Bilingual education

Pupils can enrol to bilingual education from Grade 1 in primary school or from Grade 7 in lower secondary school. A pupil who is moving to Helsinki and has previously participated in bilingual education in another city can apply via the continuous admission route. Applicants to grades 2 to 9 must take a language test. There is no language test for grade 1. The city offers bilingual education in Chinese, English, Estonian, North Sami, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. Learn more about the admission criteria and different ways to apply below.

What is bilingual education like?

The City of Helsinki offers bilingual basic education in English, Swedish, Spanish, Chinese, Northern Sámi, Russian and Estonian. One of these languages are used as the teaching language in addition to Finnish. About 25–50% of teaching is provided in the target language and the rest in Finnish. Each school determines in its curriculum how much teaching is given in another language. Bilingual basic education is offered at certain Finnish-language schools.

Bilingual education develops the pupil’s skills of hearing and reading comprehension, writing and oral expression. It also promotes general interest and readiness for language studies. As in basic education in general, bilingual basic education develops the pupil’s skills in all subjects based on their age level.

Applying to bilingual education

Application period in January

The application period for bilingual education in grade 1 has ended. The application period was 7–26 January 2025.

Admission decisions for pupils starting 1st grade in August 2025 will be sent to homes via the Asti online service and by post on 7 March 2025.

If there are free places left in the bilingual groups in Grade 1, an additional supplementary admission round will open in May-June. You can apply for the free places in Grade 1 if you have moved to Helsinki after January 2025.  Details about the free places will be posted here closer to the application period.

Application period in December–January

The application period for bilingual education starting in the 7th grade has ended. The application period was 16 December 2024–16 January 2025.

Admission decisions for pupils starting 7th grade in August 2025 will be posted to applicants on 26 March 2025.

If you have moved to Helsinki after January 2025, and want to apply for potential free places, an additional supplementary admission round will open in May-June. Details about the free places will be posted here closer to the application period.

If a pupil moves to Helsinki in the middle of basic education and has previously studied in bilingual Finnish–English education elsewhere in Finland, the pupil can apply for bilingual Finnish–English education if the following criteria are met:

Admission criteria for applicants in bilingual education

  • The pupil is moving or has recently moved to Helsinki and has not yet completed basic education. The application may be sent before moving to Helsinki, but the pupil’s home address must be registered in Helsinki in order to be invited to the language test. If your address information is not yet available in the national Population Information System, we will ask you for a proof of address (such as a rental contract).
  • The pupil has received bilingual (Finnish-English) education provided elsewhere in Finland in accordance with the Basic Education Act. 
    Please note: We ask all applicants to provide certificates of previous studies in bilingual education, and if necessary, we contact the school in question to confirm the information. Studying the target language as one of the school subjects does not meet the admission criteria.
  • Based on the language test, the pupil has sufficient language skills and competence to participate in instruction both in Finnish and in English.

How to apply for bilingual Finnish–English education via continuous admission

  1. Request the application form.

    To get the application form, contact oppilaaksiotto@hel.fi .  Attach the most recent certificate or statement from the pupil’s bilingual basic education studies with the application form.

    We will request all applicants to present certificates of previous studies in bilingual basic education. If necessary, we will check with the pupil's former school to verify the information. Studying the target languages as one subject is not sufficient to meet the criteria.

  2. Wait for the school to contact you to invite you for the language test.

    The school will contact you after you have filled in the application form. During school holidays, such as during June and July, there will be no language testing before August. The school will give you instructions for taking the language test. There is no language test for Grade 1. 

  3. Take the child to the language test.

    The school will contact you to agree on a language test and place. Please note that the schools do not hold the testing events during summer holidays in June and July.

  4. Wait for the results and the admission decision.

    The decisions on pupil admission are made based on the language test results as soon after the test as possible. If your child is admitted, the school will contact you to tell you when school starts. You must accept the school place at your first convenience. We wish you all success on your school journey!

Which schools offer bilingual education?

Grades 1–6

Grades 7–9

Grades  1–6

Grades 7–9 

Grades 1–9

Grades 1–7

Grades 1–9

Grades 1–9

Grade 1 as of the academic year 2024–2025

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