Organisational variations and alternative structures for general upper secondary education

Ministry of Education and Culture may grant general upper secondary schools with special educational tasks based on the curriculum; in 2018 the ministry granted special educational task for 75 general upper secondary schools. These specialised general upper secondary schools emphasise their instruction in accordance with their special educational task providing more courses in certain subjects. They always offer the opportunity to complete also a basic study programme. 

Specialised upper secondary schools mainly function in the following fields

•    music

•    visual arts

•    creative dramatics

•    art and media

•    languages

•    environmental sciences

•    natural sciences

•    mathematics

•    technology

•    technical studies

•    sports.

There are also general upper secondary schools offer non-traditional instruction. In 2019 there were

•    9 schools offering their general upper secondary instruction in accordance with the Steiner pedagogy

Education follows the Finnish national curriculum but in addition to national compulsory and specialisation courses studies include more courses for example in artistic and practical subjects.

Students study in year classes in Steiner pedagogy general upper secondary schools. Usually general upper secondary schools are based on curses instead of year classes.

•    16 of the general upper secondary schools offer instruction leading to the International Baccalaureate (IB)

The actual IB programme is completed in two years, preceded by one year of preparatory education so education leading to the IB Diploma lasts three years in total.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is an internationally recognised school-leaving examination which qualifies candidates for admission to university of applied sciences (UAS) and universities and colleges all over the world.

•    1 to European Baccalaureate (EB) in European school of Helsinki

Helsinki School for European Schooling follows the European School curricula, allowing students to take the European Baccalaureate (EB) as their school-leaving examination. The language of instruction is English, French or Finnish

•    1 to Deutsche Internationale Abitur in the German School of Helsinki.

The Reifeprüfung examination is the German school-leaving examination equivalent to the Finnish matriculation examination and German is also the language of instruction. Admission to upper secondary school requires good German language skills (Sprachdiplom I). The Reifeprüfung Diploma provides the same further study opportunities as the Finnish matriculation examination as well as eligibility for higher education in Germany and many other countries.

In Finland, Reifeprüfung examinations are organised by the German School of Helsinki. The German School of Helsinki is an international school that admits children and young people who have attended school in Germany or are otherwise proficient in German. German is the language of instruction in almost all subjects at upper secondary level, i.e. years 10–12.

There are 2 general upper secondary language schools 

•    The French School of Helsinki is a state-run language school assigned with a special educational task, which is to provide its students with good French language skills and knowledge of French culture.

General upper secondary education follows the Finnish curriculum and students take the Finnish matriculation examination. Upper secondary school students can also take the international language examination approved by the State of France, which is accepted by French universities as proof of adequate French language skills.

•    The Finnish-Russian School is a state-run general education school emphasising Russian language studies.

The upper secondary school curriculum mainly follows the Finnish general upper secondary school curriculum, but the Russian language syllabus is more extensive than in the Finnish curriculum.

•    For adult learners, there are six folk high schools which are given permission to arrange general upper secondary education and the matriculation examination.

It is possible to take courses only in some subjects or complete the entire syllabus leading to a qualification. It is also possible to improve individual grades.

•    General upper secondary studies can also be accomplished via distance learning. 

Distance learning is offered in over a hundred general upper secondary schools and in all general upper secondary schools for adults. Distance learning complies with the National Core Curriculum (Lukion opetussuunnitelman perusteet 2015) and time allocation governing upper secondary schools for adults. Students enrol at an educational institution providing general upper secondary distance education and draw up their personal study plans together with the institution’s principal, student counsellor and subject counsellors. The majority of studies are completed in the form of distance learning under the supervision of teachers. Distance learning students may also participate in their school’s contact and counselling classes, where necessary. The entire general upper secondary school syllabus can be accomplished virtually via distance learning.

•    One or more courses in general upper secondary education can be taken in summer in Summer high schools, in-between the two semesters during June – August.

Summer high schools are intensive and informal alternatives for regular school education. They are camp-like, lasting 1–2 weeks each and usually including full room and board. These alternative schools are located in all parts of Finland, most of them located in beautiful unspoiled surroundings of folk high schools.

Some summer high schools are organized by the Summer High School Association Summer High School Association  (founded in 1965) and others by different community colleges and folk high schools around Finland who work as partners with Summer High School Association.

Summer high schools are usually full-time courses for 15 to 19 year-old high school students. 

All summer high schools are open to expatriate youth whose Finnish is already advanced enough to participate lessons in Finnish, but there are also courses for Finnish lessons in some summer schools.

A wide range of extracurricular activities together with excursions are included in the course package. Using learner-oriented methods, summer high schools offer a non-traditional approach to the learning process. Students are encouraged to take active part in the process and thus make the most of their study period.

Many summer high schools focus around a certain theme or a school subject such as mathematics or ecology. Some are targeted at a specific group, such as expatriate youth or anyone else who wants to practice their Finnish or learn about the Finnish culture.

The application period for summer high schools held in Finland close in April-June. Students apply directly to a summer school via application system Apply here.

 

Admission Requirements and Choice of School

Educational institutions use Finnish application system when selecting new students to general upper secondary schools, vocational upper secondary schools and some folk high schools.

Steiner pedagogy general upper secondary schools, language schools, International Baccalaureate (IB) schools are included in the joint application system.

For European Baccalaureate (EB) and Deutsche Internationale Abitur students apply directly to the European school of Helsinki or to the German School of Helsinki.

Eligibility

Everyone who has completed comprehensive school is eligible for general upper secondary education.

Students can apply for any general upper secondary school they wish, there are no other official restrictions but the grades in the basic education certificate. The selection is based on student’s grade point average for the theoretical subjects in the basic education certificate. The minimum grade point average is most often around 7 out of 10.

Entrance tests may be used when applying to general upper secondary school with special educational task. Students may also get extra points for hobbies and other relevant activities.  

Students who apply for general upper secondary education for adults, that is students over 18 years, do apply directly to the school, not via Finnish application system.