What is English-language basic education like?
The language of instruction in English-language basic education is English. The only exception is the subject of Finnish language and literature, which will be taught in Finnish. Applicants for grades 1 to 7 must have native or near-native proficiency in English, but prior skills in Finnish are not required. English-language basic education is offered at certain Finnish-language schools.
Applicants for grades 8–9 are also required to have spoken Finnish language skills, equalling the A1 level in spoken interaction in accordance with the European framework. See the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Self-assessment grid(Link leads to external service).
The objectives and key contents of learning are the same for both English-language basic education and Finnish-speaking basic education. The English-language basic education in Ressu Comprehensive School follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) frame of reference.
English-language basic education is available in two of the city's Finnish-language comprehensive schools: Ressu Comprehensive School and Maunula Primary School, and in a few private schools that have their own application procedures. It is not available in the City's Swedish-language schools.
How to apply for English-language basic education?
Basic education provided in English starts either in Grade 1 of primary school or in Grade 7 of lower secondary school, and must always be separately applied for through a language test. A pupil who has participated in full-time English-language education abroad or in another city can also apply for other classes through the continuous admission route, if there is room in the class. Learn more about the different application methods below.
Application period in January
Enrol your child electronically through the Asti online service(Link leads to external service) during 7–26 January 2025 when all new first graders enrol to school. You can also enrol your child by visiting the school of on Wednesday 22 January 2025 at 8.00–10.00.
Only Helsinki-based first-graders born in 2018 can enrol using the Asti service. If you cannot enrol via Asti, please use this separate electronic form(Link leads to external service).
Children can apply for five different schools/programmes. The options will be processed in the order indicated by the parent or guardian, starting with bilingual, English-language and weighted-curriculum options, followed by any other options. If the child is admitted to their first choice, they will not be offered a place in other programmes/schools. After the application period all choices are binding, and if the child is admitted to a programme/school, the guardian is obliged to accept the place for them.
Language test takes place on 31 Jauary 2025.
Schools may hold information events for guardians during 18 November 2024–18 January 2025. Learn more on the school web pages.
Admission decisions will be posted to the pupil's home address on 7 March 2025.
Entry requirements for English-language basic education in Grade 1
- The applicant has a native-level or near native-level proficiency in English.
- A child applying for the 1st grade does not need to be able to read or write.
Language test
The language test takes place on 31 January 2025.
Please visit the website of the school you're interested in for more information about the language test.
A child applying for the 1st grade does not need to be able to read or write when they take part in the language test. The language test assesses the child's language skills, and it is not necessary to prepare for it in advance.
Application period in December-January
See instructions on continuous admission below in section 'Continuous admission for grades 1–9, open year-round'.
Application period for English-language basic education starting in the the 7th grade takes place 16 December 2024–16 January 2025 when all pupils in Helsinki enrol to 7th grade.
Language test will be held on 30 January 2025. The place and time for the test will be announced closer to the application period.
Admission decisions will be posted to the pupils' home addresses on 26 March 2025.
If child is in Grade 6 in a municipal school
Pupils who are in grade 6 at a municipal school of the City of Helsinki and will start their 7th grade in August of the following year may apply for a place in basic education in an English-language class by filling in the language test form in Wilma during the application period. The same Wilma form also allows you to apply for bilingual education and the different options of weighted-curriculum instruction.
Applicants from other municipalities: apply with a separate form
If you are an applicant living outside Helsinki or if your child is not registered as a pupil of Helsinki’s municipal school, you can apply for a place in English-language basic education in 7th grade using a separate form.
You can apply to five different schools or instruction forms. In other words, you can also apply for bilingual and weighted-curriculum education with the same form.
The application period for the school year 2024–2025 has ended. See instructions on continuous admission below in section 'Continuous admission for grades 1–9, open year-round'.
Language tests
The invitation to the language test will be sent to the pupil’s home address as a letter.
Language test will be held on 30 January 2025. The place and time for the test will be announced closer to the application period.
Other school options for English-language in grades 7–9
English-language basic education is also offered in these lower secondary schools:
- Maunula Secondary School(Link leads to external service)
- Kulosaari Secondary School(Link leads to external service) (also bilingual Finnish-English basic education available)
These schools are private schools that are not included in the application process of the schools run by Helsinki. If you are interested in applying for these schools, please contact the school secretary or principal directly to ask about available places.
Only pupils who move to Helsinki during their basic education and have previously studied in English-language basic education in Finland or abroad can be admitted to an English-language class. A child will take the language test according to their birth year.
Admission criteria
- Native or near-native English proficiency. The pupil should have sufficient language skills to participate in English-language instruction based on the language test result.
- 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).
- Within the last 12 months, the pupil has studied abroad in English-language instruction which is similar to Finnish basic education based on the Basic Education Act, or in other English-language basic education following the Basic Education Act elsewhere in Finland.
- Please note: We will ask all applicants to provide certificates of their previous English-language basic education (all or majority of teaching was given in English). If necessary, we will check with the pupil's former school to verify the information. Studying the English language as one subject is not sufficient to meet the criteria.
- Applicants for grades 8–9 are also required to have spoken Finnish language skills, equalling the A1 level in spoken interaction in accordance with the European framework. See the Coucil of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Self-assessment grid(Link leads to external service).
How to apply for English-language basic education in the middle of a year
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Fill in the online application form
Fill in the online application form below. Please attach the most recent certificate or statement of the English-language basic education to your application form.
We will ask all applicants to provide certificates of their previous English-language basic education (all or almost all teaching was given in English). If necessary, we will check with the pupil's former school
Online application form: Continuous admission to English-language basic education(Link leads to external service)
If you cannot apply with the online form, fill in the PDF form below, print it out and sign it before posting it and the attachments to the Education Division, following the instructions given in the form.
PDF form, continuous admission to English-language basic education -
Wait for a contact and invite for the language test.
The education coordinator will contact you within two weeks after you have filled in the application form. During school holidays, such as during June and July, the contacting period may be longer. The education coordinator will give you instructions for taking part in the language test. If the criteria above are met, you will be invited to a language test for testing your language skills.
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Take the child to the language test
Schools hold test days once a month. The tests are held either at Ressu Comprehensive School or Maunula Primary School. The school will contact you closer to the test date to give you more detailed information about the test date and time. Please note that schools do not hold test dates during summer holidays in June or July.
Language test dates 2024
- Thursday 7 November
- Thursday 5 December
Language test dates 2025
- Thursday 9 January
- Thursday 6 February
- Thursday 6 March
- Thursday 3 April
- Thursday 8 May
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Wait for the language test results and admission decision
The decisions on pupil admission are made based on the language test results as soon after the test as possible. If you are accepted as a pupil, the school will contact you to tell you when school starts. You must immediately accept the school place. We wish you all success on your school journey!
Which schools offer English-language basic education?
English-language basic education is offered in the schools listed below. Learn more about the schools and the English-language basic education they provide by visiting the schools’ websites: