, I-II period, online course
Russia’s war in Ukraine: Lessons in the context of contemporary warfare and European security (KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK503, ALKU-IK533, ALKU-IK531), course page, I period, hybrid course
The approaches of historical policy research: History of the Soviet Union (YMV-P513, ALKU-IK533, KUKA-IK509, KUKA-IK510), course page, I period
Ukrainian culture and society (KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK501, KUKA-UK503, ALKU-IK533), course page, II period, online course
The politics of memory in Central and Eastern Europe (ALKU-IK533, KUKA-UK503, KUKA-UK502, KUKA-IK505, KUKA-IK506, ALKU-E317, KUKA-AL218, KIM-SB305), course page, II period
The IV period course pages will be published in January 2023.
Investigating the Ukrainian crisis: effects on Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Romania and CEE region (ALKU-IK531, KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK503, KUKA-IK506, KUKA-IK508, ALKU-IK532, ALKU-IK533, KUKA-AL218, KIM-SB305), course page
Modern Economic History Eastern Europe and Russia (ALKU-IK533, ALKU-E313, KUKA-IK505, KUKA-IK507, KUKA-UK501, KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK503, HISM-321, HISM-322, HISM-323, HISK-225, ENS-365, KIM-SB305), course page, III-IV period, online course
Chornobyl Studies: Political, Social and Cultural Contexts (ALKU-IK533, KUKA-UK501, KUKA-UK502, ALKU-E319), course page, III period, online course
The resilience of Baltic and Eastern European democracies: Theoretical and methodological approaches (ALKU-IK533, ALKU-IK532, ALKU-IK531, KUKA-UK503, KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK501), IV period, Nordplus intensive course, apply by 16 February
Geopolitical theories and the place of Central and Eastern Europe in the modern world order (ALKU-IK532, ALKU-IK531, ALKU-E322, ALKU-E313, KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK503, ENS-359, KIM-SB305), course page, IV period, online course
The Great Famine (1932–1933) and the Birth of Modern Ukraine (KUKA-UK501, ALKU-IK533, ALKU-E317, ALKU-E313, HISK-222, HISK-225, HISM-321, HISM-322, HISM-323), course page, IV period
Democratic Erosion in Eastern Europe (ALKU-IK531, ALKU-IK532, ALKU-IK533, KUKA-UK502, KUKA-UK503, KUKA-IK506, KUKA-IK508, KUKA-IK510), course page, IV period, online course
For older teaching programmes starting from the academic year 2008-2009, please turn to Ukrainian Studies Planning Officer.
The Ukrainian Studies module (KUKA-UK500 Ukrainian Studies, 15 cr) is carried out in cooperation with the Bachelor's Programme in Cultural studies and the Aleksanteri Institute starting from August 1, 2020.
KUKA-UK500 Ukrainian Studies (15 cr) compulsory study units:
Startig from 1.8.2023 the Ukrainian Studies stdy module (REE-550, 15 cr)) will be organised within the Master´s Programme in Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies (MAREEES). You can see the equivalencies of the 2020-2023 and the 2023-2026 curricula in the table below.
| Curriculum 2020-2023 | Curriculum 2023-2026 | |||||
| Code | Module or study unit | Cr | Code | Module or study unit | Cr | Responsible teacher |
| KUKA-UK500 | Ukrainian Studies | 15 | REE-550 | Ukrainian Studies | 15 | Jouni Järvinen |
| KUKA-UK501 | Ukrainian culture and history | 5 | REE-551 | Ukrainian culture and history | 5 | |
| KUKA-UK502 | Ukrainian society and politics | 5 | REE-552 | Ukrainian society and politics | 5 | |
| KUKA-UK503 | Ukraine in the world | 5 | REE-553 | Ukraine in the world | 5 |
You can check correlation of the old degree requirement study units, and the teaching plan 2017-2020 study units, as well as the correlation of the 17-20 and the 20-23 teaching plan study units from the tables below. The tables are regrettably in Finnish, please turn to Ukrainian Studies planning officer if you have any questions.
In the Instuctions for students you can find instructions and forms concerning the Ukrainian Studies by choosing Bachelor's Programme in Languages as the degree programme. Director of Educational Programs Jouni Järvinen (see Research staff and experts) grants overall grades for the Ukrainian Studies, and is responsible for recognition of credits completed elsewhere, for example during exchange studies.
University of Helsinki has a bilateral exchange agreement to Ukraine, where the partner university is National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” in Kyiv. Exchange places are open to application for students from all faculties. Application period for the 2020-2021 exchanges is Thu, 24 October 2019 - Thu 7 November 2019 (by 15.00 local Finnish time).
For further information please see: Exchange opportunities in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia
Students interested in going to Ukraine can also to apply for summer / short courses.
The Ukrainian Studies mailing list is an information channel for the study programme and the students. Information and comments on new publications, seminars, education possibilities, funding options etc, relating to Ukraine are welcome on the list.
The messages aimed for the study mailing list should be sent toukrainian-studies [at] helsinki.fi.
Please use the same address from which you subscribed to the mailing list.
You will receive an automatic reply confirming that your request has been received and forwarded to the administrator of the ukrainian-studies list. When you have been added to the list you will receive confirmation of this and instructions for unsubscribing the list. It is advisable to save this message for future reference.
NB: Please do not use Yahoo or Hotmail addresses. Messages from such addresses will be regarded as junk mail.
In questions concerning the content of the list, please turn to Ukrainian Studies Planning Officer
Operative staff:
Director of Educational Programmes Jouni Järvinen
Planning Officer Minna Oroza
Other members of Planning group:
The planning group supports pedagogical planning and development and participates to long-term strategic development of the Ukrainian Studies. The planning group consists of researchers/teachers and two student members.
Students, if you are interested in joining the planning group, please contact the planning officer!