Edited by Giulia Ceccon · Chief Marketing Officer
Finland is world-renowned for its education system, consistently ranking among the top performers in global assessments, and its international schools reflect that same commitment to quality. Helsinki-based international schools offer English-language instruction within a country celebrated for safety, clean air, and an outstanding quality of life. From 2026, Finland is also expanding English-language upper secondary education to five cities, signalling growing support for internationally mobile families. The Finnish lifestyle, with its emphasis on outdoor activities, work-life balance, and accessible public services, makes it an appealing destination for relocating families.
Compare 16 international schools in Finland. Filter by curriculum, fees (average EUR 9,501), location, and more to find the right international school now.
Norden International School follows a Finnish Curriculum across two campuses, Helsinki (Malmi) and Brussels (Evere–Haren). It is a private international school serving pre‑school to Grade 9, with English as the language of instruction and Finnish language education as a secondary focus. The Primary Curriculum (Grades 1–6) covers Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies (history, geography, and the community), Arts & Crafts, and Physical Education. The Secondary Curriculum (Grades 7–9) provides more challenging core subjects, electives, and opportunities for independent learning and collaboration. In Brussels for 2026–27, English remains the language of instruction, with French and Flemish as additional languages; class sizes are small (10–12 students) and the program emphasizes personalized education, reading culture and libraries, performance tracking, arts, sports and handcrafts, and a technology‑enabled learning environment with parental involvement and well‑being support. Opened in 2013 as Kielo International School, Norden collaborates with the City of Helsinki Educational Department and operates in Helsinki and Brussels.
Tampereen Lyseo Lukio, known as Rellu, is a public upper secondary school in Tampere, Finland, by Pyynikintori square. It offers three study programmes: a high school programme, a Social Sciences Studies programme and an International Baccalaureate programme taught in English culminating in the IB diploma. The curriculum blends the Finnish national framework with the IB Diploma Programme, and features a broad range of subjects. Languages include English, German, French and Spanish as A-languages; Swedish as B1, with French and German as B2 and Spanish, French, German and Russian as B3. Rellu maintains partner schools in France, Germany and Spain and is part of the IB network. It supports learning across Tampere City schools and online courses, and involves University of Tampere courses. Through IB and Social Sciences study, students complete CAS projects, Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essays, guided by caring teachers and a focus on well-being and future study opportunities.
Oulu International School is a public, city‑owned school in Oulu, Finland, offering Basic Education (grades 1–9) in English. It follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum and combines it with a bespoke English‑language program. Learning is inquiry‑based and phenomenon‑based, with content organized into multidisciplinary units. In Years 1–6, students complete 5–6 units per year; in Years 7–9, modules combine 2–3 subject areas. The school is located at Kasarmintie 4, 90130 Oulu, and is owned by the City of Oulu. It began in August 2001 and opened as an independent school in August 2002. About 446 students are taught by 37 teachers in age‑based classes, with auxiliary staff available. The library is a central resource, and students may pursue a bilingual Reading Diploma adapted from the Oulu City program. Extracurricular clubs include Boardgames, Math, Chess, and Dungeons & Dragons, along with Drama, Animated Film, Cooking and Puuhakerho, plus Erasmus‑driven projects and well‑being activities.
Joensuu International School provides international education in eastern Finland. The institution serves the international community with English-medium programs.
Finnish International School of Tampere (FISTA) is a comprehensive school serving ages 6 to 16, with preschool, primary and lower secondary education (grades 1–9) in Tampere, Finland. The school teaches mainly in English, while Finnish, Swedish, and other languages are offered as part of the curriculum. It follows the City of Tampere curriculum based on the Finnish National Core Curriculum, and applicants complete a language test to participate in English-language education. FISTA began as Amurin kansakoulu in 1954 and became FISTA in 2012. The campus is in central Tampere and serves 910 students with 110 staff in the 2025–2026 year. Features include preparatory education for Finnish learners (up to one year) and two study lines for grades 7–9: bilingual and international. Students take Finnish lessons from early grades, with Swedish from grade 6 and optional A2 languages (Spanish, French or German). A program of clubs supports after-school interests and wellbeing.
