Search

Immigrants and integration Newcomers to Finland who learn the language, find a job or a study place, and who build contacts in Finland tend to find it easier to integrate into the Finnish society. One's own culture, language and religion can still...

Education for immigrants Immigrants usually participate in the same early childhood education and care, education and training as the rest of the population. In addition to these, integration training and support for learning as well as preparator...

30.9.2024 | The PISA 2022 results show that there are still major disparities in performance between immigrant and non-immigrant students in all domains of assessment. Underperformance of students with an immigrant background is often explained by weak reading performance and lower socio-economic status.

The Sustainable Growth Programme for Higher Education in Finland seeks solutions through which higher education and research can contribute to the strengthening of the Finnish public economy and fuel sustainable growth.

31.10.2022 | On 3 November, the Ministry of Education and Culture will organise an immigration dialogue where professionals in the arts and culture will discuss issues related to the diversity of cultural services based on their own experiences. The theme is cultural diversity, immigration and inclusion.

Acts and decrees concerning libraries The Ministry implements the national library policy by applying different steering measures and by funding public libraries’ development activities. The key steering measures applied by the Ministry are enforc...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its effects in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture On this page, we will update information on the impacts of the situation in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education a...

Accessibility and diversity of culture The Ministry of Education and Culture aims to provide linguistic and cultural minorities, persons with disabilities and other special groups with opportunities to participate in culture and express their crea...

Continuous learning Continuous learning responds to the need to develop and renew competence at different stages of people’s lives and careers. The changing demands of work will significantly increase the need for upskilling and continuous learnin...

6.10.2022 | The Government’s proposal to comprehensively reform the Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (hereinafter, the Integration Act) aims to strengthen the inclusion of immigrants in society and to make the promotion of integration more efficient. Another goal is to increase equality and wellbeing and advance good relations between population groups. The reform seeks to facilitate the path of immigra...

1.9.2026 | On 1 September 2026, the Government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo reached a decision on its budget proposal for 2027 and is steadily implementing the agenda it agreed at the spending limits session. The agenda includes EUR 100 million of investment in construction and numerous transport infrastructure projects. The Government’s targeted measures will support economic growth.

Tuition fees in upper secondary education Students from third countries will, in future, be required to pay tuition fees in both general upper secondary education and vocational education and training. These fees apply to those who start their stu...

13.11.2025 | International higher education students could play an even bigger role in driving Finland’s growth. Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen and Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie invited businesses, cities, higher education institutions and students to find solutions to improve international students’ employment prospects in Finland.

11.9.2018 | On Tuesday, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published Education at a Glance 2018, its annual indicators used for comparing education systems. The topics examined in the publication include the educational level, enrolment in education, costs, student mobility, the provision of education, decision-making and the tasks and terms of employment of teachers in the 34 OECD member countries and a number of partner countries.

3.3.2026 | AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE AND KARELIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES FOR 2025–2028 1. Common objectives of higher education institutions The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Karelia University of Applied Scie...

9.10.2025 | Students from non-EU countries will in future be required to pay tuition fees in both general upper secondary education and vocational education and training. These students will therefore no longer be included in the system of central government transfers to local government. At the same time, providers of vocational education and training will be permitted to sell commissioned education leading to a qualification also to citizens of EU Member States and EEA countries.

24.1.2017 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has decided to subsidise vocational education and training for immigrants by EUR 20 million. The financial resources are designed to promote a swift labour market integration of asylum seekers and other persons with immigrant background and to strengthen their education. The goal is to combine language studies with vocational studies. The funds are part of the Vocational skills for immigrants programme.

11.8.2017 | Minister of Education Sanni Grahn-Laasonen decided to subsidise the development of immigrant pupils and students’ educational paths and other measures promoting integration by EUR 5.5 million. The funds will be used, among other things, to improve learning outcomes, to develop Nokia’s Bridge Programme into a fast track training option for immigrants with eligibility for higher education, and to organ...

25.9.2017 | Highly educated immigrants have already a lot of skills and learning that are, however, insufficiently recognised. There should be better and more systematic ways to recognise and accredit prior learning. The steering group on supporting immigrants in higher education submitted its report to Minister of Education and Culture Sanni Grahn-Laasonen on 25 September.

12.6.2007 | The committee estimates that 650 more teachers will be needed by the year 2012 so that immigrant education on different levels can be provided as immigration increases. According to the committee, the teacher shortage can be alleviated by supplementing teacher training programmes, ensuring that persons with an immigrant background have access to teacher education, and by widening the possibilities of supplementing teacher qualifications awarded abroad.