Studying in upper secondary school
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 qualifications to continue your studies at universities or universities of applied sciences.
In 2027, Turku will establish its first municipal English-language upper secondary school, with the preparatory work taking place during the 2026–2027 academic year.
The English-language upper secondary school of the International School of Turku and the IB programme of the Turku Teacher Training School enable upper secondary school studies in English. The IB-programme teaching is organised by the University of Turku.
Explore the IB Programme at Turun Normaalikoulu
Application instructions for the IB Programme organised by the University of Turku can be found on the school's own website.
Who can apply to English-language upper secondary education?
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.
Applying to English-language upper secondary school
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.
ORIGO Study Track
ORIGO Study Track (Opening Routes Into General Upper Secondary Education Opportunities)
The ORIGO programme will be launched for the first time at Turku International Upper Secondary School in autumn 2027. ORIGO is designed for students completing comprehensive school who wish to continue their studies in a Finnish-language upper secondary school but still need support in developing their Finnish language skills.
Finnish is the primary language of instruction in the ORIGO Programme. During the first year of studies, English is also used systematically to support learning alongside Finnish. As students’ Finnish language skills develop, the use of English is gradually reduced, and in the later stages of the programme Finnish becomes the sole language of instruction. For this reason, students are expected to have a good command of English at the beginning of their studies.