Finland is located in Northern Europe, sharing its eastern border with Russia, while the southern boundary is defined by the Gulf of Finland. To the west, it is bordered by the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden, and Norway lies to the north. Helsinki serves as the capital city. The nation has a population of approximately 5.3 million residents. Finnish and Swedish are the official languages, with 94% of the populace speaking Finnish and 6% speaking Swedish. Finland operates as a welfare state, striving to provide its citizens with equal opportunities for a fulfilling life and to optimize the use of its resources. The country’s strategic position between the West and the East has historically influenced its developments and events. This blend of Western and Eastern elements has contributed to the emergence of a robust and distinctive Finnish culture.

The Finnish education system consists of a nine-year basic education, known as comprehensive school, which is preceded by one year of optional pre-primary education. This is followed by upper secondary education that includes both vocational and general education, and higher education offered by universities and polytechnics. Adult education is accessible at every educational level.

In Finland, the educational framework integrates pre-primary education, basic education, and upper secondary education and training, along with early childhood education and before- and after-school programs, creating a cohesive learning pathway that fosters children’s growth, development, and overall well-being.

Legislation ensures that students have the opportunity to advance from one educational level to the next. Both general and vocational upper secondary certificates qualify students for further studies at universities and polytechnics. Completion of one educational level guarantees eligibility for the subsequent level. The qualifications for each educational tier are regulated by distinct Acts of Parliament, ensuring standardized qualifications, quality assurance, and the protection of students’ rights.

Basic education is provided free of charge to all students within the designated age group. Upper secondary education encompasses both general education and vocational training, which includes vocational qualifications as well as further and specialist qualifications.

The higher education sector is made up of universities and polytechnics, with admission requirements stipulating a secondary general or vocational diploma.

Universities, which serve as academic or artistic institutions, emphasize research and education grounded in research methodologies. They award Bachelor’s, Master’s, licentiate, and doctoral degrees.

Polytechnics deliver education tailored to meet labor market demands. Attaining a polytechnic degree necessitates 3.5 to 4.5 years of full-time study. Admission to polytechnic Master’s programs requires a polytechnic degree or its equivalent, along with a minimum of three years of relevant work experience.

Adult education is available across all educational levels, allowing adults to pursue their studies.