The Education System of Finland  

www.edu.fi

Historical Overview Finland was incorporated into Sweden during the Crusades of the 12th century.

Social and religious influences from Sweden joined Finland to the sphere of western culture.

The first Finnish-language ABC book and the Bible transaltion in 1642. The first Finnish university, Turku Academy, established in 1640.

In 1809, Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia for one hundred years. The legislation and social system from the Swedish era were preserved during the period of autonomy. Russian educational statutes were not applied to Finland.

Finland became independent in the final stages of the First World War in 1917.

 Education System Chart

Basic Education: a nine-year comprehensive school

no admission requirements, no charges may include voluntary one-year pre-

school education and voluntary one-year additional education (10th form)

instruction arranged in schools near the home

Pre-School Education for six-year-olds, who will start their

compulsory educ. the following year

participation is voluntary

provided in day care centres and in pre-school classes in connection with comprehensive schools.

90 % of the entire age group

Nine-year comprehensive school no official qualification; final certificate

granted for acceptable completion of the syllabus

provides eligibility for all upper secondary education

almost all Finnish children complete comprehensive school, interruption and repeating a form is rare

compulsory education is fulfilled by completing the basic education syllabus

Upper Secondary Education

1. General Upper Secondary

2. Vocational Education

1. General Upper Secondary School Admission requirement is the completion of

comprehensive school Students selected mainly on the basis of

previous study record National joint application procedure Primarily aim at further studies at the tertiary

level Students usually 16-19 years of age Adjusted instruction also provided for adults More than half of each age group complete this

school

Upper secondary schools function without fixed forms, no year classes School year divided into five or six periods Instruction divided into 38 lessons,

“courses” A separate timetable is drawn up for each

period, concentrating on certain subjects Students' progress and the composition of

teaching groups depends on the students' choice of courses.

General Upper Secondary School - continue

progress in studies is individual syllabus planned for three years possible to finish in two years, maximum

four years

2. Vocational Education the admission requirement is the completion of the

basic education syllabus Selection of students on the basis of previous study

record, entrance or aptitude tests taking the applicant's previous work experience into account

national joint application procedure aim at the acquisition of the vocational skills necessary

in working life, three-year programmes give general eligibility for

further studies at universities and other institutions of higher education

opportunities for individual progress in the studies adjusted instruction is also offered to adults

Higher Education

1. Polytechnic Education

2. University Education

1. Polytechnic Education the admission requirement is the completion of a

vocational qualification or the matriculation examination polytechnics select their students independently;

through the national joint application procedure polytechnic studies lead to higher education degrees the scope of education is 3.5-4.5 years; students have the

right to exceed this by one year all degree programmes include an on-the-job training

period of at least 20 credits (half the academic year) instruction is free of charge education providers are municipal or private; the State

does not maintain polytechnics close research and development co-operation with the

regional working life

2. University Education Academic degrees are Lower (Bachelor's) - three years Higher (Master's) - five years

Scientific postgraduate degrees: Licentiate and Doctorate University system is composed of multidisciplinary universities specialised scientific universities art academies