The Education System of Finland

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 The first Finnish university, Turku Academy, established in 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 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 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