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.
Turku has five daytime upper secondary schools maintained by the City of Turku. In addition to the City’s upper secondary schools, you can also get education at Turun Normaalikoulu upper secondary school and Turku Steiner school upper secondary school.
Who can apply to 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 upper secondary school special tracks have their own application process. Find out more about applying to special tracks from the upper secondary schools’ websites. nts (teaching in english)
How to apply to upper secondary school
You can apply to upper secondary education via the joint application system in spring. The joint application happens in the Studyinfo service during the spring.
Joint application to the upper secondary schools of Turku
A young person applies to the City of Turku upper secondary schools in the joint application every spring. Here is a summary of the steps of the joint application system.
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1Find out more about the upper secondary schools of Turku
Get to know Turku’s upper secondary schools and their special tracks from the schools’ website and introduction evenings in early spring.
Note that you can get more information about a parallel studies option from Turku Vocational Institute website.
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2Apply in Studyinfo
Applications to Turku upper secondary schools are made in Studyinfo during the joint application period. In Studyinfo, list places you are applying in order of preference.
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3Wait for the results
School acceptances are usually published at the beginning of June, before Midsummer.
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4Accept the study place
Remember to accept your place before the deadline. The deadline for accepting applications from alternates is usually in August. If you did not get a study place, contact the counsellor at your comprehensive school.
Background information about the service
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.
You can apply for a study place at the educational institution of your choice. The provider of the education decides whom it will admit to its 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.