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Extension of compulsory education The aim is that, having completed their comprehensive school education, all students gain an upper secondary qualification. The minimum school leaving age raised to 18 years. In addition, student guidance and stud...

Questions and answers related to compulsory education This page provides answers to frequently asked questions on the extension of compulsory education. Questions and answers related to compulsory education Free of charge Guidance and supervision ...

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...

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...

Education is one of the cornerstones of the Finnish welfare society. We pride ourselves on an educational system that offers equal opportunities for education for all.

Pre-primary education Pre-primary education refers to planned education and care provided the year preceding the start of compulsory education, which is directly related to early childhood education and care as well as primary education. The Minis...

General upper secondary education General upper secondary education and the matriculation examination taken at the end of it make it possible to apply for studies in higher education institutions. The unit of the scope of studies is a credit. The ...

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...

Financing of general education The state and the local education providers share the financial cost for tuition. Pre-primary education, primary and lower secondary education (basic education) and upper secondary education are all free of charge. I...

Key legislation on general education This page lists the key acts and decrees on general education. If an English translation of an act or decree is available, the link takes you directly to the English version of the statute in the Finlex databas...

Special features of the Finnish education system Education is viewed positively in Finnish society. Nearly three in four Finns aged between 25 and 64 have at least an upper secondary school certificate (a completed matriculation examination or voc...

Preparing the Programme to Develop Quality and Equality in Vocational Education and Training This programme to develop equality and quality in vocational education and training will help ensure that all students in vocational education and trainin...

Qualifications and studies in vocational education and training The qualifications structure in vocational education and training (VET) has three levels. There are three types of qualifications: vocational upper secondary qualification, further vo...

Completed projects and programmes Extension of compulsory education The minimum school leaving age will be raised to 18 years. Extension of compulsory education Preparing the Programme to Develop Quality and Equality in Vocational Education and Tr...

Matriculation examination At the end of general upper secondary education, students take a school-leaving examination known as the matriculation examination. It is a final certificate for students in general upper secondary education that is used ...

Policies and development Vocational education and training will be advanced as outlined in the Government Programme. This page contains key policies for vocational education and training, ways to enhance it and information on ongoing projects. Res...

Comprehensive school Comprehensive schools provide general basic education from year 1 to year 9. Some folk high schools, upper secondary schools for adults and other educational institutions also offer general basic education. Under the Basic Edu...

Freedom of religion The aim of the Ministry of Education and Culture is to ensure the freedom of religion and to provide all people with possibilities to profess and practise their religion. The Constitution of Finland guarantees freedom of religi...

A short history of Finnish financial aid for students 2025 From 1 August 2025 onwards, students can get a housing supplement for students. This means that general housing allowance will no longer be paid to students. The change will not apply to s...

The working group will assess the current state of student financial aid in line with the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government and draw up proposals for the Ministry for overhauling student financial aid. The working group has a monitoring group that handles matters prepared by the working group and takes a stand on its proposals.