The Finnish Education System

The Finnish education system consists of pre-school education, comprehensive school, post-comprehensive general and vocational education, higher education and adult education.

Compulsory education

Basic education is a nine-year general education. Basic education is free and gives everyone who completes it the same right to further education. All children living permanently in Finland are legally obligated to complete the compulsory education syllabus.

Upper Secondary Education

General upper secondary education is general education that prepares students for the matriculation examination. The principal objective of vocational programmes is vocational competence. They comprise nearly all fields in working life such as humanities, teaching, technology, transportation, catering, tourism and many more.

Higher education

Universities

Universities are characterized by scientific research and higher education based on it. There are 20 universities in Finland: ten multidisciplinary universities, three technical universities, three schools of economics and business administration, and four art academies.

There is a two-tier degree structure in universities: in most fields of study, students first complete a lower (Bachelor’s) university degree and then continue with the higher (Master’s) university degree. The extent of studies required for a lower university degree is 180 credits and it can be completed in three years. The higher university degree has a scope of 120 credits in most fields of study and can be completed in two years.  After the higher university degree, it is possible to go on to study for a licentiate or doctoral degree.

Polytechnics (Universities of Applied Sciences)

Polytechnics (Universities of Applied Sciences) are working life oriented and operate on the basis of higher expertise requirements set by working life. Polytechnic studies provide a practically oriented alternative to traditional university studies. Degree studies are free of charge for the students. Studying full-time, completing a degree takes 3.5 - 4.5 years, including a six-month on-the-job training period. Degree studies are provided in degree programmes and there may be specialization lines within the programme.

Polytechnics provide education in the following fields:
- Humanities and Education
- Culture
- Natural Sciences
- Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services
- Social Services, Health and Sports
- Technology, Communication and Transport
- Social Sciences, Business and Administration 

Adult Education

Adult education is provided in more than 1,000 educational institutions in Finland. Only some of them are specialized solely in adult education. Much of adult education is provided outside educational institutions, in work places, or is in some other way organized by employers.

Adult education is provided in the following, among others:
- universities
- polytechnics
- vocational schools
- vocational adult education centres
- national specialized institutions and specialized vocational institutions
- adult education centres and workers’ institutes
- folk high schools
- summer universities
- general upper secondary schools for adults
- study centres
- physical education centres and
- music institutes.

Source: Finnish National Board of Education