Applying

Lead-in paragraph

Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages offers four study programmes to choose from: a general programme, a programme emphasising languages and internationality, a bilingual English and Finnish study programme and an English track. Each year 121 students enrol the general programme, 90 in the emphasis programme, 61 students in the bilingual English and Finnish programme and 30 in the English track.

You can apply to our school through the joint application system for general upper secondary education every spring. Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages has a general programme, an English Track, a bilingual English and Finnish programme and a programme that emphasises languages and internationality, and you can apply to all of them.

There are approximately 900 students at Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages. The intake for the English track is 30 students, the bilingual English and Finnish programme 61 students, for the emphasis programme 90, and for the general programme 121.

Selections for both the emphasis and the general programme are based on the students’ grade point average. Spring 2025, the lowest accepted average for the emphasis programme was 8.15, for the English and Finnish programme 8.20 and for the general programme 8.08. All the students in these programmes will take the Matriculation Exam in Finnish. However, the students in the new English track will take the Matriculation Exam in English.

Studying at Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages demands a sufficient command of Finnish. Students from other countries may also apply through the joint application system.

More information about the joint application system can be acquired from the Education Department of the City of Helsinki, the Joint Application System website Studyinfo.fi(Link leads to external service), and primary school guidance counsellors.

Tuition fees for third country students introduced in upper secondary education

Tuition fees will be introduced in upper secondary education for students who arrive to Finland from countries other than the EU member countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. Tuition fees apply to studies started on 1 August 2026 or after. Explore the topic