Finland to Offer General Upper Secondary Education Fully in English by 2026

Helsinki, The Gulf Observer: Students in Finland will have the opportunity to complete general upper secondary education entirely in English starting in August 2026, following a regulation issued by the Finnish National Agency for Education.

This initiative aligns with the government’s broader program to expand educational access and support the development of an English-language version of the Finnish matriculation examination, which is set to launch in 2028.

The Finnish National Agency for Education published the new national core curriculum for English-language general upper secondary education on March 20, 2025. This marks a crucial step in implementing legislative changes passed by Parliament in December 2024, which amended both the Act on General Upper Secondary Education and the Act on the Matriculation Examination.

The reform aims to enhance Finland’s international appeal and increase educational accessibility for students who do not have sufficient proficiency in Finnish or Swedish. However, according to the regulation, the English-language track is not intended for students arriving from non-EU countries solely for study purposes.

Petri Lehikoinen, Counsellor of Education and Head of Unit at the Finnish National Agency for Education, stated that the new offering is expected to be introduced first in major cities and regional centers where demand is highest.

Before schools can implement English-language education, they must develop local curricula that align with the newly established national core curriculum. These curricula must receive approval before institutions can apply for formal authorization from the Ministry of Education and Culture. Applications must be submitted at least one year before the intended start date.

The English-language curriculum will mirror the structure and subject offerings of Finnish- and Swedish-language upper secondary education, providing students with a comprehensive selection of subjects. This approach differs from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, which continues to be offered in Finland but is limited to six subjects after a preparatory year.

Both pathways are recognized by higher education institutions in Finland and internationally.

“Both options provide students with an excellent foundation for higher education studies,” Lehikoinen stated. “The matter of which is a more suitable option for each student largely comes down to preference.”