Ammatilliset oppilaitokset ja lukiot

"The one who is afraid to ask is ashamed to learn."
(Danish saying)

Secondary level education includes upper secondary school and vocational training. You can apply for secondary level education through the national joint application in the spring and autumn. Online applications can be submitted at www.haenyt.fi. People who do not possess a school-leaving certificate from the Finnish comprehensive school must use the ’Joustava valinta’ form. More information on applying for secondary level education is available on the Finnish National Board of Education website.

The koulutusnetti website by the Finnish National Board of Education contains topical information on Finnish upper secondary education, vocational education, technical and academic universities in Finnish, Swedish and English.

The application period for many educational institutions is often long before the beginning of the next term. You should also reserve time for acquiring a language proficiency certificate. There may be a separate application period for foreign students. You should find out well in advance about how to apply to study!

Who provides counselling?

Schools have study counsellors who provide information about studying in your own school. They also give information on other educational institutions and how to apply to study in them.

You can use the pages of Opintoluotsi  to look for information on places that provide counselling on education in different life situations. You can also contact educational institutions directly for information.

Upper Secondary School

Upper secondary schools are secondary level institutions. This means that before attending upper secondary school, you need to complete comprehensive school.

Education in the Upper Secondary School (lukio) usually takes three years. A school-leaving certificate from comprehensive school is required to get into an upper secondary school. At the end of the upper secondary school the students take a Matriculation Examination (ylioppilastutkinto). People who have taken the matriculation examination have better opportunities to become accepted into institutes of higher education.

The website of the Finnish National Board of Education contains information on upper secondary school in Finnish, Swedish and English.

The virtual thisisFinland website contains information on international schools in Finland in English.

Upper Secondary Level Vocational Training

Vocational training is secondary level education. This means that you apply for vocational training after you have completed comprehensive school. Vocation training will qualify students for a certain occupation. This is why vocational training is very practical in nature.

Upper Secondary Level Vocational Training usually takes approximately three years. Preparatory Education for Initial Vocational Training, which facilitates entry into vocational training, is available for immigrants. Before vocational education, it is possible to study an extra year of basic education on the “tenth grade”. The website of the Finnish National Board of Education provides information on vocational training for immigrants.

 The Opintoluotsi.fi website contains information on the different fields of study at vocational institutes.

Information on Different Professions Ministry of Employment and the Economy

ammatillinenkoulutus.com website contains information on vocational education in Finnish, Swedish and English.

After vocational education, you can also continue studying at polytechnics or institutes of higher education. A vocational degree does not automatically guarantee a right for further studies, but you must apply for one. Passing an entrance examination is often required. Consult the study counsellor of your school for more information.