Education in Helsinki – guide for newcomers

Looking for childcare or schools in Helsinki? Explore the education timeline below to see what options are available for you or your child at different ages.

Parent and child in a school gym.
Photo: Jussi Hellsten

On this site

Daycare in Helsinki
Schools for children in Helsinki
Schools for teens in Helsinki
Universities and adult education

Your child’s school journey in Helsinki

This timeline gives you an overview of the Finnish education system, from early childhood education to higher education. Every child living in Helsinki has the right to a free place in comprehensive school. For municipal schools, your child is assigned a local school based on their home address.

  • Age 0-5, Early childhood education (varhaiskasvatus)

    • Childcare at a public or private daycare centre, family daycare or group family daycare. Learn more in the Daycare in Helsinki section.

  • Age 6, Pre-primary education (esiopetus)

    • A compulsory year of schooling for children who turn six in that year. The half-day of instruction focuses on preparing the children for primary school. Read more about pre-primary education under the Daycare in Helsinki section.

  • Age 7-12, Primary school (alakoulu, ala-aste)

    • Grades 1 to 6 of comprehensive education. The school days can be very short in primary school. Many children in grades 1 and 2 attend guided after-school activities after school. Learn more in the Schools for children in Helsinki section.

  • Age 13-15, Lower secondary school (yläkoulu or yläaste)

    • Grades 7 to 9 of comprehensive education. In some neighbourhoods, primary and lower secondary schools are in the same building, while in others they are separate. Learn more in the Schools for children in Helsinki section.

  • Age 16-19, Upper secondary education (lukio or amis)

    • In the year they turn 16, students choose to continue their studies in either: general upper secondary school (lukio) or vocational school (ammattikoulu or, more familiarly, amis). Education is compulsory up until this level. For more information, see our Schools for teens section.

  • Age 19- , Higher education (yliopisto or ammattikorkeakoulu)

    • Once young adults finish lukio or amis, they can apply to study in a university (yliopisto) or a university of applied sciences with a vocational emphasis (ammattikorkeakoulu). To read more, see our Universities and adult education section.