The City of Helsinki has 15 general upper secondary schools, two of which offer general upper secondary education for adults. Our general upper secondary schools offer regular general upper secondary education, general upper secondary education based on a special educational task and special emphasis general upper secondary education. There are also private general upper secondary schools and state general upper secondary schools in Helsinki.
General upper secondary school usually consists of three years of studies based on a personal study plan. The studies can be completed in 2-4 years. At the end of general upper secondary education, students take the matriculation examination.
The scope of the general upper secondary school curriculum is 150 credits. In general upper secondary education for adults, the scope of studies is 88 credits. You can study at our general upper secondary schools in Finnish, Swedish or English.
General upper secondary education is general education. The studies consist of subjects common to all students. These are:
- mother tongue and literature
- second national language
- foreign languages
- second natural sciences
- humanities and social studies
- guidance counselling
- arts and practical subjects.
At the City of Helsinki's general upper secondary schools, you can also choose studies from the City's other general upper secondary schools. You can complete studies from the City's common course selection as well as online and distance courses at Helsinki Online Upper Secondary School.
At the Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages, you can study on a bilingual Finnish-English track, which uses both languages of instruction. However, you will take the matriculation examination only in Finnish.
At Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages, you can also study in a fully English track, at the end of which you take the Finnish matriculation examination in English. The track is intended for a limited target group.
You can complete an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in English at Ressun lukio IB World School.
More information about General upper secondary education
Read more about General upper secondary schools in helsinki, applying to general upper secondary school and studies in general upper secondary school.
Online information
General upper secondary education website
More information on the General upper secondary education website
Special educational tasks and emphases, website
See what is the difference between a special emphasis and a special educational task.