Finnish Education System
The Finnish education system comprises of nine-year of compulsory basic education, upper secondary education, and higher education.
The higher education system comprises of two different forms of education: universities and universities of applied sciences (also called polytechnics).
Finnish universities concentrate on academic and scientific research and education whereas universities of applied sciences are more oriented to working life. Universities of applied sciences offer professionally-oriented education for the needs of the labour market. Their task is also to conduct R&D which supports instruction and promotes regional development.
A Bachelor's degree from a university of applied sciences requires 3,5 - 4,5 years of full-time studying. The admission requirement for Master's programmes in universities of applied sciences is a degree from a university of applied sciences or equivalent, plus a minimum of three years of work experience in the field concerned.
Universities of applied sciences do not confer Licentiate or Doctoral degrees.
Updated 08/03/2012