A world leading nation in education

Since year 2000, the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has ranked the Finnish 15-year-olds best or close to best in reading, mathematics and scientific skills in international PISA assessments that take place once every three years focusing on one particular area of education.

At age 15, Finnish students are near the end of compulsory education in Finland, comprised of a comprehensive school syllabus followed by each and every Finn.

One of the distinctive features of Finnish schools is uniformity. There is no system of independent private schools, and most schools in the country receive public funding and follow the same, national curriculum.

Education system

The Finnish comprehensive school comprises a nine-year basic, general education. Children enter school during the year when they turn 7 years of age, and compulsory education ends after the basic education syllabus has been completed or after ten years. Most children attend a one-year, voluntary pre-school programme. Children of immigrant families living in Finland must attend school.

Children normally go to the neighbourhood school but can be placed in a school in another district depending on availability.

The Finnish education system is further composed of upper secondary education, comprising general and vocational education, and higher education provided by universities and universities of applied sciences (also known as polytechnics). Adult education is available at all levels.

Both general and vocational upper secondary certificates provide eligibility for further studies in universities and universities of applied sciences.

Universities, which are academic or artistic institutions, focus on research and on education based on research. They confer Bachelor's, Master's, licentiate and doctoral degrees. Universities of applied sciences offer work-related education in response to labour market needs.

Schools in Helsinki are operated by the City of Helsinki Education Department. The department’s operations cover all comprehensive schools, general upper secondary schools, vocational institutions, education for adults, apprenticeship training and young people’s workshop activities. The department provides services for close to 80,000 students annually.

In the Helsinki metropolitan area (the municipalities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen), pre-school education is primarily organized by the child’s municipality of residence. Basic education can be available for pupils from another of the four municipalities based on agreements between the municipalities. Having completed basic education, young people residing in the Helsinki metropolitan area can apply to upper secondary education across municipal borders.

Educational policies in Finland are directed by the Finnish National Board of Education, an agency subordinate to the Ministry of Education.

The ministry maintains a comprehensive service that offers a one-stop source of information on education in Finland.

The Suomi.fi public service site also contains diverse information on education in Finland.