Bilingual Nursing Program to Ease Healthcare Staff Shortages

Employment of international students in Finland often depends on their proficiency in Finnish. The functionally bilingual nursing education program (TOKASA) that starts in fall 2026 at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, focuses on language learning from the very beginning of studies, integrating it closely with professional expertise.

Many of the international students studying at higher education institutions in Vaasa are willing to remain in Vaasa after graduation. However, employment in many fields is slowed by insufficient Finnish language skills. For healthcare professionals in particular, mastery of the second national language is a prerequisite for employment and functioning in the workplace.

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences’ English-language Nursing program starting in fall 2026 is functionally bilingual, with systematic emphasis on learning Finnish from the start of studies.

“In our teaching, we will focus on ensuring that students learn the nursing profession through functional methods. We will practice workplace skills in authentic learning environments while simultaneously developing their Finnish language skills. In this way, students will learn specifically the Finnish needed in the healthcare sector,” says Karina Björninen, Senior Lecturer and Degree Coordinator for the Nursing program.

“We also aim to build close cooperation with the healthcare field. We will provide support for staff who guide students, including how they can best guide international students. The goal is that as studies progress, the supervisor will be able to guide the student using Finnish,” Björninen clarifies.

Student Guidance Focuses on Supporting Integration

The Nursing program launching this fall will begin with 30 students. In the functionally bilingual nursing education program (TOKASA), the languages of instruction are Finnish and English, with Finnish language teaching integrated directly into the curriculum.

The goal of the program is that upon graduation, students will have mastered Finnish to the level required for nursing work. This target is achieved by introducing Finnish from the very start, even if students begin their language studies from scratch.

“For the success of both the studies and language learning, close cooperation between nursing instructors and S2 (Finnish as a Second Language) teachers is crucial. This way, students learn the vocabulary and phrases needed for nursing alongside practical care work,” says Hanna-Kaisa Pernaa, Director, School of Health Care and Social Services.

Finnish language skills are also strengthened during the clinical placements included in the studies.

“In all placements, we create a joint language agreement between the placement site, the student, and our institution. This makes language learning objectives visible and ensures they are pursued even during professional skill development,” Pernaa states.

Students’ integration into Vaasa and Finnish society is supported through cultural tutoring.

“The Nursing group will be supported at the beginning of their studies by VAMK’s own social worker students, who will help the Nursing students connect with Finnish society,” says Björninen.