How to apply

Ressun lukio is an upper secondary school that offers its students studies either in the Finnish-language lukio or in the English-language IB Diploma Programme. It is owned by the city of Helsinki. 

The annual intake in the IB Diploma section is 120 students/year. They are admitted for the preparatory year preceding the 2-year Diploma Programme. At least 95 applicants/year will come from Finnish comprehensive schools. In addition to this, there is an extra admission quota of up to 25 students applying from other countries or school systems. 

All applicants to the preparatory year apply via the national online application system run by the National Board of Education. 

Students applying from Finnish comprehensive schools are chosen based on their grade point average of the academic subjects from the previous school. The Opintopolku online system sends the names of admitted applicants to the school. 

Students applying from other school systems and countries: the final selection is based on the applicants’ previous academic performance, motivation and references. Special attention will be paid to the applicants’ grades in Mathematics, English and the mother tongue/first language. These students must have a valid reason for needing an English-language study place in Helsinki. 

During the pre-year the students will get acquainted with all the subjects taught in the two-year Diploma Programme in our school. They will be given guidance on how to choose Diploma subjects that will help them in their future university studies. All students who pass the pre-year courses with acceptable grades will be able to proceed to our Diploma programme. 

Applicants can also be admitted directly to the 2-year Diploma Programme if places have become available during the pre-year. The school will consider applicants’ previous academic performance, motivation and references to decide on their suitability for the programme. 

Compulsory education continues for ninth-graders from autumn 2021  

As of 2021, the compulsory education has been extended in Finland. What the extended compulsory education means in practice is that the school leaving age has been raised to 18 years. The extension applies to education after comprehensive school. The goal is for every young person to complete upper secondary education, by either passing the matriculation examination or by gaining a vocational qualification.  

Compulsory education ends when the student turns 18, or if a student graduates from upper secondary level earlier.

Joint application period for upper secondary education 

From now on, all young people have the obligation to apply for upper secondary education after basic education. The obligation to apply continues if the young person is left without a study place, or if a student abandons studies that have already started. 

The compulsory education after basic education will primarily take place in general upper secondary education or in vocational education, including apprenticeship training. It can also take place in transition-phase education between basic education and upper secondary education.  

Ninth-graders apply for upper secondary and transition-phase education via the joint application system during the application period. Applications should be submitted on the studyinfo.fi website. Students will receive instructions on the joint application system from their school guidance counsellors and teachers. 

Upper secondary education is free of charge  

Free upper secondary education ends when the student turns 20, or when a student graduates from the upper secondary level.

In addition to the education and school meals, textbooks, supplies and other materials needed in lessons, and final tests with retakes of rejected tests are all free of charge. Learning materials required for instruction include tools, uniforms and ingredients. School journeys that are longer than seven kilometres will also be free of charge and funded by Kela. In some cases, accommodation and other travel costs can also be reimbursed. 

The materials to be purchased in the Helsinki region will be specified later. The educational institution will purchase all learning materials needed by the students’ centrally.  

In educational institutions with special emphases, supplies such as musical instruments and sports equipment will need to be paid for by the students themselves.  

Several options after comprehensive school  

Helsinki offers many options for upper secondary education. Stadin AO, the Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute is the largest vocational education institution in Finland. It offers nearly 30 different qualifications and provides vocational education for numerous different occupations. The City of Helsinki has 14 general upper secondary schools, as well as a general upper secondary school for adults. All city-run general upper secondary schools have a special educational task or a school-specific special emphasis. In addition to these schools, there are several private or trust-funded vocational and general upper secondary schools, as well as state-owned and specialised general upper secondary schools in Helsinki.

Please note that the Finnish matriculation examination exams can only be taken in Finnish or Swedish. There are a few other international examinations in other languages available, as well as preparatory education for Finnish or Swedish-language both vocational and general upper secondary education. Learn more about these options via the Studyinfo links below.

You can find more information about the upper secondary education options:

General upper secondary schools in Helsinki

Stadin AO in English(Link leads to external service)

Studyinfo: General upper secondary education(Link leads to external service)  and international examinations(Link leads to external service)

Studyinfo: Preparatory education options for upper secondary education(Link leads to external service)

Young people will receive guidance on applying for upper secondary education. If a young person is left without a place to study in the joint application system, the organiser of basic education will continue to provide guidance during the summer so that the young person can apply for studies in the continuous admission. If a young person of compulsory education age is left without a study place, or they abandon the started studies, the home municipality will ensure that they will receive guidance or a place in suitable transition-phase education.  

The organiser of basic education, together with the young person and the guardian, will evaluate which type of education is the most suitable, with regard to any needs for special support.  

Learn more about the joint application system on the Studyinfo website:  Finnish application system.(Link leads to external service)

Information about the extension of compulsory education is available on the City of Helsinki’s website and on the  Ministry of Education and Culture website.(Link leads to external service)