English-language upper secondary school education
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The goal of upper secondary school education is to give students wide-ranging all-round education that prepares students for further education and working life. Upper secondary education is divided into compulsory, advanced and applied studies. In upper secondary school, you choose your own study units and progress according to your personal study plan. At upper secondary school you get the qualif ...
Do the following
You can apply for a study place at the general upper secondary school of your choice. The provider of the education decides whom it will admit to its institution.
You can apply to upper secondary school with a basic education certificate or its equivalent. The students are chosen based on the average of their grades in theoretical subjects.
The entrance examination for the English-language study track assesses applicants’ ability to understand and produce texts in English. In addition, the examination evaluates applicants’ academic readiness for upper secondary studies. The entrance examination is held in Finland, and remote participation is not possible.
To whom and on what terms
English-language general upper secondary education is intended for applicants whose language skills are insufficient to complete upper secondary education in Finnish or Swedish due to the duration of their pre-upper secondary education completed in Finland. However, a person may be considered to have insufficient language skills to complete the upper secondary school curriculum intended for young people in Finnish or Swedish only if they have participated in comprehensive school studies as referred to in the Basic Education Act for no more than three years.
If the applicant is not a citizen of a country belonging to the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), they must hold a residence permit in Finland that is not based on studies.
The English-language general upper secondary study track requires a good command of English, which is assessed through an entrance examination. The examination also evaluates the academic skills required for upper secondary studies. Applications are submitted through the national joint application system.
Applicants with foreign educational qualifications must provide an official document proving their previous qualification, together with an official English translation of the certificate. Admission decisions are based solely on performance in the entrance examination; previous academic achievement is not taken into account in the selection process.
Background information
General upper secondary education provides you with the necessary skills for studying at a university or university of applied sciences. At the end of your general upper secondary education, you will complete a matriculation examination that will make you eligible for a place of study at a higher education institution.
The target completion time for a general upper secondary school syllabus is three years. Every syllabus and the studies included in them are measured in credits. The general upper secondary school syllabus for young students consists of 150 credits. The studies included in the syllabus for young students have been designed with full-time study in mind. A separate syllabus is also available to adults who wish to participate in general upper secondary education.