Language Skills Assessment

Because most of our studies are conducted in Finnish, a good level of Finnish language skills is essential for successful studies. Therefore, applicants applying to Gradia through the joint application or continuous application process will have their Finnish language skills assessed. When applying to 

• vocational qualifications 
• vocational qualification units   
• preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification

Language Skills Assessment for Vocational Education through the Continuous Application Process

All language skills assessments are held in Jyväskylä at Gradia’s Viitaniemi campus. The assessment begins at 1:00 PM and ends no later than 4:00 PM. Applicants will be invited to the language skills assessment. Gradia’s language skills assessment consists of two parts: writing and reading comprehension.

The result of the language skills assessment applies only to the application for which the application was submitted. The result is not automatically transferred to subsequent applications. If an applicant does not participate in the language skills assessment for the continuous application process, the applicant cannot be selected for the programme, and the application will be canceled. 

An applicant’s language skills will also be considered sufficient if the applicant has attached one of the following certificates to the application or presents it before the language skills assessment: 

• a Finnish-language school leaving certificate 
• a Finnish-language upper secondary school syllabus or matriculation examination certificate 
• a Finnish-language vocational qualification certificate 
• a National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI test in Finnish, intermediate level), in which writing and reading comprehension have both been assessed at grade 3 
• a Gradia language skills assessment in which writing and reading comprehension have both been assessed at level B1.1.

For advice and guidance on studying Finnish, you can contact, for example: 

• the student counselor at your school 
• International House Jyväskylä, Hannikaisenkatu 11–13, Jyväskylä 
• Employment Services 
• Outreach Youth work in your municipality, for people under 29 
• The One-Stop-Guidance Center, Asemakatu 4, Jyväskylä, for Jyväskylä residents under 30

Language Skills Assessment in the Joint Application Process 

In the joint application process, a shared language skills assessment is organized for both applicants to vocational upper secondary qualifications and applicants to Preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification (TUVA) as follows:

If you need more information or can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us — we’re happy to help: admissions@gradia.fi or tel. + 358 40 341 6193.