Turku International Upper Secondary School will open on 1 January 2027, offering both an English-language track and an English-supported upper secondary education track. A total of 60 study places will be available through Finland's national joint application process.
The establishment of Turku International Upper Secondary School will strengthen the city’s educational appeal and enhance the Turku region’s ability to meet the educational needs of international families.
The international upper secondary school programme will lead to the Finnish matriculation examination and is intended for young people whose Finnish language skills are not yet sufficient for upper secondary studies.
The English-supported upper secondary education track is aimed at students whose Finnish language skills are still developing.
– The aim of the English-supported upper secondary track is to enable students to complete the Finnish upper secondary school curriculum and the Finnish-language matriculation examination. Some young people need English as a support language during the initial stages of their studies, says Anu Parantainen, Director of Children and Young People’s Services.
Students on the English-language track will take the matriculation examination in English. This track will be offered alongside the other upper secondary education track.
– The language of instruction on the English-language track, as well as the language of the matriculation examination, will be English, explains Timo Jalonen, Service Area Director for General Upper Secondary Education and General Adult Education.
Both tracks will offer 30 study places in the spring joint application process, making a total of 60 places available.
A continuous English-language education pathway in Turku
The establishment of the upper secondary school will create a continuous English-language education pathway from basic education to higher education.
In Turku, English-language basic education is provided at Turku International School, a municipal school covering grades 1–9. Responsibility for the school’s basic education was transferred to the City of Turku in August 2025, and the school operates in the Kupittaa area.
– Turku International Upper Secondary School will operate in the same premises as Turku International School at least during the 2027–2028 academic year, says Jalonen.
English-language upper secondary education also supports equal opportunities for further studies in Finland, as the programme leads to the Finnish matriculation examination and provides general eligibility for higher education.
In addition, launching the programme responds to the needs arising from the internationalisation of Turku and the wider Turku region, labour-based immigration, return migration, and the growing number of international families. It will also support the city’s vitality, cooperation with higher education institutions, and the availability of skilled labour.
The City Board of Turku approved the proposal on 14 September. The matter will next proceed to the City Council for a decision on 28 September.