Joining the Finnish Education System, International Schools & Kindergartens

Language Training
The Finnish Education System - Overview & How to Join
University of Tampere: In English!
Religion in Finnish Schools
English Language Kindergartens & Preschools
International Schools (for children)
Additional Information

See also: Infopankki (Information Bank) - more information
See also: Virtual Finland - Education & Research section

Apart from language training you may wish to engage in vocational or other training at a Finnish educational institution, or enrol your child(ren) in an international school? Read on!

The Finnish Education System - Overview & How to Join

The National Board of Education provides a comprehensive overview of the Finnish education system with details of:

• Pre-School Education
• Basic Education
• Upper Secondary Education
• Polytechnics
• Universities
• Adult Education
• Vocational Training

Application Procedures

Koulutusnetti advises application procedures for joining general upper secondary education, vocational upper secondary education, polytechnics and universities.

Contacts

Universities, Polytechnics, Vocational, Adult Education
http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/yliopistokoulutus/index.html?lang=en

Finnish K-12 websites in English
http://www.wakkanet.fi/school/finland.htm

Upper secondary general schools
http://www.edu.fi/english/schools/uppersecondary.html

Comprehensive schools (grades 7-9)
http://www.edu.fi/english/schools/comprehensive7-9.html

Comprehensive schools (grades 1-6)
http://www.edu.fi/english/schools/comprehensive1-6.html

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University of Tampere: International School of Social Sciences

Within the University of Tampere is the International School of Social Sciences (ISSS). It is run within the Department of Political Science and International Relations, and all teaching is in English. The ISSS offers many Bachelor's and Master's programmes.

International School of Social Sciences
FIN 33014 University of Tampere
Tel: (03) 2157011
Fax: (03) 2157287
Email: isss@uta.fi

Religion in Finnish Schools

Schools provide religious teaching according to the confession of the majority of the pupils in the school. If at least three pupils belong to a particular denomination, their parents or guardians can demand instruction in that confession. Pupils who do not belong to any denomination study different philosophies of life, if their parents or guardians so wish.

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English Language Kindergartens & Preschools in Finland

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International Schools in Finland

Schools for children, taught in national languages. Some of these schools are private and charge tuition fees, while others are run by the city and are free. They are shown in no particular order.

Helsinki

The English School: Tuition in 2-year primary school (5-6-years-olds), comprehensive school (classes 1-9) and High School. The curriculum follows the national guidelines, but places a special emphasis on both English and Finnish languages. Classes are taught in English or Finnish, depending on the subject. The High School prepares students for the Finnish Matriculation Examination as well as SAT and AP exams. Tel: (09) 477 1123

L'école française Jules Verne: Belongs to the "Agency for French Teaching Abroad" network. It provides the French curriculum, according to official instructions from the French Ministry of Education, from kindergarten to high school. All teachers belong to the French National Education system. Tel: (09) 565 1926

The International School: Independent, coeducational day school which offers an educational program from kindergarten through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The curriculum is internationally focused, based in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. Tel: (09) 686 6160

The Deutsche Schule: Private coeducational school for students aged 7-18, employing German as the language of instruction. Students take the Reifeprüfung as their matriculation examination. Tel: (09) 685 0650

The Finnish-Russian School: The school offers a preparatory class for six-year-olds, comprehensive school, and higher secondary school. In addition there is a private day-nursery, Kalinka. The languages used are Finnish and Russian. The school is free of charge, but the day-nursery and afternoon-care that the school organises are payable. Tel: (09) 532 905

Espoo International Upper Secondary School: Offers three years of study with English as the language of instruction, leading to an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), administered by the University of Cambridge. Tel: (09) 8163 9101

International School of Vantaa: Predominantly teaching in English, the school offers grades 1-9. The general framework is determined by the National Board of Education. From autumn term 2004 the school will only accept children living in Vantaa. Tel: (09) 839 24810

Elsewhere in Finland

Turku International School: Turku International School offers primary (grades 1-4), secondary (grades 5-9) and upper secondary education. The official language of the school is English. Tel: Vesa Valkila 0400 523 093

Oulu International School: English-speaking classes for all nine years of comprehensive school and the IB programme in some upper secondary schools. Also offers immersion classes in Finnish for immigrants to ease their integration into Finnish school life.
Tel: (08) 5584 9700

The International School, Cygnaeus - Pori: In the 2005 - 2006 school year classes go up to, and include, grade six. Studies follow the same general curriculum as other primary education groups throughout Finland, except that the language of instruction is English. Tel: (02) 621 5227

Lappeenranta: The City of Lappeenranta operates 31 schools, some of which offer classes in English. Contact administration for details during office hours: Mon-Fri from 9am - 12am and 1pm - 3pm
Administrative Office
Brahenkatu 5A,
53100 Lappeenranta
Tel: 05 6161
Fax: 05 616 2913
Email: kasvatusjaopetus.kirjaamo@lappeenranta.fi

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