Vocational education in Helsinki
Vocational upper secondary education and training provides comprehensive vocational knowledge and skills in the selected study programme.
A vocational upper secondary qualification can be obtained in vocational institutions either after completing comprehensive school or after taking the matriculation exam.
The former qualification takes three years to complete, and the latter two years.
A vocational upper secondary qualification provides access to further education in polytechnics and institutions of higher education and universities.
There are 16 vocational institutions in Helsinki. The City of Helsinki maintains institutions for culinary art, fashion and beauty, social welfare and health care, and technology, the total number of students being 6,100.
There are also private vocational institutions and institutions run by foundations, providing training in business and administration, culture, tourism and catering, social welfare and health care, technology and transport.
Vocational studies combine theory and practice; a minimum of 20 credits will be earned through learning on the job at the workplace. A vocational upper secondary qualification may be obtained either by attending courses in a vocational institution or through apprenticeship training.
The students may also simultaneously take the matriculation exam or courses at the general upper secondary school and obtain their vocational qualification.
Mature students may complete a vocational upper secondary qualification, a further and specialist vocational qualification as a competence-based qualification either by attending a vocational institution or through apprenticeship training.
Vocational institutions and the Apprenticeship Training Bureau organise vocational further education and training.
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Text: City of Helsinki Education Department
Photo: Ida Pimenoff