Non-Finnish and Finnish universities can strengthen their networks and develop the teaching of Finnish language and culture by applying to EDUFI for support for cooperation projects.

It is not currently possible to apply for this support.

Further details regarding the continuation of the support will be confirmed by the end of the year 2026, and the information will be updated on our website.

The financial support for a cooperation project in Finnish language and culture is intended for cooperation projects between non-Finnish universities or between non-Finnish and Finnish universities. There is no limit on the number of universities. 

The project must be related to the teaching of Finnish language and culture. The project may also involve other actors, but EDUFI’s support can only be used to cover the costs of universities.

Projects can include, for example,

  • joint study units and courses
  • development and implementation of digital/virtual teaching
  • curriculum cooperation and degree planning
  • development of assessment and language proficiency tests
  • seminars and other events
  • teacher and student mobility
  • cooperation with working life.
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We can grant up to EUR 30,000 to a single project. The support has to be used by 31 December 2027.

The project participants’ own contribution must be at least 10%. The participants can decide for themselves how they will divide this among themselves. For example, the project participant’s own contribution can cover the part of teachers' salaries used to plan and implement the project.

EDUFI will pay the support in euros. If you use a currency other than the euro, please calculate the euro amount that you are applying for according to the European Central Bank’s exchange rate on 4 May 2026.

We may not be able to grant the total amount applied for. In addition to the quality of the applications, the amount of the grant depends on the number of applications and the amount of funding available.

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The applicant can be a non-Finnish or Finnish university. The applicant university coordinates activities, maintains contact with EDUFI, manages financial transactions and reports to EDUFI on the project.

The application period starts on 5 May 2026 and ends on 30 September 2026 at 23:59 Finnish time (UTC +3). We will not process applications that arrive late.

Please submit the application form and attachments to kirjaamo [at] oph.fi (kirjaamo[at]oph[dot]fi). Please use ”Financial support for a cooperation project in Finnish language and culture OPH-3861-2026” as the subject line of the email.

The application form must be either electronically signed or manually signed and scanned. If this is not possible for whatever reason, please submit the application by email with the person authorised to sign on behalf of the university as the sender or second recipient.

The application must include the participants' commitment forms as attachments.

We may request further clarifications on applications after the application period. We will announce the decisions by 13 November 2026.

Application and commitment forms
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Our primary objective is to ensure that university-level Finnish language and culture teaching in different countries is of high quality and continuous. In particular, we want to ensure the availability of language experts. 

With this support, we pursue our primary objective through these sub-objectives:  

  • diversifying students’ study opportunities
  • ensuring that teaching stays up to date
  • supporting the launching of new educational programmes.

We strive for both qualitative and quantitative effectiveness, cooperation between universities and the sharing of teaching resources across university and national borders. 

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Eligible candidates

The support can be awarded to a project involving at least two universities:

  • a non-Finnish university providing teaching in Finnish language and culture
  • a non-Finnish university that intends to start providing teaching in Finnish language and culture
  • a Finnish university, provided that there is also a non-Finnish university involved in the project.

If necessary, EDUFI may take into account the geographical distribution of eligible projects.

Ineligible candidates

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the support cannot currently be granted to projects involving Russian or Belarusian universities.

In order for other applicants to receive support, they must certify that they comply with the sanctions imposed by the EU and the UN: https://www.oph.fi/en/grants/taking-sanctions-account-government-grant-activities.

Purposes for which the grant can be awarded

The support can be used to cover the costs incurred by the project, for example, wages and fees, travel and accommodation expenses, the preparation of materials needed for the project or the use of digital services.

Purposes for which the grant cannot be awarded

The support cannot be used to cover facility rental costs, meals, gifts or prizes or university overhead costs. Nor can the aid be used to purchase equipment, but renting may be possible if it is justified.

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The evaluation focuses particularly on the quality of the application and the impact of the project. 

Applicant details

  • The number of students, teachers and universities participating in the project.
  • The description of the responsibilities, roles and tasks of the participating universities is clear. 

Objectives and impact

  • The project responds to the participants' educational needs in the field of Finnish language and culture and provides clear added value. Special attention is paid to various types of development work and the benefits of the project for students and teachers.
  • The expected results and impact are concretely described, and it seems realistic that they can be achieved. 
  • The project and its results will continue to be utilised after the end of the project.
  • The long-term impact expected from the project.
  • The estimated number of students and teachers who may benefit from the project outputs after the project has ended.

Implementation of supported activities

  • The plan is realistic and clearly describes how the objectives are to be achieved.
  • The plan clearly describes how the funding applied for is intended to cover the planned activities in an appropriate manner.
  • The project utilises digital opportunities.

Cost estimate and financing

  • The the combined share of the universities is at least 10%. A contribution of over 10% is considered an advantage.
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The support must be used by 31 December 2027. Even at the planning stage, it is worth thinking about how the support would be used to avoid having any surplus that need to be returned.

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The financial support will be paid in full to the applicant university. The universities agree among themselves whether the applicant university will cover all costs or whether it will pay each partner the share they need.

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The applicant university will report on the use of the support to EDUFI. Activity and financial reports will be submitted within two months after the end of the project.

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Contact person Leena Kärnä

Contact us: skk [at] oph.fi
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Autumn 2025

Universität Greifswald (coordinator), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Universität Bielefeld, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universität zu Köln, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Universität Hamburg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Universität Wien: Nachhaltig Finnisch

Oulun yliopisto (coordinator), Università di Napoli L'Orientale and Università degli Studi di Firenze: Finnish sentence types and their usage

Szegedi Tudományegyetem (coordinator) and Helsingin yliopisto: Students of Finnish and Hungarian as participants in and creators of an authentic language environment

Tartu Ülikool (coordinator) and Tallinna Ülikool: Finnish language learning materials project for Estonian-speaking C-level students

Tokai University (coordinator) and Turun yliopisto: Developing and updating teaching methods for the Finnish language in Japan

Uniwersytet Warszawski (coordinator), Universität Greifswald, Univerzita Karlova, Praha and Universität Wien: Autumn school in fennistics abroad
 

Autumn 2024

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (coordinator), Universität Bielefeld, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Universität Hamburg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität Wien, Universität zu Köln: Collaborative meeting in Berlin

Tampere University (coordinator), Università degli Studi di Firenze, Università degli Studi di Napoli - L'Orientale: Languages and cultures in interaction: Round trip from Finland to Italy

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Click the link below to learn about cooperation projects in Finnish language and culture that EDUFI has previously supported.

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