Henna Holmström, a Finnish speaker who once struggled to pass Swedish in high school, has earned a Swedish-language degree in public health nursing from Novia University of Applied Sciences and now works fluently in both Finnish and Swedish.
Living in Åland, Holmström sought flexible study options after parental leave and chose Novia’s multi-format programme. “I was nervous about studying in Swedish, but there was plenty of support from both teachers and fellow students,” she said.
Holmström especially recalls her final-year nursing courses, praising instructors Christine Alm and Pia Liljeroth. Her studies led directly to her current role as an occupational health nurse in Åland, where she had also completed her work placement.
Studying in Swedish proved essential for her career. “In healthcare, it’s a huge advantage to be bilingual, especially in regions where both Finnish and Swedish are spoken,” she explained.
Holmström encourages other Finnish speakers to apply to Swedish-language programmes: “Don’t worry if your Swedish isn’t perfect—it will improve. I didn’t pass Swedish in high school, and now I have a Swedish-language degree and work confidently in both languages.”
Source: Novia University of Applied Sciences
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