There are some general upper secondary schools in Helsinki where you can study in a language other than Finnish or Swedish. Please note that the marticulation examination you have to take in Finnish or Swedish, but the International Baccalaureate (IB programme) is taught and completed fully in English. Learn more about the different options in Helsinki and our neighbouring cities!
English-language options the City's general upper secondary schools
You can complete your studies fully or partly in English at the following general upper secondary schools run by the City of Helsinki:
- Ressu Upper Secondary School, IB World School, IB programme, fully in English
- Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages, bilingual Finnish-English programme
The IB programme at Ressu Upper Secondary School is completed fully in English.
Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages offers a bilingual Finnish-English study programme, which uses both languages in the teaching. Please note that you can take the matriculation examination tests only in Finnish.
Options in private and state-run general upper secondary schools
In Helsinki, there are also private general upper secondary schools that provide opportunities to study in different languages. Additionally, some study options are available in English in other municipalities near Helsinki. Read more about each general upper secondary school on their own websites.
English
- The English School High School (private school in Helsinki, Bilingual Finnish-English general upper secondary education)
- Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu Upper Secondary School, IB World School (private school in Helsinki, A1-level English language programme or IB programme, entirely in English)
- International School of Helsinki (private school in Helsinki, IB programme or American High School diploma, entirely in English)
- Kulosaari Secondary School (private school in Helsinki, Bilingual Finnish-English general upper secondary education)
- Etelä-Tapiolan lukio (general upper secondary school run by the City of Espoo, IB programme, entirely in English)
- Mattlidens gymnasium (general upper secondary school run by the City of Espoo, IB programme, entirely in English)
- Tikkurilan lukio (general upper secondary school run by the City of Vantaa, IB programme, entirely in English)
German
- Deutsche Schule Helsinki (page in German) , private school in Helsinki, German degree corresponding to the Finnish matriculation examination
- Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu Upper Secondary School (private school in Helsinki, A1-level German language programme)
French
- Lycée franco-finlandais d'Helsinki, Finnish-French upper secondary school (page in French) , state-run school in Helsinki
- Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu Upper Secondary School (private school in Helsinki, A1-level French language programme)
Russian
- Финско-русская школа, Finnish-Russian upper secondary school (page in Finnish) , instruction in Finnish, the school has a special educational task in Russian. state-run school in Helsinki
- Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu Upper Secondary School (private school in Helsinki, A1-level Russian language programme)