Contact Us

Courses for Exchange Students

Studying at Metropolia

In Finland, the higher education system consists of universities and universities of applied sciences. Whereas university education focused on theory and scientific research, in universities of applied sciences like Metropolia, theoretical knowledge is combined with practical skills in order to meet the needs of working life. In other words, the focus of studies is on applying theory into practice. Degree programmes have close connections with local industries and organisations and students benefit from these during their studies, for example in the form of client and cooperation projects.

Courses consist largely of group projects and practical assignments. In degree programmes in Health Care and Social Services most courses have exams, but in degree programmes in Culture, Technology and Business there are rarely exams. Possible exams will be held during the study period.

Most courses require attendance on campus. In addition, online study platforms such as Moodle and Teams are widely used. Students are expected to be proactive and to take responsibility for their studies and learning. Active participation throughout the exchange period is expected.

What You Need to Know When Selecting Courses

  • The course lists are subject to change throughout the academic year.
  • You may only choose courses from the degree programmes that your programme at the home institution has an exchange agreement with.
  • It is not possible to mix courses from different fields of study or degree programmes.
  • All courses have a limited number of places available. Some might get full during the enrolment period.
  • Remember to also check the courses available for all incoming exchange students.
  • In most cases course schedules are confirmed at the beginning of each semester.
  • Courses in a university of applied sciences consist largely of group projects and practical assignments.

Courses

Studies for all Exchange Students

Language courses

Finnish Language Courses

Exchange students studying at Metropolia can familiarise themselves with Finnish language and culture by taking the course Finnish for Exchange Students (3-5 ECTS). The course is offered free of charge for exchange students. Several Finnish courses are organised on different campuses each semester.

Autumn semester 2026 (TBC):

  • XX00CL91-3022: Finnish for Exchange Students, 3-5 ECTS (Myllypuro campus, for Health Care and Social Services students)
  • XX00EX62-3022: Finnish for Exchange Students, 5 ECTS (Arabia campus, primarily for field of Culture students)
  • XX00EX62-3023: Finnish for Exchange Students, 5 ECTS (Karamalmi campus, primarily for IT and Industrial Management students)
  • XX00EX62-3024: Finnish for Exchange Students, 5 ECTS (Myyrmäki campus, primarily for field of Business and Technology students)
  • XX00EX62-3025: Finnish for Exchange Students, 5 ECTS (Myyrmäki campus, primarily for field of Business and Technology students)

Learn Finnish by Singing in a Choir: KP00GL18-3001 (5 ECTS)

The aim of the course is to encourage the speaking and use of the Finnish language by strengthening skills related to language production (e.g., pronunciation) and listening, as well as promoting understanding of spoken language alongside the learning of many new words. Through art-based approaches, the Language Choir integrates music and language learning in a way that mutually reinforces each other.

The Language Choir utilizes art-based methods and is grounded in current research on the subject. In the choir, the Finnish language is approached comprehensively through creative and functional ways that differ from traditional language learning methods.

Singing together with others enables active use and listening of the language in a relaxed and positive learning environment, where mistakes need not be feared and where one can simultaneously enjoy music, music-making, and many aspects related to cultural well-being.

Content of the course:
• Musical warmups through which we creatively and playfully awaken the whole body, mind and voice to singing and language expression
• Singing songs in different genres and themes from children's to folk songs and Finnish pop and rap to encourage active and holistic language expression and production.
• Collaborative choir improvisations that focus on collaboration, interaction and communication through diverse modes of expression (e.g. vocal, verbal, embodied)
• Creation and re-creation of song lyrics to all kinds of songs to emphasise spoken language, language ownership and expression of students' own thoughts and experiences
• Funny language songs created in collaboration with music and language teachers to support memorising and recalling the difficult phonemic and grammatical aspects of the Finnish language
• Songs and poems brought by the participants in their first languages (mother tongue) that are also translated into Finnish to highlight the dialogue between Finnish and other languages
• Based on the linguistic needs and wishes of the participants, we also constantly seek new arts-based ways to approach language through music

Language of instruction: Finnish and English. In addition, we harness all available resources such as embodied expression, particpants`first languages and material resources (e.g., pictures and text of the song lyrics) to reinforce understanding and communication in all possible ways.

There are no linguistic or musical requirements. Teaching at Myllypuro Campus Thursdays 10:00 AM to 3:15 PM / 3:45 PM: 6.11, 13.11, 27.11, 4.12 and 11.12. Students are admitted to the course in the order of registration. Places: 30.

Other language courses

  • A selection of language courses (French, German, Spanish) are offered by the Metropolia Business School and organised at the Myyrmäki campus. Courses are available for exchange students if they have free places.

Business

Check first what you need to know when selecting courses from the top of the page.

Location

Myyrmäki campus in Vantaa

Courses for incoming students

Application documents

Check How to Apply to see the required documents for all exchange students and instructions for applying.

Student stories

Read about past business students' experiences on Metropolia Exchange blog.

Culture

Check first what you need to know when selecting courses from the top of the page.

Health Care and Social Services

The degree programmes in health care and social services welcome exchange students to apply for the International Semester Programme. The International Semester Programme is offered in most degree programmes during autumn and spring semesters in Myllypuro campus.

Technology

Check first what you need to know when selecting courses from the top of the page.

Please note that some degree programmes have limitations to the intake for incoming exchange students. To avoid the risk of time-table clashes, the incoming exchange students are recommended to take courses mainly from one degree programme. Please also note that certain courses are organized only if there are enough registrations for the course. For International Semesters, it is usually only possible to choose the whole package of approximately 30 ECTS.

Study opportunities for exchange students in Degree Programmes in Finnish

  • Automotive Engineering: Project in Metropolia Formula-team (5 ECTS), see more on the Metropolia Motorsport website. Students applying for a project in Metropolia Formula-team will be interviewed before acceptance.

ICT Summer School

The ICT Summer School mentioned in the above section Studies for all exchange students is particularly suitable for students in technology programmes. It is held in August and is open to exchange students from partner institutions free of charge. See more on the ICT Summer School website.

Projects

Incoming exchange students are advised to primarily choose courses from the field of technology degree programmes where tuition is organised in English. Project opportunities are available only in a few programmes.

If you are interested in a project, please indicate it clearly in your application. Include your CV in the application and propose a topic or a theme for the project. The international coordinators will contact you on whether the project is possible. Note: you do not need to propose a project topic for the project courses found on the course list.