Supporting Immigrants in Early Childhood Education Careers
Are you already working in early childhood education and want to qualify as a Bachelor of Social Services specializing in early childhood education? Or are you interested in early childhood education and looking to change careers?
During the academic year 2025–2026, we will offer an early childhood education training program for immigrants as part of the project "Language-supported competence paths for the labour shortage sectors of immigrants in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area". You can find more information about the project on its dedicated webpage.
The project is led by the University of Helsinki, with Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and Aalto University as partners. This webpage focuses on the early childhood education training program provided by Metropolia UAS.
Bilingual First-Year Studies for Bachelor of Social Services in Early Childhood Education
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences will offer bilingual first-year studies for the Bachelor of Social Services degree in early childhood education during the academic year 2025–2026. The program is tailored for immigrants with intermediate proficiency in both Finnish (B1) and English (B2).
The training uses a language-integrated approach, allowing you to begin with more English-based studies and gradually increase the use of Finnish as you progress. The program accommodates 30 participants.
What Are the Goals of This Program?
- Improve your Finnish language skills so you can later apply for a degree program in early childhood education in Finnish, and work more comfortably in Finnish.
- Enhance your skills for working in early childhood education.
- Make it easier to find jobs in the field of early childhood education in Finland.
- Provide an opportunity to network with students in the early childhood education teacher training program at the University of Helsinki.
This training program alone does not grant you the qualification of a Bachelor of Social Services. After completing this program, you will need to apply for a degree program in social services. You can apply through a separate admissions process to continue in either the Finnish or English degree program. If accepted, you will continue your studies directly from the second year.
Information for Applicants about the Training in Early Childhood Education
What: First-year studies for the Bachelor of Social Services in early childhood education (60 ECTS). You will study both in English and Finnish.
When: From 11 August 2025 until 31 May 2026. The duration of the training is 10 months, so you will complete in average 6 ECTS per month during the training.
The training will start with a personal study guidance discussion in the time frame between 11 and 20 August online. The discussion will be scheduled when your participation in the training has been confirmed in June 2025. The tuition begins on Thursday 21 August from 9 am to 4 pm at Metropolia Myllypuro campus in Helsinki.
Where: Blended learning: a combination of online studies and in-person sessions at Metropolia’s Myllypuro campus in Helsinki. In-person classes will be held twice per month, every second Thursday from 9 am until 4 pm. Additionally, the online classes will take place twice per week in the time frame between 2.30-6.30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays (no online classes on the Thursdays with contact teaching on campus). The training requires plenty of independent studying.
Cost: Free of charge.
Application Period: 1.-30.4.2025.
Application Process: Your language skills and motivation for the training will be tested during the application process. The student selection process will take place at the Metropolia Myllypuro campus on two days, the 2 and 3 June 2025. Please be prepared to attend the student selection on both said days.
The student selection process will include a written assignment and an interview.
Who Can Apply: Immigrants with:
- at least intermediate proficiency in English (B2) and Finnish (B1). You do not need to provide a National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) test result or similar to prove your language skills, but your language skills will be tested during the student selection process.
- Applicants must meet higher education eligibility criteria, meaning you have completed at least a secondary-level qualification. Your previous field of study does not matter, and you can have completed your qualification in Finland or abroad. The student selection is conditional until your eligibility has been verified, so please be prepared to provide a certificate proving you have at least a secondary-level qualification. You need to provide a certificate of your degree in Finnish, Swedish or English.
- You can apply whether you are currently working in early childhood education or only considering entering the field.
What Does the Program Include?
- Orientation to studies 5 ECTS
- Social pedagogy in social services environments 5 ECTS
- Professional communication and academic writing 5 ECTS
- Professional in social and health care 5 ECTS
- Individual and group counselling 5 ECTS
- Human behavior in the social environment 5 ECTS
- Culture, gender and sexuality in client work 3 ECTS
- Client and patient oriented approach 2 ECTS
- Global awareness of Well-being of Children and Families 5 ECTS
- Social pedagogical methods 5 ECTS
- Foundations of the welfare society 5 ECTS
- Foundations of Early Childhood Education 5 ECTS
Work Placement 1: Social Services Work and Clients’ Everyday Life 5 ECTS. If you are already working in early childhood education, you can complete the practical assignments at your workplace instead of formal training.
Interested?
Leaving contact details is not binding on you to anything.
Contact
Emilia Deseille
Project Manager
+358 40 671 3888
emilia.deseille [at] metropolia.fi (emilia[dot]deseille[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Check Emilia's profile on Metropolia PeopleFinder
Anu-Helena Pitkänen
Career Coach
+358 50 525 1885
anu-helena.pitkanen [at] metropolia.fi (anu-helena[dot]pitkanen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Check Anu-Helena's profile on Metropolia People Finder