Vocational education and training

In vocational education and training, you can study

• humanities and the arts,
• business and administration,
• natural sciences,
• information and communication technology (ICT),
• technology,
• agriculture and forestry,
• health and wellness, and
• services.

In addition to vocational education and training, you can also apply to general upper secondary school after comprehensive school. You can also complete a double degree by studying at a vocational institute and general upper secondary school at the same time. Read more about general upper secondary schools on the InfoFinland page General upper secondary school.

At the beginning of your studies, a personal competence development plan (HOKS) is drawn up for you. The plan includes a list of the skills you already have, as well as what and how you will study further. The plan will also indicate what support you need during your studies.

In vocational education and training, studying is flexible. You move at your own pace and study time is influenced, for example, by whether you have previously acquired learning and how quickly you learn new things. You can complete studies in different ways and in different environments. You can study, for example, at the workplace, at an educational institute or online. You can complete an entire qualification or only parts of the qualification.

In vocational education and training, you demonstrate your skills and complete parts of the qualification mainly in demonstrations. In demonstrations, you do practical work assignments in real work situations at a workplace. Two evaluators assess how well you have achieved the professional skills required for the degree.

You can apply for vocational education and training in Finland after you have completed the comprehensive school syllabus or have acquired the corresponding skills in other ways. The education provider assesses whether the applicant’s skills are sufficient to complete the qualification.

You can apply for a vocational upper secondary qualification through the continuous application process throughout the year or through the upper secondary level joint application process February-March. The joint application process is primarily intended for those who are graduating comprehensive school. Application for a vocational qualification or a specialist vocational qualification is always through the continuous application process.

Read more on the InfoFinland page Applying for education and training.

You can complete a vocational upper secondary qualification, vocational qualification or specialist vocational qualification.

Vocational upper secondary qualification

A vocational upper secondary qualification provides the basic skills required in the field. You will learn about different tasks in the field and acquire knowledge and skills that you need as an employee or business owner and in further studies. You can study at your own pace, although the studies usually take about three years.

Vocational qualification

If you already have a vocational upper secondary qualification in the field or if you have acquired skills on the job, you can deepen and update your expertise by completing a further vocational qualification.

Specialist vocational qualification

A specialist vocational qualification is a good choice if you already have good professional skills but want to strengthen them further. The qualification provides the skills to independently perform diverse work tasks in your field, even in demanding situations.

During studies, it is possible to combine different learning environments and ways to study. You can complete an entire qualification or parts of it flexibly at the workplace in practical work tasks. On-the-job learning is agreed through apprenticeships or training agreements.

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship (oppisopimus) means learning through working. You work in your own field and study alongside work. Any vocational upper secondary qualification or parts of it can be completed through apprenticeship. An apprenticeship often also involves studying at an educational institute.

If you are interested in studying with an apprenticeship, contact the advisory service of your preferred educational institute. You will receive help finding an apprenticeship place at the educational institute and TE Office. You can also agree on an apprenticeship with your current workplace.

At work, you will be guided by a workplace instructor, who can be your supervisor or another employee at the workplace. The employer will pay you salary. You will agree on the salary with your employer. It must be in accordance with the collective agreement for the sector. If you do not receive pay for time spent on theoretical studies, you may be entitled to apply for daily allowance, travel allowance and family allowance. You may receive them if you are covered by Finnish social security. Ask for more information at your educational establishment.

Education agreement

Training agreement (koulutussopimus) is also on-the-job learning. A training agreement allows you to complete parts of a qualification. The student is not employed and receives no salary during the training.

TUVA is preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification .

TUVA education may suit you if

• you are an adult, but have not yet completed secondary education
• you need preparatory education before continuing to secondary vocational education or general upper secondary education
• you want to improve your Finnish- or Swedish-language skills before continuing to an upper secondary qualification

During your TUVA education, you can raise your basic education grades to improve your chances of entering secondary education. In addition to that, you can complete general upper secondary education and vocational education studies.

TUVA education lasts 38 weeks. You can also complete just part of the curriculum. You can then apply for a study place suitable for you such as in general upper secondary or vocational education.

TUVA education is organised by vocational institutes, general upper secondary schools and comprehensive schools.

You can apply for TUVA education in the joint application process in the spring, or through the continuous application process all year round. Read more in the Opintopolku.fi service.