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11.6.2026 | The Government proposes a comprehensive reform of the legislation on basic education in the arts. The aim is to clarify the structure of basic education in the arts and improve access to instruction across different art disciplines and fields. The proposal would also introduce a single syllabus and reform the criteria for central government transfers to municipalities.

Libraries The Finnish system of municipal libraries is of high quality by international standards. Library services are among the most frequently used municipal services. Libraries are used not only for obtaining information and borrowing material...

Student financial aid The purpose of student financial aid is to secure the livelihood of full-time students. The ministry develops the student financial aid system on the basis of educational policy objectives and drafts the necessary legislative...

Religious affairs The Ministry of Education and Culture administers matters relating to the churches and other religious communities in Finland and drafts legislation relating to them. The Ministry aims to protect the realisation of freedom of rel...

Copyright in Finland Copyright in Finland is under the mandate of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Ministry drafts copyright-related bills for parliamentary decision making and negotiates international agreements involving copyright. It ...

Financing of sport The task of sports administration and services is to promote sports and physical activity. The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the general direction, coordination and development of sports policy and for ens...

22.9.2025 | The Ministry of Education and Culture’s proportion of the 2026 budget proposal is EUR 8.9 billion, which is some EUR 4.4 million more than in the 2025 Budget. Despite continued pressure on general government finances, the proposal maintains investment in education, research and competence.

Sports and physical activity In the central government, the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for creating favourable conditions for sports and physical activity as well as for the reconciliation and development of sport policy. The...

Youth The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for coordinating and developing youth work and youth policy and creating prerequisites for it in central government. This work is carried out in cooperation with a range of different secto...

Multiannual plan for research and development funding In line with the Government Programme, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment prepared a multiannual plan on the use of research and developme...

Steering, financing and agreements of higher education institutions, science agencies and research institutes The Ministry of Education and Culture coordinates the activities of higher education institutions, science agencies and research institut...

Construction of sports facilities There are nearly 50,000 registered sports facilities in Finland and approximately 70% of them are owned by municipalities. Privately-run sports facilities, mainly located in cities and towns, complement the supply...

Higher education and science The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the planning and implementation of higher education and science policy and preparing statutes, national Budget proposals and Government decisions that apply to t...

Culture Finland’s cultural policy comprises the different sectors of arts and culture, museums, cultural heritage, libraries, cultural exports and creative work. Arts and culture are supported by both central and local government. The Ministry of ...

Basic education Basic education provides a general education and general knowledge and is typically given in comprehensive schools. A pupil is not awarded a degree when graduating from comprehensive school, but it does provide them with the qualif...

Press releases RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Minna Karvonen appointed Director General of the National Gallery Type: Press release Publication date: 2.7.2026 13.41 National Inventory of Living Heritage expands with 22 new elements Type...

23.9.2024 | The Ministry of Education and Culture’s proportion of the 2025 budget proposal is EUR 8.45 billion, which is some EUR 411 million more than in the 2024 Budget. The proposal implements the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government, which aims to invest, even in a difficult economic situation, in raising the level of education and training and improving the conditions for conducting science, research and development.

9.10.2023 | The Ministry of Education and Culture’s proportion of the 2024 budget proposal is EUR 8.0 billion, which is EUR 274 million more than in the 2023 Budget. The budget proposal implements the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government by raising the level of education and competence of the entire population. The measures in the budget proposal aim to strengthen the effectiveness of science and improve the conditions for conducting research and development.

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.

30.1.2025 | A working group preparing an overhaul of student financial aid has assessed the current situation in student financial aid and key development needs in the student financial aid system. Needs for development that were deemed essential include reinstating indexation and restructuring interest assistance and loan granting practices to improve the security of student loans. The working group's proposals were submitted to Minister Sandra Bergqvist on 30 January.