The English School in Finland is a private bilingual institution offering Finnish-English education from preschool through secondary level to about 700 students (ages 5–18). The curriculum combines the Finnish national framework with strong English instruction, and in the high school there are two study options: the bilingual English–Finnish Language and Culture Program and a General Upper Secondary English program. Both programs culminate in the Finnish Matriculation Examinations, with language of instruction determined by program. The school's ethos is rooted in Christian values and a commitment to global citizenship, cultural understanding, respect for diversity, ecological sustainability and responsible citizenship. Campus facilities include a two-campus layout (Mäntytie for Grades 1–6 and Preschool and Valimotie for Grades 7–12), two gymnasia (one divisible), and a central bilingual library. The school runs exchange links, a debate club with international and national competitions, and clubs organised by The Friends of The English School, alongside after-school care.
The English School in Finland is a private bilingual institution offering Finnish-English education from preschool through secondary level to about 700 students (ages 5–18). The curriculum combines the Finnish national framework with strong English instruction, and in the high school there are two study options: the bilingual English–Finnish Language and Culture Program and a General Upper Secondary English program. Both programs culminate in the Finnish Matriculation Examinations, with language of instruction determined by program. The school's ethos is rooted in Christian values and a commitment to global citizenship, cultural understanding, respect for diversity, ecological sustainability and responsible citizenship. Campus facilities include a two-campus layout (Mäntytie for Grades 1–6 and Preschool and Valimotie for Grades 7–12), two gymnasia (one divisible), and a central bilingual library. The school runs exchange links, a debate club with international and national competitions, and clubs organised by The Friends of The English School, alongside after-school care.
Turku International School delivers IB Diploma Programme for secondary students in Turku, Finland. The school is a public institution under the City of Turku, with the Diploma Programme taught at Turun Normaalikoulu and pre-DP year bridging to DP in English to prepare students for university study worldwide. The DP follows six subject groups, with three subjects at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, plus core elements Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service. Language offerings include English A and B, Finnish B, French B, German B, and Spanish B. The IB campus is housed in the Turun Normaalikoulu building at Annikanpolku 9, and a library with about 10,000 items provides access to university databases. Free daily lunch is provided. CAS is a core element, featuring real-world projects and service, such as involvement with the Together association. About 95% of DP graduates proceed to universities worldwide.
Mattlidens gymnasium is a municipal upper secondary school in Espoo, Finland, offering a Swedish-language track alongside an English-language International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It is the largest Swedish-language upper secondary school in Finland and the only Swedish-language IB DP school in the capital region, providing a diverse bilingual pathway for students. The IB DP forms a two-year course (DP1/DP2) with a preparatory year (preDP) in grade 10, six subject groups, and a Diploma core of CAS, Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge. The school emphasizes intercultural understanding and multilingualism, with Swedish, English, and Finnish at multiple levels and options in Spanish, French, and German. In autumn 2026 a new sports line for young athletes will balance flexible studies with professional sport. The campus shares facilities with a lower-grade campus and is connected by modern transport. About 150 students study the English IB programme. Strong pastoral support and a collaborative school culture.
Founded in 1992, the International School of Vantaa is a municipal school serving grades 1-9 with about 670 students in Vantaa, Finland. The language of instruction is predominantly English, serving students whose home language is English or who are fluent in English, while the general Finnish National Board of Education framework shapes a tailor-made curriculum built around thematic units that integrate multiple subjects. From grade 4, elective language offerings include French, Spanish, Swedish and German; Swedish becomes compulsory from grade 6. The school is situated in Kartanonkoski; premises also house a daycare center and a public library. Student selection is based on oral or written English assessment. The school emphasizes after-school activities for younger and older students, free daily school meals, and wellbeing programs such as Urhea athletics and the Schools on the Move initiative. The environment blends municipal schooling with an international-flavored English instruction within the Finnish system.
Located in Helsinki's center, Ecole Francaise Jules Verne is a private French international school serving children from playschool at age 2 through CM2. It belongs to the AEFE network and is run by a non-profit association with a School Board and School Council, giving parents a voice in school life. The curriculum follows the French Ministry of Education, harmonized with Finnish specifics. Instruction is in French by qualified teachers; English is introduced from age six and reinforced from age eight, and Finnish is introduced from the first playschool year. The school is multilingual and multicultural, with more than 10 nationalities represented. Facilities include a daycare, after-school clubs covering arts, sports and games, and a holiday camp. The library houses around 6,000 titles in French, Finnish and English, supporting reading across languages. The school collaborates with Helsinki libraries and the Library of the French Institute in Helsinki to broaden French-language access.
