Program 2: General Upper Secondary education in English

Students in the English-language upper secondary education at the English School complete their studies according to the Finnish national curriculum and, towards the end of their studies, participate in the Finnish matriculation examinations in English. Students must take at least five examination subjects, one of which is Finnish (Finnish as a Second Language and Literature). It will be possible to take the English-language matriculation examinations starting in autumn 2028.

Studies in the English-language upper secondary education are conducted mainly in English, and part of the instruction may also be organised remotely in cooperation with other institutions offering English-language upper secondary education.

Please note that strong motivation to learn and study the Finnish language is essential in the English-language program, as Finnish Language is a compulsory subject for all students, and all students are required to take the Finnish language examination in the matriculation examination. Students study two beginner-level Finnish courses (a total of 4 credits) before moving on to the national Finnish as a Second Language and Literature courses. In addition to Finnish as a Second Language studies, we also support Finnish language learning across other subjects. The aim for all students is excellent proficiency in English and at least a good level of proficiency in Finnish.

Admission Criteria

The English-language upper secondary school program is intended for young people who have completed studies referred to in the Basic Education Act for no more than three years and therefore have insufficient language skills to complete upper secondary school in Finnish or Swedish.

If you are applying with a certificate from overseas, you must have completed your basic education (Grades 1-9) corresponding to the Finnish Basic Education Certificate in order to be considered a valid applicant. The certificate of education completed abroad, and, if needed, its official English translation, must be submitted to the school.

In addition, an applicant admitted to upper secondary education in English who is not a citizen of a European Union member state or a state belonging to the European Economic Area must have been granted a residence permit under the Aliens Act for reasons other than studies. The admission decision is conditional until the selected applicant submits the official documents to the school.

Applications are submitted through the joint application system, and selection is based solely on the entrance examination. In the event of a tie in points, the selection will be determined by lottery.

How to apply? Go to https://engs.fi/high-school/admission/