Helsinki’s general upper secondary schools and Stadin AO offer versatile study opportunities after comprehensive school.
Apply for upper secondary education in the joint application process during 17 February–17 March 2026 at studyinfo.fi
Comprehensive school is almost over, and upper secondary studies await. Are you interested in general upper secondary education or vocational education and training? Or do you rather take some time to prepare for the future studies and gain better study skills in TUVA training?
It is up to you, and only you, to decide the field and school you prefer. Take a moment to consider your strengths and hopes for the future. Discuss the different options with your friends, close ones and study and careers adviser at school.
Visit the websites, social media, and schools’ open house events. Also consider your work experience periods or summer jobs. They can also give you an idea of what you want to do in the future.
You can apply to up to seven schools in the joint application process. Remember to put your favourite option as the number one choice – it can be crucial in the application process. Good luck with your application!
The difference between general upper secondary ('lukio') and vocational school is not as big as people often think. Both include general education and practical skills – only the emphasis varies.
You also have a third option, the TUVA education. In TUVA, you can prepare and develop your skills for an upper secondary qualification, and refine your study plans. You can also improve your grades, learn about different professions and complete parts of upper secondary qualifications.
If you are an upper secondary student in one of the City of Helsinki's general upper secondary schools or Helsinki Vocational College Stadin AO, you can choose studies from schools other that your own school. . Read more about the cross-institutional studies.
In vocational education and training, you study professional skills in a specific field. There are many study options to choose from. In the Helsinki Vocational College Stadin AO, you can graduate in more than 50 different professions.
You can incorporate business studies, studies abroad as an exchange student, and vocational competition activities in your studies. You can also combine vocational education and general upper secondary school in what we call 'vocational general upper secondary school'. It allows you to study single school subjects or complete the entire Matriculation Examination alongside your vocational studies if you wish.
After completing vocational education, you can apply to university and university of applied sciences.
Check what you can study at Stadin AO(Link leads to external service)
General upper secondary education strengthens your general knowledge and study skills, providing a solid base for higher education studies. General upper secondary education ends with a matriculation examination and a white cap to mark it.
The City of Helsinki’s general upper secondary schools provide the opportunity to get acquainted with higher education studies, working life and entrepreneurship already during the studies. All schools offer special emphases, such as dance, science, or a language, to deepen your knowledge according to your interests.
Learn more about the City's general upper secondary schools
