The options for vocational education and training in languages other than Finnish and Swedish are currently limited. If your language skills are not yet sufficient to study in Finnish or Swedish, you can improve your study capabilities with preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification (TUVA) or basic education for adults.
The private educational institutions in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area offer some study and training opportunities in English. Read more about the study and training opportunities in different languages offered by private educational institutions at the end of the page.
The options presented below are mostly intended for students aged 15–19. Still, there are also opportunities for adult students in vocational education and training.
Vocational education and training (VET) focuses on learning practical skills needed in working life and the profession you study for. The learning environments and work-based learning periods are also strongly linked to working life.
You can study for a vocational qualification in a specific profession or a special vocational qualification or choose apprenticeship training to combine study and work.
Stadin AO offers diverse vocational education and training that you can apply flexibly throughout the year through rolling admissions.
Most of the opportunities are provided in Finnish or Swedish. Therefore, you need good Finnish or Swedish language skills to apply. Knowledge of Finnish or Swedish is also important for further studies and working in Finland.
Have you completed basic education in Finland or in another country? Would you like to improve your skills before entering vocational education and training or general upper secondary school, or strengthen your Finnish or Swedish language skills before starting upper secondary education?
In that case, you should consider preparatory education for an upper secondary qualification in Finnish (TUVA) or Swedish (Hux), which can also be a good option if you wish to refine your plans for further studies and improve your basic education grades.
TUVA and Hux also allow you to study vocational qualification and general upper secondary school study units, which can be accredited to a later degree.
Read more:
Almost all upper secondary education requires good Finnish or Swedish language skills. You should also study Finnish or Swedish because proficiency in Finnish or Swedish will increase your chances and opportunities to apply for further studies. Also, many employers value proficiency in Finnish or Swedish.
Where to learn Finnish
- If you are or will be 16 years of age this year, you can apply for preparatory education for basic education in Finnish.
- If you are or will be 17 years of age or over this year, you can apply independently for a Finnish language course of your choice (see, for example, the adult education centres’ ‘Finnish as a second language’ courses in the Ilmonet service(Link leads to external service) and the course offering in the Finnishcourses.fi service(Link leads to external service)). Please note that these studies are considered voluntary activities supporting integration: you cannot complete compulsory education by attending language courses.
- If you have not completed basic education, basic education for adults may be a good choice for you. The City of Helsinki organises basic education for adults in Finnish at Helsinki Upper Secondary School for Adults. You can also check what private schools have to offer.
Where to learn Swedish
- If you are or will be 16 years of age this year, you can apply for preparatory education for basic education in Swedish.
- If you are or will be 17 years of age or over this year, you can apply independently for a Swedish language course of your choice (see, for example, the adult education centres’ ‘Swedish as a second language’ courses in the Ilmonet service(Link leads to external service) and Luckan’s Swedish language courses in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area(Link leads to external service). Please note that these studies are considered voluntary activities supporting integration: you cannot complete compulsory education by attending language courses.
- If you have not completed basic education, basic education for adults may be a good choice for you. The City of Helsinki organises basic education for adults in Swedish at Tölö Gymnasium Upper Secondary School.
Vocational education and training in English
Besides Finnish and Swedish, Helsinki has some vocational institutions that offer instruction in part or fully in English. You can find out more about the options on the websites of the schools and educational institutions or by contacting them directly.
- Stadin AO (Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute)(Link leads to external service): Vocational Qualification in Tourism Industry
- Fully in English.
Helsinki
- Helsinki Business College(Link leads to external service): English and bilingual Finnish-English vocational education and training in business.
- Perho Liiketalousopisto(Link leads to external service): English and bilingual Finnish-English vocational education and training in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
- Taitotalo: Specialist vocational qualification, Further Vocational Qualification in Cleaning and Property Services(Link leads to external service)
Other Helsinki Metropolitan Area
Vantaa
Espoo
Other nearby municipalities in the Uusimaa region
- If you are about to complete comprehensive school in Finland, the normal procedure is to apply through the joint application system via Studyinfo online service(Link leads to external service). The school will help with the application.
- If you have already completed comprehensive school and need a place to study, you should contact the desired school directly and inquire about applying.