The Finnish-Russian School is a state-funded bilingual institution in Helsinki offering preschool, basic and upper secondary education with instruction in Finnish and Russian. In basic education, the school follows the national core curriculum, while Russian language and culture are studied to a significantly greater extent. The elementary curriculum is published as part of the school's materials, and the upper-secondary program follows LOps 2021 Lukion opinto-opas for the 2025–2026 academic year. The school welcomes 700 pupils. It operates in a new building completed in autumn 2021 in Etelä-Kaarela. Facilities include a central auditorium seating 200, with a stage and audio-visual equipment, plus a small multipurpose hall for indoor activities and a separate meeting room with hybrid meeting capability. After the school day, learners may join theatre, visual arts and chess clubs, participate in Erasmus exchanges, and engage in student council activities. After-school care runs for younger pupils in a supervised program.
Lycee Franco-Finlandais d'Helsinki is a Finnish public language school delivering bilingual Finnish–French instruction within the Finnish education system. The school follows the Finnish national curriculum, with instruction in Finnish and French across basic education and upper secondary. In basic education, Finnish is taught as a mother tongue from grade 1; A1 French starts in grade 1; A2 English in grade 4; B1 Swedish in grade 6; B2 Spanish or German in grade 8. Upper secondary splits into French L1 and a mission-specific track; the L1 program aligns with the Finnish matriculation exam, while the mission track offers flexibility for strong French skills, requiring at least 24 French units and 16 units in other subjects. The school provides DELF B2 and DALF C1 certifications, a range of French studies, francophone projects, and exchanges. About 800 students study here, with small teaching groups and an international cooperation network, including study trips abroad.
Espoo International School is a uniform, international English-language comprehensive school in Espoo that serves both international and Finnish families. It has around 600 pupils in grades 1-9. Education follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum and the Espoo municipal framework, augmented by the Espoo International School curriculum (2016). The school is IB-authorized and offers the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for grades 7-9 over three years, aligning international standards with local expectations. The main language of instruction is English, while Finnish and English are studied by all students; from grade 6, B1 Swedish is introduced, and elective A2 languages Spanish or French begin in grade 4, with B2 languages German, Spanish, and Russian from grade 8. The Opinmäki campus provides a cohesive environment for international and Finnish learners. The school emphasizes language development and prepares students for English-medium education, with a bespoke curriculum that blends the Espoo framework with IB principles to foster global-minded learners.
Deutsche Schule Helsinki is a private, German-Finnish intercultural school in Helsinki offering bilingual education from early years to upper secondary. The curriculum combines German and Finnish systems across three stages: lower grades (1–5), upper grades (6–9), and upper secondary. In early years German is taught as a foreign language with English, with Finnish as mother tongue and second language, plus life stance education and Evangelical religion. In upper grades many subjects have curricula published in German, including Chemistry, Biology, German, Finnish as mother tongue, English, Ethics, Geography, History, Art, Latin (8–12), Swedish, Russian, and Sport, with Economics also offered. The upper secondary culminates in the Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA), a dual-qualification with a German university entrance qualification and a Finnish matriculation certificate; exams include written tests in three subjects in January and oral tests in two in March. The school provides a library, a music school, after-school care, and an activity program at Malminkatu 14, 00100 Helsinki.
International School of Helsinki (ISH) offers the IB continuum for students aged 4 to 18, with English as the language of instruction and a broad language program that includes Spanish, French and Finnish as Foreign Languages, plus Finnish Mother Tongue and English as an Additional Language support where needed. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) runs from early years through Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) covers Grades 6-10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) spans Grades 11-12. ISH became Finland's first fully IB-accredited school in 2005, and it has maintained IB, CIS, and NEASC accreditation through subsequent re-authorisations. Beyond academics, the school offers an extensive after-school activities and athletics program (ASA) for K-12, as well as cultural, language and social clubs. The Parents' Teacher Organization supports the community, and volunteers help events. ISH emphasizes an international community, cross-cultural workshops, and services to help families settle in. A welcoming, thriving environment.
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