An acute shortage of language skills is forcing universities to reserve study places in German, French and Russian for applicants who have no prior knowledge of the language they are about to study.
As fewer Finns study foreign languages beyond English, a shortage of linguistic expertise is beginning to take hold.
This has prompted several universities to allow students to major in languages such as German without any prior knowledge.
No German skills? Kein Problem
From this autumn, students will for the first time be able to study German as a major at the University of Helsinki without prior knowledge of the language.
This is because there aren't enough prospective students with prior German skills. Opening the programme to beginners is intended to widen the pool.
This coming fall, 38 students will begin studying German at the University of Helsinki, ten of them without prior knowledge of the language.
The beginner places open to those with no previous German proved more popular than those reserved for applicants who already speak the language.
Those coming into the language for the first time will receive intensive instruction during their first year, enabling them to reach a level sufficient to cope with university-level coursework as language majors.
Helsinki University is not alone in lowering language requirements.
Beginner places without prior knowledge in German, French and Russian are also available at the University of Jyväskylä, the University of Oulu, the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University.
English dominates
Many schools and municipalities have cut back on courses in foreign languages other than English.
With fewer pupils learning additional languages than before, University of Helsinki German language professor Leena Kolehmainen argued that it is increasingly important to create new pathways into language studies.
Compared with earlier decades, the number of students sitting the matriculation exam in foreign languages other than English has fallen sharply.
The shortage of language skills is already showing.
"We noticed a few years ago that it is difficult to find Finnish experts for various roles within the EU because their language skills are not strong enough. It's not in Finland's interest to miss out on representation," Kolehmainen added.
Few francophones
Åbo Akademi University already has experience with students lacking proficiency in the language they choose as their major.
This year, 31 applicants competed for seven spots for French majors with no prior skills.
"Not that many have studied French at school," said Meri Larjavaara, a French professor at Åbo Akademi.
Applicants without a matriculation exam grade in French are required to take a placement test, and those who need it are offered additional language courses during their first year.
"There are not many who begin their studies here entirely without prior language skills, but it's possible," she said.
