Ukrainian Studies
The Ukrainian Studies module (15 cr) operated by the Aleksanteri Institute and the University of Helsinki Bachelor's programme in Cultural studies is one of the few programmes studying the region in Europe.

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.

Prospective students

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

Courses in English

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.

Autumn 2022

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

 

Spring 2023

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
 

Old teaching programmes

For older teaching programmes starting from the academic year 2008-2009, please turn to Ukrainian Studies Planning Officer.

Curriculum

Curriculum 2020-2023

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:

  • KUKA-UK501 Ukrainian culture and history (5 cr)
  • KUKA-UK502 Ukrainian society and politics (5 cr)
  • KUKA-UK503 Ukraine in the world (5 cr)

Curriculum 2023-2026

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  

Correlation of study units

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.

Performing studies

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.

Studying abroad

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.

Mailing list

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.

  • In order to subscribe to the mailing list please send an e-mail to majordomo@helsinki.fi
  • Write the following text in the message:
    subscribe ukrainian-studies your.own@email.address
  • Leave the subject field of the e-mail empty.

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 order to unsubscribe to the mailing list please send an e-mail to majordomo@helsinki.fi
  • Write the following text in the message:
    unsubscribe ukrainian-studies your.own@email.address
  • Leave the subject field of the e-mail empty.

In questions concerning the content of the list, please turn to Ukrainian Studies Planning Officer

Staff and Planning group

Operative staff:
Director of Educational Programmes Jouni Järvinen
Planning Officer Minna Oroza

Other members of Planning group:

  • Arseniy Svynarenko, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University
  • Sanna Turoma, Academy of Finland Fellow, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki

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!

Links

About Ukraine

Universities in Ukraine

Departments and Research Centres

Dictionnaries