Maahanmuuttaja-aikuisten peruskoulu ja lukio
Adult immigrants can take part in basic and upper secondary school teaching held in Finnish in upper secondary schools for adults. They can also pass basic education and upper secondary school curricula as well as take part in the Matriculation Examination.
To be able to take part in basic education, adult students must be at least 16 years of age. The requirements for upper secondary school education are basic education level knowledge and the age of 18
Teaching is given in Finnish. Completing the studies require a satisfactory knowledge in Finnish. The minimum level for basic education isYKI 2 and for upper secondary school studies YKI 3. More information on the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) is available on the website of the National Board of Education. All test in upper secondary schools for adults are taken in Finnish. All courses are subject to evaluation and students receive a certificate for their studies. Instead of studying Finnish as a native language, many upper secondary schools for adults offer the opportunity to study Finnish as a second language.
Teaching is given in the evenings, usually from Monday to Thursday. Depending of Finnish skills, passing basic education studies takes 2 – 4 years. Passing upper secondary school studies may take 3 – 5 years.
Studies for students doing all basic education or upper secondary school studies are free of charge.
Adult education is part-time. It does not qualify for student financial aid.
Unemployed persons studying in upper secondary schools do not lose their unemployment allowance. Immigrants can receive integration assistance while studying in upper secondary schools for adults.
The basic education graduation certificate can be used to prove sufficient knowledge of Finnish.
Further information available at:
Iltakoulut
Aikuiskoulutusopas
Want to take upper secondary school education for adults in Swedish or English?
Helsinki and Vaasa have a Swedish-speaking upper secondary school for adults, where teaching takes place in Swedish.
The Eira High School for Adults in Helsinki has an English-speaking study programme.