Svenska – International Swedish Courses
Academic year 2025-26
August 18th 2025 – May 23rd 2026
Application period
Application for the academic year 2025-26
is open!
Learn Swedish at Akan
Borgå folkakademi, Akan, is responsible for Swedish-language integration training in Porvoo. The integration training is intended for individuals with an ongoing integration period, and the studies are recorded in the person’s integration plan. The goal of the integration training is for the student to become familiar with their new homeland and to acquire linguistic, social, and cultural skills, as well as everyday skills that help them participate in an active daily life, working life, and possible further studies. The language proficiency goal is to reach level B1.1 (CEFR).
At the beginning of 2025, a revised law on the promotion of integration came into effect. With the new law, a nationwide final language proficiency test for integration training will be introduced, and the system related to it will be managed by the Finnish National Agency for Education. The language test will be conducted at school at the end of the studies.
The study program consists of full-time studies with five lessons every weekday from August to the end of May. No classes are held during the Christmas break and the winter holiday week in February. The studies include lunch and afternoon coffee.
Read more about integration services in Porvoo:
Integration services Porvoo
More information about integration in Swedish:
www.infofinland.fi/
Swedish is needed in further studies, working life, and society
You are welcome to study Swedish at Akan even if you are not participating in an integration program. Perhaps you want to refresh your Swedish skills or learn the language from scratch? At Akan, you will study Swedish in a goal-oriented way in an inspiring environment.
In addition to Swedish studies, you also have the opportunity to explore Akan’s diverse course offerings in areas such as art and music. The full-time studies include 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, and include lunch and afternoon coffee. The tuition fee is 120€ per month.
We teach Swedish at two levels:
Svenska – International Swedish Course (Svenska 1)
This is a course for beginners. We learn by speaking, listening, reading and writing, but the main focus is on verbal communication. You will achieve the basics of Swedish so that you can understand and make yourself understood in various everyday situations. The aim of this course is to reach a language competence equivalent to level A1-2 of The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Svenska – International Swedish Course (Svenska 2)
This course requires a basic knowledge of Swedish. If you have not participated in Svenska 1 at our school, we will do an individual assessment test to define your language level. In comparison to Svenska 1 this course focuses more on the written language and language competencies needed at work. The aim of this course is to reach the level B1-2 of The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Central subjects in both courses
Language training in everyday situations
Language correctness
Introduction to Finnish culture and society
Practical language training and projects
Study and employment guidance
Study visits and tours
Practical work-placement to enhance your daily language skills and possibilities to create work-related contacts (two weeks in spring)
Students must have reading and writing skills in the latin alphabet.
At the end of every school year, we organize a 2-3 day long trip together to some place to practice our Swedish. In the last years we have visited Stockholm, the Åland Islands and Ostrobothnia. Where to go next time is something we decide together within the group.
We withhold the right to change the contents and offers in our courses and educational programmes.
Please feel free to contact us in case you have questions or need assistance.
Phone +358(0)19 576 9500 or send e-mail info@akan.fi
Contact and further information
Programme Director:
Maria Ingman | maria.ingman@akan.fi
| 044 914 3612
Place:
Borgå folkakademi / Runebergsgatan 16-18 in the centre of Borgå.
Language of instruction:
The majority of classes are taught in Swedish.
Study fee:
The studies at Svenska – International Swedish Course are free of charge if you have an integration plan with the TE-Office. The education includes lunch (Monday-Friday) and afternoon coffee (Monday-Thursday).
For students without an integration plan, the tuition fee is 120 €/month including lunch (Monday-Friday) and afternoon coffee (Monday-Thursday).
(The fees apply to the academic year 2025-26)
Accommodation:
If you need accommodation you can board in the school’s dormitory connected to the school.
Cost 200 €/month in a shared double room or 260 €/month for a single room, including breakfast Monday-Friday and supper Monday-Thursday.
Further information about accommodation and costs can be found here.
Application period: 1.2.2025 – 3.8.2025
Feedback about the national language proficiency test for adults (YKI-test) and the Swedish studies by student Naomi:
” Akan gives students the best full-time Swedish-speaking environment in Finland, where studying a language becomes fun and so natural. The YKI-test is not that simple and requires a huge amount of learning and personal effort. Akan was like my home, where I get all the support I need to pass the test in three months. I love Akan and am completely grateful to my friends, teachers and staff there. “