lukiokoulutus

Lukiokoulutus, or general upper secondary education in Finland, is the phase of formal secondary education that follows the nine-year peruskoulu. It is designed to prepare students for higher education and the workforce. The education is offered by upper secondary schools (lukio) and, in some cases, adult educational institutions. The duration is typically three school years, usually beginning at age 16 and ending around 19. The curriculum is defined by the national core curriculum issued by the Finnish National Agency for Education and supplemented by a local curriculum at each school. Students study a combination of compulsory core subjects, such as mother tongue (Finnish or Swedish), mathematics, a foreign language, sciences, and social studies, along with elective courses. Many students also take syventävät kurssit—advanced level courses—to prepare for the matriculation examination and to tailor their studies to their interests.

At the end of lukiokoulutus, students may take the national matriculation examination (ylioppilastutkinto). The examination includes written and oral components in several subjects and serves as the general eligibility requirement for admission to Finnish universities and, in many cases, for higher education entrance. The structure of the exam is standardized nationally, while the school manages the internal progression and the scheduling of courses.

Lukiokoulutus is publicly funded and free of tuition. Students may receive student financial aid from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). After completing lukiokoulutus, graduates typically pursue higher education or enter various fields through universities or universities of applied sciences; some may continue in international or bilingual programs offered by certain schools.