Finnish language studies abroad face major cuts as ministry reviews funding

The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture is planning changes to financial support for Finnish language and culture studies at foreign universities, raising concerns among experts that decades of established teaching structures could collapse.

According to the Finnish National Agency for Education, the ministry has issued instructions to reduce funding for these programs starting in 2027, though no final decision has been made. The agency currently supports Finnish studies at around 60 universities worldwide, with approximately 2,500 students—1,000 of whom major in the subject.

Minna Koutaniemi, head of the agency’s international cooperation department, confirmed that precise savings targets have been set. Satu Paasilehto, acting director of international affairs at the ministry, acknowledged budget constraints but stated that no concrete plans exist yet. “It’s possible that the current lecturer program abroad will end,” she said, emphasizing that any changes would be implemented gradually.

Lari Kotilainen, a professor of Finnish language at the University of Helsinki, warned that cutting all support—including lecturer training, teaching materials, guest lectures, and exchange programs—could drastically reduce Finnish language instruction worldwide over time. He noted that many former students work as translators, diplomats, or cultural mediators, with Finnish literature alone generating €3 million in exports annually. Roughly a third of overseas Finnish studies graduates eventually move to Finland, he estimated.

Giulia Santelli, an Italian translator now living in Kuhmo, Finland, credited her Finnish language skills for her career. After studying at the University of Bologna—where only five students majored in Finnish—she completed an internship in Kuhmo and later settled there. “Few Italians speak Finnish, so it’s given me unique opportunities,” she said, though she admitted the language’s small speaker base may deter potential learners.

Experts fear the proposed cuts could undermine Finland’s cultural influence and practical ties abroad, as the country’s language and literature rely heavily on international networks built over decades.