Admission to the Enlish track is restricted and based on specific criteria. It is intended for students whose Finnish or Swedish language skills are not sufficient for completing the upper secondary school syllabus in those languages. A person can be considered to have insufficient language proficiency to complete the upper secondary syllabus in Finnish or Swedish only if they have completed studies referred to in the Basic Education Act for no more than three years.
Students admitted to the English-language programme will complete studies in accordance with the national upper secondary curriculum in English, but may also select other suitable courses from the wide range of studies offered at the Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages. It is also possible that providers of English-language upper secondary education will collaborate to offer some courses jointly online. The matriculation examination will be taken in English, but students are also required to complete either the Finnish as a Second Language or the Finnish as a Mother Tongue examination as a compulsory part of the matriculation examination.
Students in the English-language programme will be part of the school’s diverse and community-oriented international activities and may participate in school events and activities. Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages is, among other things, an Erasmus+ accredited school with one of the most extensive study camp programmes in the country. We also take part in the UNESCO Associated Schools Network. Our language offering is the most extensive in Finland. Your wellbeing is supported by, for example, youth workers, a sports coach and student welfare staff. The student council board and sports tutors organise a variety of activities for students.
Eligibility criteria
General upper secondary education in English is intended for applicants whose language skills are insufficient to complete upper secondary education in Finnish or Swedish due to the duration of their prior education in Finland. A person is considered to have insufficient language skills to complete the curriculum of general upper secondary education intended for young people in Finnish or Swedish only if they have completed studies referred to in the Basic Education Act for no more than three years.
Applicants to English-language upper secondary education who are not citizens of the European Union or a country belonging to the European Economic Area are required to have a residence permit granted under the Aliens Act for reasons other than studies.
A student may also be admitted on special grounds even if they do not meet the above-mentioned requirements.
Selection criterion specification or threshold criteria
Selection Criterion or Threshold
Studying in the English upper secondary education line requires strong English language skills, which are assessed in the entrance examination. The exam also tests academic abilities required for upper secondary studies. Applications are submitted through the national joint application process. Non-Finnish applicants must provide official documentation of previous education and an official English translation of their certificate. However, only performance in the entrance examination is used as the basis for selection; previous academic results are not considered.
Examination Overview
The entrance examination for the English upper secondary education line measures applicants’ ability to understand and produce English texts, as well as their academic skills. The examination takes place in Finland and cannot be completed remotely. A single examination allows applicants to apply to all upper secondary schools offering English-language education. The national entrance exam must be taken at the institution offering English-language upper secondary education that the applicant has ranked highest on their application.
Exam Date
The national entrance examination for English-language upper secondary education will be held on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00. No alternative exam date will be provided.
