Finnish and Swedish

Finnish and Swedish are the two official languages of Finland and the primary language of Sweden and large parts of Scandinavia respectively. Though linguistically distinct, Finnish belonging to the Finno-Ugric family and Swedish to the North Germanic branch, they are spoken across a region of exceptional cultural, political and economic significance in contemporary Europe. Studying both gives you access to rich literary and cultural traditions as well as practical linguistic competence across the Nordic world, one of the most innovative and internationally engaged regions on the planet.

At University College London, this four-year full-time programme is a joint honours degree split equally between the two languages. You will study speaking, listening, reading, writing and translation in both Finnish and Swedish, and you will take modules in cultural topics including literature, history, film, linguistics and politics that deepen your understanding of the societies in which these languages are embedded. The wide variety of modules on offer allows you to tailor the degree to your areas of particular interest.

In your third year you will spend time abroad, split between two countries where your languages are spoken, an immersive experience that is central to developing the genuine fluency and cross-cultural confidence the degree requires.

Graduates with proficiency in Finnish and Swedish are well-placed for careers in international business, diplomacy, translation and interpreting, journalism, broadcasting, the European institutions and NGOs operating in the Nordic and Baltic regions. The analytical and linguistic skills developed across the degree are also highly valued in law, the civil service, academic research and publishing. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in Scandinavian studies, linguistics, translation or area studies, and the combination of two relatively uncommon languages makes graduates genuinely distinctive in the employment market.