Skip to main content
European Commission logo

Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Glossary
Finland

Finland

15.Glossary

Last update: 2 December 2025

Aikuislukio

General upper secondary schools for adults provide education for students over the age of 18. Studies are offered flexibly to meet the needs of adult students; classes are mainly held in the evenings, and distance and online courses are available. It is possible to complete the entire general upper secondary curriculum, take individual courses, and improve or supplement grades.

Ammatillinen aikuiskoulutuskeskus

Vocational adult education centres are municipal or private educational institutions that arrange vocational upper secondary education for adults.

Ammatillinen erikoisoppilaitos

Specialised vocational instutions are owned by industrial or service companies and offer training according to the company's needs.

Ammatillinen tutkinto

Vocational qualification.

Ammattikorkeakoulu

Universities of applied sciences provide higher non-university vocational education in usually multidisciplinary surroundings for matriculated students and those with qualifications from secondary vocational education.

Ammattitutkinto

Further vocational qualification.

Avoin yliopisto

Open universities offer individual courses or larger modules in different fields for learners not studying in a degree programme. The studies are available regardless of the educational background of the learner.

Esiopetus

Pre-primary education.

Compulsory one year pre-primary education starts at the age of six, one year before school education.

Kandidaatin tutkinto

A bachelor’s degree is the lower academic degree in the new two-stage degree system in universities. Before 1994 kandidaatin tutkinto was used to refer to the higher academic degree.

Korkeakoulutus

Higher education.

Lukio

General upper secondary school.

Peruskoulu

Comprehensive school.

Perusopetus

Single-structure primary and lower secondary education or comprehensive school education.

It begins at the age of 7 and lasts for 9 years. It is provided in a single structure system and includes grades 1-9.

Toisen asteen koulutus

Upper secondary education is divided in two types; general education and vocational education and training. The general age to participate in upper secondary studies is from 16 to 19 years but also adults can participate at any age.

Varhaiskasvatus

Early childhood education and care is meant for all children aged 0-6 years, i.e., for children under school age. It is mainly organised in day-care institutions and so-called family day-care.

Yliopisto

University.