In this section, information about studying in Finland is provided.
Children in Finland first attend primary school, which lasts for nine years.
After primary school, one can attend a vocational school or a high school. After high school or vocational school, one can go to a university of applied sciences or a university.
Adult immigrants can often study for a vocational qualification in Finland, even if they have not attended primary school in Finland or their home country. If you have not attended primary school, check with vocational schools to see which training programs you can apply for.
If an adult has an equivalent education to Finnish high school and the matriculation examination from their home country, they can apply to study at a vocational school, a university of applied sciences, or a university.
Most education in Finland is conducted in Finnish. There are also quite a few courses available in Swedish. There are few courses in English in Satakunta. If you want to study in English, it is advisable to look for study programs across Finland. Immigrants who are fluent in English may be able to access English-language courses.
If you want to study a new profession in Finland, you usually need to learn Finnish first. Finnish language courses generally begin with a basic Finnish language course. You can apply for a Finnish language course at the TE-office.
After the Finnish course, you can apply, for example, for preparatory vocational training for immigrants. This type of preparatory education is also known by abbreviations such as VALMA and MAVA. In these programs, you can try different work fields and improve your Finnish language skills. In Satakunta, this training is provided by WinNova and SataEdu.
You can find information about different professions on websites such as www.ammattinetti.fi. The site provides information about the training required for various professions and the kinds of work done in those professions.
WinNova and SataEdu are vocational schools where you can study many different professions.
Immigrants can also study at universities of applied sciences and universities. You can also obtain a profession through higher education. These institutions require good or excellent proficiency in both written and spoken Finnish.
Apprenticeship Training
Apprenticeship training is one way to study a profession. In this model, there is less traditional schooling. Most of the learning takes place at the workplace, with part of it in school.
Apprenticeship training is only available for professions that are taught in vocational schools. If you want to pursue training through an apprenticeship, contact the WinNova Apprenticeship Center or SataEdu Apprenticeship Office. They will provide guidance on matters related to apprenticeships. The written apprenticeship contract is made between either WinNova or SataEdu and the workplace.
In apprenticeship training, you must find a workplace where you can study under an apprenticeship agreement.
Useful Links
Infofinland – Education
Infofinland provides information about education and studying in Finland. The site also contains other useful information about Finnish work life.
Opintopolku
On the Opintopolku site, you can find information about different educational programs. The site is maintained by the Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus). It contains information about qualifications, professions, and studying at various institutions. You can also apply for programs through this site.
Ammattinetti
Ammattinetti provides information about various professions. It includes details about the work tasks in different professions and the institutions where you can study those professions. Ammattinetti is maintained by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.
Edu.fi
Edu.fi provides learning materials for immigrants on various topics, including hygiene skills and Finnish history. The site is maintained by the Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus).
Winnova
Winnova is a vocational education institution located in Satakunta. It has multiple campuses. At Winnova, you can study many different professions.
Sataedu
Sataedu is a vocational education institution located in Satakunta with several campuses. At Sataedu, you can study many different professions.
Porin aikuislukio
At Porin Aikuislukio, you can complete the Finnish matriculation examination, essentially finishing high school in Finland. The adult high school also offers preparatory education for high school and Finnish language courses for immigrants.
Samk – Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
At Samk, you can study various fields. A degree from a university of applied sciences is a higher education degree. The studies at a university of applied sciences take longer than at a vocational institution.
Diak – Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Diak is a university of applied sciences with campuses throughout Finland, including one in Pori. At Diak, you can study social and healthcare fields.
Porin yliopistokeskus
Porin University Center hosts units from four different Finnish universities. You can study various academic disciplines there.